Author: KRDO

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity is hosting a “Trivia on the Block” party Saturday to celebrate 40 years of building affordable homes in Southern Colorado.

Tickets are $40 a person. The money supports Pikes Peak Habitat’s homebuilding efforts, including their next “Rising Moon 41 Doors” development to help 41 families afford new homes. Kids 15 and younger get in free with an adult.

The party starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Meanwhile Block event space in Colorado Springs next to Weidner Field. Pikes Peak Habitat will have food trucks, yard games, a “hammerschlagen” hammer and nail competition, and the main event, trivia.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A pair of intersections affected by previous and ongoing construction projects are about to present more traffic impacts for drivers.

Both of the changes are expected to start on Wednesday.

The longest closure — lasting until the end of the year — will be on Wooten Road, just north of the Galley Road intersection.

City officials say that crews need to repair and upgrade a large culvert for stormwater drainage beneath the intersection; other improvements will be made to sidewalks, curbs, ramps, and pedestrian crossings to improve safety and access.

Much of Galley, west of the intersection to Murray Boulevard, reopened in March after being closed for two years because of a bridge replacement and a water main replacement that has gradually advanced eastward to Space Center Drive.

Traffic is reduced to a lane in each direction around that water main project that will eventually cross Powers Boulevard.

Crews will eventually return to the Galley/Wooten intersection to make similar upgrades on the south side.

“I’ve lived here for about 50 years, and I watched them construct this ditch when they were making it,” said neighbor Mark Snead. “As far as the construction going on, I wish it was over. It’s been a long road here.”

The second change will affect two of the three lanes of northbound Circle Drive, between Interstate 25 and Janitell Road.

Crews will continue a water line installation that started nearby earlier this spring at the Circle/Hancock Expressway interchange.

Officials said the project is one of the final phases of the $40 million bridge replacement on Circle, which began in the fall of 2023 and is expected to be completed by this fall.

Drivers will notice some of the water line equipment along the west side of Circle in the project area.

Also worth remembering is that the pavement in that area remains extremely rough until the city repaves it later this season as part of the 2C expanded paving program.

Officials say that the double-lane closure should end by mid-July, weather permitting.

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Scott Harrison

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — At this time a year ago, crews were responding to several water main breaks while also trying to schedule numerous street repaving projects.

But with water main repairs not being an issue so far this year, crews can focus more on repaving, and they applied the first new layer of asphalt this week on Shoshone Place, a dead-end street on the southwest side of town.

Shoshone Place is characteristic of many Manitou streets — steep, winding, and narrow, and essentially on mountainsides with homes squeezed along them.

That makes paving work especially challenging, as crews also have to work around low-hanging power lines and tree limbs and branches.

“I’ve been here since 1970, about 50-some years,” said neighbor Bob Rozell. “Two years ago, they paved the lower part of the street — which was very good. Now they’re paving the upper part. That’s better. Everybody I’ve talked to is pretty happy. It’s a hassle that (crews are) doing it in the middle of the day, but it’s gotta be done.”

The town is using a process known as full-depth reclamation in this year’s repaving.

“We’ve got a number of varying field conditions — where the mat of asphalt might be very thick in some spots, and really thin in others,” said Ben Schmitt, public services director. “Where it’s mixed to what the subgrade is, as well. (The process) takes all that existing material and asphalt, recycles it by grinding it up, and puts a brand-new mat of asphalt on top of it. So, it really is a long-term solution.”

Manitou also will repave several streets, such as Indian Oaks Place, that were on last year’s list but not paved as scheduled because of higher-than-expected costs.

Schmitt explained that the town’s paving budget is approximately $500,000 and comes from sales tax revenue of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA).

However, he said that based on how much other tax revenue comes in during the remainder of the year, more streets could be added to the list.

Crews also applied what Schmitt described as “permanent patches” on two areas of Manitou Avenue where some of the previous water main repairs were made.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Try to think about routines you started 20 years ago. Your morning gym trip. A biweekly coffee trip with friends. Every time you’ve shaved after your first razor.

Have you kept count from day one?

It takes a special type of patience and foresight to start that type of personal accounting. The Jack Quinn’s Running Club has been doing it for 20 years.

From pads and paper in week one, to a fully staffed and automated machine in week 1040, the Jack Quinn’s Running Club has counted every single new runner since its first meeting in 2006.

20 years later, they’ve tallied 44,750 different runners to join their Tuesday group run.

They might not all still be in the city (or the state) to celebrate today during the club’s anniversary run, but every runner will forever be a part of the Jack Quinn’s Running Club’s story, thanks to the group’s persistent commitment to the numbers.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A 17-year-old is facing charges following a crash that police say killed a Colorado Springs woman. The driver was 16 years old at the time. The crash occurred on Powers Boulevard, where police say the teenage driver, who allegedly held only a learner’s permit, crossed into oncoming traffic.

