Author: KRDO

Paige Reynolds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado is taking a major step forward in how it handles sexual assault investigations.

Governor Jared Polis has signed a new law aimed at addressing the state’s years-long rape kit backlog; something survivors say is long overdue.

For many victims, delays in processing sexual assault kits have meant delays in justice. For some, justice never came at all.

Right now, Colorado has one of the worst rape kit backlogs in the country. As of early 2025, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation reported an average turnaround time of more than 500 days to process sexual assault kits, with over 1,300 cases still pending.

Now, the newly signed Miranda Gordon Justice for Survivors Act aims to change that.

The law creates a new forensic medical review board and sets strict timelines for how quickly evidence must be processed. Under the new rules, rape kits must be tested within 60 days.

Governor Polis signed the bill Tuesday, stating: “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

That’s something sexual abuse survivor Jules Woodson understands firsthand.

“I reported it the next day, but I was told that it was my fault,” Woodson recalled.

For 20 years, she stayed silent — until she went public with her story in 2018. She says her abuser later received a standing ovation from his Tennessee megachurch after a public admission she describes as a “pseudo apology.”

“There was no accountability in my case,” Woodson said. “So seeing the state take responsibility for processing these rape kits is something that I think is a really good step.”

She says knowing the state is taking survivors seriously makes a difference.

“It’s confidence-boosting for the survivor to know that the state of Colorado is taking this seriously.”

In addition to faster testing, the new law also gives survivors a voice in how cases are handled, including victim advocates on the oversight board.

For Woodson, it’s not just about the kits; it’s about dignity.

“Sexual abuse is not a victimless crime. Even though there might not always be a gory crime scene, there are emotional wounds,” she said. “My hat’s off to other survivors. Know you’re not alone. And I pray that this new law will allow justice to be more swift.”

The new oversight board is expected to meet by August 1. Survivors will now have a seat at the table, and many advocates are calling this law a model for other states to follow.

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Rob Namnoum

The Fountain Fort Carson football team is getting ready. They can’t hit the field yet but they can hit the weight room. When they do take the field, several players will be wearing sleek new helmets, “It almost looks futuristic. Like a spaceship on your head,” says Myren Johnson.

The helmets are part of the Broncos “All in, All Covered” program. The Broncos are donating more than fifteen thousand helmets to every high school in the state over the next four years. The first round of donations, covering about twenty-five precent of each teams’ players, begin this year and they are top of the line Ridell helmets. The ones the pros wear and Riddell is visiting each school to custom fit the helmets, “They have this app and they like take pictures of your head with this, with this like ski mask over your head and then they send it. in. So this this helmet with all the padding and everything inside of it, it’s fit to only my head. Next year, say, one of our sophomores that already got their head scanned, they would put them in this helmet to make it fit them. Everything feels balanced in the helmet, doesn’t feel heavy in the back, doesn’t feel heavy on top, it almost feels like a a perfect helmet,” says Johnson,

The helmets also include “in sight” technology that helps track head and neck injuries. Each school will get a free four year subscription, “These helmets, it’s a lot less concussion protocol with the the different gadgets and different things they use and different padding that they have for this helmet,” says Johnson.

There are still some things to be ironed out long term. If reconditioned properly, helmets can last up to ten years but the cost and efficiency of reconditioning of the helmets for each school will vary. Something Fountain Fort Carson head coach Jake Novotny would like to see addressed to maximize the program’s impact, “What’s the future after the four years? How do we make it sustainable, affordable? Maybe there is a buy-in program where we get them at half off or whatever, if they can’t flip the bill down the road. And I don’t think we should expect them to. Now we have an expectation with our communities that it’s gonna be a different way. That’s the one thing for me. I think we’ve got to sit down and figure out what that looks like,” says Novonty.

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Emily Coffey

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)—A tight-knit family and community are devastated by the loss of Aiden Hernandez, a soon-to-be father and recent Woodland Park High School grad.

Those who knew him say he was a pillar of the community and a bright and driven athlete with a passion for the culinary arts.

