Category: krdo-local-news

Michael Logerwell

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) – A Fountain City Councilor is facing multiple charges of felony theft after the District Attorney’s Office claims she forged letters, refused to accurately report her household income, and even denied that she was a Fountain City Councilor.

The probable cause affidavit starts in January 2022, when a specialist with the El Paso County Department of Human Services says she called a client, City Councilor Detra Duncan, about missing a food assistance interview. Duncan told the specialist that it was just her and her son living at the residence, and they take care of two disabled adults who live upstairs, named Earlie Mae Johnson and Ervin Jeffery Johnson.

However, the county specialist notes on the county assessor’s website that Derta and Larry Duncan bought the home in 2005. However, when asked about this, the affidavit states that Duncan claimed Larry was her nephew who lives in Louisiana with a medical disability.

The affidavit says the specialist later called back shortly after the first call, where Duncan said she made $300 monthly as a custodian for the City of Fountain. Later that same night, as the first call, the affidavit says Duncan closed her request for food assistance.

At this point, El Paso County requests that Jefferson County assist in the investigation.

The affidavit states that Jefferson County Investigators found the pay stubs from the City of Fountain that Duncan submitted were altered, and her job title, “City Councilor,” was marked out.

The affidavit says the investigators found that she was still married to her husband, Larry Duncan, who had a job with the USPS. His income was not reported on benefits forms. The affidavit continues to state that Larry Duncan did qualify for VA benefits, but his income from the USPS exceeded the limit for benefit programs.

The affidavit also claims that Duncan forged two letters, signatures and all, for the elderly woman and her disabled son, whom she said she cared for. The Jefferson County Investigators say they confirmed that Earlie Mae Johnson and Ervin Jeffery Johnson were both deceased when the letters were written and had never lived in Colorado.

When asked for comment, the City of Fountain said,

“While we appreciate your inquiry, we don’t comment on ongoing litigation, involving the city or not. Thank you for your understanding.”

KRDO13 Investigates went to the home listed in the probable cause affidavit to ask Councilor Duncan about the criminal allegations made against her. A truck was parked in the driveway, but no one answered the door or the video doorbell at the residence.

KRDO13 Investigates also spoke to Duncan’s attorney over the phone. She said that they can’t comment on an open case and added that her client retains the presumption of innocence.

According to the El Paso County Court Docket, Duncan’s next court appearance is set as a plea hearing in late October.

On Sept. 16, Duncan resigned from her position with the following statement:

“It is with deep reflection and a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as a member of the Fountain City Council, effective September 16, 2025.

While I firmly believe in the integrity of my service and my commitment to the residents of Fountain, I also recognize that recent circumstances have cast a shadow over my ability to serve effectively. The people of our community deserve leadership that can govern without distraction or doubt.

My decision to step down is not an admission of wrongdoing but rather an acknowledgment that the work of this Council, and the trust of the public, must come before any individual. I care deeply about our city, and I do not wish for ongoing questions surrounding me to diminish the important initiatives we have advanced together.

I am proud of the progress we have made during my tenure, particularly in advocating for affordable housing, supporting of our Military, advocating for clean water, the Fountain Youth Council, legislative issues protecting the citizens of Fountain, water issues and so much more. I have full confidence that this Council will continue to move forward with integrity, vision, and dedication to the people we serve.

I remain grateful to the residents who placed their trust in me, to my colleagues for their collaboration, and to city staff for their professionalism. Though I am resigning from office, my commitment to Fountain and its future remains steadfast.”

Fountain City Council says the vacancy of the position will be discussed at a future council meeting.

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Celeste Springer

STATEWIDE, Colo. (KRDO) — The governor’s office announced on Monday that Switzerland and Colorado have become state partners.

According to a release, the partnership between the Swiss Confederation and Colorado National Guard falls under the National Guard State Partnership Program.

“Our National Guard members play such an important role in protecting our state at home and supporting our partners abroad. I’m excited by this new partnership and our ability to support one another in strengthening key capabilities and security, as well as to build closer ties between Switzerland and Colorado,” said Governor Jared Polis in a release.

According to the release, Colorado and Switzerland share similar geography and demographics. The Colorado National Guard (CONG) and the Swiss Armed Forces also share common expertise in air defense and mountain operations, according to officials.

