Colorado
Colorado man and woman who were arrested out of state face charges in 2 southern Colorado killings
Authorities in Mississippi arrested a 46-year-old man this week on charges related to the killing of his 37-year-old housemate in southern Colorado and separate charges of killing another man. Johnny Rankin Morris was arrested along with Hailey Cole, 43, who also faces charges in the second murder case.
Morris is being held without bond until he is extradited back to Colorado, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Morris is charged with murder in the death of his housemate Stephen Walker. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation says Morris and Hailey Cole, 43, also face charges of killing Timmy Huston of Hartsel, Colorado.
The arrests of Morris and Cole in Poplarville, Mississippi, on Monday follow a multiple-week investigation in Colorado’s El Paso County which started out as a missing person case.
The missing person investigation began on Dec. 19 at a home in the Cimarron Hills community in an unincorporated part of the county. The home is on the 1800 block of Pima Drive and blood was found in the garage. Five days later police found first the car of Walker and then body of Walker in what the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office called a “wooded area” in neighboring Park County. On the same day, about a mile-and-a-half away, Huston was found dead in his home.
Police say they think Morris and Cole drove Huston’s pickup truck out of state. Last weekend the truck was found in Lamar County, Mississippi. Two days later the pair was arrested.
An arrest warrant was issued in the Walker case, and on Friday the sheriff’s office announced that Morris faces the following charges in Walker’s death:
– first-degree murder
– tampering with a deceased human body
– tampering with physical evidence
The Colorado Bureau of investigation said on Friday an arrest warrant was issued for Morris and Cole on the following charges relating to Huston’s death:
– first-degree murder
– aggravated robbery
– motor vehicle theft
– tampering with evidence
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal called Walker’s death a “tragic situation” in a news release.
“I speak for my entire Office when I say our heartfelt prayers are with Mr. Walker’s family and friends as they navigate this,” he said in a prepared statement. “Although there is no way to ease their broken hearts, we hope to ease their burden by holding the individual who senselessly took Stephen’s life accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
A judge has sealed the arrest documents in the Walker case.
Anyone who has information about the investigation who thinks they can help the sheriff’s office in the ongoing investigations is asked to call their tip line at 719-520-7777.
Colorado
Avalanche Signs Beckman | Colorado Avalanche
DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Adam Beckman to a two-year contract through the 2027-28 season.
Beckman, 25, played for the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Islanders in 2025-26, recording 51 points (30g/21a) in 68 contests. The forward’s 30 tallies paced the Bridgeport club and marked a professional career-high. Beckman also ranked among Bridgeport-leaders in points (2nd) and assists (T-5th), and landed tied for sixth in goals among all AHL skaters. He picked up one point (0g/1a) in two Calder Cup Playoff Contests this season.
Originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the third round (75th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft, Beckman’s professional career has included 23 regular-season NHL appearances with the Wild where he registered three points (0g/3a) between 2020-21 and 2023-24. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 30, 2021 at Colorado and notched his first NHL point less than a week later on Nov. 6 at Pittsburgh with an assist (0g/1a).
A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Beckman has collected 199 points (104g/95a) through 304 regular-season AHL games with Bridgeport (2024-26), Utica Comets (2024-25) and Iowa Wild (2020-2024). Additionally, he has picked up two points (1g/1a) in four Calder Cup Playoff contests.
Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot-2, 192-pound left wing played parts of four seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, amassing 196 points (97g/99a) across 153 regular-season games. He collected 12 points (8g/4a) in 15 games in the Chiefs’ 2018-19 playoff run. In the 2019-20 campaign, Beckman received the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s top scorer with 107 points (48g/59a) over 63 regular-season contests, and also earned the Four Broncos Trophy as WHL player of the year. Additionally, he paced the circuit in goals and was named to the 2019-20 Western Conference First All-Star Team for his performance.
Colorado
Where to watch Miami Marlins vs Colorado Rockies: TV channel, start time, streaming for July 1
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Wednesday as the Miami Marlins visit the Colorado Rockies.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Miami Marlins vs Colorado Rockies?
First pitch between the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, July 1.
How to watch Miami Marlins vs Colorado Rockies on Wednesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 6:34 a.m.
- Matchup: MIA at COL
- Date: Wednesday, July 1
- Time: 8:40 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Coors Field
- Location: Denver, Colorado
- TV: Rockies.TV and Marlins.TV
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for July 1 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
Colorado
Smokey skies and critical fire danger conditions continue in southern Colorado
- Very hot and dry ahead
- Fire weather highlights issued
- Fire danger continues into Independence Day
TUESDAY NIGHT: Winds will slow down a little bit into the overnight hours letting elevated fire conditions ease slightly. Overnight lows will be in the 50s and 60s.
WEDNESDAY: The morning will be less hazy, but that will quickly change with more smoke being dragged across the I-25 corridor with gusts up the 45 MPH. Hot temperatures in the 80s and 90s are expected with very low humidity too. Red flag warnings are active from 10 AM until 10 PM.
Download the KKTV 11 Alert Weather App here:
THURSDAY: Fire weather watches are active for now, but I think those will be upgraded to red flag warnings. Gusty winds, low humidity and temperatures in the 90s and triple digits are expected for some.
FRIDAY: Very similar conditions are expected for Friday compared to Thursday. Very hot temperatures still stick around with gusty winds and low humidity.
THE WEEKEND: The Fourth of July will be hot, windy and dry. Sunday will be the first day that southern Colorado sees any sort of chance for moisture on the horizon.
Copyright 2026 KKTV. All rights reserved.
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