Author: KRDO

Celeste Springer

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Manitou Springs Fire Department says that residents can expect to see smoke on Tuesday, June 10.

According to the department, they’ll be conducting wildland training exercises in Deer Valley Park from 6 to 9 p.m.

The fire department says the exercise is part of their wildfire response readiness program.

Officials say for non-emergency questions, contact the Manitou Springs Fire Department at 719-685-1444 or El Paso County Dispatch at 719-390-5555. In the event of an emergency,call 911.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — While the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is responsible for repaving the six-mile stretch of South Nevada Avenue between Brookside Street and Fort Carson’s main gate, the city is responsible for the block north of Nevada to Motor Way.

The city will repave that block to coincide with CDOT’s project; the city’s work began overnight on Monday and will continue overnight on Tuesday.

It appears that the first night’s work milled, or scraped off, several inches of old pavement with actual repaving to occur Tuesday night.

Crews also temporarily restriped lane markings on the milled pavement to guide drivers in the narrow, six-lane corridor.

Several blocks north of the Motor Way, to Interstate 25, is concrete pavement with several potholes and cracks; KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior is checking on who has responsibility for patching there.

The city is also finishing up a yearlong corridor safety project on Nevada and Tejon streets between I-25 and Brookside.

As CDOT’s paving continues, it is also performing concrete work to repair or rebuild ramps, sidewalks, curbs, medians, and guardrails; a particularly large sidewalk project is at the northbound Nevada off-ramp to Southgate Road.

Some of the agency’s paving will continue inside Fort Carson’s main gate.

“We are doing the intersection at Gate One,” said Patti Henschen, a CDOT engineer. “We’re going about 300 feet into the intersection. We’re not going onto Fort Carson. Fort Carson has their own paving operation going on. We are doing the off- and on-ramps of Nelson Boulevard. That’s Gate One.”

CDOT plans to finish the $10.4 million project this fall.

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Bradley Davis

WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (KRDO) – Outdoor Adventures and 30 vendors will host the first free public Woodland Park Outdoor Fest this Friday, starting at 4 p.m.

There will be live music, country line dancing, interactive exhibits with Polaris and Jeeps, campfire cooking and more.

Tune in to Good Morning Colorado to see KRDO13’s Bradley Davis cook some tasty camping fixings with some of the participants around the campfire.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Most people would welcome faster internet… but at what cost?

Fiber-optic internet installations are underway in several northern Colorado Springs neighborhoods, and residents tell KRDO13 they have mixed feelings about it.

Fiber Project Map, Courtesy: Colorado Springs Utilities

Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) says they’ll spend the next few months working in the areas shown on the map above before moving on to the next areas, which include the area south of Fillmore Street, west of I-25, north of Bear Creek Park, and west extending to the city limits.

The utility says the speed, reliability, and security of this new fiber network will help them more efficiently manage and deliver utility services. CSU will also be leasing the fiber infrastructure to Ting Internet for internet services.

After receiving multiple calls and emails about this ongoing work, KRDO13 went out to neighbors in those areas to see what they think about the construction.

Some of the complaints neighbors shared included blocked-off sidewalks, loud noises that make their dogs bark, and large equipment parked right in front of their homes.

But it’s not all bad news — some see the utilities update as a positive.

“I think that having a long-term view is very important, especially at a local level,” neighbor Rebackah Zdor said. “I think if people can see the bigger picture of how this is going to benefit our community, it’s really important — even if that means some short-term pain.”

Zdor said the construction happening feet from her house hasn’t been a huge inconvenience for her family.

“I will say my two-year-old son loves seeing all the big trucks around, so that’s been a small positive when we go for walks,” she shared.

If you have complaints about the ongoing construction impacting your neighborhood, you can report them by calling CSU’s customer service line at (719) 448-4800. You can report landscape damage caused by the construction here.

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Celeste Springer

UPDATE: The Cimarron Hills Fire Department said the scene is clear; the fire was a false alarm.

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Cimarron Hills Fire Department (CHFD) says they are responding to calls about a possible structure fire in the 7100 block of White Mountain Drive.

Officials ask that residents nearby use caution and keep an eye out for emergency responders.

Details are limited at this time, but this article may be updated.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) says they’ve issued more condo permits in 2025 than they have in any year since 2007.

According to the department, they’ve issued 60 condo permits this year. The latest installment includes permits for more than 20 condos in the Victory Ridge area off Interquest.

