A rebound toward average temperatures Wednesday will occur around Colorado Springs.

“After yesterday’s cold front, we’re starting out our Wednesday cold and breezy,” Meteorologist Alan Rose with Gazette new partner KOAA said. “The wind will weaken during the morning hours, leaving us with light northerly breezes and cooler highs this afternoon.”

Daytime highs will only warm into the 30s, 40s and lower 50s across southern Colorado depending on where you live.

“Our high in Colorado Springs of 44 degrees on Wednesday will come up well short of our average high of 54 degrees,” Rose said.

High pressure will return late this week, boosting temperatures into the lower 60s in Colorado Springs and Pueblo on Thursday. Highs will cool slightly Friday, warming into the 50s on the Plains.

“A west Coast storm will send a cold front into Colorado on Saturday, with gusts to 25 mph on Pikes Peak, but no incoming rain or snow threatening plans this weekend,” Rose said.

Highs on Saturday will top out in the lower 50s, with upper 40s by Sunday in Colorado Springs.

“Early next week, we’re tracking another piece of energy from the west Coast storm,” he said. “The heaviest precipitation looks to stay mostly to our east, with smaller chances for rain and snow showers locally next Monday and Tuesday.”

DENVER — Three people were indicted on federal charges after they allegedly staged a hate crime hoax leading up to the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral run-off election, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced Tuesday.

Derrick Bernard, Jr., 35, Ashely Blackcloud, 40, and Deanna West, 38, were each charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and using fire to intimidate, according to our sister station, KOAA News5, in Colorado Springs.

The indictment stems from the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral run-off election between Yemi Mobolade, who is Black, and Wayne Williams, who is white. Mobolade would go on to win the election.

Mobolade and Williams were not named in the indictment or the announcement. Instead, Mobolade was identified as Candidate 1 while Williams was identified as Candidate 2.

Bernard, Blackcloud and West were affiliated with a group called Family Flavors the Slide, which “marketed itself as a minority-owned independent broadcasting and multi-media organization,” according to News5.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), after the initial election but before the run-off, Bernard sent a message to Blackcloud and West that he was “mobilizing my squad in defense. Black ops style big brother.” He also referenced a desire to prevent “the klan” from gaining political control of Colorado Springs, according to the USAO.

In the early hours of April 23, 2023, the three allegedly staged a burning cross in front of a campaign sign for Mobolade, which had been defaced with a racial slur. The three then allegedly spread false information about the event to several news and civic organizations. News5 was one of the news organizations that obtained video of the burning.

According to News5’s Alasyn Zimmerman, the indictment states Bernard at one point messaged Mobolade on social media saying he was “mobilizing his squadron.”

“I know it’s crunch time sir but look . . . I spoke with some of my friends in other places and theirs [sic] a plot amidst . . . I’m mobilizing my squadron in defense and for the final push. Black ops style big brother. The klan cannot be allowed to run this city again.”

Zimmerman reports that the indictment does not say whether Mobolade responded to the message or if Family Flavors the Slide was affiliated with his campaign.

Blackcloud made her initial appearance in federal court in Denver on Tuesday. Bernard is in state custody and will appear in federal court after he is transferred to federal custody. The USAO said investigators are searching for West, who is considered a fugitive.

News5 reached out to Mobolade’s office for a comment and was told the mayor was out of town.

ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich believes here is no question that Colorado has a clear path to the College Football Playoff. The Buffaloes are currently in second place in the Big 12 conference with three games remaining, making them in control of their own destiny to reach the conference title game.

Under the new rules for the 12-team CFP, the five highest-ranked conference championship earn automatic bids to the playoff. Give that Colorado’s remaining games all come against teams that have won two or less Big 12 contests, their odds to reach the Big 12 Championship are high.

“Very realistic because the five highest-ranked conference champs are in the playoffs,” Dinich said on SportsCenter. “If Colorado runs the table, which ESPN analytics projects they will because it gives the Buffaloes at least a 50% chance to win each of their remaining games, then they’re gonna play BYU in the Big 12 Championship game.

“I don’t care if they have two losses or four losses. If they win the league, they are in the College Football Playoff. Where it could get interesting is if BYU is in that game undefeated and has one loss as the Big 12 runner up. Does the Big 12 get two teams in? It’s a good possibility but it also depends on what happens everywhere else.”

The Buffaloes are coming off of a 41-27 victory against Texas Tech over the weekend. They also have a Heisman Trophy candidate in Travis Hunter, who currently leads the odds while posting 856 yards receiving and nine touchdowns as well as two interceptions, seven passes defended and a forced fumble on defense.

Colorado came in at No. 20 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, but they are likely to move up with the rankings set to be announced Tuesday evening. In the end though, only winning out matters as that will secure their spot regardless of where they land.

Colorado next faces Utah at noon ET on Saturday in Boulder.