Category: krdo-local-news

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Instead of packing it in, the Mt. Carmel volunteers are layering up and braving the elements to host the organization’s community food distribution.

“It puts food on our table,” recipient Judy Davis said. “Being out here in the cold at 12 degrees is very honorable.”

Mt. Carmel hosts the food distributions twice a month on the second and fourth Fridays. It’s open to everyone, not just veterans. The distributions go all-year long. It makes for some stubborn volunteers bearing some pretty severe temperatures in the Winter months.

While Mt. Carmel will rarely reschedule the distributions because of severe weather, it said low temperatures are not an excuse. On Friday at 10 a.m., the wind chill is expected to be single digits. If you need food, you can expect Mt. Carmel to greet you with puffy coats and free meals.

“First day back for this year, and to see all the volunteers that came out, knowing what we would be facing with the weather, this is fantastic,” volunteer Gordon Randall said.

The distribution is at 1125 W. Moreno St. from 10-11 a.m.

The future distribution dates for the next few months are February 13, February 27, March 13, and March 27.

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Paige Reynolds

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – A former City of Pueblo employee is suing the city, alleging he was fired after speaking with KRDO13 Investigates about being assaulted on the job.

William Ward filed the lawsuit after previously coming forward in December 2023, when KRDO13 Investigates reported on an on-the-job assault at the Pueblo Fleet Maintenance Garage and concerns over how the city handled the incident.

In that report, Ward said he was punched in the jaw while attempting to break up a fight between two other city employees. Video obtained by KRDO13 Investigates showed the moment Ward was struck.

Police charged Marshall Pinz with assault the same month the incident occurred. However, internal city documents obtained by KRDO13 Investigates showed Pinz was allowed to continue working and was not placed on leave until roughly two months after his arrest.

Ward also previously told KRDO13 Investigates that city leadership had been informed of a physical threat Pinz allegedly made toward another employee the day before the assault, but no action was taken at that time.

“If the city had handled this appropriately from the beginning, we wouldn’t be here,” Ward’s attorney Richard Orona said. “This became about accountability.”

Ward spoke with KRDO13 Investigates in December 2023 about the assault and the city’s response. According to the newly filed lawsuit, about six months later, Ward received a notice of disciplinary consideration for insubordination. The notice cited speaking with KRDO13 after being “specifically directed not to.”

Court records show Ward filed a complaint against the city and was terminated in July 2024. The lawsuit claims the termination amounted to retaliation for speaking publicly about workplace safety concerns.

A spokesperson for the City of Pueblo said the city could not comment on the lawsuit or its claims. However, the spokesperson provided a statement regarding media policy, saying:

“In 2021, the City created and hired (January 2022) the position of the Director of Public Affairs to serve as the City’s primary liaison to the news media. It is expected that all media requests regarding City matters are directed to, and responses coordinated by, that department.”

Court records obtained by KRDO13 Investigates indicate the city plans to ask for dismissal of the lawsuit.

KRDO13 Investigates also attempted to reach Pinz for comment but has not been able to make contact. Court records show Pinz was later sentenced to probation and community service.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Colorado Springs Utilities and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are considering bringing new activities to Rosemont Reservoir, including reserved camping.

Currently, Colorado Springs Utilities says seasonal fishing is allowed at the reservoir, though they are considering adding other outdoor options, including non-motorized boating and restroom facilities.

“CPW management would provide more active oversight of public recreation and safety in balance with watershed protection and our operational needs in this remote area,” said Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal in a press release.

Springs Utilities says Colorado Springs City Council will discuss the plans at its Feb. 10 meeting.

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Josh Helmuth

A Harrison D2 assistant principal is being honored with a national award for her leadership in turning around the academic program.

Renee Dahl just won the 2026 National Outstanding Assistant Principal Award for her work at Monterey Elementary School. According to the Colorado Association of School Executives, Dahl has done a tremendous job improving the school’s status since she started in 2020, when the school was in turnaround status.

Dahl is credited with implementing a math instructional shift that has led to a 50 percent increase in the average number of students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations in the classroom. 

“We were giving students the opportunity to not just do a problem, but to explain their thinking. And it slowly just grew into this momentum and it’s just really exciting to hear,” said Dahl.

“Because I love math. It’s just really exciting to hear students talk about math and how they’re learning,” she said.

Under her leadership, Monterey Elementary is now one of the top performing schools in D2.

Is there someone remarkable at your school? Email us! SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com. 

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A swim school in Colorado Springs is having its students swim in their pajamas all month long to learn how to stay afloat when you least expect to meet the water.

According to the National Library of Medicine, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury and death for children four and under. That’s why the Little Fins Swim School is training its young children to swim to safety with a little extra weight.

