Author: KRDO

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – As pickleball continues to grow in popularity in the United States, more people are taking part that might not be who you’d initially expect.

A Colorado Springs pickleball regular spoke with KRDO13 on why he decided to try and go pro in America’s fastest-growing sport after his career in the NFL.

“If you’re looking to stay competitive and to get that competitive edge back, then I recommend getting out here and playing some pickleball because there’s nothing better than pickleball right now. Best sport alive right now,” said Jeret Smith, who played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.

Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the last three years, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. Smith recently decided he will pursue the sport as his full-time job.

“It’s been incredible to see the ride pickleball has taken us all on,” Life Time Pickleball pro Mike McGregor said.

Smith plays all over the front range, including the Life Time in Colorado Springs with McGregor. The club is hoping to get the most people playing pickleball at the same time ever this Saturday for National Pickleball Month.

The sport has come a long way the last five years, both in the states as well as for Smith.

“I wanted to just play something that I could stay competitive in, and first I was like, ‘Oh, this is just a sport for older people,'” Smith said. “They beat me bad! And so, for me, I’m an athlete, and I’m losing to 70-year-old people, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to get better at this sport.'”

The Life Time in Colorado Springs is hosting its Pickleball “Agassi Open Play Day” Saturday at 10 a.m. Participants must sign up through their app. The club will have day passes available for non-members. The club is also hosting a tournament, “Dinco De Mayo,” May 16-18.

Julia Donovan

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – We’re at that point in the season where a lot of us are anxious to get some color out in the yard, especially with a super warm weekend ahead. But experts say you have to be careful about how and what you plant right now since another cold snap isn’t out of the question.

“Dahlias, and we have some impatiens and petunias,” Susan Spencer, co-owner of Spencer’s Produce, Lawn and Garden Centers in Colorado Springs, listed.

Yes, the flowers can be as impatient as they want. But, Susan says YOU need to hold your horses when it comes to those guys.

Spencer’s has been at it for a while (like, since the 1930s) – so, yes, Susan knows what’s up.

“It’s just not time,” she told KRDO. “We need not only warm days but warm nights as well.”

No, don’t start crying (although we could use the moisture). There’s still plenty you can do this weekend!

“Things you could plant right now would be columbine, shasta daisies, beebalm, some yarrow,” Susan listed.

Susan also told KRDO that perennials (those plants that return year after year) get the green light this weekend – as well as other resilient species.

 “Trees and shrubs that have already been hardened off – which means they have been either grown outside, or you’ve conditioned them to be outside at night,” Susan explained.

If you don’t have much of a green thumb and you’re still really nervous you’re going to blunder, work on the soil and worry about planting after Mother’s Day. The dirt is almost as tricky as the weather around here.

“It is clay in a lot of areas or sand,” Susan told us. “You can add compost, raise your soil level, do whatever you need to do to get that soil ready. That’s probably the most important thing to get done.”

When in doubt, we’re told the best bet is to just put your flowers in a pot so you can take them inside if it gets too cold.

Bart Bedsole

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Not once, but twice, the Popeyes at Pikes Peak and Academy failed its health inspection. 

The first came on March 26, and the second on April 3.

Among the violations found during the two visits: 

The inspector found a dirty microwave and dirty ice machine 

Some of the heating equipment couldn’t keep cooked chicken at the proper temperature. 

There was debris in the handwashing sink, which is supposed to be empty 

KRDO13 Investigates spoke with a manager over the phone, who referred us to the general manager. However, no one ever called back to explain what went wrong or what’s being done to get back into compliance. 

As of April 9, Popeyes was still awaiting its third inspection. 

Zocalo on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs failed its health inspection on March 25. 

The problems at Zocalo include: 

No hot water at the handwashing sink at the bar 

Birria consume and red salsa were held in the walk-in cooler for longer than the maximum 7 days 

Mango salsa and sour cream were found at the wrong temperature. 

During the inspection, one of the faucets broke and fell off 

KRDO13 Investigates visited Zocalo on April 7 to ask about the problems, but the manager politely explained the owner was out of town. 

KRDO13 Investigates requested a call for comment, but the owner never responded. 

Zocalo did pass its re-inspection on April 2. 

The Plaza Deli, a popular lunchtime spot for those working in and around the Plaza of the Rockies complex downtown had 9 violations. 

Part of the reason it failed: 

There was no certified food protection manager on duty 

Employee food was stored directly over restaurant food in the cooler 

The handwashing sink was blocked with gloves and towels. 

The longtime owner and kitchen worker told KRDO13 it’s the first failing score for the Plaza Deli in more than 20 years. 

She said unfortunately, the inspection came at an especially busy time. 

However, she acknowledged that violations are violations, and believes the problems were addressed. 

High scores

Just one restaurant earned a perfect score last week: the Chick-Fil-A at 1620 S Nevada.

