thedenverpost--2020-08-28--The Spot: A presidential candidate is coming to Colorado, and Hickenlooper counts on voters not want

The Spot: A presidential candidate is coming to Colorado, and Hickenlooper counts on voters not wanting a revolution

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Since entering the race for U.S. Senate a year ago , John Hickenlooper has believed health care is the top issue on the minds of voters .
With 68 days to go before the Nov. 3 election , the Democratic former governor is unveiling new ads on the topic and touting a plan that is both moderate by current Democratic standards and considered socialized medicine by Republicans , including Sen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s strategy counts on voters — largely focused this year on a pandemic that has killed 180,000 Americans and a crushing economic downturn — to have health care near the front of their minds before they mail in ballots this fall .
Nationwide polling released by Pew last week found only the economy trumps health care as the top issue among voters .
Hickenlooper ’ s latest TV ad and a recent digital ad are both about health care .
The TV spot is a montage of Coloradans talking about the joys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A narrator claims Hickenlooper expanded health coverage for 500,000 Coloradans , a reference to the Affordable Care Act and the Medicaid expansion that accompanied it , which he signed into law .
In his bids for both president and senator , Hickenlooper has staked hope on his belief that most people want a solution somewhere between repealing Obamacare and enacting Medicare for All .
That solution , in his mind , is a government insurance plan .
Hickenlooper expects that slowly , over the course of maybe 15 years , everyone will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But it will be an evolution , not a revolution , ” he likes to say .
The issue for progressives is the slowness .
As Hickenlooper ’ s former Democratic primary opponent , Andrew Romanoff , once told Hickenlooper during a debate , “ I don ’ t believe this is a time for timidity and telling folks they have to wait for a slow evolution is heartless.
” The issue for conservatives is the government ’ s role .
They look at Hickenlooper ’ s end goal — everyone using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see “ socialized medicine.
” “ Even John Hickenlooper wants to reverse the Affordable Care Act because he supports socialized medicine , ” Gardner told Colorado Public Radio on July 1 .
On health care , Hickenlooper finds himself in two familiar roles : defender of policies he previously implemented , and resistor of rapid change .
He plays a similar role on the environment — defending methane regulations , resisting a Green New Deal — and a number of other issues .
At his core , he is an incrementalist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To support the important journalism we do , you can become a Denver Post subscriber here .
You can send tips , comments and questions to me at jwingerter @ denverpost.com or to the other Post reporters below .
Congressional candidate Lauren Boebert — who often espouses a pro-police , law-and-order message on the campaign trail — has been arrested and summonsed at least four times over the past decade , records show .
While the three arrests and one court-ordered summons were for petty crimes — and in one case all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record is unusually long for a congressional candidate .
Gov .
Jared Polis has continued to face criticism about not taking enough action to prevent evictions during the coronavirus pandemic and his support of homeless sweeps in Denver , but he ’ s hoping a new initiative will come up with solutions .
Last month , he said he would not only welcome the removal of homeless camps from state property but that he ’ d encourage it .
Colorado State Patrol was then given authority to take part in such removals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , the governor announced a temporary , 10-person task force that would study housing instability and develop recommendations within a month .
“ The looming housing issue is really a complicated challenge , ” Polis said at the news conference .
“ There ’ s no easy solution.
” The working group will help Colorado lead the way on housing issues , including alleviating financial hardships and boosting housing capacity , Polis said .
But as CPR has reported , not everyone is excited about the Special Eviction Task Force , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task force don ’ t include renter advocates .
Denver Councilwoman Jamie Torres tweeted to the governor that a west Denver housing group that works with housing-insecure residents wants to link up with the task force .
She told The Denver Post she ’ s glad the conversations are starting again because local solutions are not enough .
“ I hope that they ’ re able to really absorb how much of an immediate issue this is , ” Torres said .
• Chris Romer of Denver , former state senator and CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broomfield , business development officer at Bank of the West • Leanne Denise Wheeler of Aurora , homeless prevention advocate and CEO of The Wheeler Advisory Group • Measures to create paid family and medical leave program and require voter approval of new fees qualify for the ballot .
• Proponents of conservative and progressive ballot measures both believe high turnout will help their causes .
• A Colorado congressional candidate removes Elijah McClain ’ s name from his event at the family ’ s request .
With 68 days to go , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hickenlooper has been agreed to by both campaigns and none are scheduled in Colorado ’ s most closely watched U.S. House race .