There’s a reason we take off our clothes and shoes when taking a dip. Clothing is heavy and awkward in the water, and a study suggests it substantially hinders swimming ability.

“It’s really heavy, it’s hard to swim in clothes, and oftentimes, kids will drown just on the side of the pool because they just don’t know what to do,” said Little Fins Swim School owner Lauri Armstrong.

Little Fins said it wants its students to become comfortable with the extra weight and drag, so it doesn’t come as a shock when accidents happen.

Accidental falls are unpredictable, a point “Jammie January” tries to hammer home. You would never purposely go for a dip right out of bed in your pajamas!

If you want to give it a try, do it under safe, controlled conditions. Don’t do it outside in the Winter, and have someone with you! You will likely notice quite a difference in your efficiency in the water

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Officials said that temporary closures are possible starting Wednesday along a narrow road at the entrance to Rampart Park on the city’s northeast side.

A city crew will install an underground drainage pipe along 300 feet of an open channel between the road, a sloped buffer zone, and a retaining wall above a new housing development.

The pipe will connect to a stormwater outlet that released enough water during a storm last summer to collapse part of the wall and damage the channel, which is lined with plastic turf.

After installing the pipe, workers will cover it with soil and plant grass on top, and repair damage in the channel.

The channel drains into nearby Pine Creek.

Officials ask park visitors to be aware of large trucks and other equipment along the narrow road; when it’s open, departing traffic must yield to incoming traffic.

The road leads to park facilities which include a popular dog park, a BMX bike path, a playground, and a disc golf course.

Officials said that the project is the first of its kind in town.

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Rob Namnoum

A Southern Colorado coaching legend received a great honor on Tuesday night. Every time you step foot into the gymnasium at Palmer High School from this day forward there will be a banner recognizing Dan McKiernan.

Coach McKiernan coached basketball at Palmer High School for 31 years, winning two state championships. The court at Palmer has been named in his honor. His family, former players and friends were at Palmer High School on Tuesday night, as they honored a man who has given so much to students at Palmer.

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Rob Namnoum

The Coronado boys basketball team defeated Palmer on Tuesday night 59-57.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A street improvement project that was supposed to end this summer has started back up this week after a year-long break.

We’re referring to the second and final phase of work along two miles of South Academy Boulevard, between Fountain Boulevard and Jet Wing Drive.

Crews are making major drainage improvements, utility upgrades, and replacing old asphalt and concrete.

Work resumed overnight Sunday, as crews removed old lane markers, added temporary markings, and set up concrete barriers.

This phase of the project will proceed in four segments, with the first being between Astrozon Boulevard and Drennan Road.

Preliminary work on the second phase began in 2023, while crews started working on the first phase, which covers three-quarters of a mile between Bijou Street and Airport Road.

That first phase ended in late 2024.

The city initially planned to resume construction last fall, but delayed resumption to devote more time to talking with adjacent neighbors and business owners about efforts to avoid project impacts that negatively affected them.

Ryan Phipps, the city’s capital improvements manager, said that officials learned three important lessons: Perform work in smaller segments, do a better job of maintaining easy access to adjacent businesses, and do nighttime work when possible.

However, although construction preparations will happen overnight when there is less traffic, most of the work will occur during conventional daytime hours.

“South Academy is a road that’s over 50 years old,” he explained. “It actually was constructed to connect the Academy — Air Force Academy — on the north, down to Fort Carson on the south. So, that was its original purpose. Since that time, obviously, we’ve had a bunch of people living along the corridor. There’s a ton of business on the corridor. So, the use of that has changed over the course of time.”

Crews are hoping to avoid issues with groundwater that slowed progress at the start of the project.

The overall cost is $100 million, mostly financed by the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority and with some federal funding included.

Meanwhile, just south of the city’s South Academy project, El Paso County is finishing its $70 million in improvements on the boulevard between Milton E. Proby Parkway and Interstate 25.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Since October, a new type of miniature “library” has started popping up around Colorado Springs. Instead of books, the cabinets are filled with both new and vintage Hot Wheels. Take a car, leave a car!

It’s a relatively new initiative by Jason Franklin and Caleb Chambley, called “Cars for Everyone.” With the help of local business sponsors, the duo has set up seven “Mini Car Neighborhood Libraries.” They said they have no intentions of slowing down.

Franklin and Chambley said it’s a community initiative to raise awareness for the different events and services they provide. In the three or so months since its launch, they said people from six other states have reached out and set up other mini car libraries in their neighborhoods.

Among other programs, Cars for Everyone hosts free car events, hosts work mentorship programs for people with disabilities, does youth outreach and provides auto services at reduced costs to people struggling with finances.

You can find each mini car library location here. If you are a homeowner or business interested in sponsoring a new library location, you can find more information here.

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