Jennifer Hooper, a wife, mother and grandmother, died from injuries sustained in the incident. Her family has voiced profound devastation over the loss and the legal proceedings that have followed.

On Monday, KRDO13 spoke with Jennifer Hooper’s family. Hooper’s family believes a potential plea deal being offered by the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is not justice.

KRDO13 obtained communications over the proposed deal, under consideration by the District Attorney’s office, which would offer the driver two years of probation for careless driving causing death. Hooper’s family describes the potential outcome as a significant insult, highlighting what they say is a lack of accountability and justice.

“Two years’ probation is the biggest insult one could receive as a victim’s family,” said John Hooper.

Hooper was 51-years-old at the time; she leaves behind her husband, four children and five grandchildren, according to her family. Jennifer’s widower, John Hooper, is now raising their children. The unexpected loss has forced him to handle all of the legal battles, leaving him with little time to grieve properly, he said.

“Just trying to maintain a household with no mom around. You know, that’s my biggest sadness that my children have no mother. Completely unnecessary and completely needless and totally preventable. And it gives me pretty bad anxiety,” said John Hooper.

Linda Gerwatowski, Jennifer Hooper’s mother, says she has had to step into a maternal role for Jennifer’s kids and grandkids. She says they should still have their mother around for all of their major milestones in life.

“Mason wants to go to the Air Force Academy. So we were watching the graduation. I said, Okay, Mason, that could be you, you know. But where is his Mom? I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for him. You know, all these major events that kids go through,” shared Jennifer’s mother.

She says that whether you are 16 or 75 and take someone else’s life while you’re behind the wheel, you should be held accountable.

“Someone who kills someone, you don’t give them two years’ probation. You don’t give them a slap on the hand,” Linda Gerwatowski expressed her frustration.

She also noted the emotional toll on John, explaining how his lifelong partner is gone.

Jennifer Hooper was remembered by her family as selfless and dedicated to her children’s upbringing.

“She lived for her kids, and that was her purpose. Just to take care of our children and, let them grow up to be the best they can. Completely selfless and all about everyone else except for herself,” shared Jennifer’s husband.

Her family says she worked for Domino’s and was known for her exceptional service, and that she loved her job. Domino’s even created a pin in her memory, reflecting how much she was loved by her customers and colleagues, Jennifer’s mother shared.

Family members also question how the teen driver obtained the car keys, especially since there was no adult in the vehicle as required by a learner’s permit. The driver is reportedly still driving, even with the potential probation, Gerwatowski said.

“It was one of the most devastating things we could ever hear to lose our daughter like this, and to leave a husband and three small kids at home,” said Michael Gerwatowski previously.

Hooper noted the increased punishment for aggressive drivers under a new bill signed by Governor Polis, noting that more needs to change at the Capitol. The family hopes for more attention to ensure proper changes to the laws are made.

“It’s not just about my family. Other families are going through a similar thing, and it’s absolutely unfair. And more attention needs to be brought to, you know, make the proper changes and come up with proper laws to really punish these people that destroy families,” explained Hooper.

The family is urging public outcry to the District Attorney’s office, the governor, and the mayor’s office.

John Hooper has asked anyone who witnessed the events leading up to the crash on Powers Boulevard and Platte Avenue on December 27 to contact the District Attorney’s office or him directly to fight for proper justice. He stated that a lack of witnesses has been a potential issue for investigators.

If you would like to support the Hooper family, you can do so at this verified GoFundMe link.

KRDO13 reached out to the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for comment, which provided the statement below.

Ethical standards 3.6 and 3.8 prevent our office from discussing facts of open cases – that restriction extends to details regarding plea agreement negotiations.

This is an extremely difficult case – both for the families involved as well as for our community members, and the law enforcement officers who responded to the scene and performed their investigation. And although there can be separate consequences for the parents of a minor who commits a crime, state law in Colorado does not provide an avenue to hold parents directly accountable, absent specific circumstances.

– A spokesperson for the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office

The next court hearing in this case is scheduled for July.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Powers Boulevard crash claims life of Colorado Springs woman; Family seeks support

KRDO13 also contacted the Colorado Public Defenders for comment on behalf of the teen. We did not hear back.

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Scott Harrison

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A crumbling cobblestone street is one of two streets scheduled for repaving this season.

Woodland Park plans to lay asphalt over 1/3 mile of Thunder Ridge Drive, a steep, winding street paved with stones.

According to neighbors, the cobblestone street was built by the original developer 20 years ago, as an incentive for homebuyers in the subdivision.

However, many of the individual stones have since broken or crumbled, creating an extremely bumpy pavement.

