Author: KRDO

Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The City of Colorado Springs has announced its lineup for pools and splashpads. Several options open on Saturday.

Spray grounds:

Deerfield Hills Sprayground

4290 Deerfield Hills Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Opens June 1

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all other days

The Watering Hole at Venezia Park

3555 Briargate Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Opens May 24

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Splash Pad at Panorama Park

4540 Fenton Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Opens May 24

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Deerfield Hills Spray Ground at Deerfield Hills Community Center (Source: City of Colorado Springs)

Fountains:

Julie Penrose Fountain in America the Beautiful Park

126 Cimino Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Opens May 24

Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Uncle Wilber in Acacia Park

115 E. Platte Ave.

Opens May 24

Hours: noon to 6 p.m.

Uncle Wilber Fountain in Acacia Park (Source: Lander Media via City of Colorado Springs)

Pools:

Monument Valley Pool YMCA

220 Mesa Road 

Day pass rates apply

Opens May 24

Wilson Ranch Pool (Source: YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region)

Wilson Ranch Pool YMCA

2335 Allegheny Drive 

Day pass rates apply

Opens May 24

Note: Portal Pool and the Memorial Park Family Center are closed due to structural assessments.

Lakes:

Prospect Lake in Memorial Park

1605 E. Pikes Peak Ave.

Fishing, paddle boarding, swimming, and motorized use are allowed

No lifeguard on duty; swim at your own risk

Swimming is allowed in the roped-off area in front of the Beach House on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

Paddleboard rentals available

Prospect Lake in Memorial Park (Source: City of Colorado Springs)

Click here to follow the original article.

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A group of five students will get to watch their college project launched into orbit so astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) can carry out the experiment.

“I’m using these equations and putting them into actuality. I’m putting something out in the world that’s coming from my brain,” UCCS Chemistry student William Shemel said.

Their project, “Fungal Bioleaching in Microgravity: Fungal Approaches to Metal Recovery,” won a competition against 11 different groups from other competitors in Colorado. They are one of just 21 groups globally selected by the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP).

Two local professors started the statewide competition for a spot in the SSEP: Lynnane George with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS), and Dr. Mckenna Lovejoy with Pikes Peak State College (PPSC).

The group’s experiment involves sending samples of mold spores to the International Space Station to see if they react different in a microgravity (zero gravity) environment.

The long-term goal of the experiment is to improve the feasibility of human life on other planets. Planet colonizers would theoretically use these type of mold spores to break down local materials and harvest raw metals on-planet rather than having them “shipped” from Earth.

The students are Joseph Bate (UCCS Physics), Evan Martin (UCCS Aerospace Engineering), Tristan Dwyer (UCCS Biology), William Shemel (UCCS Chemistry) and Cody Leeper (PPSC Aerospace Engineering).

All five are invited to watch the launch scheduled for April 2026 at the Kennedy Space Center. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers may have noticed recent construction on a two-block segment of Woodmen Road between I-25, east to Campus Drive; it’s a project that started last week, continues through the end of next month, and has two objectives.

The first goal is reducing traffic in the two westbound turn lanes on Woodmen, onto the I-25 entrance ramp; congestion during peak periods often causes backups that blocks traffic in the left through lane on Woodmen.

Crews will resolve that issue by extending those turn lanes east to the Campus intersection; demolishing rebuilding and shifting the concrete center median; and closing one of two left turn lanes on eastbound Woodmen to northbound Campus.

Traffic studies have shown that only a single left turn lane is needed there.

During the project, the left turn lane on northbound Campus to westbound Woodmen is closed, although traffic continues to turn left from the single northbound through lane; it’s unclear whether traffic should be doing that.

Workers also will install new street signs and apply new lane markings; one lane of Woodmen in each direction in that area will be closed during construction but two through lanes each way will remain open; officials said that the project won’t affect access to the freeway in either direction.