“Incredible young man, great energy, A smile that would just melt your heart.  Very intense. Very driven young man, even from an early age,” His former football coach, Chad Drummond, said.

El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says they were called out to assist with a work accident on 9500 Escondido Road on May 29th, at 9:58 a.m. They say that after administering CPR, he was pronounced dead on the scene. EPSO says a tree branch fell on Hernandez, but other details on the incident and his death are unclear.

“It dropped me to the floor,” Former Football coach Chad Drummond said. “I don’t know if I’ve still accepted it.”

Aidan was expecting a child with his longtime girlfriend, Michaela Boring. The Hernandez family did not agree to go on camera today.

“You will not find a closer family from when he was little until he graduated. If he had an event, everyone was there. If someone else in the family had an event, they were all there,” Drummond said. “They supported each other from morning to night, which is why my heart breaks for this family. It is absolutely a catastrophic loss.”

To contribute to the Meal Train, click here. For donations to the baby registry, click here.

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Mackenzie Stafford

BOULDER, Colo. (KRDO) — On Wednesday, witnesses from the Boulder terror attack and many religious leaders came together to denounce hate in any shape or form. The group stood united in the same spot along Pearl Street where the Sunday attack took place.

The group was all speaking out against the alleged actions of Mohammad Soliman, who lived in El Paso County. 

On Wednesday, a letter could be seen posted to the front door of the Soliman residence. It’s an eviction warning from the landlord looking to collect rent, however, no one is home to pay it. While the Soliman family is in ICE custody, on Wednesday, a judge issued an order blocking the deportation of Mohammed Soliman’s family.

The new message comes as leaders from a multitude of different faiths stood together to share their message of love overcoming hate. 

A crowd filled the space outside of the Boulder County courthouse to hear from Jewish, Islamic, and Catholic leaders. 

“The whole Jewish community is reeling, shocked that this hideous hate crime could happen right here in downtown beautiful Boulder.  And yet, we have seen this coming, and Jews here and all over America and the world have not been feeling safe, physically or emotionally, in the face of demonizing hate speech and dangerous rhetoric.  We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from our neighbors and friends, faith leaders from across the county, state and the world. Demonization of others has to stop. The hate speech has to stop,” said Rabbi Marc Soloway. 

Some shared that an attack on one religion and the ability to share your beliefs freely is an attack on all religions. 

“A threat to one faith community is a threat to all. The values, the values that we and I love so dearly, of pluralism and freedom and democracy. We cannot have those threats. And though we differ in faith and practice, we can be united in our care and attention for each other and for those in need,” stated Reverend Mary Kate Réjoius, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

Others explained how being neighborly is a common thread in all religions, a pillar needed in the community in the wake of the attack. 

“We stand firm on our Islamic shared values of neighborliness, which are American values. We stand firm on that with our neighbors, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim, at all times and especially at times like this,” said Imam Nader Elmarhoumi, Islamic Center of Boulder.

Ed Victor says the Run for Their Lives awareness group has held these walks since Oct. 7, 2023. Victor spoke about his experience on Sunday. 

“Suddenly, right by me, I think I heard a crash, and I felt a lot of heat. And a person is on fire, a woman is on fire. I’m saying this because that’s what happened. That’s what I saw. And I’ll tell you that my focus got extremely narrow at that time. I didn’t notice anything else. I was worried about that woman,” recounted Ed Victor, a participant in the Run for Their Lives awareness group.

Victor continued to explain the distress, trying to extinguish the fire.

“I’ll tell you what. Someone on fire takes too long to put out. Whether it took 1 minute or 2 minutes, I don’t remember. But I know it took too long. What did we have to put them out? You look around, you’re like, there are some flags. We have a banner. You do what you can. It was myself and three other people doing what we could,” explained Victor.

He shared how speaking out against anti-Semitism is so important right now– a message echoed by many of the speakers on Wednesday.

KRDO13 also reached out to the local Islamic Society of Colorado Springs, which shared this statement.

