Category: krdo-local-news

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – In just four short years, a student from Vista Ridge High School has elevated his karate skills from beginner to World Champion in the International Combat Organisation (ICO) World circuit.

Jared Garcia started Karate when he was 12. Standing around five feet and two inches tall, it became apparent that Garcia’s flexibility and kicks made up for his shorter stature.

“He started at a really young belt level,” said Jared’s mom and coach, Erika Garcia. “He started right out of white.”

Now 16 and standing almost six feet tall, Garcia has become a force in the ICO. Last year, he won the 14-17-year-old World Championship in Wales, competing against kids two years his senior from all weight classes.

The owner of Team Army, a professional martial arts team sponsored by the U.S. Army, was at the championship watching the competition. Less than 10 minutes after Jared’s victory, he paid Jared a visit and made him a part of the team.

Before winning his championship, Jared first achieved his black belt with a surprise student in his testing class.

“We actually got it at the same time. We got to test together,” Erika, also a black belt, said.

“I wasn’t really expecting it in that moment,” Jared said. “I really loved having her in the same test.”

This fall, Garcia will return to defend his title in France. His family started a GoFundMe to help pay for his travel.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) confirmed to KRDO13 that it is responding to a call for service regarding a shooting near the intersection of Union Blvd. and St. Vrain St. just after 8 p.m. Saturday.

A KRDO13 crew on scene captured a large police presence near the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center.

It’s unclear if anyone is injured at this time or if a suspect is in custody.

KRDO13 has contacted CSPD for more information and has yet to hear back.

Details are limited at this time. This article may be updated as we learn more.

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Mackenzie Stafford

SALIDA, Colo. (KRDO) – A Monte Vista woman was arrested on May 27, 2026, by the Salida Police Department (SPD). Vanessa Salvio faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and theft in connection with the Jan. 26, 2026, death of Lukas Brown.

Brown, also from Monte Vista, died in Salida, Colo., from acute fentanyl and xylazine toxicity after Salvio admitted to providing and administering fentanyl to him, SPD says. Officers report Salvio also confessed to stealing property belonging to Brown from the motel room where he died.

Salvio told a detective she not only provided fentanyl to Brown but also administered it by blowing it into his mouth from her mouth, according to police. Brown experienced a medical episode shortly after this and died despite attempts at lifesaving measures, SPD said. An autopsy conducted by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office confirmed Brown’s death was a result of acute fentanyl and xylazine toxicity.

On the afternoon of Jan. 26, 2026, SPD, Salida Fire and Chaffee County EMS responded to a local motel for reports of an unresponsive male, according to SPD. Salvio was with Brown in the motel room at the time of his death, according to police.

When speaking with a detective, SPD said Salvio admitted to providing fentanyl to Brown and administering it into his mouth. She reported that Brown began to have a medical episode shortly after she gave him the fentanyl, according to SPD. Officers say Salvio notified motel personnel, who then called for medical assistance, but Brown died shortly after.

After the scene was cleared, police say Salvio was permitted to return to the motel room to retrieve her belongings.

The following day, Brown’s family went to the motel to retrieve his property and discovered some items were missing, police said. Salvio was subsequently interviewed about the missing property and admitted to stealing it when she returned to the room, SPD said. Police say Salvio returned the stolen property to authorities.

Officers say that on May 27, 2026, a Salida Police Detective submitted an arrest warrant/affidavit to the Chaffee County District Court. They say the detective requested that Salvio be charged with One Count of Criminally Negligent Homicide, a Class five Felony, and One Count of Theft, a Class 1 Misdemeanor. A Chaffee County District Judge reviewed and signed the arrest warrant, setting bond at $2,000 cash/surety, police shared.

On the evening of May 27, 2026, Salvio was taken into custody on her arrest warrant at her home in Monte Vista, according to police. Officers say she was transported to the Rio Grande County Detention Center in Del Norte.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) says its officers responded to the Barnes and Austin Bluffs area of Colorado Springs on Thursday. This is where CPW says a 125-pound male yearling black bear was wandering the area.

CPW, Deme Wright

Wildlife Officers immobilized the bear and placed it in a wildlife trailer, according to CPW. The bear was given a “wake-up” drug and then relocated and released several hours south into a better bear habitat, the wildlife agency reports.

RELATED: Mother bear, cubs relocated after being found under deck of Colorado Springs home

WATCH: Bear caught on camera raiding bird feeder in Gleneagle

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Mackenzie Stafford

SOUTHERN COLORADO, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Saturday afternoon.