“The Colorado National Guard is proud to partner with the Swiss Confederation,” said the Adjutant General of Colorado, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Laura Clellan. “This new SPP partnership strategically aligns with Switzerland’s defense priorities and advances key U.S. national security objectives in Europe.”

Officials say the partnership is a “cost-effective and key U.S. security cooperation tool.”

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Celeste Springer

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Two Southern Colorado innovations are in the running for Colorado’s “Coolest Thing Made in Colorado” People’s Choice Award. The contest is put on by the Colorado Chamber, according to a press release.

“The People’s Choice award is one of the most exciting parts of this contest as it gives Coloradans the chance to support their favorite products from local businesses across the state,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman in the release. “These finalists showcase the creativity and innovation happening in Colorado, and we’re excited to see which product will stand out as this year’s People’s Choice!”

10 finalists have made the cut, including one from Colorado Springs and another from La Junta.

Voting for the statewide competition is open now until Oct. 6, according to a Colorado Chamber spokesperson. To vote, click here.

Autonomous Nano Tractor (ANT) – La Junta

Move over, Waymo, this one’s for the farmers. The Autonomous Nano Tractor (ANT) is a self-driving mini tractor developed in La Junta. The tech is designed for small to mid-size farms, according to creator Barn Owl Precision Agriculture.

“It handles precision row-crop tasks like weeding, targeted spraying, and planting support, cutting manual labor by more than 50% and reducing input costs by about 30%,” read a statement by the company to the Colorado Chamber of Commerce.

In 2024, Barn Owl Precision Agriculture won first place in the “Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge,” which helped the company continue its work.

READ MORE HERE: La Junta-based robotics company places first and wins $50,000 in national agriculture challenge

InnovaFlex Arrays – Colorado Springs

InnovaFlex Arrays, made by InnovaFlex Foundry, are electrical systems built into flexible material. While they have multiple applications, one use is to allow researchers to study how human tissue reacts to pharmaceuticals, according to the company.

According to InnovaFlex Foundry, the tech also has uses in the military defense, automotive, and space exploration sectors.

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Sadie Buggle

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Two staff members of School District 49 (D49) in El Paso County have been placed on administrative leave following alleged comments made about Charlie Kirk’s death.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and political speaker, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. The murder has sparked deeper conversations about violence in American politics.

D49 shared the following statement to families at “The Campus,” which is home to Springs Studio for Academic Excellence and Pikes Peak Early College:

“Campus Families –

We are actively investigating reports that two of our staff members may have reacted to the news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk in ways that indicated approval of that action. We do not condone this kind of behavior, particularly in the presence of students.

Leaders at The Campus, the Sand Creek Zone, and District 49 take every report like this one very seriously. Behaviors like those described are a clear violation of the expectations we have for everyone associated with the District. We hold ourselves to a higher standard.  

At this time, the staff involved have been placed on administrative leave while we continue to review the matter. Because these issues are an ongoing personnel matter, we will not provide further information or comments. As always, we thank you for your trust and understanding.”

-Dustin Horras, Sand Creek Zone Superintendent

It is unclear at this time what exactly the D49 staff members’ posts said; however, several similar situations have cropped up across the nation. The first was the firing of MSNBC fired senior political analyst, Matthew Dowd, after he claimed Kirk’s comments could have contributed to his shooting.

Several airlines have also said that they’ve suspended workers for comments they made on social media about the fatal shooting. Those airlines include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines.

“We were made aware of Delta employees whose social media content, related to the recent murder of activist Charlie Kirk, went well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in an internal memo shared with CNN.

Over the weekend, Secretary Sean Duffy took to X, condemning political violence and anyone supporting it.

“There’s no room for political violence in America and anyone applauding it will face the consequences. ESPECIALLY those we count on to ensure the safety of the flying public,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on X.

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Celeste Springer

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Representative Rose Pugliese of Colorado’s House District 14 has resigned, according to a resignation letter obtained by KRDO13. District 14 encompasses a portion of El Paso County.

In the letter, Pugliese said that she had spent time praying on the issue following what she described as a “contentious” Special Session.

“The last day of Special Session was sad and disappointing for me. I had no other choice but to bear witness to the collapse of integrity in the Colorado State House of Representatives,” wrote Pugliese. “The lies and hypocrisies the Majority spewed were beyond what I had ever expected, even in Colorado politics.”

