Category: krdo-local-news

Celeste Springer

MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department says 12 crew members have been dispatched to assist in two different crises.

Four CSFD crew members have been sent to Mesa County, Colorado, where the Turner Gulch Fire continues to burn south of Highway 141.

As of 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, the fire stood at more than 8,000 acres, according to a joint Facebook page set up by local emergency response agencies.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department says its team is assigned to protect one side of the fire encroaching on structures.

A photo shared by the Colorado Springs Fire Department shows their team stationed on one side of the Turner Gulch Fire, which sits close to a nearby home (Photo: Engine Boss/Task Force Leader Lt. Trevor Leland).

“We want to remind our community that these deployments DO NOT impact our normal emergency services in Colorado Springs,” wrote the department on Facebook. “We are grateful we have the ability to respond to help. Every deployment strengthens our firefighters’ skills, broadens their perspectives, and ultimately helps us serve our own community even better.”

CSFD says they also have eight members deployed to Kerr County, Texas. They are on the ground with Colorado Task Force 1 (CO-TF1), assisting with search and rescue operations after devastating floods hit the state.

The Pueblo Fire Department also confirms they have a crew member assisting in Texas.

CO-TF1 said the team completed a primary search of both sides of an eight-mile-long stretch of the Guadalupe River on Monday.

A crew member on their knees bends down to look underneath a pile of broken tree limbs in Kerr County, Texas (Photo: Colorado Urban Search and Rescue Task Force One).

“This is extremely detailed work, as there are thousands of piles of debris littered all along the river,” wrote a spokesperson for CO-TF1.

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Celeste Springer

WESTERN COLORADO (KRDO) — Nearly 100 cats were found in “deplorable conditions” before their rescue, according to Humane Colorado.

The agency says they worked with several other organizations, including two local to Southern Colorado: the National Mill Dog Rescue and the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter.

Humane Colorado says they arrived in an area of Western Colorado in blistering hot temperatures.

“These animals were confined to filthy, chicken-coop-style cages, with black widow spiders crawling across their makeshift enclosures,” said a spokesperson for Humane Colorado. “This wasn’t mere neglect—it was a disturbing scene marked by fear, filth, and prolonged suffering.”

Photo: Humane Colorado

Humane Colorado says the cats were taken to their Leslie A. Malone Center in Denver. They say the cats require urgent medical and behavioral support.

The organization says many of the cats have severe eye infections, ringworm, and upper respiratory infections.

Photo: Humane Colorado

“These cats were found in unimaginable conditions many terrified, in poor health, unsocialized, or caring for their kittens in dangerous heat. Now they’re safe, but the costs are overwhelming, and the journey to recovery will be long. We can only do work like this with the public’s help,” said Mary Sarah Fairweather, Vice President of Sheltering at Humane Colorado.

Humane Colorado says that more than 100 dogs were also rescued from the location and taken in by the National Mill Dog Rescue.

The rescue recently posted photos of 165 matted schnauzers in dire physical conditions.

If you’d like to contribute, click here.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Just three months after finishing an eight-month project to relocate a natural gas line, Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has started more utility work along the same stretch of Austin Bluffs Parkway.

A project began last week to relocate existing utility lines under the street, marking the first phase of a larger project to construct the Central Bluffs power substation at the intersection of Austin Bluffs and Goldenrod Drive.

The latest utility line relocation will affect around a mile of the busy parkway, between Meadowland Boulevard and Union Boulevard, and is scheduled for completion in mid-November.

Alex Trefry, a CSU spokesman, said that traffic impacts from the project will be similar to those from the previous project, which often slowed traffic along a hilly, twisting segment of the parkway.

“One major difference is that during July, there are traffic impacts on both sides of Austin Bluffs Parkway,” he explained. “Both westbound and eastbound, which wasn’t the case with the other one.”

The previous project covered only the westbound right lane between Goldenrod and Union and was delayed four months by the discovery of an underground fiber optic cable.

“Water, wastewater, fiber, gas infrastructure, and the electric infrastructure are what’s being relocated underground,” Trefry said. “Some of the overhead power lines will be placed underground, as well.”

It’s unclear whether this project will include an aspect of the earlier project — a line of metal barriers that closed the right lane to traffic during construction.

“We have a contractor doing this, so it’s their traffic control,” Trefry said. “Before the gas line relocation, we did that in-house. That was our traffic control, which was why I was able to sort of talk more in-depth about it. I’m not 100% sure on whether the contractor is putting up Jersey barriers or not.”

He added that the project is very unique.

“It’s unique to build an electric substation in an already developed area like this. That comes with some challenges, like the underground utilities that we need to move, for that substation to be built.”

Most of the work will occur on weekdays; drivers should be prepared for occasional lane closures, added congestion, and slower speeds through the construction zone.

CSU is spending $6 million to relocate the utility lines, and up to $45 million on the substation; the latter won’t be finished until late next year.

The substation will replace the generating capacity of three older substations.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — After a legal battle, a Colorado Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT) group will be able to continue giving rides to patients for the foreseeable future.

MedRide, which provides Medicaid patients with non-emergency rides to doctors’ appointments and other medical services, got into a legal battle with state officials earlier this year.

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) accused the medical transport company of engaging in a “pattern of abuse.” According to documents, directors with the Colorado Medicaid program said claims had been missing member signatures, missing dates and times, or claims that were missing columns.

“For the last nine months we’ve been trying to remedy [this]. We were first accused of fraud, that’s been debunked by the State. We have not committed fraud. We have open books and [the State has] looked at our books, and we understand there’s some bad actors in our industry, but we’re not one of them,” a spokesperson for MedRide previously told KRDO13.