The second reason for the project is to prepare that part of Woodmen for repaving this summer, under the 2C expanded repaving program; the city will resurface approximately two miles of the west end of Woodmen from just east of the Academy Boulevard interchange, to Woodmen Court.

As KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior reported last September, the pavement there has significantly deteriorated in the past few years because a previous repaving that added rubber from old tires into the asphalt, proved to be less durable than expected.

The technique has been widely used in California and Texas with the belief that the asphalt/rubber mixture would also provide smoother driving; however, it’s possible that the mixture couldn’t endure the high altitude, freeze-thaw cycles and abrupt temperature changes locally.

Many drivers have complained about the rough condition of Woodmen in that area, calling it one of the bumpiest streets in the city.

Click here to follow the original article.

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Emmanuel Cooley III now faces a 1st degree murder charge and other lesser offenses for the May 16 fatal shooting outside a shopping center on Pikes Peak Avenue.

KRDO13 Investigates has now uncovered court documents that show this is the second time Cooley has been charged with murder.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: One person dead after shooting at Colorado Springs business center

According to Cooley’s arrest affidavit, the Friday shooting started with an argument in the parking lot of the Park Hill Business Center. The original caller told police they saw two people arguing, then “one shot the other.”

Police say they arrived and found the victim wounded in front of Santiago’s Boxing Club. The victim died at the scene. As of Monday evening, CSPD has not identified the victim, but loved ones are already grieving. A memorial made up of dozens of candles, balloons, and flowers now sits at the scene of the crime.

The arrest affidavit says police were able to obtain footage of the shooting and the moments leading up to it. That footage matches up with the witness’s statement, according to police records. The witness told police she saw a black man dressed in dark clothing pull the trigger. Police say the security camera footage showed the same thing.

Cooley is now facing the following charges:

1st degree murder

Felony menacing

Possession of a weapon by a previous offender

When police brought him in for questioning, Cooley said he didn’t want to waste time and pleaded the 5th, declining to answer any questions.

KRDO13 Investigates uncovered court documents and newspaper headlines that show that Cooley previously pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder in 2001, related to an August 1999 killing.

Cooley was sentenced to 32 years behind bars in that case.

Click here to follow the original article.

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The time between deciding which street to be repaved, doing the concrete work required beforehand, and then applying the new layer of asphalt can be a frustrating wait for drivers and neighbors, but brings relief and satisfaction when the work is finished.

Last week, residents in the hilly Broadmoor Bluffs neighborhood on the city’s southwest side began enjoying the benefits of freshly repaved streets.

It’s where city officials recently held a kick-off event for this year’s version of the 2C expanded street repaving effort.

Voters initially passed Question 2C in 2015; it was conceived by John Suthers, the same year that he was elected to the first of two terms as mayor.

Passage meant the approval of a sales tax increase to generate at least $50 million annually for expanded repaving; voter approval was fueled by many citizen complaints about poor street conditions, numerous potholes and vehicle damage.

Voters renewed the tax in 2020 and again last year, this time for a ten-year extension.

“I want to take a second to thank our residents for our recent passing of a ten-year extension of the program,” said Richard Mulledy, the city’s public works director. “And that’s a huge thing for our city. It will provide the funding for 2C to continue to pave roads like this, and continue to improve our infrastructure in people’s neighborhoods and along our mainline infrastructure.”

During the previous nine years of 2C, many citizens criticized the program for not paving enough streets, not paving them quickly enough, not spending tax revenue wisely, and questioning the method by which officials decide which streets to prioritize.

Brian Wilson, the program manager for 2C, insists that the city is doing the best it can.

“The 2C program focuses on roads that are between a 30 and a 70 OCI (Overall Condition Index) value because those are roads that have significant distress that need addressing, but still meet criteria to not be a full re-constructive effort that costs a lot of money,” he explained.

Some citizens are disappointed that the increased paving has yet to result in a significant decrease in potholes; crews patched 94,000 last year.

However, officials have routinely said that they are still catching up on years of deferred street maintenance, and that they’re also coping with the addition of more streets resulting from continued growth.

