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How 9/11 reshaped Colorado Springs

Ceremonies and tributes will take place across the region Friday.

History

Twenty-five years ago, the Sept. 11 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and transformed Colorado Springs&#x27; role in national defense.Why it matters: NORAD personnel at Cheyenne Mountain shifted from a Cold War exercise to a real-world emergency that Tuesday in 2001, coordinating fighter scrambles and the nationwide grounding of commercial flights.

Freeze leaves Penrose without apples again

The farming town will celebrate Apple Day despite another year without a local crop.

News

Penrose, a town founded on apples, once again has none.The big picture: For the second year running, an early freeze killed the crop at the town&#x27;s two remaining orchards, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Happy Apple Farm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.happyapplefarm.com/" data-vars-content-id="45e333a9-d9be-4c28-be89-88e86ecacf73" data-vars-headline="Freeze leaves Penrose without apples again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.happyapplefarm.com/" target="_blank">Happy Apple Farm</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Third Street Apples" data-vars-click-url="http://www.thirdstreetapples.com/" data-vars-content-id="45e333a9-d9be-4c28-be89-88e86ecacf73" data-vars-headline="Freeze leaves Penrose without apples again" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://www.thirdstreetapples.com/" target="_blank">Third Street Apples</a>, both about 45 minutes south of Colorado Springs.

Colorado voters strongly object to data centers, new poll shows

55% of voters support a ban on data center construction in their communities.

Colorado voters overwhelmingly oppose building <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/data-centers-ai-electricity-water-politics" data-vars-content-id="98dc0459-657b-4f5d-9154-2289c21f2972" data-vars-headline="Colorado voters strongly object to data centers, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/25/data-centers-ai-electricity-water-politics" target="_self">data centers</a> — even when they&#x27;re nowhere near their own backyards, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new poll" data-vars-click-url="https://magellanstrategies.com/colorado-2026-ai-data-center-opinion-survey/" data-vars-content-id="98dc0459-657b-4f5d-9154-2289c21f2972" data-vars-headline="Colorado voters strongly object to data centers, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://magellanstrategies.com/colorado-2026-ai-data-center-opinion-survey/" target="_blank">a new poll</a> finds.Why it matters: The results come as communities <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grapple with" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/08/19/colorado-communities-data-centers-rules" data-vars-content-id="98dc0459-657b-4f5d-9154-2289c21f2972" data-vars-headline="Colorado voters strongly object to data centers, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/08/19/colorado-communities-data-centers-rules" target="_self">grapple with</a> the AI-driven data center boom, and just days before <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Colorado Springs officials" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/08/17/data-center-colorado-springs-regulations" data-vars-content-id="98dc0459-657b-4f5d-9154-2289c21f2972" data-vars-headline="Colorado voters strongly object to data centers, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/08/17/data-center-colorado-springs-regulations" target="_self">Colorado Springs officials</a> decide whether to permit the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="controversial Project Taurus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/04/09/data-center-opposition-colorado-springs" data-vars-content-id="98dc0459-657b-4f5d-9154-2289c21f2972" data-vars-headline="Colorado voters strongly object to data centers, new poll shows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/04/09/data-center-opposition-colorado-springs" target="_self">controversial Project Taurus</a>.

Fall migration is underway

Birding comes with a slew of perks, from boosting mental health to aiding scientific discovery.

Things to Do

One of Colorado&#x27;s top birding destinations is open for seasonal access.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Birding is a hot hobby" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/29/birding-for-the-soul" data-vars-content-id="e4beb5e0-197d-456c-8eb4-0509f23b03d9" data-vars-headline="Fall migration is underway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/29/birding-for-the-soul" target="_self">Birding is a hot hobby</a> in the post-pandemic era, and it comes with a slew of perks, from boosting mental health to aiding scientific discovery.

10 years of Colorado Springs shorts

Horror, comedy and Lego animation are among this year's homegrown selections.

Culture

The films run as short as a minute, but the festival showcasing them is now a decade old.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Colorado Short Circuit Film " data-vars-click-url="https://csc.eventive.org/welcome" data-vars-content-id="1808aa14-58bb-4b2c-bc85-6c7838e9156a" data-vars-headline="10 years of Colorado Springs shorts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://csc.eventive.org/welcome" target="_blank">Colorado Short Circuit Film </a>Festival celebrates its 10th year this weekend, with a lineup of 80 productions by independent filmmakers across the state.

New record store opens downtown 

It's the first stand-alone record store in downtown in eight years.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Easy&#x27;s Records + Vintage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/easysrecordsvtg/" data-vars-content-id="5335bc05-68dd-4657-95a9-3f5d08c5624c" data-vars-headline="New record store opens downtown " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/easysrecordsvtg/" target="_blank">Easy&#x27;s Records + Vintage</a> is bringing vinyl records back to downtown. Why it matters: The shop is the first stand-alone record store in downtown Colorado Springs in eight years.

Coloradans reveal the state's most annoying stereotypes

From skiing and Subarus to pot and weather jokes, readers set the record straight on Colorado.