Photo: PPRBD

According to a study by the Common Sense Institute, the number of condo developers in the Centennial State has plummeted in recent years. The organization says that from 2007 to 2022, the number of condo developers working on condo projects in Colorado dropped 84%. The Common Sense Institute cited construction litigation laws and liability costs as a few of the reasons for the decline.

Politicians at the state level have said that creating more condos and townhomes in Colorado is a priority. The age of the average homebuyer continues to rise, with homeownership out of reach, according to lawmakers. Condos, they say, offer an opportunity to people who otherwise can not afford a single-family home.

A new bill, which was signed into law this year, hopes to increase the number of condo developers in the Colorado market by limiting “construction defect” litigation. HB25-1272 creates a voluntary incentive program for builders. In exchange for builders providing more up-front consumer protections, there are stricter limitations on construction defects that can later be claimed against builders.

“This law is a proactive solution that incentivizes responsible development, making it a win-win for homeowners and builders alike. It’s intended to meet the demands of our communities, respond to changing demographics, and provide housing that is adaptable to different housing sizes and needs,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-C.O., in a release. “With this new law, we can create more attainable housing opportunities and ensure that more Coloradans can achieve the dream of homeownership.”

HB25-1272 stipulates that to participate in the Multifamily Construction Incentive Program, builders must:

Provide a warranty that covers any defect and damage at no cost to the homeowner for specified periods

Have a third-party inspection performed on the property; and

Record a notice of election to participate in the program in the chain of title in the real property records

In exchange, a number of legal protections are set up in favor of builders. For example, there are changes to the statute of limitations for defect claims. For housing in the program sold after Jan. 1, 2026, the law creates an eight-year statute of limitations for construction defect claims. If the defect was covered by a warranty, the limitation is six years, according to the law.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says they are investigating a stabbing near a Circle K, located at 2715 W. Colorado Ave.

CSPD says a call came in around 8:36 a.m. The department says they are still searching for one suspect.

At the scene, a KRDO13 crew witnessed someone being loaded into an ambulance. CSPD confirmed one patient was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A KRDO13 crew also saw police handling what appeared to be some sort of hand tool, but police couldn’t confirm if it was part of the investigation.

One man nearby said he had to weave through the crime scene to get to work.

“I looked at the gas station right down here, and there was more activity– police,” said Dan Jealouse.

Jealouse says it’s not uncommon to see police nearby.

“It’s a pretty active area,” he said.

As a local maintenance technician, Jealouse says he tries to stay out of the way of law enforcement as he works on different homes in the area.

“I  just kind of make sure I know what’s going on and stay alert. I don’t really get too worried about it. It just happens so often that you stay out of the way. And if the police are around you, go find something else to do in another part of the property,” explained Jealouse.

Some neighbors said that while they know they’re trying their best, they would love to see more police patrols in the area. They tell KRDO13 the Circle K gas station has become a hot spot for activity and think that a CSPD vehicle could be a helpful deterrent. We brought those asks to CSPD.

Our officers are aware of the high crimes areas in their sectors and do their best to do proactive patrols as much as possible but of course, have to make sure they’re responding to calls for service first and foremost. Based on resources, it would be hard to dedicate an officer to that specific place at all times, however we do offer options like Extra Duty officers for businesses that are interested. 

-A spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Police Department

CSPD has a neighborhood watch program where residents can connect and pass along crime and non-crime information. For details on how to get connected, click here.

However, other people told KRDO13 that despite the activity, they feel safe in the area. Some businesses say there has always been crime, and they don’t see an increase in any activity. Other homeowners in the area say they have seen more people milling about in the street, but other than that, they’re unbothered.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The newest Colorado Springs D1 Training franchise has committed to giving 13 local high school athletes free personal training for a year.

Co-owner Chris Carr said the NIL sponsorship focuses on local athletes who are committed to giving back to their community. Athletes from 13 local high schools across Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs and Security-Widefield are eligable. Carr has extended the nomination deadline through June 30.

They are also offering free community classes every Saturday. Members get priority, but each additional spot is available for free for non-members on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Chris and his wife, AnneMarie, were collegiate athletes and are military veterans. Chris was in the Navy, and AnneMarie was a NICU nurse in the Air Force. The two offer the lowest membership training rates to military, firefighters and police.

The new D1 Training facility, located at 2225 Executive Circle, Suite 136, will host its grand opening on July 19. It is currently hosting classes and open for membership sign ups at its founders rate.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Major construction work on 8th Street that The Road Warrior first reported on last month began Monday morning.

