Category: krdo-local-news

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The display recently ranked second nationwide by USA Today is getting an upgrade this year with new displays for participants to enjoy each night until January 1.

The exhibits include millions of lights across over 50 acres and over 90 hand-made light sculptures. A drone show will light up the sky each night as well.

“It’s just magical up here on the mountain,” said Cheyenne Mountain Zoo communications and marketing director Rachel Wright.

Santa will be at Electric Safari each night through December 23 to take photos and accept letters. Most animal exhibits will remain open for the nightly event, as well as access to the sky ride and carousel. The giraffe and Budgie (bird) feeding will also stay open.

You’ll see some giraffe sculptures throughout the zoo that are wearing construction hats that are pretty great,” Wright said. “It’s a nod to our historic construction project that’s going on with our giraffe habitat.”

Electric Safari runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m. every night except for Christmas Eve. Tickets range from $19 to $24 for adults, depending on the day. Tickets are free for zoo members. Everyone needs a timed-entry pass to view the lights.

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Scott Harrison

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — Getting around on the city’s northwest side can be time-consuming for residents, and even an adventure for drivers unfamiliar with the area.

The reasons are that many of the streets in that area don’t connect, and the entire northwest side is cut in half by a mesa and railroad tracks.

Because of that, Pueblo officials have planned two projects to make significant transportation improvements in the area.

One project will extend Sun Mountain Boulevard — formerly Spaulding Avenue — northward between 24th and 31st streets and include two roundabout intersections.

A current segment of the boulevard runs between 18th and 22nd streets, and officials said they’d eventually like to extend it to 24th Street.

However, the latter segment would have to cut through private property, where a fence sign reads Keep Out: Bull in Field.”

“I don’t think the landowner wants to sell,” a neighbor told KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior.

A second project will build or repair 68 transit bus stops across the west side, to meet federal requirements to improve transportation for the disabled.

The city received nearly $17 million for both projects, with construction expected to start next year and end in 2027.

Before work begins, though, officials will hold a public meeting to gather feedback; a meeting scheduled last week was postponed because of snowy weather.

Officials also revealed that two more projects are in the design phase but are not funded yet.

One of those projects is an idea that has been considered for decades — building a bridge over the railroad tracks at 24th Street.

Currently, the only way for drivers to cross the railroad tracks and the mesa north of downtown is at a train crossing on 29th Street, and across a bridge on 18th Street.

A bridge would connect both sides of 24th Street and link to the new Medal of Honor Boulevard being built west of the 24th Street/Pueblo Boulevard intersection.

The other future project would extend High Street south, from 24th Street to as far as 17th Street.

Neighbors who live near where the railroad tracks split 24th Street expressed excitement about the bridge plan.

Once built, the bridge would essentially make 24th Street the northwest side’s only continuous route between Interstate 25 and Pueblo Boulevard, and connect to Medal of Honor Boulevard through Pueblo West.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Millibo Theatre in Colorado Springs debuts its original theatrical story, “The Ringmaster’s Christmas,” with shows throughout December.

Following an old growchy ringmaster who decides not to celebrate Christmas, it shares common themes with Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” with an athletic twist.

“The old ringmaster, Seymour Frumple, has had it with Christmas and can’t find the energy or the spirit to bring down the decorations from the attic,” The Millibo Theatre said on its website. “It is a ‘Bah Humbug Holiday’ for him until flying reindeer, talking monkeys, and mischievous elves appear from the magical trunk on a mission to reawaken his Christmas wonder.”

The acrobats fall from the rafters on their ropes and trapezes to heckle and encourage the ringmaster.

The Millibo Theatre hosts eight showings over the course of the next two weekends.

Schedule:

Dec. 13 – 11 a.m.

Dec. 13 – 2 p.m.

Dec. 14 – 1 p.m.

Dec 14 – 3 p.m.

Dec 20 – 11 a.m.

Dec 20 – 2 p.m.

Dec. 21 – 1 p.m.

Dec. 21 – 3 p.m.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It’s a club no one wants to belong to, but for kids who have lost a parent due to combat, it can be a lifeline.

On Saturday, the Snowball Express took flight, giving kids a chance to create new memories and forge new friendships with others who know what they’re going through. Everyone boarding the flight had lost a parent in the service.

While that was the common denominator, it wasn’t the tone of the afternoon. In fact, it started with a warm welcome with a live brass band at the Colorado Springs Airport.

The fanfare was all in anticipation of a free trip to Disney World aboard the Snowball Express, part of the Gary Sinise Foundation.

For five days, families get to hang out in the happiest place on earth with friends who are going through a similar struggle.

“When we talk about the importance of taking care of these families, these young. Children, some of them weren’t even born, yet some never met their parent. It is our country’s obligation, and the people that live in this country owe that to those family members that have passed away and to those families that still have to move forward,” said Pam Swan, an ambassador with the Gary Sinise Foundation.

If the name sounds familiar, Gary Sinise was the actor who played Lieutenant Dan in the award-winning film, Forest Gump.

Now his foundation honors the memory of fallen soldiers by ensuring their families are not forgotten.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Saturday night, nearly 100 floats took to the streets of Downtown Colorado Springs.

The annual Festival of Lights Parade marked its 41st year with inflatable Santas and jolly faces in the crowd.

KRDO13 spoke with festival-goers who enjoy the tradition each year, as well as those experiencing it for the first time.

