Rob Namnoum
At Pueblo South high school on Tuesday, two students signed their letters of intent. Jake Pisciotta signed to play football at Western Colorado University and Kade Ortiz signed to play baseball at York University.
Celeste Springer
Reporting by KRDO13 producer Stefan Funkhouser contributed to this article.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Ice cream lovers in Colorado Springs will soon have a lot to celebrate; an iconic sweets shop will be opening another location in the city.
BJ’s Velvet Freeze will be opening a new location.
According to the owner, the new location will be opening at 2900 E. Platte Ave., in the same lot as Fargo’s Pizza. The new location is part of a joint venture between the owner of the Colorado Springs’ location and another franchise owner.
But for those of you worried about the old location, you have nothing to fear.
“It’s a huge part of my life. I have no immediate plans to sell, sell the business,” said Corey Hougher, owner of BJ’s Velvet Freeze. “This is my location here. I’m proud of it. The reason why for the expansion, too, is to grow our business.”
Houger said that you’ll be able to get the same ice cream at the new location, but it will offer some changes to the menu, like lunch options and other drinks.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly said that the new location would replace the Human Bean. That reporting is incorrect, as the new location and Human Bean are under the same ownership, and the Human Bean will remain open. We apologize for the misunderstanding.
Bradley Davis
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Emergency service crews in Colorado Springs show KRDO13’s Bradley Davis how bystander CPR can save a life.
According to the American Heart Association, proper bystander CPR within two minutes of a cardiac episode increases the patient’s chance of survival by over 80%. It also increases the likelihood of the patient leaving without permanent brain damage by almost 100%.
A field supervisor with American Medical Response (AMR), the company Colorado Springs contracts with for the city’s ambulance service, said he’s seen bystander CPR save lives first-hand.
“When we show up, and it’s being done, it really helps our process and our work on scene to keep that blood flowing early, all that healthy, oxygenated blood in the patient, to keep their brain, their lungs, and their heart with good, clean blood,” field supervisor Caleb Hadfield said.
American Medical Response (AMR) staff recommends asking your school or employer if they partner with any CPR training classes. If not, the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association host online and in-person classes weekly, ranging from $35-$75.
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) announced the retirement of its K9 named Kai.
According to CSPD, K9 Kai served as an apprehension and narcotics detection dog. He started his career in 2019 and is hanging up the towel seven years later.
The police department said K9 Kai responded to more than 460 calls for service and assisted in 115 suspect surrenders.
Source: CSPD
“One of Kai’s favorite duties was engaging with the community—he participated in 74 educational demonstrations at schools across the area, showcasing the skill and dedication of our K9 Team,” read a post by CSPD.
The police department says Kai has a fulfilling life of retirement ahead of him.
Scott Harrison
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Officials plan to repave more than 40 roads and perform other types of surface treatments on another 160, in the recently-released proposed version of the 2026 paving list.
Joshua Palmer, the county’s head engineer, said the focus will continue to be on preservation — investing more resources to keep already-good roads in that same condition, and reducing the number of roads in poor condition that require more expensive rebuilds.
One example of preservation will happen on the eastern end of Constitution Avenue, covering 1.5 miles between Marksheffel Road and the Colorado Springs city limits, a block east of Tutt Boulevard.
Concerning asphalt paving, two of the four longest stretches are in the Hanover area, south of Fountain; that’s where crews will continue repairing roads damaged by age and weather extremes a year ago.
KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior provided extensive coverage of the situation.
Four miles of Hanover Road, between Meridian and Old Pueblo roads, will be repaved, as well as an equal length of Myers Road, between Finch and Squirrel Creek roads.
The first step in road repair is using a rubberized material to seal cracks in the pavement; the longest such project this year is nearly six miles of Falcon Highway, between Curtis and JD Johnson roads.
A future step involves a variety of sealing techniques, such as a chip seal — in which crews apply small rocks over a tar-like substance that hardens and extends the life of a road until it needs repaving.
Those materials can be applied separately or mixed in other versions, such as a cape seal or slurry seal, and extend the life of a road up to ten years before repaving is required.
Workers placed a double chip seal on the heaviest-damaged section of Myers Road after last year’s damage.
The longest stretch of chip seal work will be five miles of Ellicott Highway, between Judge Orr and Big Springs roads.
