Author: Mary Shinn
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Transgender Air Force Academy cadets graduate, but not commissioned amid Trump’s ban
Three transgender senior cadets earned their diplomas from the Air Force Academy on Thursday, but they did not commission as officers with their peers. Hunter Marquez is among the three, earning degrees in aeronautical engineering and applied math and meeting the Air Force’s physical standards for men. The cadets can’t commission because of a U.S.…
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Thunderbirds flyover canceled due to low visibility: Livestream video and live blog
Wet conditions and low visibility didn’t stop thousands of family members from attending Thursday’s Air Force Academy graduation, but the signature Thunderbirds flyover was canceled due to the weather. Parents, families and friends began filling the stadium shortly before 7 a.m. to cheer for the 909 Air Force Academy cadets expected to graduate as part…
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Fort Carson soldier one of 1,000 leaving after transgender ban temporarily upheld
Fort Carson Sgt. Mason Benavides is leaving an army that no longer wants him. He is one of about 1,000 military service members voluntarily leaving, the Department of Defense announced Thursday after a Supreme Court order that said the Trump administration’s ban on transgender soldiers could be enforced. The Supreme Court order allows the military…
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After recent years of reform, vets fear Trump cuts to VA will undo lifeline health care, research
When beloved Colorado Springs mental health counselor Michael Sunich died in March 2024, dozens of his patients — veterans who knew their “doc” had continued to treat them, even when the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to pay — faced the return to a complex system with a history of falling short of promises. Army…
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Veteran commends VA for support after paralyzing bike accident
After a biking accident five years ago, Mark, a retired Army officer, didn’t fully grasp the seriousness of his injuries. In his daze, he felt certain he was going to recover. But the accident left him paralyzed from his neck down and bedridden. He was uncertain if he would ever taste food again. Right after…
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Alabama lawmaker says Space Command moving, Colorado pushes back
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said on a podcast Wednesday he expects an official announcement later this month that Space Command will move to his home state of Alabama, prompting swift pushback from Colorado House Republicans. It is the latest in a yearslong tussle between Huntsville, Ala., and Colorado Springs over the command,…
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The ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense project could bring investment to Colorado
President Donald Trump’s vision for a Golden Dome to protect the nation from missile attacks could bring significant investment in Colorado aerospace companies. “I think Colorado is just beautifully positioned to get a lot of the work,” said Robert Beletic, aerospace and defense industry manager for the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Colorado’s…
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Snowpack lags across southern Colorado, strong for Denver, Colorado Springs
Snowpack has stacked up near or above average in critical areas that serve Denver and Colorado Springs, but is lagging in Colorado’s southern mountains. While the season started strong with heavy snow in November across the southern Rockies and southeastern plains, the conditions have eroded well below average. “The storm tracks have just missed the…
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Skiers honor victory, sacrifice of 10th Mountain Division at Ski Cooper 80 years after Riva Ridge
SKI COOPER • A blend of skiers, in white, camouflage, drab olive and neon, with an array of flags fluttering above them flowed down to the base of Ski Cooper Friday to memorialize the victory and sacrifice of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who fought in World War II. The skiers followed a snaking path down…
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Air Force will not celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth
The Air Force will not use official resources to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day or Juneteenth, in addition to other cultural awareness holidays and months. An Air Force memo sent out Friday listed holidays that were not included in an official Department of Defense news release sent out on the same day. The DOD…