The debate over debates flared up again Tuesday , with Senate campaigns arguing publicly about who is to blame for their stalemate .
When the smoke cleared , the situation remained unchanged .
Gardner ’ s campaign has agreed to five debates and Hickenlooper ’ s campaign has agreed to four , but a Venn diagram of those nine would show only one agreed to by both .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 .
Gardner tends to prefer September debates with a rural focus ; Hickenlooper tends to prefer October debates hosted by bigger news outlets .
Each campaign accuses the other of ignoring certain constituencies .
The situation isn ’ t any more amicable in the 3rd District race .
Diane Mitsch Bush bailed on a Club 20 debate in Grand Junction , despite being a past Club 20 board member , and instead proposed a Pueblo Chieftain debate with Lauren Boebert in early October .
But the campaigns say they have been unable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Boebert will be at the White House tonight for the president ’ s acceptance speech .
• Gardner released a new TV ad Wednesday with this closing line : “ Count on Hickenlooper for beer and me to get things done.
” • This CPR story is about split-ticket voters and Colorado ’ s suburban swing districts .
Colorado will host its first presidential candidate visit in months this weekend — but it won ’ t be President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
The Libertarian Party ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her campaign bus Saturday to headline a rally .
The outdoor event will be sandwiched between the Libertarian Party of Colorado ’ s daylong candidate-training program and an evening gala , which Jorgensen also plans to attend .
The candidate will be joined for the rally by Raymon Doane , who ’ s running under the party ’ s banner for U.S. Senate .
It ’ s too late to score a ticket to the 5 p.m. rally outside the Vehicle Vault venue , given the limited quantity available under public health caps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reynolds said .
Jorgensen is the Libertarians ’ first female nominee for president .
She has a tough act to follow , since the 2016 nominee , former New Mexico Gov .
Gary Johnson , set a party record by winning more than 3 % of the vote nationwide .
That ’ s roughly three times the proportion won by the party in other recent presidential elections .
Polling suggests more voters are sticking to the major-party candidates so far this year , with Jorgensen drawing 1 % -2 % in most recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Here are the candidates who have qualified for Colorado ’ s presidential ballot so far .
They include rapper Kanye West , who has made the ballot in at least eight states — but has fallen short in several others , Forbes reports .
• Biden has dramatically outspent Trump on TV ads during the week of the Republican National Convention , ABC News reports .
Denver City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca has had a rough couple of weeks at council meetings as her colleagues have blocked her attempts to place four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November ballot .
But it ’ s what happened after the votes this past Monday and Aug. 17 that caught the eye of some : CdeBaca left the meeting early .
The bulk of the council meetings had finished on both occasions , but CdeBaca did miss about seven votes .
If she had stayed through the meetings and voted , none of the results would have changed , as remaining council members approved the items unanimously .
But she was absent Aug. 17 for a decision on a rezoning issue within her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ council members sent three of CdeBaca ’ s proposed ballot measures back to committee , effectively keeping them off this year ’ s ballot .
Two were meant as checks on the mayor ’ s authority and a third would have abolished the city ’ s police department .
A crowd had attended the meeting in person alongside CdeBaca , the only council member in chambers for it .
After the vote , council took a short break and returned — except for CdeBaca .
“ After the proposals were defeated , constituents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeat , but by some of the insensitive comments made by Councilmembers in voting the bills down , ” CdeBaca said in a statement .
“ During Council recess they asked for a debrief , which became my priority that night given the circumstances.
” After she left , the council heard a zoning change request for the Women ’ s Bean Project ’ s property at 3201 Curtis St. That property sits in CdeBaca ’ s district , and the request raised questions about gentrification in the neighborhood and whether the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ultimately , council approved the request 12-0 , with CdeBaca absent .
The group also approved three other zoning change requests that night without her .
Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval was also absent for two of those votes .
As for CdeBaca ’ s departure after this Monday ’ s vote on another of her proposed ballot measures , she said : “ There was a gathering at Manual High School , in my district , in response to Jacob Blake ’ s shooting by police in Kenosha .
I went there in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continually traumatized by police brutality close to home and across the country.
” Representing constituents isn ’ t something solely accomplished inside council chambers , she added .
It ’ s “ also done in places when and where they need you the most.
” • Denver officials cited outbreaks of Hepatitis and Shigella when they resumed homeless sweeps last month , but a national expert says the numbers of positive tests don ’ t justify the actions .
