Two major street projects in Cañon City: One finished, one halfway completed

KRDO on September 16, 2025

Scott Harrison

CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) — Crews are in their third month on the city’s biggest paving job of the season, so pardon their dust.

They’re repaving a half mile of Justice Center Road, between US 50 and Grandview Lane, on the eastern edge of town.

The two-lane street was last repaved in 1998 and had shown every bit of its age, with numerous potholes, crumbling asphalt, and in some places, no sidewalks or curbs at all.

As its name denotes, the road is home to key departments such as the Cañon City police, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, jail and courthouse, the Department of Human Services, and several other agencies — all on the north end.

On the south end are two churches and an apartment complex.

Workers are gutting the street, removing old asphalt and concrete, and installing new curbs, gutters, and sidewalks.

The project is around halfway finished; crews have paved the southern end and are now focusing on the northern end, which also leads to a shopping center containing a movie theater.

Construction requires allowing only one lane of southbound traffic through the area, and drivers can detour east or west at the Grandview intersection.

“We’re looking at about 4 to 6 more weeks of construction,” said Leo Evans, the city’s public works director. “The job’s been going pretty well, but obviously we’re getting into the heavier impacts now that we’re working north.”

KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior spoke with several people who said that the benefits far outweigh the inconveniences.

“Potholes are all gone, and for the workers, we now have a sidewalk that we are able to utilize and take walks on, instead of on the dirt,” said Dena Lucero. “It’s wonderful!”

Cameron Wormgoor agrees.

“Just because I can’t be comfortable all the time, doesn’t mean that we don’t keep building or keep fixing what’s broken,” he said. “We invest in the future.”

The city’s other major project was a $3 million revitalization of five blocks of the historic downtown area.

That project started in February and was supposed to be completed in time for the annual Music & Blossom Festival in late April, but was slowed by numerous weather delays.

The city hopes to kick off another paving project this fall, on the north end of 9th Street; that work will continue through next June.

It will cover 1.5 miles between College Avenue and Washington Street, and include replacing part of an existing water main.

The cost could run as high as $14 million, but some of it will be covered by federal funding acquired by the city.

“We get a lot of complaints about that street,” Evans said.

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Colorado Springs artist hopes to get people out of their comfort zone and into an easel

KRDO on September 16, 2025

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A young local artist is turning in his page-sized comic book drawings for his own studio, where he helps beginners walk out with their own paintings worthy of a picture frame.

“It makes me feel like that was my purpose,” said “Yes, You Can Paint!” Instructor and owner Bishop Russ. “I realized I got more enjoyment from giving people the artwork and inspiring them through art rather than the art itself.”

Russ just opened his store in the Chapel Hills Mall earlier this month. He’s painted the walls with floor-to-ceiling murals, except for one he left blank for his students to sign after finishing their class.

“When they take those pictures, or when they walk out of the class, you can tell those smiles are real, and that’s a big honor. To give them something that they never thought they could do.” 

Russ shared his methods with KRDO13’s Bradley Davis and helped him paint his very own ghost portrait.

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Suspect dressed in apparent scuba gear breaks into Disney Springs restaurant

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By Matt Leonard

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    LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (WESH) — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a restaurant at Disney Springs was robbed early Monday morning.

According to the sheriff’s office, the Paddlefish restaurant reported a robbery shortly after midnight on Monday.

In an incident report shared with WESH 2, the victims said an unknown man entered the restaurant after it closed and took cash from the restaurant.

In the incident report, the suspect is described as a man weighing about 160 pounds and standing at about 5 feet, 10 inches.

In a photo shared alongside the report, the suspect appears to be wearing blue rubber gloves, a black cap and small goggles over his eyes. The victims described the suspect as wearing all black and socks, but no shoes.

Nobody was injured during the robbery.

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Deputies rescue two people from car submerged in canal

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By Ari Hait

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    MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — Deputies in Martin County are being called heroes after racing into a canal to rescue two people stuck in an overturned car.

Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek said it happened off of Rt. 714 in the northwestern section of the county.

“If you’ve been out there, you know it’s dark and desolate out there,” Budensiek said.

