Author: KRDO

Bradley Davis

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – President Donald Trump announced Wednesday morning that a former teacher with ties to southern Colorado is returning home after more than four years in a Russian prison.

Russian forces arrested Stephen Hubbard near the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. He’s 74 years old.

Trump said on social media that Hubbard was “just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week. Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family.”

Stephen’s sister, Patricia, still lives in Chaffee County. KRDO13 has spoken with her multiple times during his Russian incarceration.

“I’ll trade my life for his. If Putin would just send him home, and he wants another life to torture, take me,” Patricia said in an interview with KRDO13 last year.

We spoke with Hubbard’s cousin, Pierre Hubbard who says the family is elated by his return.

“The family is pretty excited. I’m relieved and happy, but we got to give kudos to the Trump administration cabinet. You know…they handled it. Between Marco Rubio and our defense people in that cabinet, you know, he’s getting it done, so I’m excited; it’s a good thing,” says Pierre.

The Russian court charged Stephen with fighting for Ukrainian forces in Izyum, where he had been a teacher since 2014. Patricia denies the claim, and the United States has labeled Stephen as “Unlawfully Imprisoned.” Patricia said she has not been allowed to speak with her brother during his imprisonment.

ABC News contacted Patricia. She said she is on her way to reunite with him in San Antonio, where the United States takes all hostages for treatment following their imprisonment.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff first announced Stephen’s release during a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia. Witkoff thanked Putin for facilitating the return.

“I want to thank you very much. The president sends his thanks,” Witkoff said to Putin. “The whole nation sends their thanks because of Stephen Hubbard. Because of you, he’s going home to his family.”

Trump said the U.S. did not give up anything in exchange for Stephen. However, he canceled scheduled sanctions on Russia earlier this week and said later Wednesday morning on social media that the negotiations would have come to a “complete and total halt” had he followed through with the sanctions.

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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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Officials will mark the approximate halfway point in the ongoing project to build two roundabouts at the interchange of US 24 and Peterson Road, near the north gate of Peterson Space Force Base.

At an unspecified time on Wednesday morning, crews will move northbound and southbound Peterson Road traffic — one lane in each direction — onto the newly-paved lanes on the east side of the road, so that paving on the opposite side can begin.

Officials said that the switch will be an all-day operation requiring the presence of uniformed traffic officers to help guide drivers through.

If you plan to drive through the area, you should allow yourself extra time, prepare for possible traffic delays, or consider another route.

The lane change also allows crews to continue working on the roundabouts, one on each side of the highway overpass, and make pedestrian improvements.

At times, the interchange — first built in the early 1960s — can become congested with traffic in and out of Peterson SFB, along Space Village Avenue, and to and from the highway.

Officials expect to finish the $15 million project by the middle of next year.

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Rob Namnoum

Air Force fullback Owen Allen paid homage to quarterback Liam Szarka after he scored a touchdown in Saturday’s win against UNLV. After Allen scored celebrated by doing the pencil sharpener dance.

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Rob Namnoum

Pueblo Centennial High School won the South Colorado Motors Friday Night Blitz Spirit Award for week three of the high school football season. The Bulldogs cheer squad recently received the South Colorado Motors Friday Night Blitz Spirit Award plaque.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It started with a pitch to the C.S. Lewis estate for an original adaptation of the author’s world-famous series.

Six months later, the Dragonfly Aerial Academy will take to the skies of the Ent Center of the Arts for an all-new performance of ‘Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.’

There are three performances this weekend, two on Saturday and one on Sunday inside the Shockley-Zalabak Theater. Tickets range from $22.75 to $39.50. You can find a schedule and tickets here.

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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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A one-way tunnel under Interstate 25 on the south end of the city that is a popular shortcut for drivers, has closed because of traffic issues.

City officials said that Harrison District 2 asked the city to close the Willwood Tunnel because of its impact on traffic congestion around Harrison High School.

Also contributing to the congestion is a utility project on the south end of Circle Drive, near the I-25 interchange.

The tunnel, which connects the area around the Broadmoor World Arena to the south end of Janitell Road, closed Monday and is expected to remain closed for several weeks, until the utility project is finished.

Officials closed the tunnel for two years during the nearby project to replace four bridges on Circle, just east of the I-25 interchange.

At that time, officials said too many drivers were using the tunnel as a shortcut, going the wrong way, east to west instead of west to east.

The tunnel reopened in May, to the delight of many drivers, but their surprise and frustration returned when it closed again.

Tunnel traffic and the utility project have worsened traffic congestion enough to affect the routine at the high school.

A viewer emailed KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior on Monday, explaining that it can take as long as 30 minutes for students and staff to arrive, and up to 45 minutes to leave in the afternoon.

The viewer identified herself as a Harrison parent and expressed safety concerns for the school community traveling to and from school, as well as the ability for the community to evacuate and for first responders to arrive quickly in case of an emergency.

In fact, city officials said that providing quick emergency access on both sides of the tunnel is the main reason for closing it to regular traffic.

But that creates another problem.

