Author: KRDO

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Work resumes this fall on the second phase of the city’s $62 million project to improve South Academy Boulevard; some prep work was done, but the bulk of that project has yet to start.

The first phase, which began in early 2023 and concluded last fall, upgraded a section of approximately three-quarters of a mile between Bijou Street and Airport Road.

Phase two will cover a longer segment — two miles — between Fountain Boulevard and Jet Wing Drive, which is north of a similar project by El Paso County between Milton E. Proby Parkway and Interstate 25.

The overall city project is improving utility lines, drainage, and traffic and pedestrian safety along the busy corridor, as well as repaving the boulevard.

Several viewers have asked KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior why construction on the city’s second phase hasn’t happened yet, during the peak season for road construction projects.

Ryan Phipps, the city’s capital improvements manager, said that planning work is happening behind the scenes to avoid the negative impacts of the first phase.

During that phase, some merchants said that their sales declined by 50% because it was so difficult for them, their customers, and traffic to get in and out of the construction zone.

“The plan has been really just to get everything laid out so that we can meet the expectations — as best as possible — for that community,” he explained. “Prioritizing that, making sure that we’ve incorporated that in the approach to procuring a contractor, our design plan, things of that nature.”

To that end, the city plans to hold a public open house in September — a month before construction resumes — to inform citizens about aspects of the project, particularly access into and out of the construction zone.

“I expect that we’re going to see a lot of different phasing of the construction,” Phipps said. “Rather than taking the entire two-mile stretch of road, we’ll be asking our contractor to have a far more strategic plan for the work that they are immediately working on.”

Crews may face groundwater and soil issues that slowed progress on the first phase.

The improvement projects are upgrading infrastructure that dates back to the 1950s and 1960s.

Phipps said that the project’s contractor is responsible for pothole repairs in the construction zone.

The city and county’s projects on South Academy are scheduled for completion next year.

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Bart Bedsole

LOW SCORES

One of the most visible restaurants in Colorado Springs failed its health inspection last week. 

The Juicy Seafood, located at the corner of I-25 and Garden of the Gods, is among a handful of Colorado Springs restaurants that offer a full seafood menu that includes everything from crawfish to live lobster. 

However, it racked up 12 violations on June 23, leading to a failing score that required a re-inspection by the health department. 

Among the violations: 

Employees changing gloves but not washing hands when switching tasks 

Raw shrimp were found stored above cooked sausage in the cooler 

The restaurant wasn’t cleaning and sanitizing utensils and food contact surfaces at least every 4 hours 

The restaurant was using unapproved ribbon glue fly traps in multiple locations 

When KRDO13 went to The Juicy Seafood, a host explained that no manager was available to discuss the violations or the actions taken to address them. 

KRDO13 left contact information for a response, but no one from The Juicy Seafood ever reached out. 

The restaurant did pass its re-inspection on July 1. 

The La Casita on Woodmen near Rangewood also failed its health inspection last week. 

The 8 violations found on June 24 include:

The restaurant only has one certified food protection manager, and that person wasn’t there 

Multiple containers of vegetables, rice, and potatoes were missing dates to show when they were made 

The staff was using an improper method to thaw out frozen meat 

There was no hot water at the handwashing sink, plus it was leaking 

The area manager told KRDO13 days later that they had already addressed most of the violations by educating the staff on the proper procedures. 

He added that he prefers to have workers take in-person food safety courses, rather than online courses, in order to become certified food safety managers. 

However, he claims it is difficult to find an in-person course in Spanish, which is needed for most of his staff. 

La Casita has yet to be reinspected. 

Other restaurants that failed their inspection last week: 

AI Sushi & Grill – 3215 Cinema Point  

Thai Taste Cuisine – 5069 N Academy 

Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza – 5214 N Nevada 

HIGH SCORES

Sasquatch Cookies – 7636 Dublin Blvd 

Marco’s Pizza – 9420 Briar Village Point 

Wingstop – 4294 N Academy 

Springs Wings – 6504 S Academy 

Located just a few blocks from Fort Carson, Springs Wings has become a staple of south Colorado Springs, serving up wings in a variety of flavors, as well as unique sides or something lighter like a curry chicken salad.

