Category: krdo-local-news

Michael Logerwell

UPDATE 10/24/2025: A spokesperson with El Paso County says that El Paso County Health Plan Trust Board has requested that the board reconsider its decision on the retiree plans. The board plans to discuss the topic on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 8 a.m. in the District Attorney’s Office, 105 E. Vermijo Avenue, 4th Floor, Main Conference Room. Members of the public may attend.

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – On October 8, retired El Paso County Sergeant Emil Lucero received a letter from El Paso County alerting Lucero to a change in the retiree healthcare plan.

“I felt really disappointed. I felt like I was being left behind as a retiree who served this county for 20 years,” Lucero said.

Lucero worked for the sheriff’s office from 2002 to 2022. After spending years working in the county jail, Lucero then provided security at the courthouse and during El Paso County Commissioners’ meetings.

“A lot of things stand out, especially being attacked, having my front teeth broken. All the injuries that occurred with the sheriff’s office,” Lucero said. “Mostly the things that stand out are the injuries and stuff that I incurred over my 20 years with the office, defending and supporting the citizens of El Paso County.”

Now, to keep medical coverage to treat those injuries as he ages, Lucero is going to have to pay.

Chart provided by El Paso County

In 2026, Lucero will be on the hook for $56.08 a month, then in 2027, he will pay the same amount as active employees, $112.16. Lucero said that the monthly payment is just for him and not the rest of his family.

El Paso County will still be paying more than $1,000, but that won’t cover it all, and Lucero says that doesn’t include extra coverage for his family. He would have to pay extra for that.

For years, Lucero says, sheriff’s employees were promised free health coverage if they served 20 years or more for El Paso County.

“Every year, they would dangle a carrot in front of our face[s] so that they would keep retention so that people would stay. And it was a good benefit, and that’s one of the reasons why I stayed for 20 years,” Lucero said.

Lucero also shared this letter with KRDO13 from El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. In it, Sheriff Roybal writes that he is adamantly opposed to this change and says he will continue to advocate for quality benefits for the sheriff’s office retirees.

An El Paso County spokesperson said this move is projected to save the county $600,000 across 2026 and 2027.

This decision was made by the El Paso County Health Plan Trust Board. The board provided a statement on the decision:

“The El Paso County Health Plan Trust Board acknowledges the concerns raised by retirees regarding recent changes to retiree health insurance premiums and associated subsidies. We deeply value the dedicated service retirees have provided to our community and want to provide clarity on this matter.

Like many employers nationwide, the County has faced rising healthcare costs. Each year, thoughtful work goes into evaluating all our benefit offerings. This process involves careful analysis, thorough research, and collaborative effort.  Our ongoing goal is to provide a robust and comprehensive benefits package that supports the health and well-being of our employees, retirees, and their qualified dependents at an affordable cost.

We strive to enhance our plans annually, while balancing affordability, access, and our responsibility to be good stewards of tax revenue received from the taxpayers of El Paso County. These efforts help ensure that our employees and retirees continue to receive meaningful benefits that meet their needs.  To maintain the integrity and long-term sustainability of the plan, adjustments were necessary, and these changes were made to help preserve access to retiree medical coverage well into the future.

We remain committed to supporting our retirees and ensuring they continue to have access to quality healthcare options.  Retirees with questions about their coverage or payment amounts are encouraged to contact the Benefits Division of the Human Resources Department at 719-520-7486 (option 2) or email employeebenefits@elpasoco.com“

“When I was a sergeant over at the board of county commissioners, I used to put myself in between them and the irate public during those meetings, and now I feel like they just left me, left me out to dry,” Lucero said.

KRDO13 is working to find out the full extent of the impacts of this decision and what those saved monies will be put towards.

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Rob Namnoum

Pueblo Centennial high school receives the Qdoba Friday Night Blitz Spirit Award plaque on Tuesday. The Bulldogs were our week five winners of the Qdoba Friday Night Blitz Spirit Award.

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Samantha Hildebrandt

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)– Local veterans say they got the help they needed on Tuesday.

Mount Carmel’s annual “Homeless Veterans Stand Down” event gives those who’ve served our country access to food, clothing, and vital services before winter hits.

In Colorado Springs, more than 100 veterans came through to get everything from winter coats to housing support and haircuts. Organizers say the goal is simple: make sure no veteran is left in need. 

“We have equipment upstairs, sleeping bags, coats, socks, pants, you name it, boots– it’s up there,” said Mark Smith, director of programs and evaluations at Mount Carmel.

The event name comes from a World War II term, when troops were told to “stand down” for rest after combat. Now, it’s a call for veterans facing homelessness to pause and find support.

This was the 27th year Mount Carmel has stepped up to serve vets for the event, and they say their partners really stepped up this time.

