Part of Marksheffel Road in Colorado Springs to close next two weekends

KRDO on April 25, 2025

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A full closure overnight Thursday on north Marksheffel Road will continue between Friday night and Monday morning, as part of an ongoing widening project.

The closure was to start at 7 p.m. and end at 5:30 a.m. on Marksheffel between Dublin Boulevard and Stetson Hills Boulevard; that segment will remain closed throughout the weekend.

Gayle Sturdivant, the city’s deputy public works director, explained the reason for the extended closure.

“The contractor’s going to be installing deep storm sewer systems across the roadway,” she said. “It’s pretty deep. It’s between 15 and 20 feet deep. It’s going to be in multiple places crossing the roadway.”

Crews didn’t have Thursday’s closure fully in place until around 7:30 p.m., and there was some initial confusion and frustration from northbound Marksheffel drivers who were detoured into a neighborhood off Tarren Heights.

“It’s all dead ends,” several drivers said. “There’s no other way out.”

Thursday’s closure was to end at 5:30 a.m., but KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior arrived at 4:30 and found the barricades removed and traffic going through.

Sturdivant said that a similar closer is also scheduled for next weekend, to be followed by a traffic change at the Marksheffel/Dublin intersection.

“You’re going to see some traffic reconfiguration at the Dublin and Marksheffel intersection,” she said. “So, what’s that going to look like? You’re going to have one lane in each direction, going north and south through the intersection. So, it’s going to work a little bit differently than it does today. And that’s going to be necessary to finish utility work.”

Crews started the project in summer 2023 to widen three miles of Marksheffel from two to four lanes between Dublin and North Carefree Circle, at a cost of $60 million.

The segment between North Carefree to and Tamlin Road is finished; Tamlin east of Marksheffel is closed for reconstruction and should reopen this summer; the entire project is scheduled for completion late next year.

Widening Marksheffel became a priority because of growth on the city’s northeast side, fueled by continued home construction in and around the Banning Lewis Ranch subdivision.

Previously, Marksheffel’s north end stopped at Woodmen Road; it now extends 1.5 miles to Vollmer Road and will eventually connect to Black Forest Road.

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Arbor Day activities

KIFI on April 25, 2025

Maggie Moore

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – April 25 is Arbor Day. The holiday is celebrated the last Friday in April and started in 1872.

Arbor Day started as a tree planting day in Nebraska. Prizes were given out to people who planted the most trees that day. Over a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. President Theodore Roosevelt declared Arbor Day as a national holiday in 1907.

Local Celebrations

The city of Ammon is hosting an Arbor Day celebration Friday at Bridgewater Park. Celebrations start at 11:30, the city will be planting trees in the park and then giving out a hot dog lunch and Colorado spruce seedlings.

The Idaho Forest Products Commission also has a lot of great ways to celebrate. They’re giving away thousands of seedlings across the state including in Idaho Falls, Chubbuck, and Blackfoot. You can find a list of locations here.

IFPC also has lots of activities for students to learn about trees and conservation on their website, including a free coloring sheet to print out.

IFPC also hosts the Arbor Day youth photo contest. You can see this year’s winners here.

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Local artist and cosplayers meet with KRDO13 ahead of Pueblo Mini-Con

KRDO on April 25, 2025

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The second-annual Mini-Con returns to Pueblo Sunday morning to bring local authors, artists and cosplayers to a city without a brick-and-mortar comic book shop.

“We started this two years ago when all the comic book stores closed in pueblo. We have some pop ups, but nothing like what you see behind me,” Mini-Con organizer Doug Kenyon said while speaking at the Vault 35 comic shop in Colorado Springs.

The Mini-Con starts at 11 a.m. at the Sangre de Cristo arts center. It’s free for everyone to attend.

“Tell me why you like drawing comic book art?” KRDO13’s Bradley Davis asked local artist, Bishop Russ.

“Well, it’s the only thing I know how to do. I don’t think I could do anything other than make art,” Russ said.