The Sheriff said a husband and wife were driving on Rt. 714 Saturday night, around 10:30 p.m., when they were hit by another car that just kept going.

“Looks like it was sort of clipped in the back, spun out of control, left the road, rotated over onto its roof, and landed in a canal,” Budensiek said.

The area where this happened is very rural, with the roads surrounded by thick brush.

Budensiek said that the brush made it extremely difficult for deputies to initially find the car, even after the people inside had called 911.

“Even knowing the area where that vehicle was supposed to be, couldn’t find it,” Budensiek said. “They drove up and down the road and eventually heard a horn honking.”

Once they were able to locate the vehicle, Budensiek said deputies wasted no time going into the canal to rescue the people trapped inside the vehicle that was quickly filling with water.

“The car was submerged but not fully submerged,” Budensiek said. “So, they were able to maintain the ability to breathe.”

Deputies busted out the windows of the car and pulled the couple to safety.

“God was looking out for them,” Budensiek said. “They were in a rural part of Martin County. They left the road. They ended up in a spot where no one would have found them. If they’d been knocked unconscious and fully submerged, they would have drowned in that car.”

Investigators are still searching for the vehicle that hit the car, sending it into the canal.

The sheriff said the only description they have of that vehicle is a “white, work-type vehicle.”

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Residents express fear after what police call ‘gang-related’ shootings outside bowling alley

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By Michelle Bandur

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    LODI, California (KCRA) — A suspected gang-related shooting outside the Lodi Bowling Lounge and Bar on Sunday night has left two victims in critical but stable condition, according to police, with two suspects arrested on charges of attempted murder and weapons offenses.

Detectives identified Pete Martinez, 18, from Stockton, and a 16-year-old boy as the suspects, both booked on charges of attempted murder and weapons charges.

Despite the arrests, residents and visitors in Lodi are expressing concerns about safety in the area. Jessica Sanchez, a local mother, shared her concerns.

“I’m worried that the city’s falling apart,” said Jessica Sanchez, a Lodi resident and mother.

Sanchez explained that her children frequently visit downtown Lodi, but she is apprehensive about their safety.

“My kids are out here almost every day out here downtown. They want to hang out. And it’s really scary because I tell them all the time, I don’t want them to hang out here,” she said. “You never know what’s going to happen. And for it to happen so close at the bowling alley.”

The sound of gunshots on Sunday night has left many residents feeling uneasy.

Kasandra Medina, who planned to go bowling Monday night, found the bowling alley closed with boarded-up windows.

“I’m a little scared. I’m usually not scared of anything,” Medina said.

Brandon Cawley met Medina to go bowling and said he is not surprised by the gun violence. Having served in the military, he shared his heightened sense of vigilance.

“I was in the military 2010 to 2014, so I’m kind of always on edge with safety,” he said. “Even right now, I’m just looking around.”

Sanchez reiterated her concerns about the unpredictability of violence.

“You never know. You never know when someone’s going to drive by and shoot somebody, or when a fight breaks out and it turns into a shooting. You don’t know who has guns,” Sanchez said.

Lodi Bowling Lounge and Bar made a statement on Facebook:

“With a heavy heart we would like to address the tragic and senseless act of violence that occurred at our establishment last night. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We are devastated by this incident and offer our deepest condolences to everyone affected.

Our business has always been a place for community, and to have that peace shattered by this violence is deeply disturbing. We are working closely with the Lodi Police Department to aid in their investigation and will provide any information necessary to bring those responsible to justice.

Our business will remain closed temporarily. We will take this time to mourn with our community. During the closure, we will be working closely with our security team to conduct a comprehensive review and enhancement of security procedures. The goal is to ensure the highest possible safety standards for employees and patrons upon reopening. Our team is like a family, and we are arranging counseling and support resources for all our staff who have been traumatized by this event.

We would like to thank our Security Team and the Lodi Police Department for their swift response and support they have provided.

We are a resilient community, and we will not allow fear to win. We will reopen our doors very soon, and we will do so with a renewed commitment to providing a safe and welcoming space for everyone. Thank you for your support and understanding.”