KRDO13 asked her about the last day of the Special Session.

“I clearly was disappointed in the way that the last day of the special session transpired. And any attacks on my integrity and character are really offensive to me because I didn’t deserve that. But, you know, I think we need to move forward and find a path forward. And for me, it was focusing on what really matters to me, which is my family. And, you know, I’m hoping that people on both sides of the aisle will continue to try to find a path forward, because I do think we need to do better in the legislature. I think the people of Colorado deserve that. But it’s going to take leadership on both sides and a willingness to want to forge a path forward,” said Rose Pugliese.

Pugliese also cited a devastating week between the shooting at Evergreen High School, the shooting of Charlie Kirk, and the anniversary of 9/11.

Above all else, Pugliese pointed to her children, who she said have made their own sacrifices during her career.

“I think the special session was hard, and I think even just over the last couple of months, just evaluating my life choices and what’s best for my kids. You know, I’m on the road a lot. I’ve got three jobs outside of the legislature, and then I am still the minority leader and a legislator. And so trying to keep all of those balls in the air while raising my kids all by myself. It’s been challenging. And so, then we went into special session, and that was rough. And then just the events over the last couple of weeks, you know, my kids have been clinging to me even more and just want me home more. And so I think I really just had to take a step back and, obviously, I’m very faithful and try to get some direction. And I really think this is the best choice for my kids, and for myself as well,” explained Pugliese.

Puglise says that she’s leaving the House Republican Caucus in good hands.

“We’ve got a lot of great leadership already, and people who are really dedicated. And then the caucus will step up. I know that they will and continue to fight for the values that they believe in,” shared the former representative.

Resignation letterDownload

According to the letter, her resignation is effective Sept. 15, 2025.

During her time at the Capitol, Pugliese passed legislation she’s proud of.

“There are three pieces of legislation that were really, I really put my heart and soul in. One was to reduce property taxes. And that was really, really important. Took a lot of bipartisan work. So proud of that legislation. My kinship bill, which was my very first bill that reduced barriers so that families can stay together when there’s an emergency situation, and then open up more foster homes to children who don’t have families that can take them in. And I thought that was really a fundamental piece of legislation. And then this past session, I was able to pass the right to try for individualized treatments. I mean, there’s not a lot of legislation you can talk about that you can say, like, this will literally save somebody’s life, but that legislation will give terminal patients, especially children, access to medications they wouldn’t have had otherwise. And so, I’m really proud of all three. And I feel like there’s a lot more I could talk about, but I really did focus on protecting our children and our families and trying to make Colorado more affordable. And I feel like I was able to accomplish that in a very short amount of time,” recounted Pugliese.

Pugliese will still be a public figure in Southern Colorado. She says she’ll continue representing rural counties as their county attorney, managing her law firm, and working on the Southeastern Colorado Opioid Abatement Council.

House Republican leadership released a statement thanking Minority Leader Rose Pugliese for her service.

Acting Minority Leader Ty Winter, today issued the following statement after Minority Leader Rose Pugliese announced her resignation as State Representative for House District 14:

“On behalf of the Colorado House Republican Caucus, we want to express our deep gratitude to Minority Leader Rose Pugliese for her dedicated service to the people of El Paso County and the State of Colorado.

This is a turning point, not only for our caucus, but for our state and our nation. At a time when Coloradans are facing rising costs, growing threats to public safety, and increasing political division, House Republicans are more committed than ever to standing firm for truth, honor, and policies that strengthen Colorado’s future. We will continue to fight for freedom, affordability, protecting families, and defending constitutional rights. 

The Colorado House Republican caucus will move quickly to elect a new leader and remain focused on delivering solutions for the people of Colorado.”

We reached out to the House Democrats for their response to Pugliese’s resignation letter.

“Stepping up to lead a caucus and represent communities in our state legislature are commendable acts of public service, and we thank Minority Leader Pugliese for her commitment to the people of her district and service in the legislature. We admire her dedication to her children, and we wish her all the best in her move to Mesa County and in the next chapter of her life.”

– Joint Statement from Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran

There will be an election among republican house members to elect the next House minority leader, according to a representative for the House Republicans.

Pugliese’s House District 14 seat will be appointed by a vacancy committee; however, since Pugliese’s resignation is effective Monday, officials say it’s too early to know who will be a part of that committee.

