Author: KRDO

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A busy road in downtown Colorado Springs is set to close down for over two years starting in less than two weeks. 

East Boulder Street will be closed for the Palmer High School renovation from Weber to Nevada. The developers say the 2-and-a-half year closure is temporary, but they do plan to request a permanent closure from the city.

Come June 3, drivers who typically pass through East Boulder Street will have to find a new route to get from North Nevada Avenue to North Weber Street.

After June 3, the block will gradually begin filling up with construction equipment and materials.

“For the safety of both students and staff, because we have over 1200 students on site,” Doug Abernethy with RTA Architects explained. “We really need to close Boulder Street in order to allow construction to occur, because we have a 3 to 4-story academic wing. It requires quite a bit of space for a crane in the construction. So Boulder’s got to be closed to accommodate students and staff, but also the construction workers and actually the logistics of building the building.”

Abernethy says the school will shift student pick-up and drop-off to North Nevada Avenue.

Another area that will be slimming down is North Weber Street.

“There are going to be some temporary construction barricades that will reduce this. It’ll be one lane in each direction, but then there won’t be that center median,” said Tony Cingoranelli with Adolfson and Peterson Construction.

Abernethy further explained that the bike lane and parking on the west side of North Weber Street will be shifted over in order to accommodate the construction. That area is slated to be closed through July 20, 2026.

The closures raise some concerns for business owners further along East Boulder Street.

“That’s going to hugely affect our business, because it is a major fanfare. This is one of the largest crossings to downtown. That’s part of the reason we signed here was because we do have this incoming traffic,” explained Claire Schroder, an owner of Toodles Tearoom.

The owner of Toodles Tearoom on Boulder Street also points to other businesses trying to open up shop in the area. She explained how some buildings nearby are trying to fill in spots for new shops downtown.

“With that road closed, that’s a major issue for them, I’m sure not only for construction, but then if they have a launch and there’s no access to it, that’s going to be a massive problem,” Schroder shared.

The city says the district and developers will have to reapply for the construction permit every 90 days.

Colorado Springs School District 11 plans to apply for the permanent closure of East Boulder Street in the next two months. 

“As we’re working through this first phase of construction, there’s an extensive engagement process that will continue to occur to consider the closure of Boulder,” Abernathy said. “And so we have to apply to the planning department, and then ultimately that needs approval by the city council. That will run in parallel with the first phase of construction.”

In the meantime, drivers will have to reroute. District 11 provided this map of potential alternative routes:

PAST COVERAGE: Palmer High School could expand across Boulder Street in Colorado Springs

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Julia Donovan

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – With the warmer weather sticking around, rattlesnakes are coming out of their dens and possibly into your personal space. We spoke with wildlife officials on how you can avoid a bite like some of the gnarly ones Coloradans have seen over the last few years.

Wildlife officials say people can’t merely stay away from areas rattlesnakes frequent to ensure their safety, since they can be found almost anywhere around here. 

“Prairie rattlesnakes are well-distributed across most areas of Colorado,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson John Livingston. “Can live anywhere up to elevation lines as high as 9,500 feet, but more commonly found 7,500 feet and below.”

Colorado Springs falls within those elevation parameters.

Carissa Welch, and her dog Rizzo, who got bit trying to protect her, will tell you that. Welch will also tell you the vet bill was expensive, but worth it. 

“There’s no amount of money I wouldn’t pay to save his life again,” she told KRDO while Rizzo was undergoing treatment.

Rattlesnakes are thriving in Pueblo, too.

“It’s a fairly large bite area,” said Luis Linhares who was attacked by a rattlesnake in 2023. “So, the large vipers are around here.”

“I’m surprised he pulled through this,” Luis’s wife, Linn Smith, said in a KRDO interview days after the attack.

So, how do we keep ourselves and our pets safe?

According to Livingston, rattlesnake season is usually from April to September, and the reptiles like to hangout on trails in the morning to warm up.

He says don’t try to go around them.

“You just want to slowly back away off that trail,” Livingston elaborated.

Keep your dogs on a leash, don’t hike with earbuds (that way you can hear the warning rattle), and wear long, thick pants and closed toed shoes in grassy areas… even in the heat.

Above all – you should call 911 immediately if you get bitten since the venom spreads fast.

“A cytotoxin that they have starts breaking down your muscles and your fat when they bite you,” Livingston explained. “When they bite pray, and feed on pray, it helps them digest and breakdown that animal.”