The advisory impacts Teller, El Paso, Pueblo and eastern Fremont Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to, Cripple Creek, Colorado Springs, Canon City and Pueblo, according to CDPHE.

The department warns that this increases the likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults, as well as in people with lung disease, such as asthma. CDPHE recommends reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

The advisory expires at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 30.

An intrusion of ozone from high in the atmosphere may result in ozone concentrations reaching the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category within these areas Saturday afternoon and evening. CDPHE expects ozone levels to gradually decrease on Saturday evening.

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Danny Mata

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A Michigan resident has donated $2,500 in gas gift cards to Silver Key Senior Services in Colorado Springs. The donation will help the nonprofit continue its transportation program for older adults struggling with rising fuel costs.

Laurie Applebaum, who lives near Detroit, sought a nonprofit that could use a significant amount of gift card money she had. Her search led her to Silver Key Senior Services, which provides transportation and Meals on Wheels programs for older adults in the Colorado Springs area, all the way Monument and Palmer Lake.

Silver Key Senior Services was experiencing increased challenges due to the cost of gas, which affects its ability to maintain vehicle operations for its programs. Seth Chapin, director of transportation at Key Senior Services, expressed excitement about the donation, stating he “danced a little bit inside” upon hearing the news.

Chapin detailed the services provided by the organization. “Any appointment from a doctor’s appointment, dentists; maybe they want to go get their hair done every Friday. We can provide that ride,” Chapin said.

The donation consisted of gas gift cards, each worth $500, totaling $2,500.

Applebaum had initially faced difficulty finding an organization to accept the donation. She discovered Silver Key after seeing a KRDO13 news story about the organization.

Applebaum confirmed during a phone interview with KRDO13 that she has no ties to Colorado, but wanted to find a way to help. She said Silver Key was an ideal recipient because it allowed her to assist many people with a single donation.

Chapin noted that the donation means the organization “were able to help more people for a longer period of time.” He estimated the donation would directly benefit “well more than 100 people.”

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers who may have wondered about a long, winding, flexible pipe at the bottom of the 8th Street hill for the past few weeks, now may be curious about why it’s gone and where it went.

In a daylong operation on Wednesday, crews with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) inserted a 24-inch water line into a boring hole between the Motor City Drive intersection and Walmart.

The hole was bored — or drilled — to a depth of 30 feet to place the line under Bear Creek.

A small segment at the insertion point remains above ground; CSU said that it is extra length, is no longer needed, and will be cut from the main line.

The south end of the new pipe will attach to the existing water main, and the opposite end will connect to the remaining extension of the new line north to Cimarron Street.

Sliding a new water line underground, even downhill, isn’t as easy as you might think.

Heavy machinery pushed the pipe downhill, inch by inch, while another machine pulled and held it at the proper angle for insertion.

However, for unspecified reasons, crews had difficulty getting the pipe’s front end into the hole.

Another challenge was the pipe sliding on rubber rollers supported by metal stands, and in several places, the pipe moved too far to one side — requiring workers to readjust it and keep it from sliding off the supports.

The insertion process began at 10 a.m. and was finished by 7 p.m.

In the meantime, drivers should watch for several potholes at the 8th Street/Motor City Drive intersection.

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Mackenzie Stafford

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – On Thursday, Governor Jared Polis, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, and community partners joined Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to announce the growth of Cheyenne Mountain State Park. This includes the 357-acre Denman property and the City of Colorado Springs’ purchase of an adjacent 127-acre parcel.

CPW says the additions increase Cheyenne Mountain State Park to roughly 3,184 acres and protect open space at the entrance to one of the region’s most visited outdoor destinations.

CPW and Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) also signed an agreement supporting expanded recreation at Rosemont Reservoir on Pikes Peak. Officials say these initiatives aim to increase public recreation opportunities and conservation in the Pikes Peak region.

The agreement with Colorado Springs Utilities will open Rosemont Reservoir, situated at more than 9,600 feet of elevation on Pikes Peak, for camping and various hand-launched, hand-powered, and electric-powered watercraft, with CPW managing the new recreation sites.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis emphasized the importance of these outdoor spaces.

“Colorado’s outdoor spaces are truly inspiring, and I’m excited we can enjoy even more of our incredible lands with this new expansion. Colorado Springs is already a destination for outdoor experiences, and this will add more choices for camping and boating,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

Colorado Springs Mayor Mobolade highlighted the connection between the city and its natural surroundings.

“At the heart of today is a simple but powerful truth: Colorado Springs is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty,” Mobolade said, “Places like Cheyenne Mountain are more than scenery. They are more than postcard views or a backdrop to our lives. They are part of our identity. Part of our story. Part of what makes this city feel like home.”