Several other restaurants had just a single violation:

McDonald’s – 1824 S Nevada 

Monica’s Taco Shop #4 – 331 S Nevada 

J’s Jamaican Flava – 3016 S Academy  

Savelli’s – 301 Manitou 

Savelli’s, serving Manitou Springs residents and visitors since 1998, is known for its pizza, pasta, subs, and more.

Over the past three years, it has racked up a total of just three violations. 

Owner Misty Maestas credits her loyal and hardworking staff, praising the relatively young group for their willingness to listen and learn. 

“It helps me to have other people with me as a team be able to make it work, because Iican’t be here 24-7,” she said. 

Maestas trains them to perform the various kitchen tasks, but also explains why those tasks are important for maintain a high level of food safety. 

She also credits the restaurant’s relationship with the health department, describing her normal inspector as a partner who is eager to educate and assist, rather than an adversary. 

“I usually reach out to her (inspector) at least once a year to ask questions to either clarify things I don’t know, or that I do know, just to confirm things sometimes, because I don’t want to pass on incorrect information,” Maestas says. 

Don’t forget to look for the Top Score and Perfect Score awards at your favorite restaurants to know the kitchen is clean.

Click here for the full list of recent inspections by the El Paso County health department. 

Rob Namnoum

“When he says he’s ready to play, he’s gonna play,” says Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. There you have it. If all goes well, the Captain Gabe Landeskog, will be back for the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Avs think he’ll fit right in, “He’s a gifted player. He’s been on the ice a lot. I think getting like there will be some getting up to speed stuff, but I think he’s going to be a good player for us. He’s healthy enough to play and I’ll just put him in the lineup,” says Bednar

Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor adds, “There’s obviously going to be a transition period for him and getting to his day to day routine down, you know, once he’s rationing things up. So we’re not concerned that he’s going to be able to find that and get comfortable really quickly.”

Challenges aside, Landy’s return is remarkable. He missed three years of hockey after four knee operations. He had cartilage transplant surgery, something no NHL player has ever come back from and for the guys who have seen the struggle, they couldn’t be happier, “He’s had a rocky road and so it’s exciting to see him kind of feel participating practices and hopefully continue on from there. But I know everybody’s waiting for him in here and we just want to obviously have him make sure he’s mentally ready and happy to have him back with the boys,” says Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – What teams should transgender athletes play on? That was the main topic of discussion Thursday night at the School District 49 Board meeting.

The discussion was expected to draw a large crowd.

The “Preserving Fairness and Safety in Sports” policy would require student athletes to play only on teams that align with their gender assigned at birth. The policy states, in part, that there are “inherent differences between boys and girls’ and classification of sports team participation by biological sex is needed to protect female athletes’ rights to safety and privacy.”

Former Olympian Eli Bremer told KRDO13 Investigates that he believes school districts need rules like this.

“I think it’s never appropriate for a girl or a woman to have to give up her position for a man. And, and I don’t think that regardless of how many people there are, that the policy should allow for that,” Bremer said.

LGBTQ advocates, however, told us that policies like these do more harm than good.

“This isn’t about sports. It is about making a statement that trans people are not welcome in D49, which not everyone in the community believes,” Ollie with Inside Out Youth Services said.

KRDO13 Investigates reached out to D49 School Board President Lori Thompson. Thompson prepared the ‘Preserving Fairness and Safety in Sports’ item for Thursday night’s agenda. She declined our interview request and responded with this statement:

“The proposed policy addresses critical issues surrounding athletic competition, placing focus on fairness, safety, and ensuring that women have opportunities in sports. JBA is the result of productive discussions with our legal counsel following the first reading of a draft resolution acknowledging the significance of recognizing biological sex in sports and private places. We anticipate and welcome a robust discussion on proposed policy JBA from members of our community, our student board of representatives and board directors. We will listen closely to all feedback prior to casting votes at an upcoming meeting, which follows our well established process as the committee tasked with overseeing the business of School District 49.” – Lori Thompson

When reached for comment, the Colorado High School Activities Association told KRDO13 Investigates they don’t make recommendations for school districts making policy around transgender athletes:

“CHSAA understands that this is a challenging and uncertain time for our member schools, given the complex interplay between state laws and federal directives. We recognize the difficult position this places districts and school leaders in as they work to balance evolving directives with local expectations and state statutes.

CHSAA strongly encourages each school and district to consult with their own leadership teams and legal counsel to interpret the potential impacts and anticipated outcomes of this federal directive within their unique context.

It is important to note that CHSAA’s bylaws have never mandated specific actions for our member schools. Rather, they reflect the rights afforded under both Federal and Colorado state law and are designed to align with existing legal protections for all students.

Until further clarification is provided by state leaders, legal experts, and the judiciary, CHSAA is not in a position to offer legal guidance. That said, CHSAA remains committed to closely monitoring ongoing developments and working with our partners at the state and national levels to determine the most appropriate and informed path forward for our schools and student-athletes.”

Sadie Buggle

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A portion of southbound South Academy Boulevard remained closed Friday morning as crews finished repairs to a water main break confirmed by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU).