• Avoid the big-name rental companies when you ’ re visiting , or loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two car-sharing pilot programs approved by City Council at the Denver International Airport .
• Denverites will vote in November whether to impose a 0.25 % sales tax in the city to fund services and other amenities for people experiencing homelessness .
• As cities and counties across the country repeal breed-specific laws banning pit bulls , Denver and its largest neighbor , Aurora , are now on different trajectories with their bans .
Forward this newsletter to your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe .

For people, policy and Colorado politics
What’s The Spot? You’re reading an installment of our weekly politics newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered straight in your inbox.
Since entering the race for U.S. Senate a year ago, John Hickenlooper has believed health care is the top issue on the minds of voters.
With 68 days to go before the Nov. 3 election, the Democratic former governor is unveiling new ads on the topic and touting a plan that is both moderate by current Democratic standards and considered socialized medicine by Republicans, including Sen. Cory Gardner, his opponent.
Hickenlooper’s strategy counts on voters — largely focused this year on a pandemic that has killed 180,000 Americans and a crushing economic downturn — to have health care near the front of their minds before they mail in ballots this fall. Nationwide polling released by Pew last week found only the economy trumps health care as the top issue among voters.
Hickenlooper’s latest TV ad and a recent digital ad are both about health care. The TV spot is a montage of Coloradans talking about the joys of receiving insurance for the first time. A narrator claims Hickenlooper expanded health coverage for 500,000 Coloradans, a reference to the Affordable Care Act and the Medicaid expansion that accompanied it, which he signed into law.
In his bids for both president and senator, Hickenlooper has staked hope on his belief that most people want a solution somewhere between repealing Obamacare and enacting Medicare for All. That solution, in his mind, is a government insurance plan. Hickenlooper expects that slowly, over the course of maybe 15 years, everyone will sign on to the public option.
“But it will be an evolution, not a revolution,” he likes to say.
The issue for progressives is the slowness. As Hickenlooper’s former Democratic primary opponent, Andrew Romanoff, once told Hickenlooper during a debate, “I don’t believe this is a time for timidity and telling folks they have to wait for a slow evolution is heartless.”
The issue for conservatives is the government’s role. They look at Hickenlooper’s end goal — everyone using a government plan for health insurance — and see “socialized medicine.”
“Even John Hickenlooper wants to reverse the Affordable Care Act because he supports socialized medicine,” Gardner told Colorado Public Radio on July 1.
On health care, Hickenlooper finds himself in two familiar roles: defender of policies he previously implemented, and resistor of rapid change. He plays a similar role on the environment — defending methane regulations, resisting a Green New Deal — and a number of other issues. At his core, he is an incrementalist and he believes most voters are, too.
To support the important journalism we do, you can become a Denver Post subscriber here.
You can send tips, comments and questions to me at jwingerter@denverpost.com or to the other Post reporters below.
Top Line
Congressional candidate Lauren Boebert — who often espouses a pro-police, law-and-order message on the campaign trail — has been arrested and summonsed at least four times over the past decade, records show. While the three arrests and one court-ordered summons were for petty crimes — and in one case all charges were dropped — Boebert’s record is unusually long for a congressional candidate.
Capitol Diary • By Saja Hindi
Taking a stab at the eviction problem
Gov. Jared Polis has continued to face criticism about not taking enough action to prevent evictions during the coronavirus pandemic and his support of homeless sweeps in Denver, but he’s hoping a new initiative will come up with solutions.
Last month, he said he would not only welcome the removal of homeless camps from state property but that he’d encourage it. Colorado State Patrol was then given authority to take part in such removals. Experts have denounced such sweeps.
This week, the governor announced a temporary, 10-person task force that would study housing instability and develop recommendations within a month.
“The looming housing issue is really a complicated challenge,” Polis said at the news conference. “There’s no easy solution.”
The working group will help Colorado lead the way on housing issues, including alleviating financial hardships and boosting housing capacity, Polis said.
But as CPR has reported, not everyone is excited about the Special Eviction Task Force, with some objecting that the members of the task force don’t include renter advocates.
Denver Councilwoman Jamie Torres tweeted to the governor that a west Denver housing group that works with housing-insecure residents wants to link up with the task force. She told The Denver Post she’s glad the conversations are starting again because local solutions are not enough.
“I hope that they’re able to really absorb how much of an immediate issue this is,” Torres said.