The current tunnel closure doesn’t include concrete barriers to restrict traffic, as the first one did — making it easy for people to drive through the signs and barrels marking the closure.

The Road Warrior saw several vehicles and motorcycles violate the closure; a few drivers who attempted to do so backed out upon seeing the news crew.

City officials said that they’re hoping the placement of concrete barriers won’t be necessary, since the closure should end in a few weeks.

Until then, the city asks drivers for patience and cooperation.

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

Top prep performances for the week for the week of October 16th.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is inviting the public to its free “Día de Muertos Celebration,” celebrating deceased relatives with a community Offrenda, live music, sugar skull-making classes and more.

The community event is on November 1 and 2 (Sunday and Monday), the same days the holiday is observed in Mexico.

On Monday morning on Good Morning Colorado, Bemis School of Art assistant Director Jeremiah Houck is showing KRDO13’s Bradley Davis how to make and decorate sugar skulls. It’s one of the most popular Day of the Dead traditions.

The Bemis Art School is part of the Fine Arts Center. The school and its volunteers are making a thousand sugar skulls and 150 pounds of frosting to give away November 1 and 2.

Local artist Cal Duran is creating the massive community Ofrenda. Participants will be able to add their offerings to the piece.

The Bemis Art School is also hosting two Día de Muertos classes this weekend. In Saturday’s class, participants will learn to create their own Marigold Garlands. Saturday’s class is $30, while Sunday’s is $7. You can find more details here.

While the Día de Muertos Celebration is free, the Fine Arts Center asks guests to submit an RSVP so it can get a head count.

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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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Driving in part of the Pleasant Valley neighborhood will be a little less pleasant until mid-spring because of a major intersection closure.

The city is replacing the 71-year-old bridge at the intersection of 31st and Water Streets, over Camp Creek and just south of Garden of the Gods.

Officials closed the intersection late Monday morning, upsetting some neighbors and drivers who wondered why they couldn’t get through when no work appeared to be happening.

Drivers can expect construction to be active during weekdays and occasionally on Saturdays, and there will be temporary pedestrian crossings established around the intersection.

Officials say that the bridge has become structurally deficient and has passed its expected service life; the new bridge is designed to improve the capacity and efficiency of drainage in the creek.

The project includes upgrades to both streets, drainage, utility lines, sidewalks, curbs, ramps, and crosswalks.

Construction will change the routine at Howbert Elementary School, a half-block south of the intersection.

“They’re going to be using our parking lot as the thoroughfare, for especially school drop-off and pickup,” says teacher Becki Dickey. “We’re going to make it work, but it doesn’t feel like it’ll be the safest for kids. It’s not comfortable. And this whole neighborhood is going to be really impacted by a road closure like that for who knows how long.”

The school is on fall break this week.

Two other projects along 31st Street are part of a larger plan to improve drainage there.

This summer, crews built a new pedestrian bridge in front of the school; irt replaces an older bridge that was removed after being damaged by a vehicle crash in 2024.

Next spring, crews will begin building a roundabout at the busy intersection of 31st and Fontanero Streets; the project is scheduled for completion that fall.

While many neighbors support the roundabout, they worry about pedestrian safety there with kids walking to and from the school nearby.

“Our concerns at this point may have to do with continuity of government and how they are proceeding with previously completed plans,” says Chuck Whalen, a member of the Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association. “Have new plans been redone, not using all plans? It seems like a big waste of taxpayer funds here if designs have been duplicated.”

Whalen says that the association plans to meet with city planners next month to further discuss the best roundabout design; the assiciation previously created a design that would widen the creek channel to make room for bike lanes.

The city formulated the Camp Creek Drainage Improvement Program in 2013, a year after damage from the Walso Canyon Fire caused more frequent, heavier creek flows.

Work on the program started in 2016 with the creation of two stormwater retention and sedimentation ponds to reduce downstream flooding and erosion, and with stabilizing the channel.

For more information, visit: ColoradoSprings.gov/31stProjects.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Investigators with the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) are still searching for the cause of a two-alarm fire that damaged two buildings on Platte Avenue near the Black Sheep.

“Once we were here, we saw a very heavy fire coming from the roof of one of the buildings behind me and smoke coming from the front of it. We were able to get into the building, but we quickly saw that the roof was collapsing on the initial building that was on fire, so we moved all of our firefighters outside of the building,” Ashley Franco, spokesperson for CSFD, said.

Franco says the two buildings that were impacted were abandoned and had no one inside at the time of the fire.

The two buildings were in the same block of Platte Avenue and the Black Sheep music venue. The Black Sheep building was not impacted by the fire; however, the incident caused the venue to cancel the performance scheduled for Sunday night.

The Black Sheep posted this statement after the fire:

“Due to a fire on our block today and ongoing road closures, we are forced to postpone Mia Asano’s show tonight. We are so thankful that no one was injured and the Sheep is intact and should be up and running normally in time for our next show. We are working on a reschedule date with Mia and all ticket purchasers will be notified of the new show date ASAP.”

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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