We at the Islamic Society of Colorado Springs are heartbroken by the tragic attack that occurred yesterday in Boulder, Colorado. Acts of hatred and violence have no place in Islam. Our faith teaches us to uphold justice, show compassion, and honor the sanctity of every human life. We stand firmly against all forms of extremism and violence, and we condemn yesterday’s attack in the strongest possible terms.

In times of tragedy, we are called to respond with empathy, kindness, and a shared commitment to peace. We pray for unity and understanding in our society, and we pledge to continue working alongside people of all faiths and backgrounds to build a more compassionate and just world.May Allah (SWT) guide us all to be sources of peace, mercy, and healing in our communities

-The Islamic Society of Colorado Springs.

The suspect, Mohammad Soliman, claimed that his attack was not an attack against Jewish people broadly, but against Zionist supporters of the state of Israel. 

Soliman is expected back in Boulder County court Thursday afternoon. 

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Celeste Springer

WASHINGTON (KRDO) — A judge has issued an order blocking the deportation of Mohamed Soliman’s family, according to ABC News. Soliman is accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at peaceful demonstrators who were calling attention to Israeli hostages over the weekend.

Court records show the family filed a suit contesting their deportation. Federal Judge Gordon P. Gallagher has scheduled a hearing for Friday.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials say he was living in the country illegally after his work permit expired in March. Officials confirmed earlier this week that he lived in El Paso County with his wife and five kids. Secretary Kristi Noem said his family was being processed for removal, all of whom are Egyptian citizens.

“This terrorist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are investigating to what extent his family knew about this heinous attack, if they had knowledge of it, or if they provided support to it,” said Secretary Noem in a release.

On Monday, officials said in a press conference that they believe Soliman acted alone, but they are actively pursuing any leads that come their way. Anyone with tips or information is encouraged to click here to submit tips.

Due to the wide breadth of damage allegedly inflicted by Soliman, Michael Dougherty the 20th Judicial District Attorney for Boulder County, explained on Monday that he had filed for the following charges:

8 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder (With Intent and After Deliberation)

8 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder (Extreme Indifference)

2 counts of Use of an Incendiary Device

16 counts of Attempted Use of an Incendiary Device

More charges are likely to come to light as Dougherty announced on Wednesday that the victim count had risen to 15.

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Celeste Springer

STATEWIDE, Colo. (KRDO) — A bill putting stricter regulations on the car booting industry has been signed into law in Colorado.

HB25-1117 provides additional oversight against what some lawmakers say is a predatory industry.

Car boots are typically large metal clamps that are put on a car’s tire, intended to prevent to owner from driving away. They are most commonly used as a method to get people to pay up on old parking tickets or force them to pay a fine for parking illegally.

Under this new law, car booting companies are required to ensure car owners are given a written notice at least 24 hours before booting their car. There is an exception if a car owner has received a previous notice for parking in the same manner.

“For most Coloradans, a car is not a convenience – it is a livelihood. Cars are how Coloradans get to work, buy groceries and medicine, and take their kids to school,” said Representative Mike Weissman (D). “These protections prevent predatory booting and ensure that hardworking Coloradans can quickly restore access to their cars.” 

Additionally, car booters must take photos of the car before they boot it. If they don’t, and the car ends up damaged, they could be held liable.

If a company puts more than one boot on a car, they can’t charge the owner more than once for removing the boots. They are also now required to provide a customer with an itemized receipt.

Finally, they must also remove a boot if the car owner pays at least $60 of the total amount owed.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A year has passed since a controversy in the Ivywild neighborhood over white and yellow lane markers called delineators that were installed at two intersections along Cheyenne Boulevard.

And now, there are new developments since KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior broke the story in May 2024.

Delineators have been removed from the Cheyenne/Lorraine Street intersection — also closed to all except westbound traffic — and construction is underway.

The Road Warrior learned of the situation while driving through the neighborhood on Tuesday; some neighbors said that the intersection had closed on Monday but had no idea why.

City officials have yet to confirm the reason for the closure and the construction, but it’s likely due to the replacement of delineators with concrete bump-outs.