“It was the largest group of collaborative community partners that we’ve ever had, which is most important,” said Bob McLaughlin, executive director at Mount Carmel.

Mount Carmel tells KRDO13 their doors stay open year-round— meaning any veteran who missed today’s “stand down” can still visit the veterans center for help with housing, employment, or counseling.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A block of Hopeful Drive closed Monday and will remain closed until next summer as crews demolish an existing bridge and build a new one.

The Hopeful bridge is between North Blissful Circle and Sedate Lane, north of North Carefree Circle and east of the Academt Boulevard/Austin Bluffs Parkway intersection.

A crew began using a concrete saw to slice the structure into sections to make demolition easier.

The bridge is small and was occasionally overtopped by heavy flows in the Templeton Gap Creek; the bridge is in the upper section of the drainage channel.

Flows have become heavier in the creek with recent growth and development in the area.

The bridge replacement is part of the overall Park Vista drainage improvements that began in February.

Crews are widening the channel, increasing its capacity, and adding drop structures to slow the velocity of stormwater during storms.

Another improvement was to close the intersection of Siferd Boulevard and Date Street, which served as a low-water crossing for the channel.

During heavy rainfall, the intersection would flood and occasionally require emergency rescues of people trapped in their vehicles.

The city later installed closure gates that were managed by a nearby fire station during flash flood warnings.

The former three-way intersection now has cul-de-sacs at each end to prevent vehicles from entering a new channel in which water can safely flow to an inlet under Academy Boulevard.

Neighbors have adjusted to street closures required for the project, and a detour is in place for the Hopeful bridge closure.

“It’s a good deal, it really is,” said Robert Tafoya, who lives beside the bridge. “We’ve been here, and the water’s been pretty high at times. So yeah, it’s needed.”

Austin, who said that he grew up in the neighborhood, will miss the old bridge.

(12:37) “Just ’cause it’s a lot of memories, at least from my childhood,” he explained. “I remember hearing stories from my parents’ childhood. Just being able to play (around) it. Be kids. Kill a bunch of energy, do back flips off a wall, whatever.”

But neighbor Briana Gaytan, who has two boys, disagreed.

“Even with water not in the picture, there are a lot of ways that kids can get hurt,” she said. “I mean, I did grow up in the ditch, too.”

However, her boys said that they’d love to play around the bridge if she’d let them.

The overall project is scheduled for completion late next year.

The city and El Paso County are sharing the $11 million cost, as part of an agreement for the city to annex the property from the county and end confusion about which entity was responsible for repairs.

Funding for the project is through a combination of El Paso County’s allotment of federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds and SWENT (Stormwater Enterprise) funds from the City of Colorado Springs.

Officials said that the remaining segments of Siferd and Date will be repaved at the end of the project.

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Bradley Davis

CASCADE, Colo. (KRDO) – For the last four years, a man from Cascade has built a “haunted forest” attraction at their home and invites students from the RiseUp school in Colorado Springs to take a walk through for free.

“It’s absolutely amazing when you have someone in the community like Kevin who steps up and gets us,” RiseUp Development Officer Kathy Stults said.

Kevin Holt grew up in Southern Colorado and said he was inspired by the late Nick Venetucci and Venetucci Farms. Holt said he carried out a free pumpkin from the farm every year while growing up and wanted to do his part to give back to local children.

“They all stand at the house, and they all collectively say, ‘Thank you, Mr. kevin!’ and it just melts my heart,” Holt said.

Many of the students at RiseUp are non-verbal, and their conditions can make it difficult for them and their families to enjoy Halloween like other children.

“He doesn’t really trick or treat. We’ve tried over the years, but it’s just not his thing,” said Catherine Buckham, whose son, Alexander, goes to RiseUp.

The Haunted Forest gives the students a safe space to have Halloween fun with their parents and teachers. Their field trip is on October 30.

“I get to bring him out here, and he can experience all of these things, at least on whatever level he gets it,” Buckham said.

Holt also hosts a free pumpkin giveaway on October 25. Anyone is welcome to stop by, see his haunted attraction and grab a pumpkin until they’re out.

Holt said it takes him over a month of daily work to set up the haunted forest. He lines the short drive/walk with huge animatronics and other decorations donated by the community.

“It’s one of the most unique, warming feelings that a guy can ever have, that truly, you’re giving back from you’re heart,” Holt said. “Somebody really does appreciate what you do, and they love you.”

His giant skeletons hover above the shoulder of Highway 24 as you head West to Woodland Park, right at the Fountain Avenue intersection, as you head up to the Pikes Peak Highway.

If you have a home that you deck out for Halloween, you can submit it to our 2025 Trick-or-Treat Trail by clicking here.