The task force appointees:
Chris Romer of Denver, former state senator and CEO of Project Canary
Skippy Leigh Upton Mesirow, Aspen City Council member
Andrew Feinstein of Denver, CEO of Extended Downtown Development
Rachel Friend, Boulder City Council member
Ty L. Coleman, mayor of Alamosa
Jennifer Kermode of Gunnison, housing authority executive director
Jennifer Linda Rodgers of Denver, vice president of Enterprise Community Partners
Beatriz Gonzalez of Broomfield, business development officer at Bank of the West
Andy Newell of Greenwood Village, CEO/CFO of Monarch Investment & Management Group
Leanne Denise Wheeler of Aurora, homeless prevention advocate and CEO of The Wheeler Advisory Group
More Colorado political news
#COSen 2020 • By Justin Wingerter
The debate over debates
With 68 days to go, a total of one debate between Gardner and Hickenlooper has been agreed to by both campaigns and none are scheduled in Colorado’s most closely watched U.S. House race.
The debate over debates flared up again Tuesday, with Senate campaigns arguing publicly about who is to blame for their stalemate. When the smoke cleared, the situation remained unchanged.
Gardner’s campaign has agreed to five debates and Hickenlooper’s campaign has agreed to four, but a Venn diagram of those nine would show only one agreed to by both. That’s a Pueblo Chieftain debate Oct 2.
Gardner tends to prefer September debates with a rural focus; Hickenlooper tends to prefer October debates hosted by bigger news outlets. Each campaign accuses the other of ignoring certain constituencies.
The situation isn’t any more amicable in the 3rd District race. Diane Mitsch Bush bailed on a Club 20 debate in Grand Junction, despite being a past Club 20 board member, and instead proposed a Pueblo Chieftain debate with Lauren Boebert in early October. But the campaigns say they have been unable to agree on a date and time.
So, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
More federal election news
Presidential race in Colorado • By Jon Murray
Libertarian heads to the state
Colorado will host its first presidential candidate visit in months this weekend — but it won’t be President Donald Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The Libertarian Party’s Jo Jorgensen will pull into Parker on her campaign bus Saturday to headline a rally.
The outdoor event will be sandwiched between the Libertarian Party of Colorado’s daylong candidate-training program and an evening gala, which Jorgensen also plans to attend. The candidate will be joined for the rally by Raymon Doane, who’s running under the party’s banner for U.S. Senate.
It’s too late to score a ticket to the 5 p.m. rally outside the Vehicle Vault venue, given the limited quantity available under public health caps on crowds, state party chair Victoria Reynolds said.
Jorgensen is the Libertarians’ first female nominee for president. She has a tough act to follow, since the 2016 nominee, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, set a party record by winning more than 3% of the vote nationwide. That’s roughly three times the proportion won by the party in other recent presidential elections.
Polling suggests more voters are sticking to the major-party candidates so far this year, with Jorgensen drawing 1%-2% in most recent polls that listed her as an option.
More presidential race news
Here are the candidates who have qualified for Colorado’s presidential ballot so far. They include rapper Kanye West, who has made the ballot in at least eight states — but has fallen short in several others, Forbes reports.
Biden has dramatically outspent Trump on TV ads during the week of the Republican National Convention, ABC News reports.
Mile High Politics • By Conrad Swanson
Taking attendance at City Council
Denver City Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca has had a rough couple of weeks at council meetings as her colleagues have blocked her attempts to place four different questions on the city’s November ballot.
But it’s what happened after the votes this past Monday and Aug. 17 that caught the eye of some: CdeBaca left the meeting early.
The bulk of the council meetings had finished on both occasions, but CdeBaca did miss about seven votes. If she had stayed through the meetings and voted, none of the results would have changed, as remaining council members approved the items unanimously.
But she was absent Aug. 17 for a decision on a rezoning issue within her own district. During that meeting, council members sent three of CdeBaca’s proposed ballot measures back to committee, effectively keeping them off this year’s ballot. Two were meant as checks on the mayor’s authority and a third would have abolished the city’s police department.
A crowd had attended the meeting in person alongside CdeBaca, the only council member in chambers for it. After the vote, council took a short break and returned — except for CdeBaca.
“After the proposals were defeated, constituents were understandably upset by not only the defeat, but by some of the insensitive comments made by Councilmembers in voting the bills down,” CdeBaca said in a statement. “During Council recess they asked for a debrief, which became my priority that night given the circumstances.”