Owner Jessica Gray describes herself as a “military brat” growing up, moving constantly from place to place, and she includes several items on the menu, like fried okra, macaroni salad, or sweet tea, to help some of the local soldiers feel a bit more at home. 

“Everyone who’s moving like that and traveling, it’s hard to find that sense of home, and being able to offer them a place where they find that, I think, is really important.  We purposefully have things on our menu that reflect other parts of the country,” she said. 

When the inspector stopped by in June for the regular inspection, Jessica was actually out of town. 

She admits that as an owner, it’s easy to be “paranoid” about how the operation is running in her absence, but she had high praise for the staff members who stepped up in her place to keep the kitchen in line. 

“We have a staff that cares about what they’re doing and what they’re serving, and I think that makes a giant difference, being proud of what you’re doing,” she said. 

Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup awards to know the kitchen inside is clean. 

Click here for a full list of recent inspection scores. 

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A man inadvertently shot a dog owner after intentionally shooting the victim’s dog at the Nevada Inn and Suites (formerly Rodeway) off of South Nevada Avenue, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).

CSPD said the victim’s dog started attacking the shooter’s dog. Police say the dogs were roughly the same size. The department said the dog never attacked the shooter. While both owners were trying to pull the animals apart, CSPD said the shooter shot the other man’s dog. The bullet traveled through the dog, hitting the victim in the shin area.

CSPD said the injured dog is now dead. It said the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region picked up and ultimately had to euthanize the dog because of the extent of its injuries. CSPD said the human victim faces non-life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound in his leg.

CSPD said it does not believe the shooter intentionally shot the dog owner at this time. They said they are still working through what charges the shooter might face.

Multiple neighbors who know the victim said they’ve never had issues with any of his animals. One neighbor told KRDO13 the dead dog was a German Sheppard and Boxer mix.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — For the first time since a $12 million improvement project began a month ago, four lanes of traffic are open on the north end of 8th Street, on the city’s southwest side, between Fountain Creek and the US 24 Frontage Road.

However, the two northbound lanes also serve as turns into a shopping area and onto the frontage road.

Crews performed lane shifts in the area overnight Wednesday, in advance of the Independence Day holiday weekend.

Workers also re-striped lane markers there to make it easier for drivers to follow the changes.

Officials said that crews will work around a short lane closure slightly south of the project, at the intersection of 8th and Costilla streets, near a McDonald’s restaurant; that closure steers traffic around the east end of a concrete project for the 2C expanded street paving program.

Traffic had occasionally backed up in the northbound lanes as drivers had to merge into one lane on the creek bridge, where a pedestrian bridge was removed.

Officials said that the new alignment creates more space to add a new section on the east side of the bridge that will hold a wider sidewalk, serve as a future connection to the nearby Midland Trail, and allow crews to perform maintenance on the 75-year-old bridge.

Workers have also created several platforms across the creek to provide easier access for heavy equipment.

The new alignment will remain in place through the summer; it will get a good test from traffic next week during the annual Pikes Peak or Bust rodeo.

The project also includes building a dedicated right turn lane from northbound 8th Street to the frontage road.

Local driver Karl Domino is one of many drivers who find the traffic impacts bewildering.

“I have to go through it,” he said. It’s either this or US 24 that’s already built up with a lot of traffic, I call myself taking a shortcut going the back way off 8th Street. It’s ridiculous.”

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The mother of last week’s road rage victim in Eastern Colorado Springs remembers her son as being “larger than life” as she urges drivers in her community to stay in their vehicles on the roadway.

“When you go to get in your car, just step back and take a breath,” Alisha Helberg said. “Just stop it. Let Matthew’s memory be the one that takes you there, that gives you peace before you get in that vehicle.”