The break prompted a closure of southbound Academy between Hancock Expressway and Drennan Road; only one northbound lane is open from Drennan to Jet Wing Drive.

CSU spokesman Alex Trefry said that the lane closures will remain effective until Sunday morning.

The break has been repaired and the excavated area restored but crews will need until Sunday morning to prepare the affected segment for regular traffic.

According to Trefry, a private contractor doing underground work struck the 24-inch main just before 1:30 a.m. Thursday;, CSU is investigating the circumstances of that incident.

In a post on its Facebook page Thursday night, CSU said that the break was 16 feet below street level and under a stormwater drain.

The utility said that crews of 4 to 6 people are alternating 12-hour shifts until repairs are finished.

“We’re asking everyone to please drive safely through the area,” Trefry said. “Please follow the construction signage. Do not speed. There are people working out on the roadway, and for their safety and yours, please slow down as you’re driving through.”

KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior saw several instances of drivers running red lights and drivers knocking down cones to avoid long traffic jams on southbound Academy and eastbound Hancock.

A number of people even drove into the closure, only to eventually turn back around.

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It’s like a garage sale – but for everything bikes. $5 gets you in the door on Saturday at SoccerHaus. All the money supports two non-profits in Colorado Springs.

“Kids on Bikes” Executive Director Daniel Byrd teaches KRDO13’s Bradley Davis how to change a flat bike tire.

“It’s very much like a garage sale,” said Kids on Bikes Executive Director Daniel Byrd. “You can find anything and everything pretty much”

The swap is organized by the Colorado Springs Mountain Bike Association (COSMBA) and Kids on Bikes. Both organizations are non-profits in Southern Colorado. COSMBA builds mountain biking trails in El Paso County, while Kids on Bikes works to improve bike access to kids in Colorado Springs.

I’ve seen kids we remember in the program when they were younger, and suddenly, they come back, and they’re an entire foot taller,” Byrd said.

“Cycling and mountain biking, for me, that is my community,” COSMBA Executive Director Keith Thompson said. “To reconnect with them, and talk about riding and seeing what they’re doing. Man, it gets me excited.”

The bike swap is Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at SoccerHaus in Colorado Springs. Kids 12 and under get in free. You can buy your ticket online or at the door.

Bradley Davis

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Manitou Springs welcomed KRDO13 for a special preview ahead of the 30th annual Great Fruitcake Toss on Saturday.

“I love this event for being 30 years strong in this community,” said Manitou Springs events manager Jenna Gallas. “As everyone knows, we like to do things a little weird in Manitou Springs, and we’re keeping that tradition with the great fruitcake toss.”

Manitou Springs is credited as the inspiration for National Fruitcake Toss Day and as the originator of the event.

“Oh, we are definitely first. Yes, there are copycats out there, but you can rest assured that the original fruitcake toss was right here in Manitou Springs,” Gallas said.

The event runs from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Park in Manitou Springs on Saturday. You do not need a reservation. You can bring your own one-pound fruitcake or pay $1 to rent a fruitcake. It’s another $1 to participate in each event. People can also trade canned goods for tickets, up to 10 tickets, which Manitou Springs will donate to the St. Andrews Food Pantry.

The Great Fruitcake Toss hosts throwing competitions for distance and accuracy, an obstacle course carrying a cake with a spatula, the “too good to toss bake off” and more.

Breaking from normal expectations, all of the fruitcakes will get eaten, except those people save to throw for next year. Judges will dig into the tasty-baked variety, while the city will give its rented cakes to farmers to feed their pigs.

Julia Donovan

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) – With a warm stretch of days ahead, it’s especially important not to trust the ice on frozen ponds and lakes. That’s the message Monument firefighters are sending after finishing up a week of ice rescue training Friday.

“This is probably one of the guys’ funnest exercises that they get to do,” Battalion Chief Shannon Balvanz of the Monument Fire Protection District confessed.

You heard that right –  ice rescue training is fun! You get to wear insulated, waterproof suits and hangout on the lake.

“They’re in freezing water right now and they’re actually sweating,” Balvanz explained. 

But falling through the ice and needing a rescue? Obviously not a good time. Balvanz estimates it happens up here in Monument once every couple years.

“It’s not very often that we have to do an ice rescue, which is why we train on it so that when it does happen we’re ready to be able to do so,” Balvanz told KRDO.

Firefighters practice their skills quickly rigging the rope, tossing the boogie board, and pulling people in. There’s a serious need or speed when someone is stuck in near-freezing water.

“We want to do what we can to try and get to them before their body gives out on them and they’re not able to hold onto the ice shelf anymore,” Balvanz told us.

He says you can lose muscle function in less than ten minutes and die in around 25 minutes submerged in extremely cold water.

“We started doing our ice rescue training on Monday and the ice was twelve inches thick. By Tuesday, it had already melted four inches,” Balvanz said. “The ice down here on the Front Range fluctuates so often – that’s why we tell people you should stay off the ice because it’s just really not that safe.”