Category: krdo-local-news

Mackenzie Stafford

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., visited Fort Carson’s campus-style dining venue, The Stack House Bistro, to learn about the Army’s Food Program modernization strategy.

In April, Fort Carson held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Stack House Bistro, becoming the second installation to participate in the Army’s campus-style dining venue pilot program, according to Fort Carson.

HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. walked through the dining hall, trying the food being served to soldiers on the mountain post. The Stack House Bistro had a wide array of options, including a salad bar, pizza, burgers, prime rib, smoothies, stromboli, etc.

KRDO13 Investigates revealed reports of food scarcity and limited options for soldiers at Fort Carson.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Fort Carson seeking to improve after struggles with fluctuating food quality, quantity

On Thursday, KRDO13 brought those concerns to Secretary Kennedy and asked what is changing for service members.

“We know that before this new facility made the changes, there were between 6 and 700 soldiers eating here. Now there’s 3000. That’s all you have to know to know how it’s impacting morale. But it’s also impacting performance, and it’s impacting the health of our military,” answered Secretary Kennedy.

He also noted that these meals are cheaper for the military.

“We were spending about $17 per for three meals per day. And now they’re down to $12. So it’s also obliterated this myth that good food is more expensive. You just have to buy smart. And this is something every American should know at home. Processed food has the illusion of being inexpensive, but it’s convenient, and in the long run it’s going to kill you,” said Kennedy.

We also spoke with a soldier who detailed the conversations he had with Kennedy in a closed-door meeting. He said the HHS Secretary had hoped to get a better understanding of how they can support their military readiness with meals. The team leader said he has seen an improvement in the food. He did contend that the portion sizes could change.

“There’s been a huge difference. You know, before it was, it was very high sodium, you know, very unhealthy foods and a lot more choices here, a lot more food categories, a lot healthier, and yeah, it’s great,” said Michael Pickering, member of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team.

Secretary Kennedy and military leaders hope this bistro can be replicated at other military installations across the country.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Officials are assessing the condition of a bridge over Shooks Run Creek on Uintah Street to make emergency “utility and bridge repairs,” according to a city release issued late Wednesday afternoon.

The closure of four blocks of Uintah, between Institute and Prospect Streets, happened around 4 p.m. Wednesday.

“I was probably gone about two hours,” said Heather Laney, a neighbor who was walking her dog early Thursday morning. “Whenever I came back, it was all shut down with no real word. It happened very quickly.”

Around noon on Thursday, a city spokesman revealed that a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crew conducting routine maintenance on the bridge reported a void in the drainage tunnel under the bridge, and that void compromised a utility line.

The report came on Tuesday, and officials closed the bridge the next day.

Crews are actively working on repairs, with the first response last night and a larger response on Thursday.

Uintah is a vital traffic corridor; it’s one of the city’s few east-west routes that crosses nearly the entire city, from Academy Boulevard to Interstate 25, to just east of Manitou Springs.

This is the second time since last fall that the city has closed a bridge over the creek for repairs

In October 2025, KRDO13’s The Road Warrior reported on the bridge closure on Cache La Poudre Street several blocks south of the Uintah bridge for a scheduled maintenance project between El Paso and Prospect streets.

Work on the century-old bridge was delayed, but eventually completed, after the city issued a stop-work order to the contractor amid concerns about code violations relating to erosion control and other issues.

Many neighbors and drivers woke up on Thursday morning, surprised to find the street closed.

Among them were retirees Ken & Terry Laura, who were riding their bicycles in the area.

“That this has all of a sudden come up, and we’ve had no warning about it, makes me wonder what’s going on and if it’s safe,” she said.”

In Wednesday’s press release, officials said that they hoped to have the street reopened by the end of the week, but that timetable may change.

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Bradley Davis

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – The founder of the non-profit “Autism Mana” is hosting free paddleboarding, kayaking and duck boat lessons for children with autism at the Lake Elizabeth Pavilion on Saturday.

“It’s a very sensory-rich activity. You’re going to see it. You’re going to hear it. You’re going to feel it,” Autism Mana founder Kevin Blunt said.

