Author: KRDO

Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The “Roof Deployment Project” from Owens Corning brought its mission to Green Mountain Falls on Wednesday. They give military veterans help repairing or replacing the roofs on their homes.

The program has been running since 2016, and the company that organizes it all says they want to show gratitude and honor the veterans who served our country and the families who support them.

Walter Kunstmann is a U.S. Navy veteran. He was stationed on the eastern part of the Mediterranean during the 60’s. He recently had his roof checked out and learned it needed some repairs. 

Habitat for Humanity and Drury Roofing got together to make the full project free for him. 

“It makes you feel good,” said Ike Drury with Drury Brothers Roofing.

The organizers say they have one mission for their work: to get the job done right the first time, every time.

So far, they say they’ve been able to help more than 700 veterans and their families around the country.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing has garnered the attention of many and the dollars of many. The prize has climbed to $1.4 billion.

According to Powerball, Wednesday night’s drawing will feature the fourth-largest prize in the lottery’s history. If no one wins tonight, it will go even higher.

Winners Corner in Pueblo is statistically the luckiest store in Colorado, as it has sold the highest number of winning tickets this year.

READ MORE: This Pueblo store sold the most winning lottery tickets in the state, but there’s a reason why

On Wednesday, many people flowed into the store to try their luck and buy a ticket.

Are there numbers that increase your odds?

John Morris, a math professor at Pikes Peak State College, has some tips that can increase your statistical probability of winning the lottery.

Firstly, sentimental numbers like birthdates could hurt your chances. Some might pigeonhole you into making selections from numbers 1 through 30.

“Whereas they can draw any number from one in 1 to 69. Your best way to ensure that you’re not limiting yourself is to do their quick pick, which draws it completely randomly, and therefore it is simulating what you’re likely to see when the actual drawing happens,” said Morris.

He says that even if you don’t win the major jackpot you still have a chance to win some cash.

“it’s important to recognize that even though in the odds, odds are very much against you for winning the big jackpot. First of all, they have lots of smaller jackpots. If you go to, the official published numbers of the Colorado Lottery, they say that the odds of winning any of their prizes is about 1 in 25. And so that means even if you don’t get the big life changing money, you can get some money that is nice. Or just, hey, I can get a nice steak dinner tonight or something like that. So don’t be afraid to play it. Also, the thing to remember there is that they also have ways for very cheaply to, get the multiplier so that if you do win one of the lower prizes, it will double it, triple quadruple it,” explained Morris.

A map of the 25 luckiest stores (the ones that have sold the most winning tickets) is below. This map was created with data from the Colorado Lottery.

You won. Now what?

KRDO13 spoke to a financial advisor at FRS Financial Group who says he’s been preparing for the day one lucky winner walks into his office.

“I have actually built a plan over the years to help folks who do win the lottery to actually save themselves from their money, because we know oftentimes those lottery winners within three, five, seven years down the line really have nothing left to show for those winnings. So building out that plan to not only make the money available now, but to make it last, not only your lifetime, but this is something that’s going to change your family’s financial tree for generations to come, and we want them to be able to have those dollars available, you know, two, three, four generations down the line,” said Rick Stevens, LPL Financial Advisor.

Stevens provided tips regarding how to give back, without giving it all away.

“One of the first things that’s part of that plan is actually a giving budget, because we know the lottery winners that win these huge sums, all kinds of family and friends come out of the woodwork looking for the opportunity to, you know, have some of that money themselves. And I have told folks we’re going to set a giving budget and, you know, if you win a billion and a half dollars, we’re going to give away maybe $10 million a year. And that starts January 1st, and if by January 5th we’ve given away $10 million we have 360 days left to say no to people and come back next year,” shared Stevens.

Stevens recommends paying off your debt and putting away some of the money. He also noted how important it is to think about the additional costs that will come with any purchase. Stevens says if you buy a new car it’s also important to set aside the money for the license plate and to renew the registration every year.

And what about the lump sum versus annuity? Stevens suggests taking the lump sum, as it’s best to just get the tax burden over and done with.

“Even over those 30 years that this is going to pay out to you, you’ll end up with more to pass on to future generations. If you take that lump sum and invest it in a wise way, rather than taking that smaller amount over those next 30 years,” explained the financial advisor.

Click here to follow the original article.

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – KRDO13’s Bradley Davis walks us through the final of the three homes over $3.8 million in the 2025 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes: the “Élan at Mountain Vail” in Monument’s Grandwood Ranch community.

The Parade of Homes starts Friday, September 5, with 32 new homes by a variety of different builders, like Murphy’s Custom Homes, who built the Élan featured here.

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

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the identity of a man who was found stabbed to death near Monument Valley Park.