County commissioners still have to finalize approving the list, but Commissioner Chairwoman Carrie Geitner expressed her support
To see the county’s 2026 paving list, visit: https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso/file/getfile/52146.
Rob Namnoum
Johnnie Roane: Colorado Northwestern – Cross Country, Wrestling & Track
Emma Yancey: Fort Lewis College -Cross Country
Gabby Mares: Friends University – Cross Country
Serenity Higgins: Doane College – Softball
Justine Sifuentes: Kansas Wesleyan – Softball
Deondre Green: Colorado Western University – Football
Trevon Salas: South Dakota School of Mines – Football
Kobe Dooley: Air Force Academy – Football
Jakehlan Watts: Adams State University – Football
Savana Iverson: Knox College – Volleyball
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Care and Share Food Bank and KRDO13 are teaming up for their annual “Spread the Love” food drive.
Those looking to donate can bring the best sandwich duo: peanut butter and jelly. Peanut butter is very in demand for food banks because it’s both nonperishable and a great source of protein. Throw in some jelly, and you have the fixings for a fun lunch!
The food drive runs from now until Feb. 13. You can also make a virtual donation by clicking here. Local YMCAs and businesses have also partnered for the event, creating several convenient drop-off locations:
Care and Share Food Bank
2605 Preamble Point , Colorado Springs, CO 80915
100 Greenhorn Drive, Pueblo, CO 81004
Kangaroo Coffee
319 S Hancock Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
326 N. Commercial St, Trinidad, CO 81082
Hanson HotSpring Spas
1835 Dublin Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
YMCA Locations
Pueblo YMCA3200 E. Spaulding AvePueblo, CO 81008
Briargate YMCA4025 Family PlaceColorado Springs, CO 80920
Tri-Lakes YMCA17250 Jackson Creek ParkwayMonument, CO 80132
First & Main YMCA3035 New Center PointColorado Springs, CO 80922
Downtown YMCA207 North Nevada AvenueColorado Springs, CO 80903
Southeast & Armed Services YMCA2190 Jet Wing DriveColorado Springs, CO 80916
Fountain Valley YMCA326 West Alabama AvenueFountain, CO 80817
Cottonwood Creek YMCA3920 Dublin Blvd.Colorado Springs, CO 80918
Senior Center1514 North Hancock AveColorado Springs, CO 80903
Banning Lewis Recreation Center6885 Vista Del Pico BoulevardColorado Springs, CO 80927
Chapel Heights Community Center4320 Jericho LoopColorado Springs, CO 80916
Cordera Community Center11894 Grand Lawn CircleColorado Springs, CO 80924
The Gathering Place at the Farm11141 Ridgeline DriveColorado Springs, CO 80921
The Promenade Shops at Briargate – Management Office
1885 Briargate Parkway Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Scott Harrison
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — This should be the third and final week of a drainage project that has restricted traffic flow at the lone entrance to Rampart Park, on the city’s northeast side.
That will please many drivers who have had challenges navigating the narrow road with only one lane open during the project.
The second lane nearest the construction is closed to make room for construction equipment and ensure safety for workers.
Drivers at the bottom of the road to a popular dog park must travel 300 feet uphill to exit onto busy Lexington Drive, but they must also yield to oncoming traffic trying to avoid congestion at the entrance.
“When it first started, I didn’t think it was going to impact me,” said Jules Thompson. “But now that it has dragged on, there have been a few days that it has deterred me from coming here — because it’s getting a little dangerous.”
Other drivers express similar concerns and frustrations.
“When I came in, I actually had to veer off, like in the construction zone, because there was a car coming toward me, and I had no idea,” said Carrie Criswell. “So, a construction guy kinda let that guy pass and stopped the other folks coming.”
For Bill Moyer, handling his two dogs on a busy day at the park was more of a handful than the traffic impacts.
I don’t encounter cars too often,” he said. ” But one time, I did have to pull over between the barricades to let someone pass.”
Those drivers revealed that they were unaware of the reason for the project causing the traffic changes.
As KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior explained when construction began two weeks ago, workers are replacing an above-ground drainage channel between a sloped buffer zone and a retaining wall under a new housing development.
A heavy rainstorm last summer eroded part of the wall and damaged some of the plastic turf lining the concrete ditch.
Corey Rivera, the project manager, said that the ditch has existed for five years.
