Category: krdo-local-news

Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Volunteers came together for a service project to benefit the Salvation Army’s Family Hope Center, according to a release by the Salvation Army.

Officials say volunteers reorganized, cleaned, and painted parts of the space, which is located off Sierra Madre Street.

Courtesy: Sondra N. Rymer, Salvation Army Development & Public Relations Manager

According to the Salvation Army, the Family Hope Center provides housing to 31 different families each night. More than housing, the center says it provides meals, job training, and emotional support to families so they can eventually get a place on their own.

Volunteers were mobilized to beautify the center in a community initiative dubbed “COSILOVEYOU.” According to their website, COSILOVEYOU unites churches, ministries, and city leaders together.

“We are globally connected but also wanting to be locally relevant by serving and engaging in practical ways that make a tangible difference,” said Dean Carlson, President of One Challenge, in a press release. “As an organization, we felt we could be part of something bigger in Colorado Springs by supporting the Salvation Army Family Hope Center.”

Volunteers also came from Colorado Springs Utilities, according to the Salvation Army.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has started a second project on Austin Bluffs Parkway, west of Academy Boulevard, that will result in reducing traffic to one lane in both directions.

The latest project covers around a half-mile eastbound, from American Drive to just west of Academy; the two closed lanes reopen as they approach the Academy intersection.

Crews are realigning water lines as part of the ongoing project to relocate utility lines to build the Central Bluffs electric substation slightly west, and it currently has two lanes closed between Meadowland Boulevard and Brenner Place.

CSU began shifting lanes and placing barriers for the new project on Monday morning and started excavating work in the afternoon.

In a separate project within the work zone, crews will also replace a water valve and a fire hydrant, requiring four businesses to lose water service until the scheduled completion of both projects on Friday.

CSU is supplying or offering water to the affected businesses.

“There are approximately 3 to 4 businesses that will be without water service,” said CSU spokesperson Jennifer Jordan. “But we have offered alternative sources of water for these businesses. They will be open. We encourage people to still visit them, although there may be slightly different access to get to their parking lots.”

Complicating the parking lot access was paving work happening there; however, it appeared to have been completed by Monday evening.

The manager of a Fazoli’s restaurant said that the paving and lane closures made for slow business on Monday.

The utility stated that crews will work 24 hours a day until the project is completed.

The westbound lane closures along the substation project will continue through November, and the substation should be operating by the end of next year.

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Rob Namnoum

Highlights from day one of the Class 2A boys golf championships.

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Rob Namnoum

Top prep performances for the week of October 1st.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On October 1, homeowners living with Colorado HOAs (homeowner associations) were given new legal protections due 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.

RELATED: Residents could lose their homes after hefty HOA assessment; HOA says out-of-control insurance prices are to blame

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.”

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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.

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 what police called a riot 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 says he attended District 11 schools and says he wants to give back to the people who gave to him. He adds that he 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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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