Author: KRDO

Bart Bedsole

A Restaurant Roundup repeat offender got another visit from KRDO13 this week. 

It was back in March that Camin Thai Cuisine on North Academy near Woodmen was first featured on the segment, after it was shut down by a health inspector due to the 15 violations found inside. 

It was cleared to reopen about a week later. 

On August 6, less than 5 months later, Camin Thai failed its next health inspection and then failed a re-inspection on August 20. 

(HEALTH INSPECTION NOTE:  A passing restaurant likely won’t be inspected again for about a year, but a restaurant that fails a health inspection will likely see its next routine visit within about 6 months) 

The violations on August 20 include: 

An employee keeping their personal food in one of the coolers 

There was also some type of healing lotion stored alongside food in a cooler 

Condensation from a cooler was dripping into a container of food. 

A live roach was found in the gasket of a cooler door, and dead roaches of various sizes were found in several locations around the cook line 

When KRDO13 visited Camin Thai on Monday, the door was locked, even though it wasn’t required to be closed last week. 

A sign indicated it would remain closed until Wednesday, August 27. 

Camin Thai Cuisine passed its second re-inspection on September 4 with only one violation found. 

OTHER FAILING RESTAURANTS

Dragon King Restaurant – 6867 Mesa Ridge Pkwy 

Radisson Inn and Suites – 1645 Newport Rd 

Milano Pizza and Italian Kitchen – 1710 Briargate Blvd 

Kung Fu Noodle and Dumplings – 4543 Austin Bluffs Pkwy 

HIGH SCORES

Nara Sushi & Grill – 3117 W Colorado Ave 

Jimmy John’s – 2710 S Academy Blvd 

Cliff House at Pikes Peak – 306 Cañon Ave 

Red Mountain Bar and Grill – 306 Cañon Ave 

Rizuto’s Ice Cream Shop – 4785 Barnes Rd 

Zesty Thai – 12225 Voyager Pkwy 

Dunkin Donuts – 2905 Hancock Expy 

Taco Bell – 441 E Hwy 105 

Subway – 1274 Interquest Pkwy 

La Concha Bakery & Coffee – 124 E Cheyenne Mountain Blvd 

Carl’s Jr. – 4626 Fresh Water Point 

Chuck E Cheese’s – 2925 Geyser Dr 

Subway – 6871 Mesa Ridge Pkwy 

Lebowski’s Taproom – 3240 Centennial Blvd 

Lebowski’s Taproom at Fillmore and Centennial is a spinoff of the 1998 cult classic “The Big Lebowski”, complete with its mid-century modern decor and a large mural of “The Dude”, the main character played by Jeff Bridges. 

Owners David and Monica Kowalski said they originally had planned a 50s-style diner with “elevated pub food”, but they were inspired to go with the current theme during a trip to Iceland in 2019, where they visited the famous Lebowski Bar that opened in 2012.

“That’s just the fun, catchy theme that brings people in. The food has to back it up,” explains Dave Kowalski.

He believes they do back it up, pointing to his wings, which have recently won two awards — one for the wings and one for the sauce. 

The Walter Burger is also an award winner, recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of “18 Burgers To Try” that deviate from the traditional hamburger ingredients.

Dave joked that they planned on opening a restaurant in their retirement, but they are thankful they didn’t wait because it requires way too much work for a retired couple.

While most customers won’t get the same inside look at the kitchen that KRDO13 received, Dave and Monica believe there is another way for diners to know a restaurant is keeping it clean. 

“We always hear that you can always tell how clean a restaurant’s kitchen is by looking at their bathrooms, and so that’s one of the things that’s important,” Dave explains, “We’ve gotten several 5-star reviews from people that said they have the cleanest bathrooms in the city.”

Monica credits muscle memory for maintaining such a clean kitchen, saying her staff prides themselves on doing things the right way.

Like a growing number of other restaurants, the Kowalskis believe that these days, it’s not always enough to give people something to eat. It helps to give them something to do. That’s the reason they offer bingo nights, trivia nights, comedy nights and even the occasional tamale-making class.