The affected area is roughly a half-mile stretch between the US 24 Frontage Road and Motor City Drive, on the city’s southwest side.

However, the first of the project’s three phases will focus on the Fontage Road and the bridge over Fountain Creek.

According to a city release last week, both eastbound lanes of the Frontage Road will close, and northbound 8th Street drivers wanting to travel east on US 24 (Cimarron Street) will have to turn right at that intersection; it’s the previous route used by drivers before the Frontage Road was built several years ago.

But when the closure started at 9:30 a.m., a worker placing construction cones and barriers said that only part of the right lane of the Frontage Road was closed; The Road Warrior is waiting on a response for clarification from the city.

Drivers were allowed to turn right off 8th Street onto the left Frontage Road lane; predictably, traffic consistently backed up as far south as Lower Gold Camp Road.

Melissa Brocato, a taxi driver from Teller County, said that she noticed the long traffic line but was heading into it.

“My cab gets dirty a lot, and I have a membership at the Take Five car wash down the street,” she explained. “I was having second thoughts today, but I’ve got to keep my cab clean. I have to go through it.”

Also closing Monday were the Midland Trail bridge and the sidewalk on the east side of the Fountain Creek bridge on 8th Street; pedestrians and trail users will have to use the west sidewalk to cross the Fountain Creek bridge and connect to the trail.

The closures are part of the preparation for removing the east side trail bridge and sidewalk, and replacing them with a multi-use path or wider sidewalk; crews will also widen and perform maintenance on the Fountain Creek bridge.

“I think it’s needed because the bikes are getting a little ridiculous on the sidewalk,” said Brian Lynch, who was walking in the area Monday. “It’s not in everybody’s best interest to have to pivot around the bikes. It’ll also be disruptive to the homeless people who live under that bridge.”

Officials said that the creek bridge was built in 1951, and the maintenance work will extend its use for another 30 years.

A key component of the project is to add a second northbound lane for through traffic across the bridge; currently, the right lane becomes the turn lane for the Frontage Road, and traffic backs up during peak periods.

“This structure itself is in the top 10% of the most-traveled bridges within the city,” said Ryan Phipps, the city’s capital improvements manager. “So, this bridge sees a lot of traffic. And really, the emphasis is on modernization and safety.”

Officials said that except for the eastbound turn lane onto the Frontage Road, all other traffic lanes will remain open, although drivers should be prepared for occasional lane shifts and closures.

Access to the many local businesses will also remain open, but merchants and their customers are waiting to see what the impacts will be.

“They’re going to block the street, so it’s going to be harder for the customers to come and eat here,” said Leo Martinez, a manager at La Casita restaurant. “Customers who are going to try and come over here, maybe they have to go around, or maybe they’re going to change their minds.”

Lisa Cisneros, a regular customer at La Casita, said that she’s grown used to the various construction projects every summer.

“If there’s a way to get in, we’ll come,” she said. “But if it seems impossible on that day, we’ll skip it. We’ll try not to let the construction affect us. We like eating here. We’ll be back.”

The project’s first phase continues into early next year. A more disruptive phase may be the replacement of a water main on 8th Street between Cimarron Street and Bear Creek.

“It’s 60 years old, Phipps explained. “This project will be upgrading and modernizing that water main. We will also be installing storm drains down towards Lower Gold Camp and Bear Creek, like in that section where that particular part of the street experiences some flooding currently.”

He’s referring to Lower Gold Camp Road and Moreno Avenue, hilly streets west of 8th Street that currently have no storm drains, and sediment-filled runoff often floods the southbound lanes of 8th Street during heavy rainstorms.

That phase will happen through this winter, Phipps said.

Other improvements include installing sidewalks and curbs where none presently exist, and installing new traffic signals.

Repaving — the final phase — will occur late next spring or early next summer.

The 8th Street project costs $12 million and is funded primarily by revenue from a one-cent sales tax from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.

For more information, visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/8thStreet.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A two-vehicle crash shut down the intersection of S. Circle Drive and Monterey Road, then led to the arrest of a juvenile already on juvenile parole.

Colorado Springs Police say they responded to calls of a crash just before 5:00 pm. At the scene, officers say they learned one of the vehicles involved was previously reported stolen. Then, bystanders told police the driver of that vehicle had fled the scene and was hiding nearby.

Police say they went to that location where the suspect then attempted to flee again, but was apprehended by officers.

At the time of his arrest, police say the juvenile had a handgun with an illegal extended magazine. He did sustain minor injuries in the crash.

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