After she left, the council heard a zoning change request for the Women’s Bean Project’s property at 3201 Curtis St. That property sits in CdeBaca’s district, and the request raised questions about gentrification in the neighborhood and whether the organization had been fully transparent with its documentation.
Ultimately, council approved the request 12-0, with CdeBaca absent. The group also approved three other zoning change requests that night without her. Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval was also absent for two of those votes.
As for CdeBaca’s departure after this Monday’s vote on another of her proposed ballot measures, she said: “There was a gathering at Manual High School, in my district, in response to Jacob Blake’s shooting by police in Kenosha. I went there in support of our community that has been continually traumatized by police brutality close to home and across the country.”
Representing constituents isn’t something solely accomplished inside council chambers, she added. It’s “also done in places when and where they need you the most.”
More Denver and suburban political news
Forward this newsletter to your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe.


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Aurora aerospace company hiring 200 for intelligence, software jobs

The Colorado operations of Raytheon are growing .
The aerospace and defense contractor completed a merger with United Technologies Corp. earlier this year to form Raytheon Technologies .
In an internal reshuffling , the intelligence part of the business based in Aurora combined with the company ’ s space business to create Raytheon Intelligence and Space .
As a result , Raytheon is hiring 200 new people just in Colorado , said Bill Sullivan , a vice president and general manager in Aurora , the headquarters for the new arm of the company .
“ Everything our company does in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to be led out of this facility in Colorado , ” Sullivan said .
“ We ’ re looking for all types of folks ” to hire .
They are looking for software developers , system-level software engineers , and people who can integrate commercially available software packages for customers , develop cloud-based systems and who understand cyber security .
“ With all the systems that we build for our customers , the cyber security of those systems is paramount , ” Sullivan said .
The coronavirus pandemic created logistical challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Raytheon ’ s campus in east Aurora .
Those doing classified work must work from the office , while those who don ’ t can work from home .
Sullivan , who switches back and forth from office to home , said about 50 % of the workspace is being used .
He said protective barriers have been put up , and masks and temperature checks are required to help keep people safe .
Virtual meetings are replacing in-person ones .
While the coronavirus has presented Raytheon with some of the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t slowed the company ’ s growth .
Sullivan said business is robust across the aerospace industry .
The designation of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs as the provisional headquarters of the U.S. Space Command was a boost for the state ’ s industry , Sullivan said .
Raytheon employs about 2,800 people in Colorado , including 200 at a satellite facility in Aurora and others who work with the military in Colorado Springs .
The Air Force is one of Raytheon ’ s major clients .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generation of the Air Force ’ s global positioning system satellites , three of which have been launched .
The company also builds ground command and control systems and processes data for NASA , the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies .
In February , representatives from Raytheon and several other aerospace companies met with the state on ways to meet the growing demand for employees in Colorado .
The size of the state ’ s aerospace industry is second only to California ’ s .
Sullivan said aerospace workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in high demand .
But he figures the lure of living in Colorado gives Raytheon one edge .
And there ’ s another .
“ What we bring to the table , from Raytheon ’ s perspective , is the work we do here is really cool .
Space control is really cool , ” Sullivan said .

The Colorado operations of Raytheon are growing.
The aerospace and defense contractor completed a merger with United Technologies Corp. earlier this year to form Raytheon Technologies. In an internal reshuffling, the intelligence part of the business based in Aurora combined with the company’s space business to create Raytheon Intelligence and Space.
As a result, Raytheon is hiring 200 new people just in Colorado, said Bill Sullivan, a vice president and general manager in Aurora, the headquarters for the new space arm of the company.
“Everything our company does in space hardware or software-based ground control systems are going to be led out of this facility in Colorado,” Sullivan said. “We’re looking for all types of folks” to hire.
They are looking for software developers, system-level software engineers, and people who can integrate commercially available software packages for customers, develop cloud-based systems and who understand cyber security.
“With all the systems that we build for our customers, the cyber security of those systems is paramount,” Sullivan said.
The coronavirus pandemic created logistical challenges for the roughly 2,500 employees who work on Raytheon’s campus in east Aurora. Those doing classified work must work from the office, while those who don’t can work from home.
Sullivan, who switches back and forth from office to home, said about 50% of the workspace is being used. He said protective barriers have been put up, and masks and temperature checks are required to help keep people safe. Virtual meetings are replacing in-person ones.