Blunt founded Autism Mana in partnership with The Denver Foundation (TDF) five years ago after moving to Pueblo from Hawaii with his son Makai, who has autism. He said he couldn’t find any recreational programs for children like Makai, so he created his own.

“It’s tough when you have a special needs kiddo who’s non-verbal,” Blunt said. “Just a week or two ago, when we were wrapping up our exercise program, I had a father come up to me, and he said thank you for creating something that me and my kids can bond over.”

It’s the second summer Blunt has hosted free assisted water sports lessons at Lake Elizabeth off the Riverwalk. It’s from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Blunt asks parents to RSVP their child by emailing him at AutismManaCO@gmail.com.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity is hosting a “Trivia on the Block” party Saturday to celebrate 40 years of building affordable homes in Southern Colorado.

Tickets are $40 a person. The money supports Pikes Peak Habitat’s homebuilding efforts, including their next “Rising Moon 41 Doors” development to help 41 families afford new homes. Kids 15 and younger get in free with an adult.

The party starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Meanwhile Block event space in Colorado Springs next to Weidner Field. Pikes Peak Habitat will have food trucks, yard games, a “hammerschlagen” hammer and nail competition, and the main event, trivia.

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A pair of intersections affected by previous and ongoing construction projects are about to present more traffic impacts for drivers.

Both of the changes are expected to start on Wednesday.

The longest closure — lasting until the end of the year — will be on Wooten Road, just north of the Galley Road intersection.

City officials say that crews need to repair and upgrade a large culvert for stormwater drainage beneath the intersection; other improvements will be made to sidewalks, curbs, ramps, and pedestrian crossings to improve safety and access.

Much of Galley, west of the intersection to Murray Boulevard, reopened in March after being closed for two years because of a bridge replacement and a water main replacement that has gradually advanced eastward to Space Center Drive.

Traffic is reduced to a lane in each direction around that water main project that will eventually cross Powers Boulevard.

Crews will eventually return to the Galley/Wooten intersection to make similar upgrades on the south side.

“I’ve lived here for about 50 years, and I watched them construct this ditch when they were making it,” said neighbor Mark Snead. “As far as the construction going on, I wish it was over. It’s been a long road here.”

The second change will affect two of the three lanes of northbound Circle Drive, between Interstate 25 and Janitell Road.

Crews will continue a water line installation that started nearby earlier this spring at the Circle/Hancock Expressway interchange.

Officials said the project is one of the final phases of the $40 million bridge replacement on Circle, which began in the fall of 2023 and is expected to be completed by this fall.

Drivers will notice some of the water line equipment along the west side of Circle in the project area.

Also worth remembering is that the pavement in that area remains extremely rough until the city repaves it later this season as part of the 2C expanded paving program.

Officials say that the double-lane closure should end by mid-July, weather permitting.

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Scott Harrison

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — At this time a year ago, crews were responding to several water main breaks while also trying to schedule numerous street repaving projects.

But with water main repairs not being an issue so far this year, crews can focus more on repaving, and they applied the first new layer of asphalt this week on Shoshone Place, a dead-end street on the southwest side of town.

Shoshone Place is characteristic of many Manitou streets — steep, winding, and narrow, and essentially on mountainsides with homes squeezed along them.

That makes paving work especially challenging, as crews also have to work around low-hanging power lines and tree limbs and branches.

“I’ve been here since 1970, about 50-some years,” said neighbor Bob Rozell. “Two years ago, they paved the lower part of the street — which was very good. Now they’re paving the upper part. That’s better. Everybody I’ve talked to is pretty happy. It’s a hassle that (crews are) doing it in the middle of the day, but it’s gotta be done.”

The town is using a process known as full-depth reclamation in this year’s repaving.

“We’ve got a number of varying field conditions — where the mat of asphalt might be very thick in some spots, and really thin in others,” said Ben Schmitt, public services director. “Where it’s mixed to what the subgrade is, as well. (The process) takes all that existing material and asphalt, recycles it by grinding it up, and puts a brand-new mat of asphalt on top of it. So, it really is a long-term solution.”

