Category: krdo-local-news

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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Scott Harrison

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — The Steel City recently received approval for its request for federal and state funding to upgrade its fleet of transit buses that provide transportation to nearly a million riders annually.

Officials announced the approval late last week, hailing it as the second-largest grant award in city history.

Pueblo requested nearly $4 million from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) as a matching amount to get $15.6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

Benjamin Valdez, the city’s transit director, said that the money will allow for the acquisition of 15 or 16 hybrid buses — which run on diesel and electricity — to replace the existing fleet of diesel buses, similar to the one below, which is already in use by the city.

He explained that GPS technology will determine which areas are best suited for the use of either fuel source.

The hybrid buses — if and when the plan receives City Council approval — will gradually arrive between mid-2027 and early 2028 and increase the city’s fleet to 21 or 22 buses.

Valdez said that the existing diesel fleet will be sold at a future auction.

The CDOT funding is part of that agency’s ten-year plan to replace all diesel buses in the state.

Similarly, the federal money is from a bus/bus facilities program specifically directed toward buses with low or zero emissions.

However, if the goal is fewer emissions and cleaner air, why doesn’t Pueblo skip the hybrid step and switch directly to an all-electric fleet?

Valdex said that the timing isn’t right.

“Pueblo is a prime location and altitude, distance of route, and everything else, to run a hydrogen fuel cell, electric vehicle,” he detailed. “And, as the technology advances and gets better and gets more certified, that’s the direction we want to take it. So, we’re going to go into the hybrid model first while they finish perfecting the hydrogen fuel cell model. And then, we’ll transition to a hydrogen fuel cell.”

A date for the hybrid bus funding to be considered by the Council has yet to be scheduled.

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Phil Long Ford of Motor City says it is collecting pet food donations for the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region this holiday season.

To kick off the drive, Phil Long says it is donating a pallet of pet food, which amounts to about 2,000 pounds of food.

Additionally, those who bring a donation of their own to the dealership from now until Dec. 21 will get a free vehicle winter safety inspection, which Phil Long says is a $99 value.

“No one should have to choose between feeding themselves or their pets,” said Phil Long Ford of Motor City General Manager and Partner Mark Barton in a press release. “Even if you can only give a little bit, together, we can make sure that no pet goes hungry this holiday season.”

According to Phil Long of Motor City, the goal this year is to collect at least 10,000 pounds of pet food.

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Sadie Buggle

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Just before 10:30 a.m. Thursday, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reopened the intersection of Stetson Hills Boulevard and Marksheffel Road after a truck slid off the road and crashed into a townhome.

Our crews on scene shared images of what appeared to be a work truck that had driven off the road, going over a short retaining wall before hitting the rear wall of the home.

As of noon Thursday, police hadn’t confirmed any details about the crash; however, neighbors said that no one was hurt.

The crash happened at 6300 Passport View, just south of the closed intersection.

Melissa Kueckelhan, a neighbor, said that the crash happened shortly after 7 a.m.

“I woke up, looked out the window, and saw lots of commotion going on,” she recalled. “Didn’t see the truck at first, but we just came out and saw the truck there. Totally scary.”

The townhome residents declined an interview request from KRDO 13.

The Red Cross visited the residents to assess any needs; Colorado Springs Utilities and a restoration company began assessing the damage for repairs.

The closed intersection is within the three miles of the ongoing Marksheffel widening project.

Although police didn’t immediately say whether icy road conditions may have caused the crash, many roads and streets across the city were slick to drive on during Thursday morning’s commute, after melting snow from Wednesday’s storm froze when overnight temperatures dropped under 20 degrees.

One particular trouble area was Barnes Road, a few blocks west of Powers Boulevard.

Witnesses said that two cars skidded, lost control, and bumped into each other, followed by one of the cars being struck by a third vehicle that left the scene.

The incidents happened on a hill on eastbound Barnes, which was literally a sheet of ice.

Sarah Para was one of the two drivers who spun out on the road.

“I was on my way to work,” she explained. “It was really scary to me. It came out of nowhere. Very sudden. I’m thankful no one was hurt.”

Steven Jarrel came to check on his sister, who was the driver of the second stuck car.”

“I don’t think anyone expected the roads to be like this,” he said. “I drove through here last night, and it wasn’t like this.”

The hill is near a construction site, and two wheels of one car became stuck on a curb; several people tried to pull her out, but the effort was unsuccessful.

A police officer arrived to talk with the two drivers who spun out.

The sun quickly melted much of the ice on the road, and plow trucks made several passes to scrape up snow and ice.

Earlier on Thursday morning, a convoy of six plows worked along the bottom of Broadmoor Bluffs Drive and the south end of Academy Boulevard.

An overnight city streets supervisor said that ice on secondary and neighborhood streets likely would be a concern on Thursday.

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Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Anchors and reporters from KRDO13 will be at the Whataburger off of Montebello Drive until 6:30 p.m. Thursday for our annual Season of Sharing Toy Drive.