The location on Centennial is the first one, opening just over two years ago in August of 2023, but the couple says they are considering opening a second location closer to their home in the area of Powers and Briargate Parkway.

Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup awards at your favorite restaurants, to know the kitchen is clean.

Click here for a full list of recent health inspections in El Paso County.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

UPDATE: Following the publication of this article, it was announced that the coroner has resigned. His resignation means that there will now be no need for a recall election.

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A notice of eviction was posted on the doors of Davis Mortuary on Aug. 28. Pueblo County Clerk’s Office says a recall election for Coroner Brian Cotter could cost taxpayers upwards of $480,200.

The clerk’s office says residents have submitted a Notice of Intent to circulate a recall petition to oust Cotter from office. He recently came under fire after 24 bodies were allegedly found in various states of decay in a hidden room of his privately-owned mortuary.

READ MORE: Pueblo County Coroner accused of hiding bodies in secret room at his privately-owned funeral home

Last week, the sheriff’s office said no single public official could remove him from office, based on current Colorado statutes.

In a press conference on Thursday, August 22, Governor Jared Polis said there needed to be reform.

“We can agree, it needs to be reformed after this, the way that you remove a coroner from office that is subject to criminal investigation, unable to do their job. Currently, there is a petition and recall process, costly, time-wise money-wise. There needs to be some way where, in conjunction with the commissioners, the state, the governor, can act when needed to make sure that you have continuity of services for a very basic function that people rely on, during life events,” stated Gov. Polis.

KRDO13 asked the governor where he is in that process. As of Thursday afternoon, his office is working on a response. 

“By the facts that have already been stated, why would someone still be in office?” questioned Peggy Gallegos.

Gallegos is one of hundreds of past Davis Mortuary customers wondering why Brian Cotter is still in his position, and if he’s getting paid. 

“There’s no vehicle by which to remove him or her from office,” Gallegos continued, “Perhaps, you know, our other elected officials can figure that out and determine what criteria needs to take place to actually have that removal happen. Because what if he never resigns?”

On Thursday, Pueblo County confirmed to KRDO13 that Cotter is still on the county payroll. Pueblo County annual salaries show that the county coroner is raking in $131,700 a year.

Pueblo County Commissioners renewed their calls for Cotter to resign in a Board of County Commissioners meeting Thursday.

KRDO13 knocked on Brian Cotter’s door Thursday to ask if he plans to resign. Cotter did not answer the door. We also reached out to his attorney. As of Thursday afternoon, we have yet to get a response.

From here, the recall petition will need to go through a vetting process to ensure it adheres to the law.

If everything checks out, the county says petitioners will have 60 days to collect valid signatures from registered Pueblo County voters. The number of signatures required varies, but in this case, the county says they will need 16,431 verified signatures.

If all the signatures are verified, Cotter does not resign, and the recall election goes through, the county tells KRDO13 the money would come from the county’s general budget.

Statement from Governor Polis:

“I continue to call on Mr. Cotter to do the right thing, save time and taxpayer money, and resign from the Pueblo County Coroner’s office. By refusing to take responsibility for his actions, Mr. Cotter is forcing Pueblo taxpayers to waste money on this recall and delaying families from mourning their loved ones. I look forward to conversations on how we can update our laws to prevent a lapse of services for residents when elected coroners cannot fulfill their duties.”

To read more on the recall process, click here.

To read all of our reports on this case, head here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

CUSTER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Custer County Sheriff’s Office says free sweet corn is being offered to residents after it spilled out of a semi following a crash.

The sheriff’s office says the crash happened around 2 a.m. on Thursday as the semi was driving on Highway 69 near Mile Point 69, just north of Reed Road.

Thankfully, the sheriff’s office says the driver was not injured, but the truck did dump its load of corn after it flipped.