“At one point, we took out the concrete because it was old and had some bad spots. That’s why we went with this turf style, to try out a new technique, give it a natural look without going full native on there. This was one of the first test sites that we had.”
The crew assigned to the project has installed a 300-foot plastic pipe that will run the length of the retaining wall, attach to the stormwater outlet, and be buried underground.
Good weather has allowed the crew to make good progress.
Rachael Plath
From the potential for record-breaking highs to a chance for snow, this week’s forecast has it all!
TONIGHT: Expect a mild night with mostly clear skies. Overnight lows will gradually fall into the 30s for most with lights winds.
TOMORROW: We’ll get pretty close to tying record highs on Monday! The forecasted high for Colorado Springs is 69° which is close to the record high of 71° set back in 1996. It will be more difficult for Pueblo to land in the record books. Pueblo’s forecasted high is 74° and the record, also from 1996, is 78°. Breezy afternoon winds around 10-20MPH with gusts up to 35MPH will create high fire danger, so at 10AM RED FLAG WARNINGS will be in effect for many areas including Pueblo, Fremont and Las Animas County.
TUESDAY: A weak wave will send a cold front through prior to sunrise on Tuesday, dropping high temperatures into the 40s and 50s. While it will still be slightly warmer than seasonal averages, the almost 20° temp-difference between Monday and Tuesday will certainly be noticeable! This wave doesn’t appear to be accompanied by much moisture, so the cooler air will be the most noticeable chance.
REST OF THE WEEK: Our big weather maker this week will be an upper level system that is currently over the Pacific but will be propagating eastward across California, the Great Basin and then eventually traveling northeastward across Colorado beginning Wednesday. The first area this system will target will be the high country, as snow showers expand across the Rockies throughout the day and lasting into Thursday. At this point, it looks like this system has the potential to bring close to a foot to some of the highest peaks – which will be a welcomed relief to the terribly dry high country! While there could be a stray shower that spills across our local mountains, I anticipate most of southern Colorado will stay dry on Wednesday. Showers from this storm system are expected to impact areas along and east of I25 late Thursday and Friday as a cold front slides through. This system isn’t bringing super cold air with it, so while showers Thursday night should be primarily snow, anything that lasts into Friday will likely be in the form of a rain/snow mix. While some of the higher peaks in Colorado could pick up about a foot of snow from this storm, it appears the Pikes Peak Region is more likely to only pick up a few slushy inches as this system travels overhead. Meanwhile, for most of the lower elevations significant snow accumulations don’t look likely as, again, many of the showers will probably produce more rain than snow. This is a rather quick moving system, by Saturday and Sunday high pressure is back along with sunny skies and highs that are back in the 50s and 60s.
This system is continuing to evolve and as it does so, check back often for updates as your Stormtracker13 Team tracks this potential for badly needed moisture closely this week.
Marina Garcia
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – One man is sitting in the El Paso County jail, charged with shooting a local father in front of his children.
The family says it was a senseless act of violence, but thanks to his children’s bravery, he was able to get the help he needed and is now recovering in the hospital.
KRDO13 spoke to his children, Alexas and Connor Rhinehart, who were sitting in the car when the shooting happened.
They say they noticed a man pacing around their car, but never thought it would result in their father fighting for his life.
“I heard the gunshots, and then I saw him leaning over on his console and holding his chest. Then my little brother right here was screaming he’s bleeding,” says the man’s daughter, Alexas Rhinehart.
On Friday, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) arrested a 24-year-old Zackrey Snell, who is accused of shooting a man in a parking lot. That man is Alexas and Connor’s father.
Alexas and her little brother say they were sitting in their car, waiting to pick up their mother from work.
That’s when a man, whom they do not know, approached the driver’s side and shot their father.
Alexas says she quickly jumped out of the car, leaving her brother and father to get help.
“I immediately had to run out of the car and leave him with dad real quick because I knew he would [be] bleeding out. And I didn’t know how much time left because I didn’t know how many bullet holes he had or how long he had because he was bleeding out bad,” says Rhinehart.
The family tells me, out of fear of returning home, they’ve started a GoFundMe to help with medical bills, but to also relocate to a safer place away from the shooting location, which you can access here.
CSPD says Snell is facing charges for attempted murder, assault in the first degree, prohibited use of weapons, and child abuse.
He’s being held in jail on a $500,000 bond.