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Josh Helmuth

Six high schoolers from Atlas Prep School recently returned from a trip to Africa, where they immersed themselves in the life and culture of those from Rwanda and Uganda. The students say it was life-changing.

The students, all juniors, from the Colorado Springs school learned about farming, hiking and healing in both African countries. They also visited Kampala, the capital of Uganda, and the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda.

What makes the trip more rewarding is that all the students raised their own money to support the vaccination costs of the trip, which total $1,500, through refereeing volleyball games.

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

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Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A traffic signal or prohibiting left turns could be in the future of an intersection where a crash into a fire hydrant two weeks ago snarled traffic and made a big mess.

Todd Frisbie, the city’s head traffic engineer, said that his department is considering a traffic study at the intersection of North Academy Boulevard and Half Turn Road.

The intersection is on a busy stretch of Academy between Austin Bluffs Parkway and North Carefree Circle; it’s also the only place in that stretch where drivers can turn left ot make U-turns across speeding traffic.

“That area also has bus stops on Academy Boulevard,” Frisbie explained. “Providing a traffic signal there would help some of the pedestrian access to allow the neighborhood to get across the street a little more easily than they can today, or more safely across the street than they can today.”

Most of the traffic at that intersection originates from and heads to the east side, where Half Turn ends and leads to three large apartment complexes, as well as the Park Vista neighborhood.

The west side of the intersection is commercial, with a variety of businesses.

The city could prohibit left turns at the intersection by extending the center median there.

Frisbie said that a study likely won’t begin until the completion of an ongoing drainage project in the Park Vista area, late next year or in early 2027.

Many drivers use the intersection to detour around the drainage project.

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Marina Garcia

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – At 8:05 Sunday morning, police responded to reports of a strong-arm robbery at the Belmont Shopping Center along Bonforte Boulevard. 

Officers arrived to find a vehicle and a person who matched the description of the robbery suspect near 8th Street and Glendale Avenue.

That confrontation led to a car chase, and less than two miles down the road, the man crashed his car in the 700 block of West 8th Street.

Police say the man was carrying a knife, which officers repeatedly asked him to drop. After refusing to comply, police shot the man. It’s not clear how many officers shot at the man or how many shots were fired.

After being shot, police say the man began to stab himself. Police say they then tased the man in an attempt to stop him from hurting himself further.

The Pueblo Police Department says multiple officers then rendered aid to the man. He was transported to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. At this time, it’s not clear which injuries caused the man’s death.

The man’s identity has not been released, and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s office will be leading the investigation into the officer’s use of force.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Families living along Ochre View were told to stay in their homes for several hours this morning as Colorado Springs Police dealt with a suspect barricaded in his home.

Colorado Springs Police say just before 7:00 this morning, they received a call reporting a domestic violence menacing incident.

When officers arrived, they were able to evacuate everybody from the residence, including the victim, while the suspect barricaded himself inside the house.

Peak Alerts sent out a shelter-in-place notice for every residence within 100 yards of the barricaded suspect at 7:55 a.m.

With the help of a K9 officer and the tactical enforcement unit, police were able to find Nickolas Jones, 35, hiding in the home. Jones has been booked into the El Paso County Jail. At this time, it’s not clear exactly what crimes Jones has been charged with.

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Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Not even an hour into the football game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts, a power outage cut TV screens to black and made laptop screens freeze.

The Colorado Springs Police Department says at 2:53 p.m., they received calls about a one-car crash near the intersection of Voyager Parkway and Ridgeline Drive. Police say the car rolled into a CSU utility box, causing a power outage in the area.

According to the CSU Outage Map, 1,478 customers are without power, and the estimated time power will be back on is 6:43 p.m.

Police say that after the car made impact with the utility box, everyone inside the vehicle was able to get out of the car before it caught on fire. No one was taken to the hospital because of the crash.

Also of note, while police officers, firefighters and an ambulance were on the way, none were the actual first responder. The police department says that right after the crash, a citizen grabbed a fire extinguisher and was putting out the fire before anyone else arrived.

Updates for when the power will come back on can be found here, and for those who are slated to miss the rest of the Broncos game, you can tune in to KRDO13 News at 10 p.m. and Spots Extra with Rob Namnoum and Danny Mata tonight at 10:30 p.m.

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