The Manitou Springs Carnegie Library is set to open on Friday

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Karla Sosa

MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- The wait is over for patrons of the Manitou Springs Carnegie Library. The library closed its doors in 2020 because it wasn’t within ADA compliance and wheelchair friendly. Now, after renovations, the library will have its grand opening this Friday. 

Librarians at the Manitou Springs Library are doing last-minute preparations before they welcome patrons back into the building. 

The library was built in 1910 and its only restroom was located in the basement. Now, 5 years since closing, officials say it’s fully within compliance and it also has new features.

“So what we have now is we have a bathroom on each level, two bathrooms, family, type bathrooms. And we have a lift at the back of the building that’ll allow a person to come in, and will move between floors,” said John Graham, Mayor of Manitou Springs.

The renovations also came with some challenges but thanks to donations they were able to complete the little over $4 million project. 

“A city like Manitou Springs– We don’t have a whole lot of money. What we have typically goes to operations. So there was really a– a massive, fundraising, things that began, those that took, you know, probably three times longer than the actual construction of the building,” said Graham.

The library will also have state-of-the-art technology. 

“Some of the self-checkout stations and charging stations. As you may know, we’ve had all those in different branches– at many different branches all over 15 of our branches. And this time also Manitou Springs Carnegie Library will have those as well,” said Teona Shainidze-Krebs, CEO of Pikes Peak Library District 

The grand opening will be this Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Military to stop spending resources on ‘identity month’ celebrations, including Black History & Pride Months

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Secretary of Defense sent a memo out to the armed forces stating “Identity Months Dead at DoD.”

The Department of Defense says this move was made to focus on the character of their service members’ actions instead of their immutable characteristics, but many are concerned about the change and even called it ignorant. 

“I think it’s a message of exclusion,” Isaac Newton Farris Jr, a nephew of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a senior fellow at the King Institute told KRDO13, “One of the reasons why we make an effort in this country to do things that include everyone is because of our unfortunate past history of excluding everyone except American whites.”

“I don’t think it’s a case of dividing us or separating us or even saying that some peoples, some groups, histories, and experiences matter more or less than others,” Denver University Professor and Director of the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society Joshua Furman said remembering and celebrating ‘identity months’ and other holidays is important.

The Department of Defense says service men and women will still be able to attend events and celebrations off the clock.

However, month-long celebrations aren’t the only thing being taken off the table.

The Associated Press is reporting the Defense Department’s Intelligence Agency paused observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, and the Holocaust Day of Remembrance.

“We celebrated all the different history months,” Shirley Martinez is the current President of the Pikes Peak Diversity Board and in her past spent 20 years serving our country. This press release serves as a stark contrast from her time in the service. “It gave us an opportunity to learn about each other, to learn about the innovations that those different groups did,” Martinez said.

But Martinez was far from doom and gloom, rather seeing the memo as an opportunity.

“I’m taking it as a challenge that we still have some work to do. if they’re feeling that we need to be doing more for all, then maybe we need to be looking at that.”

National Signing Day in Southern Colorado

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Rob Namnoum

Air Academy High School

Caleb Kasayka – Football – Colorado Mesa University

Jackson Downs – Football – CSU Pueblo

Taylor Hill – Football – Central Lakes College

Fountain Fort Carson High School

Grace Johnston – Soccer – Otero Junior College

Dominque Martinez – Soccer – Flagler College

Gavin Sibayan – Soccer – Bournewith University

Airalynn Barnes – Softball – Northeast Community College

Joe Baumbach – Baseball – Garden City Community College

TC Shaw – Football – Chardon State

Andre Henry – Track – Metro University

Alex Rivera – Football – Jamestown College

Fountain Valley

Lily Christofferson – Soccer – Carnegie Mellon University

Sofia Bedoya-Correra – Swimming – Grinnell College

Tyler Schaller-Nisbet – Lacrosse – College of Idaho

Allie Hocking – Diving – St. Thomas University Miami

Palmer Ridge High School

Aiden Cohen – Football – Colorado Mesa University

David Brodeur – Football – Ave Maria

Isaac Burks – Football – William Jewell

Pine Creek High School

Cameron Cooper – Football – Western Colorado University

Elijah Roy – Football – Lindenwood University

DJ Johnson – Football – Northern Colorado

Emmanuel El Shaddai Hill – Football – North Carolina Central University

Isaak Walker – Football – Adams State University

Hudson Kobilan – Football – Western Colorado University

Isaac Landry – Football – Western Colorado University

Pueblo Central High School

Amari Brown – Football – Colorado Mesa University

Genaro Pino – Wrestling – Air Force

Zimeon Sauavo – Football – Northern Colorado

Zion Sauavo – Football – Northern Colorado

Elena Martinez – Softball – Webber International University

Colton Calderon – Baseball – Otero Junior College

Pueblo South High School

Meah Tillman – Softball – Lamar Community College

Pueblo West High School

Abigail Fadenrecht – Softball – West Virginia Wesleyan College

Bradie Poteet-Herrera – Softball – Colorado State

Jamie Suazo – Basketball – CSU Pueblo

Jason Martinez – Football – Buena Vista University

Isabella McCumber – Soccer – Trinidad State

Cheyenne Turner – Volleyball – Otero Junior College

Kaden Hickey – Football – Montana State University Northern

Gavin Lockett – Football – Northern Colorado

Vista Ridge High School

Bailey Bast – Softball – North Central University

Annika Kane – Volleyball – Western Colorado University

Travis Tomme – Golf – UCCS

Jamir Ford – Football – Northern Colorado

Nayshaun Hall – Football – Adams State

Lennon Louis – Football – Chadron State

Gabriel McFarland – Football – Adams State

Zayden Stevens – Football – Hamline University

Josiah “Boogie” Williams – Football – Ottawa University

The C.C. Tigers say they like to hear what opposing fans have to say about them

KRDO on February 5, 2025

Rob Namnoum

The Colorado College hockey team will travel this weekend to play at North Dakota. The Tigers know that the Fighting Hawks fans will be loud and proud.