Category: krdo-local-news

Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Crews that are building a pair of roundabouts between US 24 and Peterson Space Force’s north gate will spend the second federal holiday in the past month working on the project.

Southbound Peterson Road, between the highway and the gate, will be closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for the Presidents’ Day holiday; the same road was also closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

A roundabout will eventually be on each side of the highway, as part of a $15 million project to improve traffic flow into, out of, and around the installation.

Construction was supposed to start last May, but began last month, as officials awaited final approval of the funding.

Other expected benefits of the project are improved access for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit buses.

The construction also coincides with Peterson’s intent to reconfigure its north gate to eventually return it to more of a full-time operation; it was the main gate until the redesigned west gate opened in 2007 and was upgraded again in 2023.

However, there are mixed emotions about the project among people who travel through, or work in, the area.

“I don’t think Colorado taxpayers should be footing the bill for the base to fix their traffic issues,” said Kathy Farmer, a nearby resident. “They can build dedicated lanes. They don’t have to build a roundabout because when most people get in them, they don’t know what to do.”

Brian Scott, co-owner of the Dairy Queen in a shopping center east of the project zone, said that he’s not sure how construction has impacted his business because crews began working in the winter, when there are fewer customers and less traffic.

“It seems that what I’ve lost in customers has been balanced by construction crews coming here to eat,” he observed. “Things have slumped a bit here at the strip mall since the base’s main entrance switched from the north gate to the west gate. But the project may bring more regular hours in and out of this side, and would really help this strip mall quite a bit. It’s encouraging, for sure.”

Late Friday morning, crews seemed to be getting an early start on the closure; they blocked the lanes with concrete barriers and began tearing up the pavement.

The project’s expected completion date is early next year.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A group of 25 woman-owned businesses are collaborating for the first-ever Galentines market at Coati on Valentines day.

The market is on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The vendors range from art, jewelry, food, coffee, sweets, balloons, hair care, self-care and more. It’s free to attend. A barre 3 instructor will lead a free 45-minute signature workout class at 10 a.m.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — There’s a recent saying: We don’t care how the sausage is made, we just want to enjoy it.

A similar mindset seems true for a KRDO 13 viewer regarding street repaving.

The viewer contacted KRDO 13 on Wednesday to ask about street work closing the intersection of Murray Boulevard and Bermuda Circle.

“I don’t know what they’re working on over there,” she wrote. “It’s like an obstacle course every day.”

KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior has learned that the project is concrete work that is a routine part of preparations for the city’s 2C expanded paving program, now in its 11th year.

For those still unfamiliar with the process, crews first repair broken or cracked sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and ramps, to prevent water from undermining the new asphalt layer.

Referencing the aforementioned saying, some people don’t care how the street is repaved — they just want to enjoy smooth driving.

The viewer lives on Bermuda Circle, and her boyfriend didn’t know initially that she had reached out to KRDO 13.

“She was confined in the house for a couple of days, but it wasn’t that bad,” said Roland Jaramillo. “The crews notified us about it. They’re getting it done. It’ll look nice after they’re done.”

The Road Warrior took the opportunity to ask neighbors if they’ve noticed a significant improvement in street quality since the 2C program — funded by a voter-approved sales tax increase since 2016 — began.

“I’m noticing a difference where I drive, yeah,” said Mark Stevens. “Just not right here, in front of my house.”

Tom Duguid said that he’s generally pleased with the 2C program.

“It just doesn’t seem to be going as fast as we might have hoped it would have gone, for the money that we put into it,” he said.

Jaramillo said that he can’t remember when Bermuda Circle was last repaved.

“But it was pretty bad,” he confessed. “They needed this done in this area really badly.”

The city usually releases its finalized paving list in mid- to late-April, but to see the preliminary list, you can visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/document/2026-2c-paving-list.pdf.

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Mina Ramirez

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Pikes Peak United Way joined organizations nationwide on Wednesday in celebration of 211 Day, recognizing the vital hotline that connects thousands of local residents to housing, food, utility assistance and more.

Demand for 211 services remains high across the Pikes Peak region. In 2025, Pikes Peak United Way’s 211 program fielded more than 10,700 calls related to rental assistance and more than 10,400 calls for help with utility bills. Thousands of additional calls were made for food assistance and income support.

“It is a lot of feeling like you have to put your pride aside,” said Marleigh Edwards, a 211 Navigator. “That’s why we are here, but that’s why we are here.”

More than 2,000 of those calls came from veteran and military households, highlighting the continued need for accessible support services in the community.

Pikes Peak United Way encourages anyone who may be struggling or unsure where to turn to contact 2-1-1 for guidance. The helpline is available by phone, text, and online, and connects people with local organizations ready to help.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – “CRIBBAGEPALOOZA” is hoping to pack Peak Pickleball on Sunday as the largest cribbage night in Southern Colorado.

The local sandwich shop, Colonel Mustard’s Sandwich Emporium, hosts a charity Cribbage night on the 15th of each month, a very important number to cribbage players.

