Category: krdo-local-news

Mackenzie Stafford

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – On Thursday, Chavez Huerta Preparatory Academy (CHPA) students, staff, parents and community members gathered outside of the Pueblo County Courthouse to kick off a demonstration. The group marched to the Pueblo School District 60 building, chanting “Let us go, so we can grow.”

The rally comes as the clock is ticking down to keep the charter’s doors open, with the school’s contract with the district set to expire at the end of June. 

Participants urged District 60 to release Chavez Huerta Preparatory Academy from the district or to reauthorize their contract for another year, hoping to preserve a school deeply valued by its families.

“Many of us choose CHPA for so many reasons, for the diversity, early college, mariachi, folklórico,” listed parent Anna Casarez Herrera.

Casarez Herrera has three students at the different academy schools, and one more hoping to attend next year. She says she’s speaking out to try and make that a reality.

“We parents and students, we have made CHPA the school of choice. And don’t take that away from us,” Casarez Herrera said.

She says CHPA has always been home to their family; no matter where they move in the city, they have always had CHPA to go back to.

Chavez Huerta says they’ll be sending a formal request for reconsideration to the district on Thursday.

But the district says they already voted on this at the end of April, when the board decided in a 3 to 2 vote to reaffirm their decision not to renew the charter. 

PAST COVERAGE: D60 votes against releasing Chavez Huerta Preparatory Academy to get charter status

But the board also won’t release them from the district, so the school can’t operate through any other organization right now. 

Previously, district officials cited low enrollment and poor financial management as reasons for not renewing the school’s charter.

READ MORE: Chavez Huerta Prep faces uncertainty, explores options to keep doors open after charter not renewed

Chavez Huerta disputes those claims, but is offering ways to try to address some of those concerns, including implementing new budget and enrollment strategies.

On Thursday, academy families marched on, calling on the district to reconsider as options for CHPA dwindle.

If the district were to release CHPA, it could contract with an alternative education program or seek charter status with the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI). The only other solution without the district’s permission would be to become a private school. 

“We’d struggle with that because again, we don’t want to charge our kids, our parents’ tuition,” explained Executive Director of CHPA, Fred Segura.

He says they’ll continue to investigate and see what they can do, but ultimately, if the academy’s pleas fall on deaf ears, the school will likely close.

“If we don’t get that authorization, we’re going to have to make some tough decisions as far as closure,” said Segura.

KRDO13 reached out to D60 about the rally held on Thursday and received the following statement from a district spokesperson:

“Following the State Board of Education’s decision to uphold D60’s non-renewal of the CHPA charter agreement, the school’s contract is set to expire at the end of June.

D60 is focused on supporting families through this transition, and we welcome families to explore all of their enrollment options. Several of our schools have welcome nights planned in the coming weeks that we encourage all families interested in those schools to attend. 

Enrollment information can be found on our website at www.pueblod60.0rg or by calling 719-253-6014.”

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Over 900 cadets and thousands of family members packed Falcon Stadium on a cold, overcast and rainy morning to celebrate one of the biggest moments in the young lieutenants’ lives.

The clouds persisted, forcing the Academy to cancel both the Thunderbird flyover and air show – but the newly-minted Second Lieutenants didn’t seem to notice.

“Butter Bars! We’ve been singing about this for four years since basic, so we’re hype,“ said Air Force Academy graduate Minjae Kim after his friend and fellow lieutenant, Enrique Oti, pinned on his new shoulder insignia.

Air Force Academy graduate Gabrielle Olivera was joined at the celebration by her best friend and fellow graduate, Elise Eichhorn.

“I saw her at the very beginning and now it’s the end. She’s come so far and done so much, and I’m so glad I could live this one last moment with her,” Olivera said.

Both graduates and family members left the stadium with damp faces, and not entirely from the persistent drizzle.

“I bet my dad’s going to be crying. I know he’s really proud of me,” said Air Force Academy graduate Matthew Sharkey Isaac.

Even without the Thunderbirds, each and every one of the 909 graduates had the chance to celebrate their next step Thursday as commissioned Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force.

Swipe through the videos up top to see full reaction, as well as our live interview with over 20 members of an American Samoa family who flew over 12 hours to see their graduate!

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) says its crews were able to rescue a dachshund named Finley from a pipe.