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office says that the corn is being taken to the Wet Mountain Fire Protection District, where residents can pick up some of the corn. First responders just ask that those coming out do not block fire truck bays in case crews have to leave for an emergency.

Crews are alternating traffic on Highway 69 until the semi can be towed. They anticipate traffic will be back to normal by noon.

Click here to follow the original article.

Scott Harrison

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — Dan Heberly lives along Beulah Avenue on the east side of the Colorado State Fairgrounds, but he’s not feeling neighborly toward fair officials, let alone city officials.

Heberly, 72, said that the city hasn’t responded to several requests to resolve a flooding problem on the street that also affects his yard.

He explained that every time it rains, stormwater backs up, floods Beulah in front of his house, and even his front yard — leaving gravel, sediment, and other debris behind that he has to clean up.

“It’s been a problem for 15 years,” Heberly said. “When I ask the city about it, they keep saying they’re doing a study on it. I’m tired of it. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life cleaning up messes.”

He believes that what causes the flooding is the street either not having enough storm drains or having them too far apart.

“And those drains get clogged with trash that blows over from the fairgrounds, and with other stuff,” he added.”

Heberly said that he refused to clean up the latest mess, yet he was in his yard before dawn on Thursday, using a vacuum to remove some of the gravel.

KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior contacted city officials about the situation on Wednesday and awaited a response.

However, The Road Warrior later found a three-phase plan posted on the city’s website to make stormwater updates a mile east of the Beulah/Summit Avenue intersection, including that intersection, that should eliminate flooding on the east side of the fairgrounds.

The posted plan doesn’t include a timetable or cost.

Below are the details posted on the city’s website:

SUMMIT AVENUE OUTFALL – STORMWATER REPLACEMENT

This area has experienced significant flooding over the years. The existing Stormwater system lacks the capacity to handle even a small rain event, and property has been damaged due to the undersized Stormwater System. The flooding has often occurred during the Colorado State Fair event and affects travel around the fairgrounds. The project will include a detailed drainage analysis and Stormwater upgrades that will be accomplished in at least 3 phases. 

Phase 1: Will include a detailed drainage analysis and Stormwater upgrades on outfall and Washington Street.

Phase 2: Will include Stormwater upgrades on Routt Avenue and Madison Street. 

Phase 3: Will include Stormwater upgrades on Summit Avenue up to the Colorado State Fairgrounds.

Click here to follow the original article.

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – After one woman lost her father earlier this year, she was inspired to help his friends share in one of his favorite hobbies: bird watching.

Raye Chavez was a resident at Springs Ranch memory care until his death last February. His daughter, Cindy Branditch, wanted to honor his memory by installing a bird feeder for other residents to enjoy.

Springs Ranch loved the idea, and together they partnered with Wild Birds Unlimited. The local birding store helped expand Branditch’s dream. It donated and installed an entire bird sanctuary, with multiple feeding stations right outside the windows to the Springs Ranch common area.

Both Wild Birds Unlimited and Springs Ranch created laminated sheets with the different native birds for residents to mark off with dry-erase as they see them.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — A Pueblo woman has been found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of abuse of a corpse, according to the Office of District Attorney Kala Beauvais.

Corena Rose Minjarez and Jesus Dominguez were accused of working together to try and cover up the murder of two children. Dominguez was the children’s father, according to Pueblo police.

In January of 2024, police said they were called out to a storage unit facility for a suspicious activity call. When they arrived, they located a metal container in a storage unit that had been filled with concrete. Police said they later determined that the remains of a girl were encased inside.

Later in the investigation, detectives say they located Minjarez’s car at a scrap yard. Inside, they found a suitcase. Inside the suitcase were the remains of a boy.

“Child abuse often does not have many witnesses, and this case was no different. This made the collaborative effort of the law enforcement and prosecution team all the more important. We also recognize the community members who had to grapple with the traumatic facts and evidence in this case,” read a joint statement from Chief Trial Deputy Kyle McCarthy and Senior Deputy District Attorney David Dingess.

