Executive Director, Abbie Krause with the Pueblo Zoo joins Dave on the Podcast.

The Pueblo Zoo is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited facility covering twenty-five acres in Pueblo City Park. It is home to more than 400 animals representing 125 different species from around the world.

The City of Pueblo has maintained a zoo in some form since the early 1900s. The current site in City Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and attracts 90,000 visitors each year.

The Pueblo Zoo was facing accreditation challenges and budget cuts. Since this podcast was recorded the Zoo has been re-accredited through September 2028.

Abbie talks about how people can help ensure the zoo stays in Pueblo for many years to come. Including all the new exhibits and play areas at the zoo.

Dave Moore welcomes Mayor Heather Graham to the podcast again.

She talks about new businesses in Pueblo, the unhoused, budget cuts, as well as the upcoming election with ballot measures and four city council seats up for grabs.

Mayor Graham is also hosting four town halls during the month of September in all four districts. Join her for City updates at the following dates and locations:

• District 2: Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at El Centro del Quinto Sol, 609 E 6th St.
• District 4: Thursday, Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Robert Hoag Rawlings Library, Bret Kelly Room B, 100 E Abriendo Ave.
• District 3: Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Lamb Library, Lower Level, 2525 S. Pueblo Blvd.
• District 1: Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Barkman Branch Library, Minnequa Works Credit Union Community Room, 1300 Jerry Murphy Rd.

Andrea Wiesenmeyer joins Dave Moore on the podcast. She is the new General Manager of the Colorado State Fair. She was selected for the position by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

She outlines all you need to know about the state fair coming up.

A few new things this year pig races are back as free entertainment and there will be a dedicated book space for kids.

The Colorado State Fair is 11 days of fun ending Labor Day. The 2025 fair runs Friday, Aug. 22 through Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1!

Monday – Thursday: 3 – 11 p.m.

Friday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Labor Day: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Adult Gate Admission: $15

Kids (ages 5-12): $7

Children 4 and under are free (when accompanied by an adult)

Check out their Deals and Discounts page to see all of the special days and promotions!

Scott Dalton with CDOT talks to Dave Moore about big changes coming to I-25 and Highway 50B.

You may have noticed construction started in the area in November 2024. Dalton explains the timeline of the program and why they chose to make it a diverging diamond with a signal at the top.

This project is located in Pueblo on I-25 from Mile Point 99.7 to MP 101.4 and on US 50 from MP 315.9 to MP 316.6. Work consists of building five new bridge structures, retaining walls, noise walls, and more along the five mile stretch of road.

It is going to be a diverging diamond interchange (DDI). The DDI design was selected for this location to address congestion, improve safety.

Similar interchanges are located at Fillmore Street and I-25 and Research Parkway and Powers Boulevard in Colorado Springs. This will be the first DDI constructed in Pueblo.

When driving a DDI, motorists proceed through a traffic signal upon entering the interchange and simply follow their lane to the opposite side of the roadway. Left-turn movements are eliminated with a DDI, which minimizes T-bone type crashes.

The project is expected to be completed in early summer 2027.

Tap here for more info.

This is a little bit of a different format than the traditional podcast. Craig Eliot was giving a presentation to the Southern Colorado Press Club of which our host Dave Moore is a part.

Because the news of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America calling Pueblo home is so exciting, Craig has allowed Dave to share his presentation on the podcast. It’s a community conversation.

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America is an expansive science and art focused museum to explore the genius of Leonardo da Vinci's contributions to our world. It is not meant as a history museum solely focused on the man himself.

The museum location will be at next to the Pueblo Convention Center and Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. This 18,000+ sq ft space will include exhibits, a gift shop and outdoor Cafe Leonardo.

Future expansion will include the restored Centennial planetarium.

They are hoping to launch by late fall 2025.

Dave Moore welcomes Carma Loontjer to the podcast. She is the newest Development Director of the SRDA. The SRDA is the Senior Resource Development Agency. The program helps seniors in Pueblo County through 12 different programs.

The most visible program is likely the Meals on Wheels program where food is delivered to home bound seniors.

Another popular program is the SRDA Transportation Service is Curb-to-Curb throughout the City and County of Pueblo. There is no charge for the services, however a voluntary $2 contribution per leg of your trip is accepted.

The hours of service are 8:00am – 5:00pm for the City of Pueblo, Boone/Mesa and Pueblo West. The last pick up is at approximately 4:15pm. (Includes the communities of: Pueblo, Pueblo West, Vineland (Mesa), and Baxter.)

They also offer congregate meals for those over 60 and a recreation center that serves as a place for seniors to hang out with others.

All of these programs support the mission of SRDA which is to provide programs and projects that enhance the quality of life for the senior community of Pueblo and increase opportunities for independent living.

Dave Moore welcomes Jeff Orman and Raeann Herrick with Pueblo’s Musical Community Productions back to the podcast.

The theater group has done Christmas musicals for 30 years and they say they're more than a theater group.

Pueblo Memorial Hall is set to be the home of White Christmas production this year.

It's expected to be better than ever, with a dynamite cast. There is about 60 cast members plus back stage crew to make it happen. White Christmas is for the entire family.

With three show dates, this is a must-see holiday tradition you can not miss, with a top-notch production featuring a local cast that never disappoints!

Your new favorite Pueblo Holiday Tradition! Musical Community Productions has also recently performed “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in 2023, and “Scrooge” in 2022.

THREE DIFFERENT SHOW DATES

DEC. 5th BUY TICKETS HERE

DEC.6th BUT TICKETS HERE

DEC 7th BUY TICKETS HERE

Tickets cost $33 to $43.

Amber Shipley from CDOT joins Dave Moore on the podcast to discuss everything you need to know if you're on the move in Pueblo County and beyond.

The upcoming construction project at I-25 and the Belmont Bypass will be a diverging diamond.

She lets drivers know what they can and cannot do when they're driving by a snow plow in the winter.