SUNRISE: Heroes alert family to burning home

Two people pounded on the door of a burning Colorado Springs home Thursday night, summoning the residents and saving them from possible disaster.

According to Springs police, the pair were driving near the 1000 block of Jet Wing Drive at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday when they noticed smoke coming from the roof of the home. That’s when they turned their vehicle around, quickly began banging on the front door and called 911.

One of the residents came to the door and said they didn’t know the house was on fire. The parents, three children and a dog living at the home were able to get out safely before fire crews arrived, police said.

According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, crews found a small smoldering area that was believed to be caused by a short in a seized motor in a bathroom ceiling fan.

Nobody was injured and there was an estimated $3,000 damage to the house.

GAZETTE PREPS: Showdown Friday between two of areas best basketball players

Lewis-Palmer’s Josh Scott and Sierra’s Wesley Gordon are expected to play before a packed gymnasium Friday at Sierra High School.

Both local stars have committed to play next year for the University of Colorado. Click here to read columnist’s David Ramsey’s latest column previewing the game.

More related links at gazettepreps.com:

• Josh Scott vs. Wesley Gordon through the years
• Players other than Scott and Gordon expected to contribute during tonights game
• RAMSEY: Lewis-Palmer’s Josh Scott is state’s tallest underdog
• RAMSEY: Sierra’s Gordon prepares to battle with L-P’s Scott http://www.gazettepreps.com/articles/gordon-5191-scott-little.html
• Gazette Preps has been gathering nominations in an effort to name the all-time top-10 boys' basketball players in the area and planned on releasing the list on Friday. However, the response have been so strong and varied that we're going to delay the announcement until we can solicit a few more opinions, gather more facts and form a committee to help us make sure we have the correct 10 players.

Funeral service for sportscaster Lee Douglas

The funeral service for longtime KOAA sports director Lee Douglas is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Praise Assembly of God church in Pueblo.

Douglas, 57, died Saturday at a Pueblo hospital.

Click here to read full services details and the full obituary.

Read more here about the life and legacy of Douglas in a column by The Gazette's David Ramsey.

Miss your Valentine deadline? There's still time to recover

Valentine's Day is days away, but are you feeling the love or are you just feeling the pressure? If you've let the weeks get by without careful attention to the special plans that could make or break your night, we've got some options to put your mind and heart at ease. 

Worried about getting reservations? You should be. We're not miracle workers. But don't move into the doghouse yet. If you think you're doomed to the drive-thru, we've got good news. There are still some hot spots open to impress your significant other. Check out "Your last-minute Valentine's Day dining guide."

Need more details? Restaurants are making it easy this year. From buffet to brunch, we've got the list of who's offering what, where and how much. Last minute doesn't always mean last choice. Check out more from Theresa Farney. 

Feel like staying out of the Valentine's Day limelight, or just happy to share your heart with ice cream straight from the container? You can still love vicariously with Warren Epstein's pick for 10 most romantic movies. 

Check back often because we're adding to the list each day to make your day of amore that much more special.

Dragging death trial continues Friday

Testimonies in the trial of a woman accused of dragging a tow truck driver to death will continue at 1:20 p.m. Friday.

Detra Farries is accused of driving off while two truck driver Allen Lew Rose was attempting to tow her vehicle. Police say Rose became entangled in the tow truck line and was dragged to his death when Farries drove off. Gazette reporter Lance Benzel is tweeting live from the trial at @lancebenzel. See Thursday's coverage of the trial.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Conditions should be clear Friday in the Colorado Springs area before possibley giving way to freezing drizzle, fog and possible snow overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Friday is expected to be dominated by mostly sunny skies with a high of about 42 degrees. The drizzle and fog could eclipse the otherwise clear conditions at about 10 p.m., with a slight chance of snow after 5 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday’s high should only reach about 24, according to the weather service, with the possibility of snow and freezing drizzle lingering in the area throughout the weekend. Temperatures should be in the mid 30s on Sunday.

BEST OF THE SITES

• outtherecolorado.com: Springs parks board approves Incline plan, more tests to come next week
• coloradosprings.com: Hospital doors slam shut on ‘House’
• pikespeakparent.com: Make your Valentines stand out with 3-D elements
• springsmilitarylife.com: Women at war: Pentagon easing its job limits
• csfreshink.com: Pinterest climbing the social popularity ladder
• gazettepreps.com: State swim meet could see a media frenzy

AROUND COLORADO

Accused Romney 'glitter bomber' fired from Senate

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Senate has fired an unpaid intern accused of "glitter bombing" Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney after the Colorado caucuses.

