Class 2A boys golf championships
Rob Namnoum
Highlights from day one of the Class 2A boys golf championships.
Parks in Pueblo West have become the latest target for vandals
Samantha Hildebrandt
PUEBLO WEST, Colo. (KRDO) — Graffiti and property damage have shown up across several community parks in Pueblo West. The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office says this isn’t just one isolated incident; it happened at Lovell and Pixie Parks, as well as a local cafe, the Hen House, on the same night.
Pueblo West Parks and Recreation told KRDO13 it’s been happening repeatedly to their property, and it’s taking a toll on both staff and resources. Carol Cosby, the director at Pueblo West Parks and Recreation, said that for twelve cans of graffiti remover, it costs four hundred dollars.
“I just hope that people who live in our community step up and, if they see something, report it. Call the sheriff’s department so we can maybe get a handle on what’s going on. It’s not just the parks; it happened all over Pueblo West this time, so if people can step up, that would be amazing,” said Cosby.
Danielle Rice, the owner of the Hen House, told KRDO today that she felt violated after the vandalism at her restaurant, “They came here in broad daylight,” she said.
The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office confirms that they are having more property watches as time permits, and they have identified a suspect; however, no arrests have been made yet. They are still investigating at this time.
New law increases HOA transparency, gives homeowners more foreclosure protections
Michael Logerwell
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On October 1, homeowners living in Colorado HOAs (homeowner associations) were given new legal protections thanks to a new state law.
The Owner Equity Protection in Homeowners’ Association Foreclosure Sales, or HB25-1043, aims to protect homeowners in HOAs through two main avenues:
Increasing transparency and state regulation
Preventing or delaying home foreclosures
“Homeownership is one of the primary ways for families to create generational wealth, and under the current system, HOA fees can strip homeowners of everything they’ve worked for,” Senator Tony Exum (D), who represents parts of Colorado Springs, told KRDO13.
Senator Exum, along with representatives Naquetta Ricks and Jennifer Bacon, were prime sponsors of the bill.
“[The law] requires the HOA to provide clear and timely notices about outstanding balances, as well as information about free resources, regarding HOA collections and foreclosures,” Sen. Exum said. He added that now HOAs will have to report annual data to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) on delinquencies, judgment payment plans, foreclosures, and more.
Speaking of foreclosures, Sen. Exum says this new law will prevent homeowners from having the rug, floor, and foundation pulled out from underneath them.
“HOA foreclosures are on the rise and have been on the rise for a long, long time,” Sen. Exum said.
“Colorado HOA homeowners, especially in my district [in Denver], have had their largest asset taken from them and sold at an auction for a fraction of its worth over sometimes very small amounts owed to the HOA,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon (D), who represents parts of Denver.
The new law will allow homeowners faced with foreclosure by their HOA to delay the foreclosure sale. To take advantage of this new provision, owners of the home or unit would have to file a motion with the court to delay the auction date and allow the owner to sell the property themselves. The delay could last up to nine months.
In theory, this would allow owners to recoup some of the money that they’ve put into their home, pay off HOA fees, and give them something to rebuild with.
But some homeowners are skeptical about how this new law will work in practice.
Heather McBroom first contacted KRDO13 Investigates when she and her neighbors were faced with a special assessment fee of up to $20,000 from their HOA.
“I think it’s a great start to a very complicated problem,” McBroom said.
However, McBroom expressed concern about the new transparency regulations being put into practice. “How many HOA governing documents are not going to match the current laws or haven’t been updated, such as ours hasn’t been updated in 20-something years?” McBroom asked. She also wondered if new regulations would result in higher fees from management companies.
As for the foreclosure delays, “First off, being able to notify the homeowner that a foreclosure is coming, I think, is super important. Being able to give them advice on credit, [and] companies that may help them.”
“If you don’t have money to pay an assessment, do you have money to first and foremost petition the court to ask to be able to sell your property? And then you have nine months to do so. Do you have the money to do the fixing of anything that needs to be fixed?” McBroom asked.
McBroom says this law is a step in the right direction and is still excited about state leaders creating more laws to protect homeowners, and hopes their next targets are around training HOA boards so they’re not as reliant on management companies.