Minjarez was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, according to the district attorney’s office.

Dominguez is set to be sentenced for his charges on Sept. 12.

Click here to follow the original article.

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – KRDO13’s Bradley Davis walks us through the Percheron Community, one of the fastest-growing housing developments in Northeast Colorado Springs.

The Colorado Springs Parade of Homes starts September 5 with 32 new homes by a variety of different builders, like the three featured in the Percheron community.

The parade lasts from September 5 through September 21, and each ticket gets you in to view every house on display. You can get tickets here.

To see videos of other homes, you can check out our 2025 Parade of Homes page here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A Southern Colorado grandmother who tried to cure her grandson’s autism with nicotine patches pleaded guilty to child abuse and was sentenced to probation on Wednesday.

According to arrest records, Tammy Eddings-Dion’s 4-year-old became lethargic, started vomiting, and was taken to the hospital on April 3, 2025. It was then that hospital staff found a nicotine patch on his leg. The boy tested positive for nicotine poisoning, according to records.

Records say that just a day later, the boy’s mother found yet another patch on him.

The boy’s mother told detectives that Eddings-Dion sent her a text saying that she had received a 30-day supply of 24-hour release nicotine patches in the mail. Arrest records say the mother responded, asking the grandmother not to use the patches on the 4-year-old boy.

On Wednesday, Eddings-Dion was sentenced to three years of probation and 40 hours of community service.

In a previous interview with KRDO13, the boy’s mother said the entire situation has been incredibly difficult. She also expressed upset that her son’s autism isn’t something to “fix.”

“He’s perfect. He’s so sweet. He’s like this little ball of energy. He is so kind and so caring, and he’s just really happy all the time. He cares when other people get hurt. And so it breaks my heart that a child so empathetic and caring can have this happen to him, especially by someone he was supposed to trust, someone I could trust. And it turns out sometimes the people closest to you are the people you can’t trust the most,” said Kaylene Albuquerque.

The Autism Science Foundation (ASF) categorizes nicotine patch treatment as one of several “Biomedical Non-Evidence-Based Treatments.”

ASF says, “Proponents of nicotine patch use in individuals with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) believe that the nicotine released into the body from the patch activates and upregulates receptors, and thereby reduces ASD symptoms.” However, “use of this treatment is not supported by scientific evidence,” and no clinical trials have shown nicotine patches are a safe or effective treatment for autistic spectrum disorders.

Click here to follow the original article.

Sadie Buggle

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – A shelter-in-place for a one-block area in El Paso County was lifted Wednesday afternoon after an armed suspect who had barricaded himself inside a home with two young children surrendered to law enforcement.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said that on Aug. 23, it began investigating an individual who was armed with a gun and representing himself as a federal agent. The department identified the suspect as 23-year-old Antonio Mellon and obtained a warrant for his arrest.

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) SWAT Team assisted CSPD in attempting to arrest Mellon at a home in the 1300 block of Burnham Street, in unincorporated El Paso County.

However, CSPD said that when officers attempted to speak to Mellon, he barricaded himself in the house with two young children inside and refused to come out. While Mellon was barricaded, police say he pointed a firearm at officers from inside the house several times.

The active scene led EPSO to issue a shelter-in-place order for the 1300 block of Burnham Street at 9:04 a.m.

CSPD said officers and deputies worked to peacefully resolve and de-escalate the situation. KRDO13 crews on scene saw not only CSPD and EPSO at the scene, but also agents in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) vests.

Mellon eventually surrendered over three hours later at 12:47 p.m. and was taken into custody without incident, CSPD confirmed.

EPSO lifted the shelter-in-place for the one-block area at 1:19 p.m., once the scene was fully cleared.

Police confirmed the children in the home were not injured during the standoff.

Mellon was arrested and taken to the El Paso County Jail. CSPD said he is charged with impersonating a police officer, possessing a firearm as a previous offender, four counts of first-degree assault, and two counts of child abuse.

Click here to follow the original article.