Every featured guest has roots in Colorado, including Star Trek star Randy James, Dragon Ball Z english voice actor Mark “Kidwok” Britten and the wife of legendary sci-fi artist Colin Cantwell with his original sketches of the Death Star, Tie Fighter, Millennium Falcon and more.

The event is a precursor to national Free Comic Book Day on May 4. Vault 35 will have three actors from the Orville TV series and free comics to give away along with other local artists and vendors.

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Pope Francis memorial mass held at cathedral in Jefferson City

KMIZ on April 25, 2025

Euphenie Andre

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Memorial mass was held for Pope Francis at the Cathedral of St. Joseph on Main St. in Jefferson City at noon on Friday.

“We know that time is perfect in the eyes of God, and it was the perfect time for him to join and leave his legacy behind,” church member Litz Main said.

The service, held on the eve of the Pope’s funeral in Vatican City, was led by Archbishop-designate Shawn McKnight along with priests from across the Diocese of Jefferson City.

“I look forward to carrying on the vision of Pope Francis,” the Rev. Shawn McKnight said. “His dream for the Church is that every parish, every community becomes an oasis where people on the long journey of life, who are tired, hungry, and thirsty both physically and spiritually, can find refuge.”

McKnight said he was in disbelief when he first heard the news of the pontiff’s death early Monday morning.

“At first, when I read about it at 3 a.m. on social media, I didn’t think it was true,” McKnight said. “I thought it was fake news, because we had just seen him on Easter Sunday delivering the Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square.”

He last saw the pope in 2020 during a meeting between bishops and various departments of the Vatican.

“I met with Pope Francis in January 2020 just before COVID hit, and it was what we call an ad limina visit every five years or so, the bishops gather and meet with the Holy Father and all the departments in the Vatican.”

Francis’ funeral will take place in St. Peter’s Square, before his body is taken to the basilica, on the other side of the river in central Rome, for burial.

After Saturday’s funeral, McKnight said that the Catholic Church will enter a traditional period of mourning and prayer that will last eight-to-nine days. Once that period ends, the process of selecting a new pope will begin.

“After the cardinals have gathered and openly discussed the needs of the church in a public fashion and listened to one another, then they go into the Sistine Chapel and the doors are locked,” McKnight said. “From that point on, it’s something of a mystery.”

Months ago, the Diocese of Jefferson City had already planned a pilgrimage to Rome. That group is scheduled to depart on May 5 and arrive the following day.

“We will be arriving May 6th, which could be the day the new Holy Father is elected and revealed or even the day after,” McKnight said. “So we’re hopeful we might be there in person to see our new pope.”

After that pilgrimage, McKnight will return to Rome at the end of June to receive the pallium, a special liturgical vestment symbolizing his role as an archbishop. It will be presented by the next pope.

“I feel as though I’m becoming a natural bridge between two pontificates,” he said.

In addition to a new pope, the Catholic Church in Jefferson City is also preparing for change closer to home. Earlier this month, Pope Francis appointed McKnight as the next leader of the Kansas City, Kansas Diocese.

“Bishop McKnight also follows the step of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. he is in alignment with his thinking and we know that he leaving behind also a legacy,” Main said

Church members said they are excited to see what’s next and who McKnight will appoint.

People can also gather at the Cathedral of St. Joseph to watch the funeral of Pope Francis at 3 a.m. Saturday.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you think Josh Simmons is a good pick for the Chiefs?

KMIZ on April 25, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Kansas Chiefs traded back a spot and ended up drafting Josh Simmons, an offensive lineman from Ohio State, with their first pick of this year’s NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Do you think he’s a good pick for the Chiefs? Let us know in the poll and in the comments.

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Large police presence in west Columbia early Friday morning

KMIZ on April 25, 2025

Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A large police presence was seen in west Columbia early Friday morning on Claudell Ln.

An ABC 17 News videographer arrived to the scene around 2:30 a.m., and saw a person get taken out of an apartment and put into an ambulance.