Neighbors said that the street is now within the town’s jurisdiction, and officials want to repave it with asphalt because it’s cheaper than replacing the broken stones.

“My wife and I walk on this street every day,” said Jordan Miller. We didn’t mind (the rough pavement) at all. It’s just one of those things. Over time, wear and tear — probably snowplows. It doesn’t bother me at all, which way they do it.”

Thunder Ridge is the main access to the neighborhood, but it has other cobblestone streets needing repair at some point.

The town also intends to repave 1/2 mile of Fairview Street, from US 24 to the city limits; the project area includes the point where Fairview becomes Woodland Avenue before it turns into County Road 21.

That project area has numerous deep potholes; even some of the connecting side streets are in bad shape.

“This street is really congested in the summertime, and it sometimes gets down to a one-lane road, and emergency vehicles can’t get by,” said Dana Kramer, who lives along the street. “I can’t get out of my driveway, and it’s been a very difficult road in the summertime. At least they filled the potholes every year, but I’m glad to see more work being done.”

She added that the Fairview repaving will include widening the street, to provide more space for traffic and parking.

Work on both streets was supposed to start a week ago, and it’s unclear why it hasn’t happened yet.

However, a town official said that the only requirement is for the contractor to finish both projects by the first week of August.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Any new mom (or soon-to-be-mom) will tell you, exercising changes when the baby comes. Getting back into the gym can be hard and intimidating.

That’s why personal trainer Marie Moore decided to create a new kind of workout space after her first child.

“The gym isn’t meant for moms, in my opinion,” Moore said. “I felt insecure and intimidated to go there, and I wanted a place where I could show up, not have to feel like I’m putting on a show for anyone else and really focus on myself.”

Moore is a bodybuilder and did personal training for four years before the birth of her daughter. After her body transformation, she said the gym went from a comforting space to an intimidating one.

Moore got two pre and post nadal fitness certifications and opened her first fitness studio, “Moms in Motion.”

“They don’t know where to start, and they just need help,” Moore said.

She leads workout classes specifically tailored for pregnant and postpartum women. All newborns are welcome. Children of all ages are welcome. There is no minimum age requirement.

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Michael Logerwell

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – One man is facing charges of driving under the influence and child abuse after a head-on crash on CO-115 Sunday afternoon

Colorado State Patrol says they were alerted to the head-on collision at 4:10 p.m. near mile marker 27. State Patrol says a Chevy Malibu crossed into the opposite lane, striking a car head-on.

The driver of Malibu was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. CSP says the driver of the other vehicle suffered minor injuries, too.

CSP says there was a child in the backseat of the Malibu who was also transported to an area hospital, but suffered no injuries.

Andrew Medina, 42, is facing charges of DUI, careless driving, and child abuse, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

CO-115 was cleared at 8:17 p.m.

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Michael Logerwell

BENT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Visitations for all inmates at the Bent County Correctional Facility (BCCF) have been suspended indefinitely after an incident at the facility left two dead, according to the state.

The Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) previously restricted visitation at all CDOC facilities but has since lifted the restriction at all facilities except BCCF as of around 8:30 a.m. on June 8.

A spokesperson for the department says that on Saturday evening, an incident occurred that caused the deaths of two inmates and injured a third. No members of the jail staff were harmed.

The CDOC is not elaborating on what the incident was. A spokesperson says the CDOC Office of the Inspector General is leading the investigation.

The Bent County facility remains on lockdown as of Sunday evening, and all system-wide visitation has been suspended until further notice.

The CDOC is alerting families to the suspension of all visits statewide on social media this weekend:

“The Colorado Department of Corrections is currently responding to an ongoing investigation at an isolated facility. To ensure we can continue meeting the needs of both staff and the inmate population while dedicating the necessary resources to that effort, all statewide visitation has been temporarily suspended effective today, Sunday, June 7, 2026.

This is a precautionary decision intended to support department operations and maintain the safety and security of our facilities. There are no known threats to the surrounding communities at this time.

We understand this is disappointing for families and loved ones. While in-person visitation is temporarily suspended, individuals may continue to communicate through approved phone and video visitation services, with the exception of the facility where the incident occurred.”

There is no set timetable for when visits will be allowed again.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) says it is on the scene of a hazmat incident on Hancock Expy and Milton E. Proby Pkwy.

Officials are asking drivers to avoid the area as cleanup is underway. They say Eastbound Milton E Proby east of Hancock is down to one lane. The Colorado Springs Police Department is warning the public to expect delays in the area.

A semi experienced a diesel fuel leak, according to CSFD. Firefighters are working to contain the spill. The department says approximately 50 gallons have spilled.

This is developing news, and this article may be updated with further details.

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