Watch the dazzling display above captured by KRDO13 Photojournalist Collin Willis.

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Mackenzie Stafford

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – On Monday morning, Pueblo leaders held a peaceful, supportive ride, honoring all children and families impacted by violence in the Pueblo community.

Initially, when announced by the Pueblo County Coroner’s office, the community memorial caravan procession was solely to honor Jesus and Yesenia Dominguez. The 5 and 3-year-olds were killed in Pueblo.

The county coroner’s office has since updated the procession to honor all children and families impacted by violence, including the Dominguez siblings. The office cites an overwhelming outpouring of community interest for the change.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Pueblo storage owner recounts finding dead child in concrete inside a unit

The procession began at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office at 1300 N Santa Fe Drive. Participants rode in a single file manner with lights on to the south-facing side of the Pueblo County Courthouse. A memorial flower was also given to attendees wishing to take a stand against violence in the community.

Organizers say it’s an opportunity for the community to come together in peaceful solidarity, love, and remembrance, for not only the Dominguez siblings, but for all families and children in the community who have been impacted by violence.

Among those in the crowd was the 13-year-old girl, Diamond, who was recently shot in Pueblo. The shooter, Romello Hernandez, recently entered into a guilty plea and will be sentenced next month.

Family of Santana Lucero was also in attendance. According to family, Lucero’s body was dumped near Lake Minnequa. A 25-year-old man was recently arrested and charged with murder in his death.

“We’re here to support and be a part of something that could turn into being great,” said Kimberly Bell, mother of Santana Lucero.

The Pueblo County Coroner’s Office, Pueblo Police Department, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office and Pueblo County District Attorney’s Office participated.

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Marina Garcia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Colorado Springs Police Department is rolling out a new tool to slow down speeders, and it will be in action on Monday.

It’s called the Automated Vehicle Identification System, and the CSPD says this is new technology to Colorado Springs, but it’s proven to increase road safety in other cities across Colorado.

The technology comes in the form of two mobile speed safety camera systems, which you can see here.

KRDO13 spoke to neighbors about their thoughts on this new surveillance.

“Anything we can do to slow folks down on these thoroughfares is a good thing. Especially here, right in a school zone. A lot of people don’t even recognize that we’re in a school zone, and they speed right through,” says a Colorado Springs resident, Olav Saboe.

These systems will be strategically positioned in specific areas, one of which will be school zones.

“Everything we can do to protect our children and the community is a good thing,” says Saboe.

However, the new technology is raising some eyebrows among some neighbors.

“I like there to be representation. I don’t like to go through a red light mistakenly, or let’s say there’s snow or ice, and you’re trying to do the right thing, but you end up getting penalized because there wasn’t a person there to judge in that situation. So I do prefer that there be a law enforcement officer on site to go, yeah, I understand why you made that decision,” says Joel Baker.

Though the vehicles will be deployed in a couple of days, CSPD says they will provide a 30-day warning, but after that period, enforcement starts, and fines will be issued for noncompliance.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It’s been an Absolutely Colorado Tradition in Southern Colorado for the past 32 years.

“Every year, Shop with a Cop reminds me why service to this community is an honor,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal.

This year, members of law enforcement, with the sheriff’s office and Colorado Springs Police Department, were paired with local families who have been impacted by childhood cancer and blood disorders to shop for Christmas presents at the Target off Bloomington Street. The sheriff’s office said Target donated a gift certificate to each child for the shopping spree.

“These children and families demonstrate strength and courage which inspires every one of us. Sharing this time with them creates meaningful connections and moments they carry forward, and our personnel feel the impact just as deeply. I am grateful for the partners, volunteers, and families who made this year’s event truly memorable,” said Sheriff Roybal.

All pictures from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Springs Police say on Friday, a man on the registered sex offender list confessed to a crime that had not been previously reported to law enforcement.

Picture of Kendon Ray taken from the SOTAR Database.

Kendon Ray, age 34, is now being held in the El Paso County jail after he confessed to police that he attempted to lure a young boy into the bathroom of a retail business along E Platte Avenue.

Ray told the police that the incident happened on Monday, December 1, at noon.

After his confession, the police department says their officers began their search to locate the victim. Officers were able to identify and locate the victim, and CSPD’s Forensic Interview Unit conducted a forensic interview. Ray was then arrested for Enticement of a Child, a Class Four Felony.

According to the Sex Offender Tracking and Registration Colorado Database (SOTAR), Ray was previously convicted for Sex Offense – 2nd Degree Assault for causing injury with a deadly weapon in 2009 when he was 18 years old.

Ray is currently being held without bond in the El Paso County Jail. His first court appearance is set for December 16.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Friday morning, KRDO 13 followed the reindeer trail across Southern Colorado to find the best lights in town, marked by our first-ever “Light Up Southern Colorado” Holiday map sponsored by Colorado ENT and Allergy.

One of the homes recently added to the map in Security-Widefield is almost 30 years in the making. The owners left almost no space untouched.

“We never had the opportunity to have kids, so we like to do it for the families or for the kids, and everybody enjoys it,” Christmas Lights Enthusiast Dave Harper said. “We’ve been doing it for the 29 years that we’ve lived here, and we try to add something every year if we find something.”

Each location has a picture submission, so you will know what you are looking for. Each stop is marked by a little reindeer icon. You can find the map and submit your house picture here.

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