Livingston says while rattlesnake bites aren’t usually fatal, they can be deadly depending on your size, the size of the bite and how quickly you’re treated.

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Celeste Springer

UPDATE 5/22/2025: Clerk Justin Grantham says the DMV is back open and accepting appointments.

FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Fremont County DMV is currently unable to process vehicle titles and registrations, according to Clerk Justin Grantham.

In the meantime, drivers can still make appointments for next week, and Clerk Grantham says the Cañon City DMV is still operating as normal.

County officials say the temporary pause is because a piece of hardware that is used for internet and network connections is not working and needs to be replaced. Clerk Grantham says the Governor’s Office of Information and Technology is working to get it replaced. They believe the hardware will arrive as early as the end of business on Wednesday, May 21.

If you need a new registration, you can visit the DMV kiosk at 1703 Fremont Dr, Cañon City, which is inside City Market. Officials also say you can make an appointment for next week by heading here.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the identity of a dirt bike rider who died in a crash last week.

Police say Kaylon Thomas, age 36, was riding a dirt bike on May 12 when it crashed off Florence Avenue.

Police say Thomas was given aid and taken to the hospital, but died from his injuries. CSPD says they believe speed may have been a factor in the crash.

The department says this was the 11th traffic fatality this year.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A cast of dancers and musicians from all over the world will come together to perform “A Taste of Ireland” at the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs on Wednesday.

Ahead of the show, a couple of the lead performers met with KRDO 13’s Bradley Davis on stage to talk about the history and show off a thing or two!

Tune into Good Morning Colorado to see Davis speak and dance with the performers live!

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Rob Namnoum

Sophia Lee of Colorado Academy won the Girls 2A State Golf Championships as she shot even par over the two day tournament. Addison Dorsey of Manitou Springs finished second at 3 over. Kyndra Johnson of Salida placed third as she finished the tournament at six over. The 2A state tournament was played at the Pueblo Country Club.

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Celeste Springer

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade and wife, Abbey Mobolade, took the stand in a Denver federal courthouse on Tuesday.

The two were called to testify in the case against Derrick Bernard Jr. and Ashley Blackcloud. Their codefendant Deanna West has already pleaded guilty to her part in the alleged conspiracy.

Bernard Jr., Blackcloud, and West were accused of allegedly staging a hate crime. Bernard and Blackcloud claim that they did so to garner sympathy and win the mayoral election for Mobolade, who was a Black candidate facing off against a white opponent. Barnard, Blackcloud, and West were accused of staging a cross burning with the “n-word.”

Prosecutors will need to show that there was a “true threat” in the alleged plot, which would ensure that the reported stunt would not fall under protected speech.

Court documents revealed messages sent between Mobolade and Bernard in the days before the alleged hoax, as well as a five-minute phone call just days after the incident. Mayor Mobolade has maintained throughout the course of the investigation that he did not have knowledge of– or communicate with the defendants about– the alleged plot.

The big question following Monday’s proceedings is what Mayor Mobolade’s knowledge was of the alleged conspiracy, if any at all.

Ashley Blackcloud told the Associated Press that Mobolade knew in advance about the plans and was a willing participant. Of note, however, is that Blackcloud has something to gain by saying so. Alleging that Mobolade knew about the plans can help lay the groundwork for a defense that there was never a “true threat.”

In court on Tuesday, information came to light that Mayor Mobolade reportedly waited a day to contact police about the cross-burning video.

Initially, Mobolade and members of his campaign talked about how it could have been staged, and some members even said that they were 99% sure it was not real, according to an attorney representing the defense. Mobolade affirmed this in court.

Mobolade even suggested that it could have been set up by a Black person. Defendants Derrick Bernard and Ashley Blackcloud are both black; Blackcloud is also indigenous.

Yemi Mobolade and wife, Abbey Mobolade, talked about how this affected them emotionally, and the fact that they had a set of extra security measures at their house. They said they even bought a fire ladder to set up inside their children’s bedrooms in case their house was set on fire. Both were very emotional on the stand on Tuesday.

“It felt very real. Very real to my family,” said Mayor Mobolade. “The morning I received this (video), I remember pacing the house, afraid to tell my wife.”

It was also discussed in court that even after Bernard was named a suspect in the case, Mobolade did not tell the detective assigned to the case, nor did he tell the FBI, about his contacts with Bernard.

He said that he was waiting for them to take the lead investigation by asking questions.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The City of Colorado Springs has announced its lineup for pools and splashpads. Several options open on Saturday.