ABC 17 News three Columbia Police Department vehicles, a MU Health Care ambulance and a fire truck in the area of Claudell Ln.

We have reached out for more information. Check back later for updates.

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Sand City Volleyball Club headed to National Championship for fourth straight year

KION on April 25, 2025

Maxwell Glenn

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION) – The Sand City Volleyball Club’s 18 Gold girls’ team will be traveling to Utah for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship.

The team is comprised of some of the best talents from around the Central Coast, but also includes skilled players from outside the area, like Ava Van Brasch from San Luis Obispo.

“I think it just shows how much we love this sport,” Van Brasch said. “How much we’re willing to dedicate parts of our lives for it.”

Van Brasch and others regularly make the commute to practice and play for the club.

Despite the distance, it’s a tight-knit group. That’s something that stands out to players like Natalie Mendoza.

“I think it is really important that we connect off the court, too, as well as on,” Mendoza said. “When you’re on the court, it all just makes sense.”

But it’s on the court where Hannah Garrett said the team ran into a variety of setbacks.

“Everyone was sick. We had hurt players,” Garrett said. “We had people with their backs hurt, people with hurt shoulders. We just came out, and we were down a lot in a lot of the sets, but we came back and won.”

The team persevered, qualifying at the NCVA Sierra National Qualifiers in Sacramento to punch their ticket to Nationals for a fourth straight year. Maya Giannini called it a special moment for the team.

“I think we’ve seen our downs and our ups, and I think we’ve overcome so much as a team that we can put our best foot forward to succeed in the tournament,” Giannini said.

SAND will begin competition at the three-day tournament, starting Friday, April 25.

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Banning Police asking for information on recent shootings

KESQ on April 25, 2025

Cynthia White

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – The Banning Police Department Detective Bureau is investigating several recent shootings, including a shooting that killed one man and injured another in the 100 block of North 8th Street near West Ramsey Street.

News Channel 3 had coverage of that shooting outside of a liquor store on April 14, now being investigated as a homicide.

The detectives are asking the public for any information about these shootings – The other shootings reported are:

3/15/25 – 2200 block of W. Wilson Street (25-482)

3/15/25 – 1200 block of W. Westward Avenue (25-484)

3/16/25 – 900 block of W. Hays Street (25-488)

3/16/25 – 900 block of W. Hays Street (25-491)

4/18/25 – 300 block of E. Nicolet Street (25-742)

4/23/25 – 200 block N. 4th Street (25-777)

Police are asking that anyone with information related to these active investigations please contact the Banning Police Department Detective Bureau at 951-922-3170.

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Dons and Owls advance in CIF-SS Beach Volleyball playoffs

KEYT on April 25, 2025

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –

CIF-Southern Section Beach Volleyball Playoffs

Division 2 Second Round

Santa Barbara 3, St. Joseph/Lakewood 2

Wilson/Long Beach 3, Dos Pueblos 2

(Santa Barbara hosts Wilson/LB in quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 29).

Division 3 Second Round:

Laguna Blanca 5, Pacifica Christian/OC 0

(Laguna Blanca is at Long Beach Poly in quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 29).

Canyon/Anaheim 3, Camarillo 2

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Season ends for UCSB Volleyball in a 5-set first round heartbreaker at Big West Championship

KEYT on April 25, 2025

Mike Klan

HONOLULU, Hawai’i. – The fifth-seeded UC Santa Barbara Men’s Volleyball team (12-16) played fourth-seeded UC San Diego (18-11) in the first round of the Big West Championship on Thursday night. The teams battled to five sets, with the winner slated to take on No. 1 Long Beach State tomorrow in the semifinals. In an exciting back-and-forth match, the Tritons ultimately edged the Gauchos 20-25, 27-25, 25-22, 23-25, 15-13.