The spokesperson said that MedRide had been working to adjust to and satisfy several changes in policy and procedure by the HCPF over the last year. However, they said the state kept “moving its goalposts.”

In February, following efforts to suspend their contract, the HCPF opted to terminate its contract with MedRide entirely.

On Monday, spokespersons with both the HCPF and MedRide said they have reached an agreement, allowing MedRide to continue to provide non-emergent transportation to patients well into the future as long as the company meets several requirements.

According to a spokesperson with HCPF, the requirements for MedRide include:

Maintaining all required documentation to achieve successful credentialing that verifies driver and vehicle safety and fitness prior to transporting Health First Colorado members

Creating and administering a driver training program to ensure compliance with the Medicaid NEMT program

Reinforcing processes to ensure that the customer is eligible for Medicaid coverage and that the trip is eligible for Medicaid NEMT reimbursement 

Employing a compliance officer to ensure MedRide operates in compliance with regulations and guidance intended to protect members

Contracting with a third-party auditor to screen MedRide’s claims to ensure completion and compliance prior to submission for reimbursement

Limiting the number of rides MedRide can provide to Medicaid members until program compliance is established and maintained 

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement so both MedRide and HCPF can focus our time and resources on providing safe, affordable transportation services to eligible Colorado Medicaid members,” said Medicaid Director Adela Flores-Brennan. 

“We look forward to putting this behind us and continuing to operate as a fully compliant and good-standing provider of NEMT services for the Coloradans we are proud to serve,” said Greg Harriman, president and owner of MedRide.

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KRDO News

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A suspicious incident briefly shut down Fort Carson Gate 20 on Monday afternoon, a Fort Carson official confirmed.

According to officials with Fort Carson, the incident was reported around 2 p.m., but the gate was back open to traffic as of 2:40 p.m.

A Fort Carson official confirmed that they are investigating the incident.

Details about this incident are limited at this time. KRDO13 is working to learn more, and this article may be updated.

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Celeste Springer

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) says they are investigating a suspicious death after getting called in on a report of a body on Sunday afternoon.

According to police, they were called to the 400 block of West 10th Street around 2:16 p.m. Police say there was a deceased female inside the residence.

Police say they believe the death is suspicious, but it has not yet been declared a homicide until they can investigate further.

The Pueblo Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons and Crime Scene Investigations unit was also called in.

The coroner’s office has not publicly released the person’s name yet.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Romero at 719-553-3375. Information can also be reported via Pueblo Crime Stoppers at 719-542-7867 (STOP) or online at www.pueblocrimestoppers.com. 

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Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Bright lights, loud noises, and crowds sometimes aren’t ideal for people who have an Autism diagnosis, but leaders with El Paso County say they wanted to ensure it didn’t stand in the way of anyone coming to the county fair.

According to county leaders, a Sensory Day took place today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., marking its second year.

“We heard lots of really positive praise. Thank you for doing this. Thanks for creating this opportunity. We’ve wanted to come to the fair every year, but we just can’t manage it. We had such a great time. Thanks for helping us be part of our community,” said Jennifer Korb, executive director of the Autism Society of Colorado.

During the event, the Whittemore Building offered bounce seats, a coloring station, headphones, and other amenities for those seeking a quieter space to take a break. There were also baby animals in the Whittemore Building for people to come by and watch or pet.

Inside the Fair Office in Swink Hall, officials say people were able to borrow sensory bags with fidget and stim items to use throughout their visit.

Officials also say that for a couple of hours, the rides operated without music and flashing lights.

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Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado State Patrol (CSP) says they’ve created a new DUI task force focused on the Pikes Peak region, and the team made several arrests over the weekend.

According to CSP, the new Pikes Peak Colorado State Patrol DUI Task Force is focused on curbing drunk or impaired driving throughout El Paso County’s major roadways.

This weekend’s enforcement coincided with the opening of the El Paso County Fair.

On July 12 and July 13, CSP says their troopers with the Pikes Peak DUI Task Force got the following results:

Total contacts made: 28

Total DUI/D Arrests: 4

Total Roadsides: 5

Citations Issued: 7

CSP is asking for the public’s help in reporting impaired drivers. After getting out of the impaired driver’s way, people should pull over and call law enforcement at *CSP (*277), 911, or 970-249-4392.

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Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — El Paso County officials say new accessibility improvements are coming to two parks in Fountain.

According to county leaders, Fountain Creek Regional Park will be getting three additional Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant parking spots, along with new curb cuts and paved sidewalks.

Construction for the project begins this week and is anticipated to wrap up by the end of summer.

“Everyone deserves the chance to enjoy the outdoors without barriers,” said Todd Marts, executive director of the El Paso County Parks Department, in a release. “These improvements are more than construction projects. They are part of our mission to ensure every park is a place where, regardless of ability, everyone feels welcome in El Paso County Parks.”

Additionally, county officials say there will be improvements to John Ceresa Memorial Park. According to officials, there will be paved sidewalks, seating areas, and other ADA-compliant features.

Contruction for that project will begin on July 21, 2025, and is anticipated to wrap up by the end of August.

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Sadie Buggle

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is warning about glue traps after an unintended animal got stuck in a sticky situation.

The sheriff’s office posted a video over the weekend showing a chipmunk stuck in a trap at a local business. Animal control was called in to help.

“With some mineral oil and plenty of patience, [Animal Control Officer Rupe] carefully freed the little critter and released it back into the wild,” wrote the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office says that glue traps can cause harm to pets and wildlife, and encourages residents to use “more humane options.”

“Let’s use solutions that keep all our neighbors safe. No glue required,” said the department.

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