Twenty-year-old college student Peter Smith was fired Thursday afternoon. Police say Smith threw glitter at Romney as the candidate greeted supporters in Denver Tuesday night.

Smith is a student at the University of Colorado Denver who was interning in the Democratic Senate as part of a college course. Smith's boss, Senate majority office chief of staff John Cevette, says that Smith was terminated after a staffer alerted him to the incident.

72-year-old skier dies, 2 days after resort fall

LAKEWOOD (AP) — A coroner says a 72-year-old skier who was taken to a hospital after being found face down on an expert trail at a Colorado resort has died.

Summit County Coroner Joanne Richardson says William Emberton of Stonington, Conn., died Thursday afternoon at a suburban Denver hospital. He was taken to the hospital Tuesday after being found face down at Keystone Resort.

Richardson says Emberton had a broken neck and an anoxic brain injury, meaning not enough oxygen was getting to his tissues.

He was wearing a helmet.

Judge allows Fort Collins pot shop ban to proceed

FORT COLLINS (AP) — A judge says medical marijuana businesses in Fort Collins will have to shut down by a city-imposed deadline Tuesday.

The owners of six marijuana businesses had asked a judge to block the voter-approved ban from taking effect. The Coloradoan reports a judge on Thursday denied their request for a temporary restraining order, saying the businesses had failed to demonstrate that their constitutional rights were violated by the ban.

State residents voted in 2000 to allow small uses of marijuana for medical purposes. But in 2010, lawmakers decided to allow cities and counties to decide whether to allow medical marijuana businesses within their boundaries.

Lawmaker's traffic stop discussed again by panel

DENVER (AP) — An ethics committee looking into a Republican lawmaker's controversial traffic stop will discuss whether to continue or stop its review.

Collbran Rep. Laura Bradford's traffic stop on Jan. 25 became media fodder because it raised questions about whether she received preferential treatment when Denver police suspected her of driving drunk.

But police later said they mischaracterized the traffic stop and gave the false impression she used a state constitutional clause that prevents lawmakers from being detained during session.

The ethics panel meets Friday. Bradford's attorney told the panel in a letter that the ethics complaint is meritless and should be dismissed.

The ethics complaint has exposed a rocky relationship between Bradford and Republicans who supported the review. It could compromise the GOP's one-vote advantage in the House.

Immigrant tuition proposal before state Senate

DENVER (AP) — A long-debated proposal about college tuition for illegal immigrants was expected for debate in the Colorado Senate Friday.

But the real test awaits across the hall in the Republican-led House.

This year's immigrant tuition bill would allow residents who are illegal immigrants to attend state universities at tuition rates that are higher than those for in-state students but lower than out-of-state levels. It's the sixth time Colorado lawmakers have considered some sort of immigrant tuition bill.

This year's proposal is expected to clear the Democratic Senate, as it did last year. Advocates are watching to see if the GOP House will budge on immigrant tuition.

Jewel part of NCAA women's Final Four activities

DENVER (AP) — Singer Jewel is set to perform a free concert as part of activities surrounding the NCAA Women's Final Four basketball tournament in Denver.

The concert is planned for March 31 in the Colorado Convention Center.

The NCAA women's basketball championship will be decided April 3.

TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1981, eight people were killed when a fire set by a busboy broke out at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel-casino.

TODAY’S HAPPENINGS

- Forgotten Female Felons,” 11 a.m., Old Colorado City History Center, 1 S. 24th St., $2.

- “Let’s Play Chess” all ages chess and checkers club, 3:30-5 p.m., Briargate Branch Library, 9475 Briar Village Point, free.

- Teen fiction writer’s club, 4-5:45 p.m., Rockrimmon Library Branch, 832 Village Center Drive, free.

- “2nd Friday ArtWalk,” 5-8 p.m., Cottonwood on Tejon, 8 S. Tejon St.

- Black Rose Acoustic Society open stage headlined by Mountain Holler Bluegrass Band, 7 p.m., Black Forest Community Center, 12530 Black Forest Road, $4-$7.

- The Martini Shot, 9:30 p.m., SouthSide Johnny’s, 528 S. Tejon St.