While the coronavirus has presented Raytheon with some of the same challenges faced by all businesses, it hasn’t slowed the company’s growth. Sullivan said business is robust across the aerospace industry. The designation of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs as the provisional headquarters of the U.S. Space Command was a boost for the state’s industry, Sullivan said.
Raytheon employs about 2,800 people in Colorado, including 200 at a satellite facility in Aurora and others who work with the military in Colorado Springs. The Air Force is one of Raytheon’s major clients. The company developed the ground-control system for the new generation of the Air Force’s global positioning system satellites, three of which have been launched.
The company also builds ground command and control systems and processes data for NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies.
In February, representatives from Raytheon and several other aerospace companies met with the state on ways to meet the growing demand for employees in Colorado. The size of the state’s aerospace industry is second only to California’s.
Sullivan said aerospace workers, especially those in cyber security, are in high demand. But he figures the lure of living in Colorado gives Raytheon one edge. And there’s another.
“What we bring to the table, from Raytheon’s perspective, is the work we do here is really cool. Space control is really cool,” Sullivan said.
This story has been updated to clarify that Raytheon’s new space business is headquartered in Aurora.


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Feds to increase monitoring after Grizzly Creek fire raises risk of catastrophic landslides in Glenw

Feds to increase monitoring after Grizzly Creek fire raises risk of catastrophic landslides in Glenwood Canyon

Wildfires burning away trees and shrubs along the Interstate 70 corridor through Glenwood Canyon , perennially plagued by falling rocks , have raised risks of catastrophic landslides — prompting federal geologists to install more monitoring sensors .
Barren slopes above I-70 have become so unstable that modest rain could set off sediment catapulting far beyond flames , a U.S. Geological Survey assessment has found .
And federal authorities aim to improve early warning capabilities — even by a couple minutes — and minimize false alarms , to protect the growing population drawn by residential and commercial development around Glenwood Springs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined a team of federal hydrologists in Colorado on Thursday assessing the impacts of the 32,302-acre Grizzly Creek fire in Glenwood Canyon and the 139,006-acre Pine Gulch fire near Grand Junction in the broader context of climate change .
Adapting to landscapes where warming temperatures accelerate changes — rising sea levels , flooding , shifts to aridity — will require increased monitoring , Reilly and a team of agency scientists said in an interview .
And residents also must think carefully about how they are building and relating to the natural environment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildfires , which forced a shutdown of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon for two weeks , stood out as a cause of potentially cascading impacts .
“ The binding characteristics of the biomass from trees down to the soil itself , those are all things that got changed .
You lose that binding .
It ’ s going to increase the likelihood of seeing mass failures , slope failures , particularly on the steeper parts of that topography , ” Reilly said as firefighting commanders faced flash flood warnings .
Among danger zones prone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slopes that drain directly toward I-70 , the delicate Hanging Lake site that tourism industry boosters have promoted , and the rocky walls east of Glenwood Springs around the Shoshone power plant above the highway , an adjacent bicycling trail and headwaters of the Colorado River .
The sensors include cameras , automatic water samplers that can show changes in sediment movement , and devices that measure water temperature , acidity and turbidity .
USGS scientists have the ability to quickly install radar systems on bridges to watch water levels nationwide , Denver-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and landslides , or debris flows , can start within minutes of intense rainfall and , often , surges of water and sediment signal what may follow .
Next week , federal crews planned to install new instruments at four existing water-measuring gauges in the area , including gauges along the Colorado River above and below Glenwood Springs in an effort to anticipate trouble .
“ You can certainly say the probability is enhanced , or greatly enhanced by the fire .
… We obviously have a very high potential for significant impacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-fire hazard maps that the USGS put out this week .
“ The flow may not necessarily be a catastrophic debris flow at Hanging Lake , but there ’ s the potential for increased sediment and ash that could affect the quality of the ecosystem at Hanging Lake.
” Warnings would be conveyed , as at present , by meteorologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service — largely triggered by rates of rainfall .
Two-tenths of an inch in 15 minutes has been identified as a threshold around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s less than half an inch per hour and not an unusual rainstorm even in semi-arid Colorado , yet it could set off what the hydrologists described as significant debris flows that typically gain momentum leading to larger rock-ripping torrents downstream .
The scientists said more monitoring using precise instruments , combined with detailed mapping from aerial surveys , will help reduce the false alarms that authorities issued after the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire that destabilized the already crumbly , pinkish granite foothills west of Colorado Springs .