All states have their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stereotypes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/06/03/northwestern-study-lgbtq-candidates-gender-presentation-voter-bias" data-vars-content-id="92ab8b8e-8846-4af8-beff-0571ea57e16b" data-vars-headline="Coloradans reveal the state&#x27;s most annoying stereotypes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/06/03/northwestern-study-lgbtq-candidates-gender-presentation-voter-bias" target="_self">stereotypes</a> — those traits that outsiders assign them to clump all its inhabitants into a neat box. Some are unkind, some are funny and some are just flat out wrong.Flashback: In anticipation of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Colorado&#x27;s sesquicentennial" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/31/colorado-150th-anniversary-what-leaders-love-most" data-vars-content-id="92ab8b8e-8846-4af8-beff-0571ea57e16b" data-vars-headline="Coloradans reveal the state&#x27;s most annoying stereotypes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/07/31/colorado-150th-anniversary-what-leaders-love-most" target="_self">Colorado&#x27;s sesquicentennial</a>, we asked readers to share which stereotypes about their beloved state really irk them.

Documentary follows Colorado man's 500-mile run on psychedelics

A new Colorado Springs-made documentary follows a local ultra-endurance athlete's 500-mile run to Moab while on psychedelics.

A new Colorado Springs-made documentary follows a local ultra-endurance athlete&#x27;s 500-mile run to Moab while on psychedelics. Why it matters: Colorado Springs doesn&#x27;t have a booming <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="film industry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/05/18/el-paso-coroner-colorado-horror-film" data-vars-content-id="ca0d1115-b4ee-4906-b765-ef0ef7ded848" data-vars-headline="Documentary follows Colorado man&#x27;s 500-mile run on psychedelics" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/colorado-springs/2026/05/18/el-paso-coroner-colorado-horror-film" target="_self">film industry</a>. It&#x27;s rare to see a documentary created by locals and centered on a local story — especially one with such an unusual and polarizing premise.

Where to watch the 2026 World Cup in Colorado Springs

From pubs to breweries, here's where fans can catch every match.

For Colorado Springs soccer fans, the road to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026 FIFA World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/2026-world-cup-casual-fan-guide" data-vars-content-id="02ebb3f0-ca2c-434c-b68c-aec525524ea9" data-vars-headline="Where to watch the 2026 World Cup in Colorado Springs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/10/2026-world-cup-casual-fan-guide" target="_self">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> won&#x27;t start at kickoff — first you&#x27;ve got to decide where to watch.State of play: Local bars, pubs and breweries are gearing up for packed watch parties, early-morning kickoffs and plenty of celebrations.

How Colorado Springs' parks stack up

68% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.

In a study of park quality across U.S. cities, Colorado Springs ranked 66th.Why it matters: Residents love their parks, and parks in turn help improve <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="resident health and area tourism" data-vars-click-url="https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/economic-benefits-parks" data-vars-content-id="fee6c40d-80f7-4b24-b995-93dbfe2aff13" data-vars-headline="How Colorado Springs&#x27; parks stack up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/economic-benefits-parks" target="_blank">resident health and area tourism</a>.

Air Force Academy artist's home to hit market with 727 inside

The unusual property tells the story of a longtime Air Force Academy artist.

There&#x27;s a house going up for sale in Colorado Springs — five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and half a Boeing 727.Why it matters: The unusual property tells the story of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rick Broome" data-vars-click-url="https://gazette.com/2017/07/08/colorado-springs-artists-love-of-flight-leads-to-aviation-honor-c295f0e6-6e57-5742-b437-d0717904e75b/" data-vars-content-id="bd1b9cb1-f8b9-4211-8d69-aefd8c817bc1" data-vars-headline="Air Force Academy artist&#x27;s home to hit market with 727 inside" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gazette.com/2017/07/08/colorado-springs-artists-love-of-flight-leads-to-aviation-honor-c295f0e6-6e57-5742-b437-d0717904e75b/" target="_blank">Rick Broome</a>, a local aviation artist whose paintings became a generations-long tradition at the U.S. Air Force Academy — and whose work documented the evolution of American air power for nearly half a century.

Colorado Springs summer music guide for 2026

Summertime, and finding outdoor music in Colorado Springs is easy.

Memorial Day unofficially kicks off Colorado Springs&#x27; outdoor music season — and this year, there are more live concert options than ever.Why it matters: Music fans can pair live shows with summer weather, mountain views and long holiday weekends.

Former El Paso County coroner is making a horror movie

A Colorado Springs horror fest is now making feature films.

Former El Paso County Coroner Leon Kelly is producing his first feature-length film, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Devil in the Trunk" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/devilinthetrunk/" data-vars-content-id="d0cdbf7a-80aa-435d-a2da-5d5c40f1fed9" data-vars-headline="Former El Paso County coroner is making a horror movie" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/devilinthetrunk/" target="_blank">Devil in the Trunk</a>,&quot; teaming up with fellow forensic pathologist Dan Lingamfelter to bring a homegrown project to the silver screen.Why it matters: Kelly&#x27;s unlikely evolution — from elected official to horror producer — mirrors how a niche hobby helped carve out one of Colorado Springs&#x27; most unusual grassroots arts communities.

Culture

Freeze leaves Penrose without apples again

10 years of Colorado Springs shorts

New record store opens downtown

Hipcamp names Colorado's best campsites

A quick guide to the Colorado State Fair