Her son, 39-year-old Matthew Helberg, was shot to death Thursday night after getting in an argument with another driver while driving home from a date with his fiancée.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has charged Howard Heyliger with second-degree murder in the shooting. According to witness interviews in a police affidavit obtained by KRDO13, the incident started with comments made by Heyliger’s friend about Matthew’s loud car exhaust.

According to witnesses, Helberg and his friend pulled over, while Heyliger followed behind in a separate car. Matthew and the friend got out of their vehicles and began to argue, which eventually turned into a fist fight. That’s when the friend told police Heyliger got out of his car and shot Matthew multiple times, killing him.

Heyliger told police he shot because he believed his friend’s life was in danger. The friend told police he did not feel he was in danger and didn’t know why Heyliger decided to shoot.

“I love my baby, and I can’t bring him back. None of us can,” An emotional Alisha said while sitting next to Matthew’s fiancée and their young child.

Matthew leaves behind five children, three stepchildren, and his fiancée, Sirena. His family has organized a funeral service for Matthew at the Colorado Springs Hub on July 18 at 2 p.m. Alisha has started a GoFundMe to support Sirena and her family.

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Celeste Springer

NEW YORK, N.Y. (KRDO) — Jurors in the sex trafficking and racketeering trial for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have announced a full verdict, according to ABC News. He was found not guilty on the most serious counts.

The five counts are:

Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy, NOT GUILTY

Count 2: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – pertains to Victim 1 (Cassie Ventura), NOT GUILTY

Count 3: Transportation to engage in prostitution – pertains to Victim 1 (Cassie Ventura) and commercial sex workers, GUILTY

Count 4: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion – pertains to Victim 2 (“Jane”), NOT GUILTY

Count 5: Transportation to engage in prostitution – pertains to Victim 2 (“Jane”) and commercial sex workers, GUILTY

Combs faces a maximum sentence of 10 years.

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Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Driving around the Pikes Peak region this summer, it’s easy to find crews performing concrete work to prepare for repaving streets for this year and future years.

Some residents wish that the broken sidewalks in front of their homes could be fixed as quickly and efficiently.

Two viewers recently contacted KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior to share frustrations about sidewalk damage in front of their homes.

One of them is Barbara Emerson, a 78-year-old widow who said that she and her late husband were the first to build a home in the Villa Loma neighborhood of northeast Colorado Springs.

Over time, her sidewalks haven’t fared well.

“I’ve been waiting for several years to have them repaired,” she said. “There are a lot of people who walk on them, or walk their dogs, and I’m afraid of someone tripping and falling, and getting hurt.”

Emerson said that a city official told her in 2019 that she was on a list to be considered for a city cost-sharing program, in which residents can opt to pay half the cost of a sidewalk repair, in order to have it fixed sooner.

“Then he said that my half will be $700,” she explained. “Well, I about fell over because I didn’t think I’d be paying anything. So, I’ve left it that way. I’m not going to fix it myself.”

During a sidewalk controversy covered by The Road Warrior in December 2024, officials revealed that the city had a backlog of 6,000 requests for sidewalk repairs — because of growth, limited resources, and the number of requests coming in faster than repairs can be made.

At that time, the city said that between 100 to 150 residents register annually for the cost-sharing program.

Meanwhile, just southeast of the city, in Security-Widefield, Michael Sadley has a somewhat unique issue with his sidewalk on McGrew Circle; roots from a neighbor’s tree, he believes, are undermining his sidewalk and driveway.

The sidewalk is sinking in some places and rising in others, creating a tripping hazard.

“(One) morning, a lady tripped and scraped her knee pretty badly,” he said. “So, I tried to help her. I gave her some water and some bandages. She was alright. She was walking her dog. She was mad at me. She came knocking on my door. I said that it wasn’t my fault.”

Sadley said that he has contacted the city several times about the matter, and didn’t realize that he should have contacted El Paso County instead.