Manitou also will repave several streets, such as Indian Oaks Place, that were on last year’s list but not paved as scheduled because of higher-than-expected costs.

Schmitt explained that the town’s paving budget is approximately $500,000 and comes from sales tax revenue of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA).

However, he said that based on how much other tax revenue comes in during the remainder of the year, more streets could be added to the list.

Crews also applied what Schmitt described as “permanent patches” on two areas of Manitou Avenue where some of the previous water main repairs were made.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Try to think about routines you started 20 years ago. Your morning gym trip. A biweekly coffee trip with friends. Every time you’ve shaved after your first razor.

Have you kept count from day one?

It takes a special type of patience and foresight to start that type of personal accounting. The Jack Quinn’s Running Club has been doing it for 20 years.

From pads and paper in week one, to a fully staffed and automated machine in week 1040, the Jack Quinn’s Running Club has counted every single new runner since its first meeting in 2006.

20 years later, they’ve tallied 44,750 different runners to join their Tuesday group run.

They might not all still be in the city (or the state) to celebrate today during the club’s anniversary run, but every runner will forever be a part of the Jack Quinn’s Running Club’s story, thanks to the group’s persistent commitment to the numbers.

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Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A 17-year-old is facing charges following a crash that police say killed a Colorado Springs woman. The driver was 16 years old at the time. The crash occurred on Powers Boulevard, where police say the teenage driver, who allegedly held only a learner’s permit, crossed into oncoming traffic.

Jennifer Hooper, a wife, mother and grandmother, died from injuries sustained in the incident. Her family has voiced profound devastation over the loss and the legal proceedings that have followed.

On Monday, KRDO13 spoke with Jennifer Hooper’s family. Hooper’s family believes a potential plea deal being offered by the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is not justice.

KRDO13 obtained communications over the proposed deal, under consideration by the District Attorney’s office, which would offer the driver two years of probation for careless driving causing death. Hooper’s family describes the potential outcome as a significant insult, highlighting what they say is a lack of accountability and justice.

“Two years’ probation is the biggest insult one could receive as a victim’s family,” said John Hooper.

Hooper was 51-years-old at the time; she leaves behind her husband, four children and five grandchildren, according to her family. Jennifer’s widower, John Hooper, is now raising their children. The unexpected loss has forced him to handle all of the legal battles, leaving him with little time to grieve properly, he said.

“Just trying to maintain a household with no mom around. You know, that’s my biggest sadness that my children have no mother. Completely unnecessary and completely needless and totally preventable. And it gives me pretty bad anxiety,” said John Hooper.

Linda Gerwatowski, Jennifer Hooper’s mother, says she has had to step into a maternal role for Jennifer’s kids and grandkids. She says they should still have their mother around for all of their major milestones in life.

“Mason wants to go to the Air Force Academy. So we were watching the graduation. I said, Okay, Mason, that could be you, you know. But where is his Mom? I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for him. You know, all these major events that kids go through,” shared Jennifer’s mother.

She says that whether you are 16 or 75 and take someone else’s life while you’re behind the wheel, you should be held accountable.

“Someone who kills someone, you don’t give them two years’ probation. You don’t give them a slap on the hand,” Linda Gerwatowski expressed her frustration.

She also noted the emotional toll on John, explaining how his lifelong partner is gone.

Jennifer Hooper was remembered by her family as selfless and dedicated to her children’s upbringing.

“She lived for her kids, and that was her purpose. Just to take care of our children and, let them grow up to be the best they can. Completely selfless and all about everyone else except for herself,” shared Jennifer’s husband.

Her family says she worked for Domino’s and was known for her exceptional service, and that she loved her job. Domino’s even created a pin in her memory, reflecting how much she was loved by her customers and colleagues, Jennifer’s mother shared.

Family members also question how the teen driver obtained the car keys, especially since there was no adult in the vehicle as required by a learner’s permit. The driver is reportedly still driving, even with the potential probation, Gerwatowski said.

“It was one of the most devastating things we could ever hear to lose our daughter like this, and to leave a husband and three small kids at home,” said Michael Gerwatowski previously.