Starting two years ago, Mustard’s Sandwich Emporium co-owner Mark Jakusovszky started an annual CRIBBAGEPALOOZA event as well.

This Sunday, on February 15, Jakusovsky is hosting the third CRIBBAGEPALOOZA at Peak Pickleball for the first time. The venue will allow for 100 or more people to play.

Tickets are $25 online or $35 at the door. All money benefits the local non-profit “Give’Em Heaven,” which provides resources to underprivileged individuals, families, and veterans.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Although the intersection of Marksdheffel and Peaceful Valley roads is in the Colorado Springs city limits, the neighborhoods around it are in unincorporated El Paso County, and the area is slightly north of the Fountain city limits.

Those are interesting aspects of a project that began on Tuesday to install traffic signals at the intersection.

For the next six to eight weeks, traffic on Peaceful Valley will be unable to cross Marksheffel or turn there, and Marksheffel drivers will be unable to turn onto Peaceful Valley.

Todd Frisbie, the city’s head traffic engineer, said that residents of a growing new neighborhood west of the intersection asked for signals to be installed there because of heavy traffic that made turns onto and off Marksheffel challenging.

“We did a study, probably a few years ago,” he explained. “There was a little confusion at the intersection because you had a right (turn) in and a right out on the west side of the intersection. On the east side of the intersection, you had a full movement. I think it just added a level of complexity.”

The first step in the $500,000 project is to remove the right-turn-only median on the west side of the intersection.

“There will be traffic signals, a new curb and gutter that we’re putting in, and a crosswalk across Marksheffel. That includes the design cost.”

In addition to the growing new neighborhood west of the intersection, an older, existing neighborhood is on the opposite side; there’s also significant traffic from the Lorson Ranch neighborhood to the north, and from Fountain to the south.

The detour around the construction is the next intersection north, at Poa Annua Street.

In a related project, the city is installing left-turn signals at the Marksheffel/Fontaine Boulevard intersection outside Lorson Ranch and more home construction to the west along Fontaine.

That project isn’t impacting traffic and should be finished soon.

Frisbie added that the east side of the Marksheffel/Peaceful Valley intersection will temporarily reopen during construction to allow drivers to access a church.

He revealed that the city annually receives several dozen requests to install traffic signals, but grants only a handful.

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Rob Namnoum

At Pueblo South high school on Tuesday, two students signed their letters of intent. Jake Pisciotta signed to play football at Western Colorado University and Kade Ortiz signed to play baseball at York University.

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Celeste Springer

Reporting by KRDO13 producer Stefan Funkhouser contributed to this article.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Ice cream lovers in Colorado Springs will soon have a lot to celebrate; an iconic sweets shop will be opening another location in the city.

BJ’s Velvet Freeze will be opening a new location.

According to the owner, the new location will be opening at 2900 E. Platte Ave., in the same lot as Fargo’s Pizza. The new location is part of a joint venture between the owner of the Colorado Springs’ location and another franchise owner.

But for those of you worried about the old location, you have nothing to fear. 

“It’s a huge part of my life. I have no immediate plans to sell, sell the business,” said Corey Hougher, owner of BJ’s Velvet Freeze. “This is my location here. I’m proud of it. The reason why for the expansion, too, is to grow our business.”

Houger said that you’ll be able to get the same ice cream at the new location, but it will offer some changes to the menu, like lunch options and other drinks. 

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly said that the new location would replace the Human Bean. That reporting is incorrect, as the new location and Human Bean are under the same ownership, and the Human Bean will remain open. We apologize for the misunderstanding.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Emergency service crews in Colorado Springs show KRDO13’s Bradley Davis how bystander CPR can save a life.

According to the American Heart Association, proper bystander CPR within two minutes of a cardiac episode increases the patient’s chance of survival by over 80%. It also increases the likelihood of the patient leaving without permanent brain damage by almost 100%.

A field supervisor with American Medical Response (AMR), the company Colorado Springs contracts with for the city’s ambulance service, said he’s seen bystander CPR save lives first-hand.

“When we show up, and it’s being done, it really helps our process and our work on scene to keep that blood flowing early, all that healthy, oxygenated blood in the patient, to keep their brain, their lungs, and their heart with good, clean blood,” field supervisor Caleb Hadfield said.

American Medical Response (AMR) staff recommends asking your school or employer if they partner with any CPR training classes. If not, the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association host online and in-person classes weekly, ranging from $35-$75.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) announced the retirement of its K9 named Kai.

According to CSPD, K9 Kai served as an apprehension and narcotics detection dog. He started his career in 2019 and is hanging up the towel seven years later.

The police department said K9 Kai responded to more than 460 calls for service and assisted in 115 suspect surrenders.

Source: CSPD

“One of Kai’s favorite duties was engaging with the community—he participated in 74 educational demonstrations at schools across the area, showcasing the skill and dedication of our K9 Team,” read a post by CSPD.

The police department says Kai has a fulfilling life of retirement ahead of him.

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