Author: KRDO

Scott Harrison

TELLER COUNTY, Co. (KRDO) — Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews have completed a highway drainage improvement and widening project on Highway 67, and Woodland Park finished two neighborhood repaving projects.

The CDOT project was along Highway 67 on the north side of town; it started in March 2025 and ended this summer.

Crews installed underground drainage infrastructure to replace open drainage ditches that were badly eroding private property and even undermining the highway itself.

Other upgrades were widening the two-mile stetch from two to four lanes, adding a shared center turn lane, and making several pedestrian improvements.

Meanwhile, the town paved a half-mile of Fairview Avenue, from US 24 south to the town limits, and a third-of-a-mile of Thunder Ridge Drive, north of the highway.

The latter project was particularly challenging because it involved removing the previous cobblestone pavement on a steep, winding street.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Weston Anderson shows off at the Broadmoor World Arena live on KRDO13 ahead of his performance with Monster Jam this weekend.

All four Anderson children drive along the Monster Jam circuit, and three still perform in the original Grave Digger. Weston is a big up-and-comer and has never lost a series he’s competed in.

Monster Jam has four performances in Colorado Springs this weekend. One Friday, two Saturday and a final run on Sunday. Tickets range from about $30 to $90.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.

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Rob Namnoum

The Pueblo East football defeated Pueblo Central 27-14 on Thursday night.

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Dylan Foreman

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)–The Classical Academy is back in the state championship game and remains undefeated heading into Saturday’s matchup against Vista Ridge. A big reason why? Opposing defenses have had to deal with double trouble all season.

Junior standout Reagan Harter and freshman Kennedy Harter have given the Titans one of the most dangerous offensive duos in Colorado. Reagan, already a state champion, has continued to be a touchdown machine, while Kennedy has emerged as a playmaker in her first varsity season.

“It’s nice because it makes the defense pick a side,” Reagan said.

Their presence has also given senior quarterback Kelsey Peterson the confidence to take chances downfield.

“I trust my receivers to go get a 50-50 ball,” Peterson said. “That gives me the confidence to take those risks.”

Kennedy says playing alongside her older sister has helped her learn the game quickly.

“She’s helped me understand the game more,” Kennedy said. “It’s been a big help, and it’s just been fun playing with her.”

Now, the Harter sisters will look to help TCA finish off another perfect season and capture a second straight state championship when the Titans face Vista Ridge on Saturday.

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Julia Donovan

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A Chinese restaurant in Colorado Springs failed its recent routine health inspection after inspectors documented a dozen violations, while several other local eateries earned high marks for food safety and cleanliness.

New Panda II fails routine health inspection

New Panda II, located on North Union Boulevard, received 12 violations during its recent inspection.

According to the inspection report, an employee was observed handling raw shrimp before touching utensils and plates, creating a potential risk for cross-contamination.

Inspectors also reported grease and grime buildup on the restaurant’s wok filter and noted that food items were not dated.

KRDO13 stopped by New Panda II to ask what the restaurant is doing to address the violations.

The manager told us she’s retrained her employees and started putting dates on every food item.

“I make sure my kitchen people do everything right,” she said.

New Panda II passed its re-inspection.

Multiple local restaurants earn high harks

Wing It! and Smoothie Paradise, both located at the Citadel Mall, were among the businesses recognized for their inspection results.

Red Dog Coffee & Cafe relies on cleaning checklists

Red Dog Coffee & Cafe in Manitou Springs also passed its inspection with flying colors, demonstrating a focus on consistent cleaning and food safety practices.

Ahead of a busy weekend in Manitou Springs, when crowds are expected for the annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races, Red Dog Coffee & Cafe is keeping cleanliness a priority.

Manager Lindsey Cole said the cafe uses a series of checklists to help employees stay on top of cleaning responsibilities throughout the day.

“We have a morning, a midday and an evening checklist. We have lots of cleaning tasks. We also have a weekly checklist and a monthly checklist,” Cole explained.