Becca Gurney Powe lives in the Broadmoor Bluffs.

“There’s freezing and melting, and it just tears large pockets of paving away,” she said. “It’s a mess. We’re grateful to having the roads repaved up here.”

To see the streets on this year’s paving list, visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/system/files/2025-01/2025%202C%20Paving%20List.pdf.

Click here to follow the original article.

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A couple in Colorado Springs has created a new hiking group that encourages families to bring their children along to help new parents find a community in the outdoors.

It’s called the Colorado Springs Parents hiking group. The two co-founders, Kati Lynn and Andrew Pannier, moved to Colorado last summer with their young daughter. The two said they had trouble finding hiking groups they could join and fit in with while bringing their two-year-old along.

The group meets one or two times a month at different spots in the Pikes Peak region. Kati-Lynn and Andrew said they vet each trail to make sure it’s safe for young children and brings water for participants.

The two use Facebook for all group communication.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A Colorado Springs family is grieving the loss of their father after a Mother’s Day hit-and-run.

On Sunday, May 11, just after 3 p.m., the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) was called to the intersection of South Murray Boulevard and East Fountain Boulevard. 

That’s where they found 70-year-old Fred Brockway, who witnesses say was crossing the street when he was hit by a car that just drove off. 

Fred Brockway’s four children say they didn’t even know this had happened until a day after he was hit. 

They were by his side while he was trying to recover. The family tells KRDO13 it was an awful, heart-wrenching experience.

They say they were told he was making progress until they got a call with tragic news.

“They said that he’s inevitably going to pass because of his injuries,” explained Fred’s son, Cody Brockway.

His daughter, Shauna Price, explained that his heart failed from a blood clot

“I mean, he had a broken elbow, broken shoulder, both legs, ribs, and a really bad head injury. So we were in for a long road ahead, regardless,” added Celeste Aragon, Fred’s daughter.

After fighting in the hospital for days, Brockway passed on Wednesday.

“You never thought your father would die from being hit by a car. We thought it’d be natural causes, of all things. It was a shock,” explained Fred’s daughter, Shauna Price.

His family remembers him as an incredible, hard-working father. They say he loved Star Wars, Star Trek, and Indiana Jones. 

“He was my best friend. We did everything together. And I tried to have him around for my child as much as possible, so that he could spend time with his ‘grumpy,'” recounted Fred’s son, Drew Brockway.

He was the grandfather to their children, and now they’re devastated he won’t get to be here for the rest of their children’s milestones. 

Fred Brockway’s children are frustrated in the wake of their father’s passing. They say they’ve been having a hard time getting answers and want to find justice on behalf of their father.

As of Sunday night, Colorado Springs police have not been able to confirm if an arrest has been made. 

As the family grapples with this unexpected loss, they’re raising funds to lay their father to rest. If you would like to support them during this time, you can do so here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Michael Logerwell

BREAKING UPDATE: MONDAY 5:58 A.M. – Just before 6 a.m. on Monday, the Colorado Springs Fire Department confirmed the discovery of a deceased person when firefighters were clearing units after a fire in a storage facility.

CSFD officials say they are now working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

According to the CSFD, The Colorado Springs Police Department is now conducting a death investigation.

Firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire just before 9 p.m. Sunday at Public Storage, on Van Teylingen Drive, north of the Academy Boulevard/North Carefree Circle intersection.

Several dozen units in a center section of the business appear to have been damaged or destroyed by fire, smoke and water; contents of the units included furniture and at least one car and motorcycle.

The scene was active for much of the morning, with the Regional Bomb Squad, the Metro Crime Lab and the El Paso County Coroner’s Office assisting; the latter will perform an autopsy on the body.

One man who rents a unit says his property apparently wasn’t seriously damaged.

“I have some paintings in there that I was worried about,” he said. “They’re covered with soot. My hands are black from brushing it off. I was here when the fire happened and when I saw the firefighters spraying water on the roof of the units, I was worried.”