According to the department, CSFD got a call from Finley’s owners. They said Finley was stuck in a pipe under a concrete slab on their porch. The owners said Finley had been stuck for several hours.

CSFD says its crew was able to use cameras to locate him, and he was about 15 feet into the pipe.

The fire department says they were able to use their tools to cut a hole in the concrete and reach under the slab to grab Finley.

“Rescue teams report that Finley immediately began running around and wagging his tail when reunited with his family,” wrote CSFD on Facebook. “A special shout-out goes to Paramedic Alan Kent– with only 13 shifts left on the job before retirement, he upheld his duty and ensured Finley was healthy and happy.”

The department says the family was advised to get Finley checked out at the vet just in case.

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Celeste Springer

UPDATE: As of 11:15 a.m. the Thunderbird flyover and airshow have been cancelled, according to the USAFA. This could be subject to change with the weather. KRDO13 will update this article if the Air Force Academy decides to move forward with the show.

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) will hold its graduation on Thursday at 9 a.m.

You can watch the stream below:

(Note: if you are having difficulties with the stream, it could be because you are in a browser directed by Facebook. If issues persist, head to KRDO.com in your regular mobile browser and find this article on our front page. Go full screen on the stream and hit “play.”)

Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink will speak at the commencement.

According to the USAFA, 909 people are graduating, which includes cadets from Guyana, Indonesia, Kosovo, Malaysia, Niger, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Tunisia.

USAFA says 10 graduates have parents who both graduated from the Air Force Academy.

As of Sept. 2024, USAFA says 840 graduates have attained the rank of general.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — “Will it rain during the graduation ceremony?” and “Will the Thunderbirds fly?” were likely the two big questions being asked in the hours before Thursday morning’s commencement exercises at the Air Force Academy.

Several hours before the ceremony’s scheduled start, overnight rain had stopped but clouds hung low over the Academy grounds.

A light drizzle fell throughout the remainder of the morning but there was no traffic congestion to speak of.

Assuming that the Thunderbirds — the Air Force’s aerial performance squadron — takes to the skies for their popular performance at the end of the ceremony, authorities remind drivers to not stop on the shoulders of Interstate 25 to watch the jets.

A fact that many people may not realize is that the six-mile stretch of the interstate between the North and South gates is on Academy property.

Drivers attending Thursday’s ceremony should be aware that several Academy roads around Falcon Stadium, the event location, will be closed from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Attendees at the North Gate will notice two things different; A roundabout that was built last summer and the opening of the new Polaris Hotel nearby.

The roundabout construction closed the North Gate for two weeks, shifting all inbound and outbound traffic to the South Gate; however, the Academy considers that to be its main gate, and has more lanes to handle increased traffic.

What likely most eased traffic congestion is not having the president deliver the commencement speech; the president’s visit — last made in 2023 by former President Joe Biden and in 2019 by current President Donald Trump during his first term — requires extra security and road closures.

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Celeste Springer

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office says a father is dead after attempting to climb a cliff face at Agnes Vaille Falls.

According to the sheriff’s office, they were called out around 4 p.m. on Tuesday after hikers said they had found a deceased person face down in a creek bottom near the falls.

Deputies learned that the man, now identified as 38-year-old Ronald Eugene Stamm, had come out for a hike with his wife and daughter. They say after making it to the falls, his wife and daughter headed back, but he continued to hike alone.

Based on their evidence, they believe Stamm tried to climb the cliff face at the falls without equipment and fell about 100 feet.

The sheriff’s office said that by the time they arrived to investigate a report of his body, his wife and daughter were still waiting for him at the bottom of the trail.

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Mackenzie Stafford

WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) says a moose attacked a man and his dogs in Woodland Park. Ultimately, one of the dogs had to be euthanized due to the injuries, CPW said.

CPW says they received the call on Memorial Day. The agency says a man was letting his dogs back inside when a female moose with calves started to attack.

The man reportedly rolled under a car to get away and witnessed the moose stomp on his dogs.

CPW said the man’s wife had been charged by a moose just a day prior, but she was able to get inside.

“This incident is a reminder of why we warn everyone to respect wildlife and give them their space,” said Travis Sauder, CPW Assistant Area Wildlife Manager. “We know Colorado residents love their dogs. But it’s important to understand that moose see dogs as predators and react in defense of themselves and their young.”

CPW said they planned to sedate and relocate the moose and calves, but ultimately, they were observed moving into a more remote area.