As for the Soaring Eagles HOA, the legal team representing several homeowners gave KRDO13 Investigates the following statement:
“On September 22, 2025, the Soaring Eagles Townhomes Association, Inc. filed a lawsuit in El Paso County District Court against certain homeowners in the community. The Association is asking the court to decide whether it has the right to charge each homeowner a special assessment of $20,752.12.Robinson & Henry, P.C., represents several of the affected homeowners in this case. The parties have agreed that our clients will have until October 31, 2025, to respond to the Association’s complaint. They have also agreed to pause collection of the assessment for our clients while the case is pending, meaning our clients will not have to pay the amount—or face any penalties or interest—until the litigation has been resolved.”
Candidate for Colorado Springs School District 11 addresses past involving riot
Mackenzie Stafford
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)— A website has been circulated on social media regarding certain candidates for the Colorado Springs School District 11 school board.
The website “Danger for D11” claims that Charles Johnson is not fit for the District 11 school board. The website is paid for by a committee called D11 Parents and Teachers.
However, Charles Johnson says he attended District 11 schools and says he wants to give back to the people who gave to him.
The group against Johnson references an arrest where Johnson faced multiple charges, but he was granted a plea deal from the District Attorney. He pleaded guilty to blocking the roadway during a protest outside a CSPD officer’s home in the wake of the death of De’Von Bailey. He says he paid a $150 fine and completed 100 hours of community service.
Now, Johnson says he’s taking all the lessons he learned to make a positive change.
“The statement from the D.A. said that there are better ways to go about your action. I mean, this is one way to do that, is running for office and being active in your community, doing better ways besides just protesting. And so I just want to be transparent with the people that you know, people make mistakes in their lives, but they’re also able to come back and rework, redo something different for themselves,” explained Charles Johnson.
Johnson hopes to amplify students’ and families’ voices while showing how he’s changed over the past 5 years.
“I want to just be that voice that, you know, no matter where you go through, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. And so that’s why I’m here, to run in front of people, make sure that voices are heard, and that the future generation has leadership, and that they can see someone like them represented at the highest level,” shared Johnson.
On the other hand, Steve Durham, a Colorado Board of Education member representing District 5, says he does not believe Johnson would be hired as a teacher and that school board members should be held to a higher standard.
“When any individual applies for a license or to work for any school district, they undergo a criminal background check. That criminal background check is not limited in time. And it includes not only convictions but arrests, so that the districts and the state Board of Education can track the history of any individual, and not just look at the final outcome that perhaps they took a plea bargain to a lesser charge. And as, it’s just highly unlikely that, that given the nature of these charges that any responsible hiring agent out of a school district could overlook, the level of violence that took place and, and reach a conclusion that only three years ago, that he took that plea, that it would be perfectly safe to allow a person like that in the classroom,” said Steve Durham.
The only guideline the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) lists is that no person who has been convicted of a sexual offense against a child is eligible to serve on the school board.
Durham says that in his 10 years on the Colorado Board of Education, he has seen many licenses revoked, but never this.
“I think this is the most shocking example I’ve seen of someone who wants to be elected to the school board. And I’ve seen, it just most people come to, come to the voters, at least with clean hands. And I think this is not one of those cases,” said Durham.
Ultimately, both of the people we spoke with believe it’s up to the voters to educate themselves and decide the fate of the District 11 board.
All of the Colorado Springs School District 11 board candidates can be found here.
Colorado Springs car wash locations to host ‘Tunnel of Terror’ Halloween-themed wash
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Are you looking for some scares and thrills? Is your ride dirty enough to send chills down the spines of car enthusiasts everywhere? There might be a perfect event for you.
Tommy’s Express is holding a “Tunnel of Terror” event at two Colorado Springs locations.
“The car wash tunnel transforms into a spine-chilling haunted experience, perfect for Halloween enthusiasts and thrill-seekers,” read a press release.
Tommy’s Express says that you’ll see masked employees, hear haunting sounds (OOooohhhh!), and there might even be a few jump scares. Thankfully, you’ll be taking it all in from the comfort of your own car.
Here’s the scare-tacular details:
1540 Garden of the Gods Road: 6 to 9 p.m., Oct. 23-26, $20 for everyone
4089 Tutt Boulevard: 7 to 9 p.m., Oct 24-25 for $25 (free for Unlimited Members)
Family identifies motorcyclist in serious condition after crash with pedestrian on Highway 85
KRDO News
FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) — Family members have identified the motorcyclist who is facing serious injuries after colliding with a pedestrian on Highway 85 last week.