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‘This is our livelihood’: Police searching for 2 men who stole $25K worth of Pokémon trading cards

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By Tommie Clark

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    ELDERSBURG, Maryland (WBAL) — A game store owner said two people stole $25,000 worth of Pokémon trading cards from her.

Now, police are trying to catch the suspects who were seen laughing on surveillance video.

“It’s not funny. It’s not a joke. This is our livelihood,” said Storm Crow Games co-owner Samantha Clark.

Surveillance video shows the inside of Samantha and Tyler Clark’s store on Sept. 6, when the store was packed with people. Then, the suspects walked to the back of the store, pretending to sign up for an event. Instead, video shows them sneaking into the back office.

“They knew everything that was right to say. They said, ‘Oh, we are here to play in the event and everything that’s going on,'” Tyler Clark said.

The owners said the suspects stole three high-value binders containing at least 1,000 Pokémon trading cards worth around $25,000. The rare cards are part of a popular franchise and were only in-store for a special trade day.

“It just happened, the timing for it was terrible — awful — because we normally don’t even have anything that’s that expensive back there,” Tyler Clark said.

The men left with the stash in a backpack, all in a matter of minutes.

Game stores across the area have seen similar incidents, including two Ellicott City businesses. They reported thefts the same day as Storm Crow Games.

“I’m hopeful that they’re going to get caught, prosecuted. I’m not hopeful for getting the individual cards back. A lot of them are super rare or hard to replace,” Samantha Clark said.

The Clarks said they’ve put everything into their small business and the stolen cards hit hard.

The two recently found out insurance is covering less than half of the stolen amount.

However, since the incident, the community has been showing up. Some are donating their own collections to help the Clarks.

“I kind of got upset, and I knew I had a collection of cards just sitting around not doing anything with it. And I was like, ‘Hey, this isn’t anything compared to the amount of money they lost. But at least do something and at least let them know people are thinking of them,'” said John Fuller, a customer.

The game store has a GoFundMe to support the efforts to recoup some of the lost value.

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Esparto fireworks explosion prompts legislative and regulatory changes

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By Lee Anne Denyer

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    ESPARTO, California (KCRA) — More than two and a half months after a fireworks explosion in Esparto left seven men dead, officials are exploring legislative and regulatory changes to prevent future incidents.

As the California State Fire Marshal’s office is finalizing its report on the July 1 explosion, the office’s General Fireworks Advisory Committee met for the first time since the incident. The committee is comprised of representatives from the fireworks industry, state agencies, the fire service, and other stakeholders. Licensed pyrotechnic operators and members of the fireworks display industry, for example, are committee members.

“(Monday) was really important for us to formally brief them on where we are with this case,” State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant said of the investigation. “What happened in Esparto, while still under investigation, has already taught us that there were loopholes that were being used.”

It’s unclear at this point when the Office of the State Fire Marshal’s final report will be released. Berlant said Monday that his team is in the process of writing it and closely working with the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, but that he could not share a definitive date at this point as to when the report would be published.

Meanwhile, Berlant said the office is also actively working on revising its regulatory standards and best practices for fireworks licenses. This process was already underway, he said, before the explosion, but has been intensified given the gravity of what happened in Esparto.

“We know we are planning to make some regulatory change to ensure that any license holder in the state of California proves, with documentation, that they have their local permits to store fireworks,” Berlant said. “It’s required, but this makes sure that there’s that checks and balances, that they’re following the local requirements as they’re required to follow the state and federal requirements.”

California State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, who represents Esparto, also attended Monday’s meeting, sharing with members details about new legislation he’s introduced in response to the Esparto explosion.

“We’ve got to fix licensure loopholes, and we have to fix this gap between people saying they have local permits to store tons of explosives when they really don’t,” Cabaldon said.

If approved, the bill would require a fireworks licensee to provide to the State Fire Marshal documentation of local land use permits and information about how fireworks would be stored.

This bill would also authorize the State Fire Marshal to deny the application for a license or the application for renewal of a license to a person who served more than a year in prison for a violent crime in which public safety was threatened.