“I’m going to do that,” he said.

The tree is on property owned by an elderly woman, he explained, who can’t afford to have the tree trimmed or removed.

“A group of us neighbors get together once a year to clean up her yard, but there’s only so much we can do,” Sadley said. “I hope the county can do something because it’ll cost me $7,500 to pay for fixing the sidewalk myself.”

The Road Warrior contacted the county about the matter, and a spokesman said that it’s being investigated.

Residents with sidewalk issues should report them to the appropriate department as soon as possible, so that officials will be aware of them.

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Rob Namnoum

Nique Clifford from Colorado Springs arrived at the Sacramento Airport on Tuesday night and received a warm welcome from Sacramento Kings fans. Clifford was selected in the first round of the NBA draft last week. Clifford will be introduced to Kings nation later on this week.

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Mackenzie Stafford

ALAMOSA COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – On Tuesday, July 1, Barry Morphew appeared at the Alamosa Combined Court.

Morphew, a Salida man accused of killing his wife, Suzanne, was indicted and charged with first-degree murder.

It comes more than five years after his wife, Suzanne Morphew, was reported missing on Mother’s Day in 2020.

Around a year after Suzanne’s disappearance, Morphew was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a dangerous weapon, and an attempt to influence a public servant.

The case was dismissed just days before going to trial in 2022, making Morphew a free man at the time, but the case could be retried if new evidence came to light. It’s why the charges were refiled last month, and why Morphew had to face court once again on Tuesday.

Morphew’s most recent mug shot courtesy of the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Just before Morphew’s first appearance in court, his daughter walked in beside Morphew’s attorney. She has stood by her father’s side, maintaining his innocence.

In court, Morphew walked in sporting an orange and white striped jumpsuit. He was stoic with a straight face, aside from a smile he flashed to his daughter sitting in the stands in support. 

Only one of Morphew’s daughters joined the court for his first appearance. She could be seen leaving with Morphew’s attorneys, also giving a glint of a smile as she left.

For the most part, Tuesday’s court date was a procedural hearing. The defense representing Morphew said they would need some time to review all the evidence prosecutors are planning to use in the case– a terabyte worth. 

Part of that is the discovery of Suzanne’s remains, where the coroners found BAM, a tranquilizer made for animals, that prosecutors say only Morphew had access to at the time. 

We asked Morphew’s attorney for comment, and he declined. 

Morphew is being held in the Alamosa County Jail on a $3 million cash bond. His attorney advised that he would like additional time to ask for that to be changed at Morphew’s next hearing.

Morphew will be back in court on Sept. 2 for another status hearing. 

You can read the full grand jury indictment below.

Grand Jury Indictment_0Download

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Academy School District 20 has changed its cafeteria services provider, opting for a different company. The change has resulted in layoffs for 152 Sodexo employees.

Of those laid off are about 102 food service workers.

The new contracted company, Aramark, says that the workers have been invited to apply for their new open positions. They say they will have a career event next week for current employees and plan to have more job fairs in the future, open to the whole community.

Academy District 20 provided the following statement:

“As Academy District 20’s current food service contract reached the end of its fourth and final option year, the District was required to initiate a formal, state-mandated Request for Proposal (RFP) process. This process, guided by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), ensures transparency, fairness, and open competition among vendors. An evaluation team of District stakeholders carefully reviewed all proposals, and in alignment with CDE guidelines. Following this rigorous process, Aramark was selected to assume food service operations for the 2025-26 school year. This decision does not reflect the quality of past service providers, but rather the criteria established by the CDE and our commitment as a District to fiscal responsibility.

While we cannot speak on behalf of either company regarding employment matters, we can confirm that Aramark will fill the same operational role and plans to communicate directly with staff and the community about available job opportunities. Our top priority has been and will remain providing nutritious, student-centered, and USDA-compliant meals, and we look forward to a smooth transition as the 2025-26 school year begins.”

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