The agency says the moose population in Teller County is rapidly growing. Statewide, CPW said there were about 2,250 moose in 2013, but 3,600 now.

“This cow moose was exhibiting classic protective behavior of its calves,” Sauder said. “Be sure to give wildlife extra space, especially when they are raising their young. And it is always best to keep dogs on leashes or in a fenced area to reduce the chances of an incident with wildlife.”

CPW says those who are photographing or observing wildlife from a distance this summer should use the “rule of thumb.” While looking at the animal, hold your thumb up. If your thumb can’t cover the entire animal, you are too close and need to back up.

Wildlife officials tell KRDO13 it’s best to keep your dog on a leash, especially during this time of year when many wild animals are having babies, making mothers increasingly protective.

“We always recommend keeping them on a leash, even if you’re letting them outside to use the bathroom. It’s just the safest way to keep your pets secure,” explained Joey Livingston, CPW Public Information Officer.

He went on to explain that many wild animals, including deer, elk, bear and moose, will want to protect their young, especially in Colorado’s mountainous areas.

“Generally, this first week of June is when we start seeing the baby deer on the ground. And the deer will still defend their young, just like the moose this moose did. And so if you let your dogs outside, try to go outside first and make sure there’s no deer, no fawns in the area,” shared Livingston.

In Teller County, CPW says Manitou Lake is a prime location for moose. KRDO13 spoke with a Woodland Park resident at Manitou Lake who had a close call with a moose two weeks before this attack.

Paul Whitfield tells KRDO13 he heard a fellow fisherman yelling to get the attention of others to alert them to the large animal moving their way. He says at first it appeared to be a tall horse until he realized it was, in fact, a moose.

He said as it approached him, he backed up and stood as still as he could while the moose passed by. Afterwards, he said the experience was exciting and he documented the moose encounter. One of Paul Whitfield’s photos is included below.

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Scott Harrison

CAÑON CITY, Colo. (KRDO) — The hope was that the town’s $3 million Main Street Revitalization project would have been finished a month ago, in time for the 87th annual Music & Blossom Festival.

But that didn’t happen, for several reasons beyond the control of workers — such as weather and surprises not uncommon when digging up streets in a town that was founded in 1860.

“Not terrible weather, but it just hit at really inopportune times in the project when it did the most damage,” said Leo Evans, the town’s public works director. “We’ve run into a few unexpected things. Water lines being in places they weren’t supposed to be, that we’ve had to deal with in working the project.”

The project began in February to modernize five blocks of the historic downtown area: Main Street, between between 1st and 4th streets, as well as 1st and 3rd streets between Main and US 50 (which becomes Royal Gorge Boulevard through downtown).

Crews are  gutting the affected blocks to a depth of several feet and removing the old pavement and underlying base; much the construction is now happening on the north side of Main while one-way traffic and some parking have gradually returned to the opposite side.

More pedestrian space is also being added; other benefits include planting trees, landscaping, widening sidewalks and rearranging some street lights; sidewalks along the construction zone remain open to pedestrians.

However, the work is extremely frustrating to neighbors, merchants and customers who endured construction during the festival — the parade route was shortened by a block — and now are coping with it as summer tourism, the lifeblood of the town’s economy, starts.

“I had to walk through the construction just to pay a bill at City Hall,” said Jennille Spellman, who lives nearby. “lt’ll be nice and pretty — I mean aesthetically. It’ll be great. I don’t know that it’s necessary for function, but it is what it is.”

An event spokesperson said that the festival had one of its best years ever, but many business owners said that their sales are down during the project; up to 35,000 people usually attend the parade.

“We should be slamming,” said Justin Brown, a manager at Di Rito’s Italian Restaurant, on Tuesday. “But as you can see, I don’t have a full restaurant. But we do what we can. We’re doing our best.”

Evans said that the project should be completed before the end of June, weather permitting.

This is the second straight year that a project has disrupted the beginning of tourist season; last year, it was the construction of a center median and installation of new crosswalks along Royal Gorge Boulevard, between downtown and the Arkansas River.

While many residents still haven’t accepted that project, Evans said that it has increased safety by significantly reducing crashes involving vehicles and pedestrians.

Both projects were partially funded by Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) grants.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – With just two months of practice as a team, the Colorado Hopping Hawks qualified for the Junior Olympics in Texas this July.