HOW IT HAPPENEDIn last match’s Senior Night sweep over No. 3 Hawai’i, all six active seniors—and Ben Pearson—got the start. McLaughlin rewarded them for their performance, running it back with the same lineup to start this match against the Tritons.

Early in the first set, Pearson served an ace—foreshadowing his efforts a bit later—to help the Gauchos to a 5-2 start. Ben Coordt and Sam Meister made it 8-6 with a double block, and Santa Barbara held that slight lead into the media timeout. Pearson served another ace to send it there, up 15-12, then continued his run with two more serves resulting in San Diego overpasses and subsequent Santa Barbara kills. The Tritons went on a 4-0 run from there, though, before tying things at 19-all. The Gauchos would not let them take the lead, rattling off four in a row to take a commanding 23-19 advantage. A Triton attack error sealed a 1-0 start for Santa Barbara—25-20.

Set two was incredibly competitive. The teams traded nearly every consecutive point into a 15-14 Gauchos lead at the media timeout, with the previous four Gaucho points coming on Coordt kills. Out of it, Meister and setter Jack Walmer put up a roof before another attack error by Tritons star Anthony Cherfan forced a San Diego timeout. Three straight from the Tritons tied it at 18, continuing to 23-23. Then, the left-handed Geste Bianchi cut a perfect serve that landed on the line for an ace, forcing set point. After a San Diego point, Coordt’s eighth kill of the set brought set point number two. The Tritons then won three in a row to win an extra-point, 27-25 second set.

Like the first set, Pearson served an ace early in the third to contribute to a 5-2 Gauchos lead. A Bianchi-Owen Birg block made the score 12-11 Santa Barbara, right before a Bianchi-Birg-Pearson triple block to 13-12. After nine ties already in the set, the media timeout came at 15-14 Tritons. Naturally tied at 18 apiece, Bianchi’s 13th and Coordt’s 16th kills of the night gave the Gauchos a 20-18 lead. At 20-20, Santa Barbara won a crucial, lengthy rally, although it was their lone point in a 6-1 San Diego run. The Tritons would swing the match in their favor with a 25-22 victory.

In a must-win set, Santa Barbara used a 7-1 run to get out to a 9-5 lead. This time, the Gauchos went into the media timeout up by a handful, 15-10, after a Birg-Pearson-Walmer triple block thanks to a great serve from Meister. He then served an ace on the ensuing point, forcing a quick Tritons timeout. As 19-13 turned into 19-15 and 19-17, Santa Barbara called timeout at each checkpoint—San Diego ultimately tied it at 20-20. After the past three Gaucho points came on Triton service errors, a monster kill from Bianchi made it 23-22 Gauchos. Another kill by him forced set point at 24-23. On the ensuing rally, with four swings to clinch the set, a net violation on the Tritons won it for the Gauchos, 25-23.

Down 5-4 to start the fifth, Coordt and Meister went up for a huge block to tie it at five. As expected, the teams were already tied seven times by 9-9 after a Birg kill. San Diego ended the streak of 12 sideouts in a row, forcing a Gauchos timeout down 11-9. Coordt evaded a triple block to re-tie the score at 11 apiece, and a crucial Bianchi-Meister block tied it at 12. Ultimately, the Tritons advanced to the semifinals by winning the final two points for a 15-13 fifth set victory.

BY THE NUMBERSLibero Max Gordon was excellent, earning a career-high 17 digs, the most in any match between two Big West teams this season. Perhaps even more impressive, he already dug 10 by the end of the second set.Geste Bianchi led all players with 24 kills, while Ben Coordt (19, .286) and Ben Pearson (11, .400) reached double-digits, as well. Both Coordt and Pearson had eight digs, too.Middle blockers Owen Birg and Sam Meister collectively had 10 kills hitting .400. Birg led the team with six total blocks.Setter Jack Walmer tallied 55 assists (11 per set) and facilitated the offense to a .273 hitting percentage, but a .330 hitting percentage after the first set.

(Article courtesy of UCSB Athletics).

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