Author: KRDO

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.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) says cases of a jury duty scam are on the rise.

EPSO says scammers are posing as law enforcement or court staff. They’re calling residents, saying that they have missed jury duty and have warrants out for their arrest. The scammers then pressure the victim to pay them through Bitcoin, prepaid cards, or wire transfers to clear up the warrants.

“They may mention a “signature verification” process, this is a fake legal procedure designed to make the scam sound official. In reality, it’s just a tactic to get you to comply with their demands, which usually involve paying a fine or handing over sensitive information,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

EPSO says law enforcement will never call to ask for payment for a warrant, and never ask for gift cards, Bitcoin, or wire transfers.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

COSTILLA COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Costilla County Sheriff’s Office says a man has escaped custody.

According to the department, Dallas Hayes was being held on burglary charges when he escaped during the booking process yesterday morning.

The sheriff’s office says that at the time, he was wearing black pants, a white muscle shirt, and no shoes. He was last seen near Costilla Street and 8th Street in San Luis.

If you see him, call 911.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — The Boys and Girls Clubs of Pueblo County has announced plans for this summer’s teen program.

According to the organization, the program will be hosted at Pueblo Community College (PCC).

“The college is excited to have the Boys & Girls Club on our Orman campus,” said PCC President Chato Hazelbaker in a press release. “Their mission to provide safe, fun spaces for teens aligns perfectly with our mission and I’ve already seen the students enjoying what the college has to offer.” 

The Boys and Girls Club says the teen center is free to all high school students ages 14 to 18.

 “This opportunity is for incoming freshmen through upcoming seniors. The teens can earn workforce certifications such as: CPR/First Aid, Teen Mental Health First Aid, and Food Safety. We will have skill-based activities, a 360 arts program, STEM activities in the STEM Lab at PCC and physical fitness opportunities,” said Site Director Karsyn DeHerrera.

Officials say there will also be a “creative resiliency workshop” from July 7 through July 10, where teens can build emotional literacy skills. The program will include field trips.

The teen center will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. now through Aug. 1. To register, click here. For more information, you can also call 719-920-8809.

Click here to follow the original article.

Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Crews are making gradual progress on concrete construction in some areas of Security-Widefield in advance of repaving later this summer.

It’s a big change for residents along Bison and Chimayo drives, widely considered to be in the worst condition; old sidewalks, curbs, and gutters have been torn out.

Construction signs and markers indicate where workers will pour new concrete, and platforms have been placed at entrances to homes so that residents can walk over unfinished sidewalks.

Security-Widefield received a considerable amount of street work last summer, but it was via slurry-sealing, a less expensive resurfacing process designed to extend the life of streets already in good condition.

Bison and Chimayo — along with Alturas, Birch, and Holly drives — are in worse condition and require asphalt repaving, which, in turn, requires a new concrete framework.

“It’s an older neighborhood,” said Dan Gerhard, a public works engineer for El Paso County. “So, we have a lot to address in there to properly bring it up to current standards and improve the roads. We’ll probably have something planned in the neighborhood almost every year.”

Affected streets are open only to local traffic during the concrete work and paving.

Those roads are really rough,” said neighbor Janice Schoenfelt. “It got so we wouldn’t drive up them because they are rough. So, I’m glad to see that they’re getting it done.”

Another neighbor, Jennifer Cronin, said that the old humpy sidewalks are unsafe and contribute to poor drainage.

“It can be a problem getting our trucks in and out of our driveway,” she said. “The camper, too. The sidewalk scrapes the bottom of everything.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Rob Namnoum

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Pioneer Baseball League’s Board of Directors accepted the resignation of the Northern Colorado Owlz baseball club as a team in the league. Instead, a new team has entered: the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

The Sky Sox will complete the Owlz’ 2025 season.

Field Manager Dimitri Young, Pitching Coach Ray King, and their coaching staff will assumecommand of the Sky Sox, who open their first series in Grand Junction on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

“I am so grateful and proud of the Owlz players and coaches who have performed this season withthe highest degree of professionalism,” said PBL President Mike Shapiro. “Under the leadership ofmanager Dimitri Young and pitching coach Ray King they’ve conducted themselves with utmostcharacter and have honored the Pioneer League and the game of Baseball.”

The Sky Sox will play their 2025 home games at blocktickets Park in Colorado Springs, home to theRocky Mountain Vibes.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Monday, June 30, hundreds filled the stands at Weidner Field to celebrate and honor the life of 17-year-old Daniel Giffin. Giffin is a Colorado Springs native who was battling a rare form of brain cancer for six and a half years. 

Giffin is known for his unicycle ride up Pikes Peak. At 11 years old, he accomplished the 14er feat on one wheel. Aside from his skills on wheels, his radiating joy and gratitude have left a lasting impact on so many lives. 

Our team joined Griffin’s celebration of life, noting that there was not a dry eye in the stadium. Daniel’s mom tells KRDO13 they were talking about having his celebration of life at their church, but they couldn’t fit everyone, so they held the ceremony at Weidner Field. Giffin, a switchbacks superfan, signed the final beam as the stadium was being finished.