The cafe offers an eclectic atmosphere, with handmade mugs, plants and local art decorating the space. Customers can also enjoy a variety of baked goods and sandwiches.

Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup Awards at your favorite restaurant as a sign that its kitchen has met the inspection standards. A high score means the kitchen has passed its routine health inspection.

Reminder: All high and low scores in this roundup are based on routine health inspections conducted by the El Paso County Health Department.

Click here for a look at all the most recent health inspection scores.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – To win the Emma Crawford Coffin Races, you need speed, power and more than a little engineering.

Teams will push their coffin-on-wheels up Manitou Avenue as fast as they can. Four “mourners” push the coffin and a rider, their “Emma.” While Saturday is where we see the final drama, the results are largely decided months before in the workshop.

Strength plays an obvious factor on the scoresheet, but so does the coffin’s efficiency. KRDO13 is meeting with a brand-new race team of members in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union (IBEW), who are hoping their trade skills have helped them master the coffin design on the first try.

“Brute force and efficiency,” IBEW member Antonio Wylie joked when asked about their process of putting a coffin together for the first time.

The final product is anything but ramshackle, and they’re confident they have a shot at gold.

“Teamwork and brotherhood were ultimately what made this coffin happen,” Wylie said.

The IBEW team is also adding its own lore, rivaling that of Emma Crawford’s coffin flying down Green Mountain.

“Our ‘Emma isn’t an ‘Emma,'” said IBEW member Jedididah Brockett. “Our Emma is a ‘Henry Miller.'”

Henry Miller was an electrical worker and lineman in the 1800s. He was the first Grand President of the IBEW, and dedicated his life to improving working conditions in his field.

“Unfortunately for Henry Miller, he did actually die between two power poles when he fell off of one,” Brockett said. “So now we’re going to be bringing him back and pushing him in a coffin right between them.”

The IBEW has two model electrical poles on either side of their coffin seat to honor Miller’s memory and spark conversation about his legacy.

Spectator logistics

Organizers are expecting large crowds and lots of traffic on Saturday. They ask spectators to avoid driving into Manitou if at all possible. There are a few different alternatives people can take.

Citizens Service Center: There will be a $5 round-trip shuttle from the Citizens’ Service Center off of Garden of the Gods Road running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is free. Bike Valet: Pike Ride is hosting a free bike valet on the West side of Memorial Park in Manitou Springs (502 Manitou Avenue) Metro Bus: The free Metro bus will run on its regular schedule into Manitou Springs. Take Mountain Metro #3 from downtown Colorado Springs or Old Colorado City. Manitou Springs High School: The Manitou Springs Wrestling Team is hosting valet parking at Manitou Springs High School for $10 per car (cash only).

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers who thought occasional closures on Las Vegas Street were over with the completion of the Circle Drive bridges project, will be disappointed to learn that another closure starts on Thursday.

Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) is installing a water line under the bridges, which will require closing the mostly-industrial corridor for a mile between Janitell Road and the Highway 85/87 intersection.

The closure will further restrict traffic on the street, where an ongoing wastewater project has closed a lane from west of Janitell to Royer Street.

Las Vegas is a popular shortcut across the south side of town, and drivers can directly access it from only a few streets.

The upcoming closure is in an area where Las Vegas, Hancock Expressway, and railroad tracks are in close proximity.

CSU says that it is installing nearly 2,000 feet of new water line that will connect from a newly-installed line at Circle and Hancock, to another line currently going in near the Circle/Janitell Road intersection.

Between those points, CSU will bore approximately 20 feet under Fountain Creek as part of the installation.

It’s the third time this year that CSU has bored under a waterway to install a water line.

This summer, CSU bored 30 feet under Bear Creek for a new water main as part of the ongoing 8th Street improvements project; next month, crews will bore 60 feet under Spring Creek to install another water line.

CSU expects to finish the Las Vegas project before Christmas — weather permitting.

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Rob Namnoum

The Vista Ridge girls flag football team defeated Mountain View 28-14 on Wednesday night. They will face The Classical Academy on Saturday in the 4A state championship game.

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