Police say that 48-year-old Daniel Parsons was found with at least one stab wound in the 100 Block of West Cache La Poudre on Aug. 28.

The coroner’s office will need to declare his cause of death officially, but CSPD says they are investigating this case as a homicide.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.

Click here to follow the original article.

Josh Helmuth

Now boasting the largest school district in the Pikes Peak region, Falcon D49 has another achievement that could earn it a national award later this year.

D49 celebrated at Sand Creek High School last Friday following the news that the district is a top seven nationwide finalist for the Malcom Baldridge National Quality Award, which is the only presidential award for performance excellence for school districts.

The recognition means that D49 is a “role model organization with proven results.” 

Peter Hilts, the superintendent, set the award in his sights just two years ago and credits his staff for getting them the nomination.

“We’re incredibly proud of our educators and all of the administrators and support staff and personnel that made this recognition possible,” said Hilts.

“Being a national finalist here in Colorado is a big deal, and we’re proud to share that with you,” he said.

Later this month, a team of national examiners will visit the district and those evaluators will determine if D49 will receive the award.

Is there something or someone remarkable at your school? Email Josh! SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Bear and Fountain Creek Nature Centers are putting a Western twist on their annual Happy Trails fundraising dinner with their first-ever Hoot-Ennany! (pun intended).

The Bear Creek Nature Center will host the Hoot-Ennany (Hootennany) on Friday, September 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be food, drinks, live folk music from local band Roma Ransom, and, as the name suggests, live owls from the Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center.

The Discovery Center helped the recovery of a Great Horned Owl it found injured in the Bear Creek Nature Area. Handlers plan to release the owl back into the wild the night of the Hoot-Ennany

In a partnership with the Friends of El Paso County, the Nature Centers said it will use the profits from the 16th-annual fundraising dinner for its educational and trailability programs. The Bear and Fountain Creek Trailability program offers free rentals of “terrain hoppers” to help people with disabilities enjoy their trails.

Tickets are $75 a person or $400 for a table of six. You can find more information on how to buy tickets here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abby Smith

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A vehicle crash at North Academy Boulevard and Half Turn Road, which “impacted a fire hydrant,” authorities said Tuesday, has shut down the intersection due to a sinkhole.

As of 5 a.m. on Wednesday, one northbound lane of Academy had reopened to traffic, and all southbound lanes were open.

On Tuesday afternoon, northbound Academy was closed between North Carefree Circle and Austin Bluffs Parkway, while the southbound left lane of Academy was closed at the Half Turn Road intersection.

Police recommend that people avoid the area.

Update: Vehicle crash at Academy/Half turn impacted a fire hydrant and a sinkhole is occurring. Northbound Academy is closed from N Carefree. Southbound Left lane is closed at Half Turn. Westbound Half Turn is closed east of Academy.

— CSPD Communications (@CSPDComCenter) September 2, 2025

Colorado Springs Utilities initially stated that all traffic lanes should reopen and repairs be completed by 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, but it quickly became clear that cleanup and repair would take longer.

Authorities stated that the sinkhole formed after the crash dislodged the hydrant from its base, causing water to gush around an area that already doesn’t have good drainage.

No injuries have been reported.

The repair work — at least through Wednesday morning rush hour — will mean detours for residents of several apartment complexes on the east side of the Academy/Half Turn intersection.

Driving east of that area is already challenging because of a huge drainage project in the Park Vista South neighborhood, where Siferd Boulevard was one of the city’s worst areas for flash flooding during rainstorms.

Drivers also have endured a construction project just north of the sinkhole repair, at the Academy/Meadowland Boulevard intersection; that project, however, should be finished in a few weeks.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Manitou Springs Police Department is seeking help from people willing to roll up their sleeves alongside officers for a community cleanup.

The police department says its efforts will focus on the Black Canyon Open Space. Specifically, volunteers will be focused on cleaning up trash and debris from abandoned campsites.

“This is a great opportunity for hikers and community members to give back and help preserve our natural environment,” read a flyer from the police department.

The cleanup will be on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Crews will meet at the intersection of Black Canyon and Garden Drive; those in attendance can park at Fields Park off El Paso Boulevard.

Volunteers should bring gloves, water, sunblock, and comfortable shoes. Trash bags and tools will be provided, the police department said.

To sign up to volunteer, click here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Celeste Springer

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Chaffee County Board of Commissioners has recognized two sheriff’s office members for their life-saving efforts on the job.

The men were recognized for their work during two different incidents.

Sergeant Dakoda DeFurio

An incident back in June resulted in the recognition of Sergeant Dakoda DeFurio. The sheriff’s office says Sergeant DeFurio was sent out to a bridge where a young woman appeared to have been gearing up to jump off.