By late morning, authorities had cleared the scene and the only activity was from managers securing the property and crews making repairs.

It’s unclear how many renters are affected.

Managers declined comment and referred media inquiries to their corporate office in California.

PREVIOUS STORY — Sunday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Fire Department is ringing the second alarm for a structure fire along Van Teylingen Drive, near Palmer Park.

Through social media, the fire department said the blaze is spread across multiple units at the Public Storage facility.

Firefighters are asking the public to avoid the area.

Click here to follow the original article.

Michael Logerwell

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) – The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is charging Miguel Borja with five counts of attempted homicide of a peace officer and three counts of attempted homicide after the sheriff’s office says he intentionally blew up a residence with law enforcement inside.

Monument Police responded to a call about a family disturbance on Front Street in Monument Saturday evening. Because of Borja’s criminal history, the sheriff’s office also responded in a supporting role.

Deputies say they saw Borja attempt to light another individual on fire, then barricade himself inside the home.

While attempting to communicate with Borja, officers and deputies smelled the strong odor of gas coming from inside the residence.

The sheriff’s office says that when deputies and officers attempted to enter the residence, the home exploded. At the time of the blast, two officers and three deputies were inside the home. All five were transported to area hospitals and later released. Today, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office said the officers and deputies in the explosion are doing okay.

After the explosion, the sheriff’s office says Borja was taken into custody, then transferred to a Denver area hospital for burn injuries sustained during the blast.

The sheriff’s office says Borja is facing these charges:

One count of Attempted First-Degree Assault

One count of First-Degree Arson

Three counts of Attempted Homicide

Five counts of Attempted Homicide of a Peace Officer

One neighbor said their home was filled with smoke after the explosion.

“As a single mom, that’s all you think is there’s a fire. I need to get my kid out of the house, and we’re going to get to safety,” explained Jessica Enders.

Enders tells KRDO13 she’s grateful for the response from law enforcement, who reassured her and her family in the smoky haze that their home was not on fire and they were safe.

Neighbors tell KRDO13 the family in the home has always been kind and friendly to those in the area.

Click here to follow the original article.

Karla Sosa

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO)- Parents, staff and community members will soon know more about the future of the Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy.

An emergency meeting is scheduled for Monday morning.

This comes on the heels of the Colorado State Board of Education upholding a decision by Pueblo District 60 to not renew the Chavez Huerta contract.

KRDO13 talked with a parent, she didn’t want to go on camera, but said, “We love our school and they’ve treated us well. The programs they offer are amazing, and I stand behind the school in hopes that we can stay open.”

Chavez Huerta K-12 Preparatory Academy is made up of three schools César Chávez Academy, Ersilia Cruz Middle School and Dolores Huerta Preparatory High. It’s a public charter school authorized by School District 60 and has been in existence since 2000.

Back in January, the D60 school board made a decision not to renew its charter agreement with Chavez Huerta. District leaders said the school was one of the lowest-performing in the district and had lower enrollment.

This week’s decision by the Colorado State Board of Education left many community members in shock.

“Personally, I’m really disappointed that was a 3-2 vote. And, so I wish them well in appealing that they’re not going away,” said Steve Nawrocki, a Pueblo resident. “I can assure you that they have not given up. They’re going to appeal that decision by the local school board.”

After learning about the Colorado State Board of Education decision, Chavez Huerta Preparatory Academy posted on their social media account a full statement reading in part “We are resilient. We are strong. And we will keep fighting for our school community.”

According to state officials, the contract between Chavez Huerta and D60 expires on June 30.

D60 told KRDO 13 on Friday in a statement that they will assist Chavez Huerta administrators, families and students in making a smooth transition to other D60 schools.

On Monday morning Chavez Huerta Preparatory Academy will have a meeting at 7:15 a.m. in the Ersilia Cruz Middle School cafeteria.

Click here to follow the original article.