Bump-outs are extended curbs that stick out into streets and are designed to reduce the time needed for pedestrians to cross a street — which can increase safety for disabled or elderly walkers in particular.

A bump-out gives a pedestrian time to cross one side, wait or rest in a center median, and cross the other side.

Workers are setting up the framework for a median at the construction site, and sidewalks at the intersection have been removed; only westbound traffic on Cheyenne is allowed.

That hasn’t stopped some eastbound drivers, however, from trying to sneak through — until they’re stopped by workers and told to back up.

Last May, city officials made the intersection a four-way stop to reduce speeding and increase safety, although there’s mixed neighborhood opinion about how effective it has been.

Neighbors are undecided about the apparent coming of the bump-outs.

“Well, let’s see how it finishes up,” said Keith Hays, who has lived in Ivywild for 30 years. “The reason for the concrete is to slow the traffic down. I’ve never really seen a need to do it.”

Gregory Young said he supports anything that reduces speeding.

“I’m worried about maybe long-term plow interference with snow removal,” he said. “But if they want to keep fixing it from a snowplow hitting it, then who am I to question it?”

A former county commissioner led the initial opposition to the delineators, saying that they were unsightly and unnecessary, and that neighbors had no say in the decision to install them.

At that time, the city removed another group of delineators a few blocks east, at the Woodburn Street intersection; officials had studied the devices there and determined that they didn’t work well because the layout of that intersection is different.

Posted signs around the construction zone state that parking is prohibited from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. through the end of June.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A Colorado Springs veterinarian travels to Tanzania on Friday with Rabies Free Africa to vaccinate dogs and cats for rabies to protect the local human population.

Dr. Anastasia McIntosh has worked as a veterinarian at Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital for over 18 years. Rabies Free Africa chose her for the trip to Tanzania and seven others out of hundreds of applicants nationwide.

“Over in Africa, it can cost upwards of a family’s annual salary if their child is bitten, and that’s just devastating,” Dr. McIntosh said. If we can protect the dogs and cats, we can protect the children.

McIntosh will fly to Tanzania on June 7 for the 10-day trip. Each day, McIntosh and the other doctors will vaccinate the local population’s dogs and cats for free. She said the goal is to vaccinate over 2000 animals to protect both the animals and the local human population.

McIntosh said people can help right here in Colorado Springs. Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital will donate $1 from every rabies vaccine appointment to Rabies Free Africa.

As of May 2024, rabies kills someone worldwide every 9 minutes. The goal of Rabies Free Africa is to end rabies deaths by 2025.

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Rob Namnoum

Matt Mahoney is happy where he’s at.  This is his fifth year playing for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, “It Is my ninth year playing, and I would say the goals and what I want to achieve are a little different. You know, earlier in your career you try to make a name for yourself, trying to establish yourself and now being established.  You really just want to win.  But I still enjoy like I enjoy coming into work every day, and otherwise I wouldn’t do it. I try to enjoy every moment while I can and go from there,” says Mahoney.  

The little moments he appreciates, it’s the time he spends with his teammates, “We laugh every day. I mean, I’ve been very fortunate the year I played to be in locker rooms that we’ve all generally liked each other, you know, and we are 30 years old or in our late twenties. We just like to mess around and have fun, you know,  like  pick fun at each other. And that’s part of the part I’ll miss the most and I’m done,” says Mahoney.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The State Games of America are coming to Colorado Springs in 2028, according to the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation (CSSC).

Organizers say the event will feature State Games winners from across the United States. The Olympic-style event features a wide variety of sports with amateur athletes.

CSSC says there will be more than 30 different sports featured with more than 8,000 athletes. Examples of different sports that could be included are baseball, soccer, swimming, pickleball, bowling, karate, and even esports.

A press release from the CSSC has not announced the 2028 dates for the competitions in Colorado Springs. The next scheduled event on their plate is the 2026 games, which are taking place July 28–August 2, 2026 in State College, Pennsylvania.

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