Only a few years later, the stands were packed and overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude that each person there got to feel Daniel’s love during his life. 

“I feel like I got a gift in having him, and it’s not that I lost something, but I really gained something. I got to have this beautiful boy in my life,” shared Daniel Giffin’s mother, Torie Giffin. “It was just like a love bomb, and he would hug me and tell me how much he appreciated me and thank me for the smallest things. He was grateful for the little things, but he always told me, I love you. And so I just want all the boys out there to know you guys still hug your mommas. You guys still tell them you love them. You’ve got to hug your sisters, and you know, because life is precious and you don’t know how much time. Fortunately, we knew and we had lots of time to enjoy every minute to its fullest. But you don’t always know, and it’s important.”

Now Torie Giffin is being held by the hundreds who loved Daniel.

“He had such big faith, and he never complained about a thing. You know, everything that happened, he just really took it in stride and chose happiness over sadness and to focus on what we had versus what we didn’t. And so I really just grew in my faith and my strength because of my son being just so courageous in his battle. And I got to see it firsthand. He is a pretty amazing kid,” shared Giffin.

She finds peace in knowing he’s graduated to a better place. 

“The hardest thing was really just watching him struggle and suffer and, you know, be in pain for so long, and he just put up such a valiant fight. I mean, six and a half years and, you know, seven brain surgeries, 58 days of radiation, all the treatments, all the MRIs, all the clinical trials, you know, 50 pills a day just to try and not have seizures. It was really tough,” explained Giffin.

Daniel’s mom said he really took it in stride and chose happiness over sadness. He was selfless and lived his 17 years to the fullest, becoming an example for others, family said.

“There’s so much goodness in Colorado Springs, and there are so many great people. And if Daniel’s story could bring more of us together, and we could worry about the really important things in life and people you know, and not what separates us or our differences, but focus on the good. We have a lot of good here in Colorado Springs,” shared Daniel’s mother.

Click here to follow the original article.

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -In response to the shooting in Idaho that targeted firefighters who were responding to a brush fire, KRDO13 contacted fire departments in Southern Colorado to gather their reactions and to learn if any of their policies were changing in light of the incident.

Multiple Southern Colorado Fire Departments told KRDO13 that there is no adequate way to prepare for the ambush the firefighters faced in Coeur d’Alene.

According to Cimarron Hills Fire Chief Andrew York, all firefighters are issued body armor that can protect them from gunfire, but a grass fire call does not qualify as a body armor situation.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) confirmed this, saying its firefighters have also been issued body armor, which is usually used when responding to active shooter situations. CSFD agreed that the original call that the Coeur d’Alene Firefighters responded to on Canfield Mountain would not have qualified as a body armor situation for their department either.

“What it does is it creates an additional awareness that we have to slow down, look at the situation from a bigger picture than just what we see with our eyes,” says Deputy Chief Steve Wilch.

The deputy told KRDO that no policy at the fire department has changed thus far, but the shocking event will lead to an increased focus and awareness for their firefighters.

“This situation in Idaho has brought to light that first responders…are at risk every day. We don’t take that lightly,” Deputy Chief Wilch said.

The International Association of Firefighters says those two firefighters’ names will be added to the Fallen Firefighters Memorial this September.

Click here to follow the original article.

KRDO News

ALAMOSA COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office says Barry Morphew, a Colorado man accused of killing his wife, has been extradited back to Colorado from Maricopa County, Arizona.

Prosecutors say he is in custody at the Alamosa County Jail. His first appearance in court is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Earlier this month, prosecutors filed first-degree murder charges against Morphew. Morphew faced charges years ago, but they were ultimately dropped in 2022. The case faced a tumultuous journey, with accounts from those involved saying it was “botched” due to the actions of Linda Stanley, the prosecutor on the case, who was later disbarred. Morphew’s defense said that Stanley’s team hid evidence from the defense.

On May 10, 2020, Suzanne Morphew supposedly went on a bike ride in Chaffee County and never returned. A neighbor reported her missing, and her bike and helmet were eventually found along the side of the road the day she disappeared. Suzanne’s remains were later found in 2023.

When her husband’s charges were originally dismissed, it was known that the case could head back to court again if there was new evidence.

In Morphew’s recent indictment, prosecutors say his wife, Suzanne Morphew, died by “homicide by unspecified means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine (BAM) intoxication,” – three drugs commonly used as animal sedatives. Prosecutors say law enforcement located a locked gun safe in the Morphew residence, which held a tranquilizer rifle. Investigators also discovered packages of darts in the safe, and found a needle cap for one of those darts in the Morphews’ dryer.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released new information on a fatal bike crash, saying the victim was only 16 years old.

According to the department, they got a call about the crash just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 15. Police say three people were riding mini-bikes on Union Boulevard. They say when the bikers got to the intersection with Dublin Avenue, one of the mini-bikes ran a red light into the intersection, colliding with a car.

CSPD says the rider was taken to the hospital. Five days later, the department says he died at the hospital.

CSPD says the coroner’s office has conducted an autopsy and identified the bike rider as a 16-year-old boy. They are not publicly releasing his name at this time, likely because he was a juvenile.

Click here to follow the original article.