The sheriff’s office says DeFurio first kept his distance in an effort not to scare her. When she began to put her hand on the top rail of the bridge, the sheriff’s office says DeFurio “was able to sneak close to her and grab her hand just as she jumped.” Sergeant DeFurio was able to hold onto her, and other law enforcement on scene were able to pull them both to safety.

Sergeant Dakoda DeFurio received an award after saving a woman from jumping off a bridge (Source: Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office).

“Sergeant DeFurio’s quick calculated actions, without delay, have aided a family’s ability to spend more time with their daughter,” read a press release from the sheriff’s office. “His actions also led to this young lady’s ability to receive the treatment that she needs to move on in life, in peace, and to recognize that she is loved.”

Deputy Kevin McCloskey

On Aug. 19, the sheriff’s office says Deputy McCloskey was the first on scene as a woman was blue, not breathing, and lying on the ground.

The sheriff’s office says McCloskey gave her a dose of Narcan, but it didn’t take. He then began performing CPR. After several minutes, he administered yet another dose of Narcan and continued CPR, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office says the woman regained consciousness and was able to be taken to the hospital.

Deputy Kevin McCloskey received an award for saving a woman who was overdosing (Source: Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office).

“Deputy McCloskey’s extensive training and quick diagnosis of the emergency gave this female another chance at life,” the sheriff’s office said. “The overdose certainly may have provided her the rock bottom she needed but Deputy McCloskey provided her the opportunity of new life and delivered hope to her family of a successful road to recovery.”

Click here to follow the original article.

KRDO News

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — On Tuesday morning, Second Amendment advocates held a press conference on Colorado’s new law, SB 25-003. You can watch below:

The Colorado State Shooting Association said that it has filed a lawsuit, seeking to overturn the law. Opponents of the law say that it will do nothing more than impose long and costly waiting periods for law-abiding people.

“This law won’t stop crime — it will only stop Coloradans from exercising their constitutional rights,” said Ray Elliott, president of CSSA. “Colorado already has background checks. We already have waiting periods. SB25-003 piles on yet another hoop for responsible citizens while criminals ignore the rules. Enough is enough.”

The law places more restrictions on those looking to purchase a semi-automatic weapon in Colorado.

Under the law, those hoping to buy a semiautomatic are required to complete a firearms safety course every five years. The course will go over safe storing, handling, and other gun safety issues. Those applicants will then take an exam, which they must pass with at least 90%.

Sheriff’s offices are required to check that an applicant does not have criminal convictions preventing them from getting a gun. They can also deny an applicant if they have a reasonable belief that the applicant is a danger to themselves or another person.

“This mandate, which goes into effect on August 1, 2026, will in practice impose long, costly, and unnecessary waiting periods on law-abiding Coloradans — even longer than the 7-day waiting period recently struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Ortega v. Grisham,” read a press release by the Colorado State Shooting Association.

The law also prohibits the purchase or sale of “rapid fire conversion devices, like bump stocks and binary triggers,” according to Colorado Senate Democrats.

“High-capacity magazines are what put the ‘mass’ into mass shootings, which is why over a decade ago Colorado Democrats passed legislation to prohibit magazines that hold over 15 rounds of ammunition,” said Senator Tom Sullivan in a prior press release. “The people of Colorado have mandated that we do something about the public health crisis that is gun violence, so that’s what we’re going to do,” he later added.

But one local gun shop owner says the new restrictions could drive away customers and put financial strain on their business.

“As far as my business is concerned, about 70 percent of my business is semi-automatic firearms, whether it be pistols, rifles, things of that nature,” said Teddy Collins, owner of Spartan Defense.

A local firearms instructor tells KRDO13 that while he understands the intent, he worries about how it would work in practice.

“I feel this bill will be good because it will require people to have more training,” said David Ruhl with Tactical Elite Training Academy. “However, we are not in support of this bill. The fact that it’s gonna put further regulations on law-abiding citizens, whereas the criminal element doesn’t abide by the law to begin with.”

According to House Democrats, the law does not impact the sale of shotguns, commonly used hunting rifles, semiautomatic firearms that have fixed magazines, and the majority of handguns.

After its passage, Democrats touted the law as a win for safety in Colorado.

“Coloradans deserve to grocery shop, go to school, and worship without worrying about being a victim in the next mass shooting,” said Representative Meg Froelich in an April release. “This gun violence prevention law requires that all firearm purchasers complete a rigorous safety training course and acquire a permit to purchase the most deadly weapons on the market to ensure that they are not a danger to themselves or our communities.”

In a press conference on Tuesday, members of the Colorado State Shooting Association said that Governor Jared Polis and Attorney Phil Weiser are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Click here to follow the original article.