“It’s not an indictment of the entire fireworks industry by any means,” Cabaldon said. “It is a big wakeup call that this isn’t an isolated incident in the middle of rural Yolo County that nobody else should be paying attention to. It is a California-wide problem, and we’re putting people at risk.”

Cabaldon said he expects the bill will evolve as more information about the Esparto investigation is revealed, but his focus now is to ensure steps are being taken to ensure there is effective enforcement of the rules surrounding dangerous fireworks and that updated rules close loopholes that are already evident.

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Employee drowns in reservoir, officials say

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By Jonathan Ayestas

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    TUOLUMNE COUNTY, California (KCRA) — An employee with the Turlock Irrigation District drowned over the weekend while on duty at the Don Pedro Reservoir, officials said Monday.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies went to the lake near Moccasin Point around 11:37 a.m. Sunday for a report of a drowning. There, they had learned that 62-year-old Mitchell Rogers had gone under the water while swimming a rope out to a drifting boat, but he never resurfaced.

Deputies spoke with witnesses who showed them where Rogers was last seen, the sheriff’s office said. Those witnesses said Rogers was trying to retrieve an unattended boat drifting in the bay when he went underwater.

The sheriff’s office said its boating unit searched the area and found Rogers’ body underwater after a search that lasted more than two hours. Dive team members with the agency recovered the body and confirmed it was Rogers.

A spokesperson with the Turlock Irrigation District confirmed the person who drowned Sunday was a seasonal employee with the organization.

Rogers died while on duty, a statement from Turlock Irrigation read.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the employee’s loved ones and colleagues during this difficult time,” the statement went on to say. “The safety and well-being of our employees is our top priority, and we are cooperating fully with the appropriate parties as they review the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.”

The sheriff’s office said Rogers was not wearing a lifejacket at the time.

Next of kin have been notified, and the sheriff’s office said the official cause of death will be based on an autopsy.

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Police tackle theft suspect a second time after hospital escape attempt

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By Jory Rand

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    SUN VALLEY, California (KABC) — An alleged thief was arrested after a wild takedown inside a San Fernando Valley Kohl’s store caught on police body camera video, but that wasn’t his only escape attempt.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers were conducting extra patrol at the Sun Valley Kohl’s store located in the 8500 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard on Aug. 1 due to a recent theft report.

Officers were walking through the store when they saw the suspect, 49-year-old Gregory Pekarek, in the men’s clothing aisle, kneeling while holding a large number of jeans in his arms.

Officers then approached Pekarek and began speaking with him, the suspect attempted to run. That’s when the wild takedown took place.

Pekarek hit his head on a clothing rack but continued to resist.

Officers eventually took the bloodied suspect into custody. Pekarek was taken to a local hospital for treatment on a cut above his right eye.

Once he was cleaned up, Pekarek tried to make another break for it. Again, he did not get very far.

“Get on the ground! Get on the ground!” an officer is heard in the video.

For a second time that night, Pekarek was taken into custody. He was transported to the Twin Towers Correctional facility where he was booked for burglary.

The next day, medical staff determined Pekarek was experiencing a medical condition related to the use of force with the officers and he was readmitted to the hospital for observation.

He was later charged by the district attorney’s office with three counts of grand theft, one count of attempted grand theft and two counts of resisting arrest.

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Umar Hakim-Dey, LA activist and religious leader, dies at 55

CNN Newsource on September 16, 2025

By KABC News Staff

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    LOS ANGELES, California (KABC) — Los Angeles Muslim Public Affairs announced the passing of Umar Hakim-Dey on Friday. He was a local activist, muslim religious leader and longtime advocate for the homeless.

Born and raised in Compton, Hakim-Dey was the founder of Inkerij, a community organization helping local leaders and grassroots organizations in matters of diversity and community building.

Hakim-Dey also played key roles in the L.A. Muslim Affairs Council and served as board chair for L.A. Voice, which is a multi-racial and multi-faith community organization working to empower local residents pushing for positive changes in their communities.

No cause of death was given. Hakim-Dey was 55 years old.

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