Spray grounds:

Deerfield Hills Sprayground

4290 Deerfield Hills Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Opens June 1

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all other days

The Watering Hole at Venezia Park

3555 Briargate Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Opens May 24

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Splash Pad at Panorama Park

4540 Fenton Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Opens May 24

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Deerfield Hills Spray Ground at Deerfield Hills Community Center (Source: City of Colorado Springs)

Fountains:

Julie Penrose Fountain in America the Beautiful Park

126 Cimino Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Opens May 24

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Uncle Wilber in Acacia Park

115 E. Platte Ave.

Opens May 24

Hours: noon to 6 p.m.

Uncle Wilber Fountain in Acacia Park (Source: Lander Media via City of Colorado Springs)

Pools:

Monument Valley Pool YMCA

220 Mesa Road 

Day pass rates apply

Opens May 24

Wilson Ranch Pool (Source: YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region)

Wilson Ranch Pool YMCA

2335 Allegheny Drive 

Day pass rates apply

Opens May 24

Note: Portal Pool and the Memorial Park Family Center are closed due to structural assessments.

Lakes:

Prospect Lake in Memorial Park

1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave.

Fishing, paddle boarding, swimming, and motorized use are allowed

No lifeguard on duty; swim at your own risk

Swimming is allowed in the roped-off area in front of the Beach House on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

Paddleboard rentals available

Prospect Lake in Memorial Park (Source: City of Colorado Springs)

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A group of five students will get to watch their college project launched into orbit so astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) can carry out the experiment.

“I’m using these equations and putting them into actuality. I’m putting something out in the world that’s coming from my brain,” UCCS Chemistry student William Shemel said.

Their project, “Fungal Bioleaching in Microgravity: Fungal Approaches to Metal Recovery,” won a competition against 11 different groups from other competitors in Colorado. They are one of just 21 groups globally selected by the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP).

Two local professors started the statewide competition for a spot in the SSEP: Lynnane George with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS), and Dr. Mckenna Lovejoy with Pikes Peak State College (PPSC).

The group’s experiment involves sending samples of mold spores to the International Space Station to see if they react different in a microgravity (zero gravity) environment.

The long-term goal of the experiment is to improve the feasibility of human life on other planets. Planet colonizers would theoretically use these type of mold spores to break down local materials and harvest raw metals on-planet rather than having them “shipped” from Earth.

The students are Joseph Bate (UCCS Physics), Evan Martin (UCCS Aerospace Engineering), Tristan Dwyer (UCCS Biology), William Shemel (UCCS Chemistry) and Cody Leeper (PPSC Aerospace Engineering).

All five are invited to watch the launch scheduled for April 2026 at the Kennedy Space Center. 

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers may have noticed recent construction on a two-block segment of Woodmen Road between I-25, east to Campus Drive; it’s a project that started last week, continues through the end of next month, and has two objectives.

The first goal is reducing traffic in the two westbound turn lanes on Woodmen, onto the I-25 entrance ramp; congestion during peak periods often causes backups that blocks traffic in the left through lane on Woodmen.

Crews will resolve that issue by extending those turn lanes east to the Campus intersection; demolishing rebuilding and shifting the concrete center median; and closing one of two left turn lanes on eastbound Woodmen to northbound Campus.

Traffic studies have shown that only a single left turn lane is needed there.

During the project, the left turn lane on northbound Campus to westbound Woodmen is closed, although traffic continues to turn left from the single northbound through lane; it’s unclear whether traffic should be doing that.

Workers also will install new street signs and apply new lane markings; one lane of Woodmen in each direction in that area will be closed during construction but two through lanes each way will remain open; officials said that the project won’t affect access to the freeway in either direction.

The second reason for the project is to prepare that part of Woodmen for repaving this summer, under the 2C expanded repaving program; the city will resurface approximately two miles of the west end of Woodmen from just east of the Academy Boulevard interchange, to Woodmen Court.

As KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior reported last September, the pavement there has significantly deteriorated in the past few years because a previous repaving that added rubber from old tires into the asphalt, proved to be less durable than expected.

The technique has been widely used in California and Texas with the belief that the asphalt/rubber mixture would also provide smoother driving; however, it’s possible that the mixture couldn’t endure the high altitude, freeze-thaw cycles and abrupt temperature changes locally.

Many drivers have complained about the rough condition of Woodmen in that area, calling it one of the bumpiest streets in the city.

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