Mobolade also recognized the role of the city’s voter-supported Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) program in making the expansion possible.

CPW Director Laura Clellan said that these projects support the future of outdoor recreation.

“These projects expand public access opportunities and support the future of outdoor recreation in Colorado,” Clellan said. She added that “The expansion of Cheyenne Mountain State Park and new camping opportunities at Rosemont Reservoir on Pikes Peak show what can be achieved when partners share a vision and work together to increase access to Colorado’s outdoors.”

The Trust for Public Land’s Mountain West Region Vice President Jim Petterson noted the long-term benefits of the conservation effort.

“This expansion ensures that one of Colorado Springs’ most treasured outdoor spaces will remain protected and accessible as the region continues to grow,” Petterson said.

The ceremony also included the official ribbon cutting for 11 new full-hookup campsites at Cheyenne Mountain State Park, bringing the total to 62 full-hookup sites, CPW shared.

“By conserving this land now, we’re protecting wildlife habitat, expanding recreation opportunities and preserving the mountain landscapes that define this community.” Jason Hagan, Cheyenne Mountain State Park manager, underscored the collaborative nature of the park’s growth.

For the Rosemont Reservoir project, Amy Brandenburg, Pikes Peak Recreation Area Parks manager, said she is very excited for this area to be open for camping and recreation after some construction.

“So the campgrounds aren’t there yet. We still need to build them, so we’ll be breaking ground soon for campgrounds,” Brandenburg said.

She noted that camping will require a parks pass or the Keep Colorado Wild pass on vehicle registration, along with a camping fee, and will operate under a reservation system similar to other Colorado Parks and Wildlife sites.

CPW expects to have more wildlife officers dedicated to the Pikes Peak Recreation Area, including Rosemont Reservoir. Officials hope to open the campgrounds by late summer.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Die-hard fans of the Thunderbirds, the Air Force’s demonstration squadron, couldn’t believe it when it happened last year, and they expressed more disbelief and frustration when it happened again on Thursday.

Adverse weather conditions led officials to cancel the annual post-commencement air show, except for the traditional flyover above the new second lieutenants.

The decision was made shortly before noon, followed by groans of disappointment in the parking lot of Scheels All Sports on Interquest Parkway, which has held a Thunderbird “watch party” for the past five years.

A Scheels representative said that the event, which includes free hot dogs and entertainment, draws thousands of fans.

Weather-related safety concerns also led to the Thunderbirds being grounded last year.

Much of the Scheels crowd believed the air show would start between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., but instead got only a brief flyby over the horizon from the squadron and an overhead pass by a single jet.

“I wish someone had just told us sooner,” said Andrea Rivera. “It’s kind of a bummer because there are some people who come in town for it, and then they don’t get to see it — until next year. So, it’s kind of frustrating.”

Daniel King said before the announcement that if the air show were to be completely canceled, it would likely come after Air Force officials waited as long as they could for weather conditions to improve.

“The sky this time looked better than it did last time,” he recalled. “But you never know. I’m sure that people are disappointed, but once they get over it, they’ll understand.”

King’s nine-year-old grandson, Gunter Frazier, reminds us why the Thunderbirds own a special place in the hearts of many in the Pikes Peak region.

“What I like most about them is the noise, the flying… just the fun!” he exclaimed. “The fun of it, is just awesome! I want to be an Air Force pilot, maybe (fly with) the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds, or just fly military planes.”

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Thursday could produce the busiest graduation day traffic in recent memory around the north gate of the Air Force Academy (AFA).

Since last year’s event, the construction of new roundabouts between the gate, the new Hotel Polaris, and the just-opened new Visitors Center has been completed.

The roundabouts are designed to improve the flow of traffic, given the new additions and future development outside the gate.

With the roundabout construction temporarily closing the gate last spring, this year’s graduation may be the first time that many visitors will drive through and see the changes.

Traffic also likely will be affected by the thousands who gather at vantage points in the area to watch the Thunderbirds — the Air Force’s demonstration squadron — perform.

However, weather conditions canceled the performance last year, and similar conditions are present on Thursday morning.

Another potential traffic impact is the ongoing drainage project on North Gate Boulevard, between Interstate 25 and Struthers Road.

As of 6:30 a.m., a steady stream of traffic was traveling through the north gate.

Incidentally, drivers also should remember that the motorcade for Vice President JD Vance — who’s delivering the commencement address — may cause significant traffic delays as it arrives at and departs from the AFA.

KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior will monitor the day’s traffic impacts.

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