Cynthia McPherson took to GoFundMe, writing that Bryce Lamb was the motorcyclist who is now facing a swelling brain and other serious injuries.
According to the Fountain Police Department, he was traveling south on South Highway 85 on Sept. 30. Police say a pedestrian was walking in the crosswalk, but against the crossing indicator.
The pedestrian was hit and killed, and police have identified her as 44-year-old Sharla Willer. Lambs’ family claims that he “swerved to miss” her. KRDO13 reached out to the Fountain Police Department, and a spokesperson said they do not have enough information at this time to confirm whether that was the case.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the pedestrian’s family,” wrote McPherson.
As of Oct. 5, Lamb’s GoFundMe states that he is showing some activity, but still has brain swelling.
“We still have a long road ahead of us but thank you all for the prayers,” read an update on the page.
To view the GoFundMe, click here.
New housing development hopes to provide affordable housing for school district employees
KRDO News
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — On Monday, the Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity, Widefield School District 3 (WSD3), and Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC) held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new housing development.
Dubbed “Rising Moon,” the neighborhood will feature homes specifically earmarked for WSD3 teachers as part of a new Housing for Educators program.
According to our previous reporting, 41 lots are available to members across the community, but at least 14 are set aside for WSD3 employees.
As part of the program, officials say high school students in the Careers in Construction Colorado program will get hands-on training, helping build some of the homes.
“If we want a strong community, then we need to have affordable housing at all levels,” said Kris Lewis, CEO of Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity says each home will look different, as they are specifically tailored to the prospective homeowner’s income. Lewis says one of the things that makes the homes affordable is the fact that 90 percent of the building is done by volunteer labor.
WATCH: Electrical fire displaces residents in Colorado Springs’ Stratton Meadows area
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) has released new information after a fire displaced residents of a home off Roanoke Street over the weekend.
As seen in the video above, a fire erupted the evening of Saturday, Oct. 4. CSFD says that when crews arrived, they entered the home and found a couch on fire. The fire was under control about 15 minutes after they arrived, a spokesperson with CSFD said.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department says that “an electrical malfunction ignited the couch.”
Here are some tips to prevent electrical fires in your home, per CSFD:
Never overload outlets or power strips
Replace damaged cords immediately
Keep furniture and curtains away from outlets and heat sources
Test smoke alarms monthly
Always know two ways out of every room in your home and practice getting out of those areas quickly
Viewers express concern about mailboxes on sidewalks in SE Colorado Springs neighborhood
Scott Harrison
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — At a time when local governments are focusing more on pedestrian safety, mailbox placement has become an issue for several viewers who recently contacted KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior.
Those viewers said that many of the streets east of Sierra High School — between Jet Wing Drive and Astrozon Boulevard — have mailboxes that are near or in the middle of sidewalks.
“I have a friend here who walks with a walker, and I know she always walks in the street,” said Margo Dunbar, who lives in the area. “But I’ve never asked her why.”
Tom Moreno lives on a block where — for unclear reasons — all of the homes have mailboxes off the sidewalk.
“Accessibility for wheelchairs is not very good,” he said. “When people do come by here with wheelchairs, you see that they’re having difficulty getting up onto that type of sidewalk.”
Because the area is part of an older neighborhood, it’s possible that the original developer or builder placed the mailboxes on sidewalks and curbs to provide easy mail delivery for postal carriers.
Several neighbors said that they moved their mailboxes off the sidewalks and into their yards to avoid obstructing them.
City officials explained that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires a clearance of at least three feet around a mailbox, and the city prefers a maximum of four feet; however, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has overall authority over mailbox placement.
The city said that when disputes arise, city officials try to meet with the USPS and affected homeowners to resolve the situation.
Solutions include asking homeowners to relocate their mailboxes, providing alternative access (such as establishing a single location for mailboxes in a neighborhood), or changing the design of future sidewalk projects.
Dunbar said that she’s willing to move her mailbox if it’s causing a problem for pedestrians, and wouldn’t support community mailboxes.
“I like to see the mailman putting the mail in my mailbox, and then I come out and get it,” she said. “Some of the homes have larger mailboxes that are locked for security. I would think those are harder for someone to get around.”
The city asks that residents report any sidewalk concerns to ensure clear, accessible sidewalks for everyone.