We partner with Toys for Tots every year to help make it a very merry Christmas for all children in Colorado Springs. You can also donate at any Whataburger location in Southern Colorado until Dec. 21.

If you can’t make it out in person, you can give a monetary donation here. If you aren’t in Colorado Springs, your monetary donation will go to your local Toys for Tots chapter.

Reporter Bradley Davis and the KRDO13 crew are already at the Montebello location. Come on by and see us on your way into work!

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Scott Harrison

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) — Snow continued to fall steadily in the Monument area of northern El Paso County, as of noon Wednesday.

Traffic on I-25 began to accumulate, although conditions were generally slushy, and traffic on Monument Hill began to slow.

Drivers may find more snow-packed and icy conditions on Highway 105 through Monument.

The travel conditions described above may be slightly worse on neighborhood or lightly-traveled streets and roads.

There were no reports of crashes or accidents in the area as of noon, but two non-injury vehicle slide-offs occurred on I-25 between Briargate Parkway and Baptist Road.

Drivers should watch for heavy plow activity on I-25; that, along with pre-treating some roads with salt brine on Tuesday, were major factors in keeping roads clear.

The weather didn’t prevent truck drivers from two area truck stops from continuing to their destinations.

“I picked up off of 70, west of Denver, and I’m going to Houston, Texas,” said Murat Torneli. “My original (arrival) time was Thursday afternoon. Now, it’s probably going to be like a Friday — late Friday.”

Torneli said that he was impressed with the work of the snowplows and salt trucks.

“They did a better job than I’ve seen in other states,” he observed. “I like the way they look, too. They look new and fancy.”

KRDO 13 will continue to report on conditions in the region’s most significant winter weather of this season.

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Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — It’s fairly common to see areas along abandoned railroad tracks converted to recreational trails, but changing an existing road to a trail seems a bit more unusual.

But that’s a proposal by the Fountain Mutual Metro District, an entity that oversees stormwater management and parks/recreation in the area north of Fountain proper, including the community of Security-Widefield.

The road involved is a three-mile stretch of Goldfield Drive, west of Powers Boulevard, between Bradley Road and Fontaine Boulevard.

That segment passes the southwest side of Johnson Reservoir.

According to a web page detailing this proposal, the metro district recently sponsored a study to address safety concerns along Goldfield — regarding dumping, vandalism, and other illegal activity.

The study included exploring opportunities for expanding trail connections to open space and existing trails around the reservoir.

A possible benefit of turning Goldfield into a trail is the study’s finding that it might be a better investment than the high cost of repairing a bridge on the road — and widening the road, as well.

Neighbors are split over the proposal; some agree with it, while others say that Goldfield provides a shortcut for drivers to avoid heavier traffic on Fontaine.

The metro district will hold a 90-minute open house on Tuesday evening, starting at 5 p.m., to provide information and answer questions about the road-to-trail idea.

Jerry Masarik voiced his disapproval of the plan during KRDO 13’s Good Morning Colorado coverage.

“I agree with the reservoir being maintained, improving that area,” he said. “But keep this road open. It’s a nice, quiet drive, and you get to see the reservoir, the mountains, and a lot of wildlife. If they want to watch for illegal activity, install some surveillance cameras. The same people who brought in big trucks to dredge the reservoir should also pay for the damage they did to the bridge.”

Security-Widefield native Charlie Ford said that he remembers hunting, hiking, and riding bikes in the area as a child.

“I understand why drivers would want to keep (Goldfield) open,” he said. “Bu turning it into a trail and an open space, it’ll be here forever and won’t have houses built on it. That’s good.”

The open house is scheduled to take place at the Widefield Parks & Recreation Center, 755 Aspen Drive, with a presentation at 6 p.m. on what’s officially called the Goldfield Corridor Concept Plan.

For more information, visit: https://www.goldfieldcorridorplan.com/.

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Celeste Springer

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — The City of Pueblo has announced that it has received more than $15.6 million from a federal grant to replace the city’s diesel buses with hybrid buses.

According to the city, the money came from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Buses & Bus Facilities Program. The grant program for low or no-emission buses is dispersing about $2 billion to programs nationwide, a city spokesperson said.

“We received 96% of our ask which is significant. We are incredibly grateful to the [Federal Transit Administration] FTA to receive this grant which will not only changes the face of our fleet but lowers emission in our city which benefits our residents in multiple ways,” said Director of Transit Ben Valdez in a release.

Pueblo Transit will also receive about $3.9 million in planning funds from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), a spokesperson said.

“This grant award is huge opportunity for Pueblo Transit to transform their fleet and makes me incredibly proud to see the City receive one of the largest grants in recent history,” said Mayor of Pueblo Heather Graham.

According to the City of Pueblo, they currently have 16 buses, and will keep only five, which have “useful life which do not need replacement.” They plan to buy 15 new hybrid buses.

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