Hooper noted the increased punishment for aggressive drivers under a new bill signed by Governor Polis, noting that more needs to change at the Capitol. The family hopes for more attention to ensure proper changes to the laws are made.

“It’s not just about my family. Other families are going through a similar thing, and it’s absolutely unfair. And more attention needs to be brought to, you know, make the proper changes and come up with proper laws to really punish these people that destroy families,” explained Hooper.

The family is urging public outcry to the District Attorney’s office, the governor, and the mayor’s office.

John Hooper has asked anyone who witnessed the events leading up to the crash on Powers Boulevard and Platte Avenue on December 27 to contact the District Attorney’s office or him directly to fight for proper justice. He stated that a lack of witnesses has been a potential issue for investigators.

If you would like to support the Hooper family, you can do so at this verified GoFundMe link.

KRDO13 reached out to the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for comment, which provided the statement below.

Ethical standards 3.6 and 3.8 prevent our office from discussing facts of open cases – that restriction extends to details regarding plea agreement negotiations.

This is an extremely difficult case – both for the families involved as well as for our community members, and the law enforcement officers who responded to the scene and performed their investigation. And although there can be separate consequences for the parents of a minor who commits a crime, state law in Colorado does not provide an avenue to hold parents directly accountable, absent specific circumstances.

– A spokesperson for the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office

The next court hearing in this case is scheduled for July.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Powers Boulevard crash claims life of Colorado Springs woman; Family seeks support

KRDO13 also contacted the Colorado Public Defenders for comment on behalf of the teen. We did not hear back.

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Scott Harrison

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A crumbling cobblestone street is one of two streets scheduled for repaving this season.

Woodland Park plans to lay asphalt over 1/3 mile of Thunder Ridge Drive, a steep, winding street paved with stones.

According to neighbors, the cobblestone street was built by the original developer 20 years ago, as an incentive for homebuyers in the subdivision.

However, many of the individual stones have since broken or crumbled, creating an extremely bumpy pavement.

Neighbors said that the street is now within the town’s jurisdiction, and officials want to repave it with asphalt because it’s cheaper than replacing the broken stones.

“My wife and I walk on this street every day,” said Jordan Miller. We didn’t mind (the rough pavement) at all. It’s just one of those things. Over time, wear and tear — probably snowplows. It doesn’t bother me at all, which way they do it.”

Thunder Ridge is the main access to the neighborhood, but it has other cobblestone streets needing repair at some point.

The town also intends to repave 1/2 mile of Fairview Street, from US 24 to the city limits; the project area includes the point where Fairview becomes Woodland Avenue before it turns into County Road 21.

That project area has numerous deep potholes; even some of the connecting side streets are in bad shape.

“This street is really congested in the summertime, and it sometimes gets down to a one-lane road, and emergency vehicles can’t get by,” said Dana Kramer, who lives along the street. “I can’t get out of my driveway, and it’s been a very difficult road in the summertime. At least they filled the potholes every year, but I’m glad to see more work being done.”

She added that the Fairview repaving will include widening the street, to provide more space for traffic and parking.

Work on both streets was supposed to start a week ago, and it’s unclear why it hasn’t happened yet.

However, a town official said that the only requirement is for the contractor to finish both projects by the first week of August.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Any new mom (or soon-to-be-mom) will tell you, exercising changes when the baby comes. Getting back into the gym can be hard and intimidating.

That’s why personal trainer Marie Moore decided to create a new kind of workout space after her first child.

“The gym isn’t meant for moms, in my opinion,” Moore said. “I felt insecure and intimidated to go there, and I wanted a place where I could show up, not have to feel like I’m putting on a show for anyone else and really focus on myself.”

Moore is a bodybuilder and did personal training for four years before the birth of her daughter. After her body transformation, she said the gym went from a comforting space to an intimidating one.

Moore got two pre and post nadal fitness certifications and opened her first fitness studio, “Moms in Motion.”

“They don’t know where to start, and they just need help,” Moore said.

She leads workout classes specifically tailored for pregnant and postpartum women. All newborns are welcome. Children of all ages are welcome. There is no minimum age requirement.

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