SUNRISE: Police looking for Game Stop robbery suspect

Colorado Springs police say the Game Stop, at 1580 Space Center Drive, was robbed Thursday night by an armed man.

Just before 9 p.m. a man in his 20s came into the business, pulled a handgun, and demanded cash from an employee, according to police.  He got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and drove away in a dark-colored, late-model Honda sedan.

The store employee was not injured and police have not found the suspect.

Need breakfast? Grab a cinnamon twist

The Gazette’s Linda Navarro likes to tempt herself at Marigold Café and Bakery.  You can, too — but you might want to avert your eyes as you walk into this popular French Bistro-style restaurant to grab a cinnamon twist. En route to the breakfast pastries, you might just get waylaid by some killer mousse cakes:  Double Chocolate Mousse Cake, Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake, German Chocolate Mousse or even that Black Forest Chocolate Cake. Ignore them, if you can, until after lunch or dinner.

Be sure to get there early, to snag a cinnamon twist before they’re gone. The bakery opens at 8 a.m. and is at 4605 Centennial Blvd.

Read more about foodie hot-spots in Colorado Springs in the 2012 Dining Guide.

Celebrating The Bird

The Air Force Academy men’s basketball game against UNLV Saturday night will double as a birthday bash for The Bird, the team’s mascot. Mascots from all around the Pikes Peak region will be on the court to celebrate.

Saturday night is also Youth Night and the first 700 kids to walk into the arena will get a replica Falcon basketball jersey. Read about other special deals with the AFA team.

Game starts at 7 p.m. at the Clune Arena at the academy. Call 472-1895 for tickets.

BEST OF THE SITES

• outtherecolorado.com: Wallisch completes comeback with Winter X victory
• coloradosprings.com: Eight options for celebrating Valentine’s Day
• pikespeakparent.com: Would you let your 9-year-old daughter date?
• springsmilitarylife.com: Joe Biden writes kids’ book as tribute to troops
• gazettepreps.com: Johnson takes over at Vista Ridge after school initially chooses a different candidate

WEATHER

Friday should be a blustery, chilly day, according to the National Weather Service. There is a 30 percent chance of snow flurries—but at 6 a.m., skies appeared to be clear. If the clouds ever to accumulate, then gusts from 10 to 20 mph should blow them away.

The high Friday is expected to be 38 degrees, with an overnight low of 13 degrees. Temperatures will climb back up over the weekend, into the mid-40s and high-50s.

AROUND COLORADO

Judge denies effort to block abortion protester

DENVER (AP) — A judge denied the federal government's request to keep a longtime anti-abortion protester from being able to stop cars and talk to drivers as they enter Denver's Planned Parenthood center.

U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer late Thursday rejected the U.S. Justice Department's argument that Kenneth Scott's actions make it "unreasonably difficult" for patients and employees to get to the clinic.

Washington, D.C.-based attorney Gayle Winsome argued that a 1994 law protecting access to abortion clinics requires that Scott be at least 25 feet away from the entrance, in this case a driveway leading to the clinic.

Scott's attorneys argued his actions were protected speech.

Tuition for illegal immigrants gets initial nod

DENVER (AP) — Democratic lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill letting Colorado illegal immigrants qualify for college tuition that's lower than the out-of-state rate.

The bill passed a Senate committee Thursday on a party-line vote with Republicans against. It's expected to clear the full Senate. A bigger challenge will be the Republican-led House.

Senate Bill 15 is the sixth time Colorado lawmakers have debated what benefits illegal immigrant students should receive. The bill gives colleges the option of creating a third tuition category for illegal immigrant students who have graduated from a state high school after. The students also must sign an affidavit saying they are seeking legal status.

Tuition for illegal immigrants would be a bit higher than the in-state rate, but lower than out-of-state.

Tribes talk with Colorado on Animas-La Plata water

DENVER (AP) — Colorado and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are getting closer to finalizing a contract for the state to pay for its share of water from the Animas-La Plata Project and costs for building it.

Colorado's Legislature has authorized paying $36 million to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for its share of 10,460 acre-feet of water, plus interest on construction costs. But the interest has been building, and the $36 million likely won't cover everything Colorado owes. The sides have been negotiating on what Colorado will pay.

Ryan Christianson of the bureau says that following a meeting with state officials last week, he is optimistic a final contract could be reached this year. Another date for negotiations has not yet been set.

Wildlife officials consider wolves to control elk

ALAMOSA, Colo. (AP) — Federal officials are considering using wolves to control the number of elk in the Baca National Wildlife Refuge.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service planner Laurie Shannon says it's not the preferred alternative, but it's an option.

Researchers have cited the 1996 reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park for culling elk herds and restoring park lands.

According to the Pueblo Chieftain (http://bit.ly/x5FxbA ), the proposal is opposed by ranchers, hunters and some politicians.

Bankruptcy filings decreasing

DENVER (AP) — Fewer Colorado consumers and businesses filed for bankruptcy protection last year, down for the first time in five years.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court's Colorado district reported nearly 30,000 cases last year, down from more than the 32,000 cases filed in 2010.

According to the Denver Post (http://bit.ly/z81fdH ), the decline was the first since 2006, when filings dropped sharply after stricter bankruptcy rules went into effect.

Bankruptcy court chief clerk Brad Bolton says the decrease may not be all good. He says creditors may be waiting until borrowers have more assets they can recover.

JFK hearse joins collection of famous cars

BOULDER (AP) — A hearse that once carried the body of former President John F. Kennedy may eventually go on display with a number of other famous vehicles.

Boulder developer Stephen Tebo paid $176,000 at an Arizona auction for the hearse, which joins his collection of about 400 other cars.

The hearse transported Kennedy's body from a Dallas hospital to the airport after his assassination in November 1963.

According to the Boulder Daily Camera (http://bit.ly/vZnBtW), Tebo hopes to open a museum in the next five to 10 years, featuring the hearse, a Rolls-Royce limousine used by John Lennon, a Jeep driven by Frank Sinatra, a Batmobile and the taxi from "Seinfeld."

TODAY'S HAPPENINGS

-- “Art of Archival Framing” workshop, presented by Christine Clovin, 6 p.m., Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., Studio 133, free.

-- “Custom Invites Demo,” adults can design custom invitations online, 6-7 p.m., local Michaels Stores, free.

-- “Gold Leaf” workshop, presented by Lizz Driscoll, 6:30 p.m., Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., Studio 225, free.

-- B.J. Estares, 7-10 p.m., Cucuru Gallery Café, 2332 W. Colorado Ave.

-- D-Day Invasion Band, 7 p.m., Meadow Muffins, 2432 W. Colorado Ave., free cover.

-- “Stained Glass” workshop, presented by former Air Force Communications Officer, John Brown, 7 p.m., Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado Ave., Studio 240, free.

-- Black Rose Acoustic Society open stage headlined by Duncan Phillips and Long Gone, CD release tribute to Utah Phillips, 7 p.m., Black Forest Community Center, 12530 Black Forest Road, $4-$7.

-- The Ticket, 9:30 p.m., Southside Johnny’s, 528 S. Tejon St.