Explorer elementary school teacher Holli Burns runs an afterschool program teaching jump rope to over 50 kids. From that group, Burns said she was approached by coaches with One Jump Ahead encouraging her to enter a local jump roping tournament. She took eight students to the competition after just 2 months of practice with a different jump rope style, and the group qualified for the Junior Olympics.

Five kids from the Hopping Hawks are planning to make the trip to Texas. The team is fundraising to support their Junior Olympics journey.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council decided to roll the dice on roughly $20 million in funding, according to the city’s estimates.

It comes after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed executive order D 2025 – 005, which includes blanket statewide housing requirements aimed at improving affordability.

The city claims that there are a handful of laws in the order that are not right for the Colorado Springs community. The only issue is that, as part of the executive order, not following these laws could put the city under noncompliance, which is a one-way ticket to getting those dollars pulled.

At a city hall meeting on Tuesday, councilmembers voted 7 to 2 on a resolution to reaffirm Colorado Springs’ home rule, which grants the city the constitutional right to make decisions in the best interest of the community, while also allowing public input and giving the city some separation from state law.

Prior to the vote, Council President Pro Tem, At Large, Brian Risley, read the resolution, explained his concerns and posed a question to his fellow councilmembers.

“I would like to place a call to my colleagues here on the dais and ask, are we going to uphold the oath that we took to defend the state constitution, or are we going to acquiesce to unfunded mandates and a one size fits all approach that usurps our constitutional right to establish local regulations?” questioned Brian Risley, Council President Pro Tem, At Large.

Many community members took to the podium to express their concerns regarding not being able to make their voices heard regarding the state laws, if enforced in compliance with the executive order.

“This state intrusion is the most serious threat our city and neighborhoods have ever seen,” a commenter representing the Historic Neighborhoods Partnership of Colorado Springs said.

The Historic Neighborhoods Partnership also encouraged the City Council to join a lawsuit filed by six other cities against the state in regards to this executive order.

Cutting occupancy limits and parking requirements are some items included in this order that the city disagrees with.

“Colorado Springs is not a neighborhood of Denver,” stated Councilman At Large David Leinweber.

A handful of councilmembers contend that this executive order is a band-aid approach for the state to try and fix affordable housing issues. They say it strips communities like the Olympic City of its constitutional right to rule over the area.

We went to the governor about these claims.

“Our focus as a state is that we need more housing to be affordable for people,” Polis explained. “And that means empowering property owners and property rights to make sure people can, for instance, build accessory dwelling units in their property.”

Local leaders in Colorado Springs previously imposed significant guidelines on the ability to build an ADU on your property.

During the council meeting, the mayor’s Chief of Staff Jamie Fabos emphasized that the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) had reached out to the city of Colorado Springs following the signing of Governor Polis’ executive order to let them know that all local laws currently in place are in compliance with the order.

However, Fabos warned during the meeting that the city’s decision to introduce a regulation opposing the executive order could potentially place Colorado Springs in non-compliance, putting the city at risk of losing state funding.

“Should we lose any funding because of this resolution, it’s important for the people to understand that it was the actions of this council that impacted the loss,” Fabos said.

When asked to explain where the funding estimates were coming from, Fabos gave this explanation.

“The departments that we foresee being impacted are city engineering for $2.5 million, housing and homeless response by $1.2 million, municipal court by $150,000, stormwater by $500,000, traffic engineering $1.4 million, and transit by $4.6 million,” Fabos said. “As far as pending applications of money we’re planning or expecting to receive, that is where we see additional funding for transit to the tune of $8.9 million. And then a small bucket for parks, design and development of $300,000.”

During public comment, other concerned citizens urged the council not to compromise the city’s values for the sake of state grants.

The official list of which cities are complying comes out at the start of October.

In the meantime, the Colorado Springs City Council has affirmed they stand by home rule and could take legal action against the state if any money is pulled from the city because of this. 

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office sent KRDO13 the following statement:

 “We want to work with Colorado Springs to meet the moment and do what’s right by Coloradans, which is build more housing to reduce housing costs. Coloradans are demanding action from our leaders to bring down housing costs. Our state has a housing shortage, and Governor Polis and the General Assembly have passed common-sense laws that break down barriers to housing. The Governor is proud of this work, appreciates the partnership and collaboration with so many local governments, and looks forward to seeing its positive impact in communities across the state.”

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