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Rob Namnoum

Top prep performances for the week of October 15th.

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Merry Matthews

FROST ADVISORY tonight for Cañon City and Penrose between the hours of 3am-8am Tuesday October 21st (Temperatures as low as 30° will result in frost formation.)

FREEZE WARNING tonight for Walsenburg Vicinity/Upper Huerfano River Basin Below 7500Feet, Las Animas and Baca counties between the hours of 3am-8am Tuesday, October 21st (Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 expected.

TONIGHT: Clear skies and calmer winds will result in near freezing temps around Southern Colorado

TOMORROW: Beautiful skies with highs near seasonal in the mid 60’s around El Paso county and low 70’s from Pueblo to the Eastern Plains, 50’s for local mtn cities

EXTENDED: Nice and pleasant for most of the week with sunny skies and highs in the 50’s and 60’s around the Pikes Peak region from Teller county east to El Paso county with some 70’s along the Arkansas River Valley. Thursday afternoon-evening brings a chance of moisture in the form of showers around I-25 and Colorado Springs.

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Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Fall may seem to be too late in the year to start a road project, but good weather is providing crews with an opportunity to begin preliminary work on a road north of Monument, between Interstate 25 and Palmer Lake.

The county has various improvements planned for Beacon Lite Road, covering two-thirds of a mile between Wakonda Way — where the paved section of Beacon Lite ends — to Bricker Road.

That stretch is hilly, winding, and fairly narrow, with several bends, bumpy road conditions, steep banks, and issues with erosion and drainage.

A key facet of the project is building a new road segment on the south end to straighten out the sharpest of several road bends.

Other early project aspects include cutting down some roadside trees to relocate utility lines and install stormwater infrastructure.

The latter improvement is what neighbor Zach Sullivan is particularly interested in, because of damage to his yard from previous erosion and flooding.

“It’s better for the community, so to speak, but I just think it’s going to make people drive a little faster,” he said. “I would hope they’d put in a maybe stop sign, or something, to slow people down. They already drive fast on a dirt road. So, if they pave it, I think it’s just going to increase speeds.”

Another neighbor, Jan Talbot, believes that the project’s benefits outweigh any inconveniences.

“I’m not looking forward to the process, just because it’ll be a mess,” she confessed. “But that’s just me. It’s going to be dusty; it’ll be dirtier than even it is now. But once the road is paved, it’ll be less dusty and safer to drive on.”

Several neighbors told KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior that the county acquired or obtained easements on some private property as part of the project.

The project’s final step will be paving the gravel road with asphalt sometime next spring or summer.

Residents along Bricker Road will be watching the project’s progress closely.

“We have around 20 homes there,” a neighbor told The Road Warrior. “The Beacon Lite intersection is our only way in and out.”

Work hours for the project will generally be weekdays from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.; the county asks drivers to be alert for occasional lane shifts and the presence of construction vehicles.

Some neighbors wonder why the county isn’t continuing the project a third of a mile farther north, to where Beacon Lite ends at County Line Road.

Omar Lopez, the project manager, said that the entire unpaved segment was originally scheduled to start a year or two ago, but that it has taken the county longer than expected to reach agreements with property owners regarding acquisition or easements.

“I think there were 30 total parcels we needed to obtain and only two remain,” he explained. “Both are in that northern end between Bricker and County Line. Douglas County has conservation easements along the County Line. We’re trying to work through that because there are other things involved.”

The project costs $8.2 million and is funded by sales tax revenue from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Residents at a Colorado Springs apartment complex had to evacuate their homes as firefighters battled a fire at the complex.

On Sunday night, the two Colorado Springs fire vehicles responded to an apartment along N. Murray Blvd. N. Murray between Platte and Maxwell has been temporarily shut down due to water supply lines that cross the roadway to a hydrant.

The fire department told KRDO13 that one family has been displaced by the fire. An official origin of the fire has not been identified, but firefighters said it appeared that the blaze started in the kitchen.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to one unit.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – October is Filipino American History Month, and this weekend, movie lovers celebrated with the first-ever Filipino movie premiere in Colorado Springs.

The movie is called How to Get Away from My Toxic Family. KRDO13 spoke to the film’s producer, Ogie Diaz, and one of the film’s actors, Mama Loi.

They said it was made for immigrants, for the unsung heroes who work to take care of their families abroad.

“It talks about a lot of Filipino values like debt of gratitude, like too much love for your family,” Loi said.

“[And] how to deal with the toxic family you have,” Diaz added.

The movie isn’t just showing in Colorado Springs. It’s being taken to different theaters around the world.

Diaz tells KRDO13 he hopes more people will leave the movie with a better understanding of Filipino culture.

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