For decades , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the nation ’ s main hubs for hard climate science , from investigations of Antarctic ice that provided context for current atmospheric concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases ( currently at 412 parts per million , the highest level in human history ) to measuring the global average rate of sea level rise ( about 3 millimeters a year ) .
Monitoring instruments also help assess water quality , and after recent wildfires led to advance warning for water providers to close intake systems to prevent clogging as sediments thickened .
Wildfires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased organic carbon material and sediment , higher water temperatures and “ flashier ” stream flow , Grand Junction-based hydrologist Cory Williams said .
And the runoff in coming weeks from the Pine Gulch wildfire , now the largest in Colorado ’ s recorded history , likely will measure high in salinity and selenium , he said .
The USGS budget around $ 1 billion a year ranks less than other federal agencies — the Department of Defense receives more than $ 680 billion — despite growing evidence and concerns about climate warming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A 2018 federal assessment of climate change found that people moving away from coastlines would be unavoidable .
More funding for the USGS would help , Reilly said Thursday , but added that ’ s not likely to happen .
A former astronaut and exploration geologist , he has focused on “ force multiplier ” collaboration with other federal and state agencies and on re-organizing within the USGS to encourage “ integrated science ” related to immediate challenges .
Climate warming impacts vary around the country .
Drought conditions and insect infestations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landscape changes in Colorado and the West .
And past suppression of wildfires has loaded forests so that wildfires , when they ignite , tend to burn big .
Changing landscapes mean Americans must think carefully about their own position in the nature , Reilly said .
“ You have to be aware of your surroundings wherever you are building , ” he said .
“ You have to do what you can do to reduce the threat .
In Colorado ’ s rural areas , we tend to build pretty big houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our houses .
… Those can have an immediate impact on fire intensity .
We can do a lot better in how we manage our forests right now , removing as much of that loading as possible .
“ We also have to recognize that fire is part of a natural process .
Are we doing the best we can in not adding risk to situations in how we build ?
”

Wildfires burning away trees and shrubs along the Interstate 70 corridor through Glenwood Canyon, perennially plagued by falling rocks, have raised risks of catastrophic landslides — prompting federal geologists to install more monitoring sensors.
Barren slopes above I-70 have become so unstable that modest rain could set off sediment catapulting far beyond flames, a U.S. Geological Survey assessment has found.
And federal authorities aim to improve early warning capabilities — even by a couple minutes — and minimize false alarms, to protect the growing population drawn by residential and commercial development around Glenwood Springs.
U.S. Geological Survey director Jim Reilly joined a team of federal hydrologists in Colorado on Thursday assessing the impacts of the 32,302-acre Grizzly Creek fire in Glenwood Canyon and the 139,006-acre Pine Gulch fire near Grand Junction in the broader context of climate change.
Adapting to landscapes where warming temperatures accelerate changes — rising sea levels, flooding, shifts to aridity — will require increased monitoring, Reilly and a team of agency scientists said in an interview.
And residents also must think carefully about how they are building and relating to the natural environment, Reilly said. This summer’s wildfires, which forced a shutdown of I-70 through Glenwood Canyon for two weeks, stood out as a cause of potentially cascading impacts.
“The binding characteristics of the biomass from trees down to the soil itself, those are all things that got changed. You lose that binding. It’s going to increase the likelihood of seeing mass failures, slope failures, particularly on the steeper parts of that topography,” Reilly said as firefighting commanders faced flash flood warnings.
Among danger zones prone to post-fire slides in Glenwood Canyon were slopes that drain directly toward I-70, the delicate Hanging Lake site that tourism industry boosters have promoted, and the rocky walls east of Glenwood Springs around the Shoshone power plant above the highway, an adjacent bicycling trail and headwaters of the Colorado River.
The sensors include cameras, automatic water samplers that can show changes in sediment movement, and devices that measure water temperature, acidity and turbidity. USGS scientists have the ability to quickly install radar systems on bridges to watch water levels nationwide, Denver-based hydrologist John Fulton said. Flash floods and landslides, or debris flows, can start within minutes of intense rainfall and, often, surges of water and sediment signal what may follow.
Next week, federal crews planned to install new instruments at four existing water-measuring gauges in the area, including gauges along the Colorado River above and below Glenwood Springs in an effort to anticipate trouble.
“You can certainly say the probability is enhanced, or greatly enhanced by the fire. … We obviously have a very high potential for significant impacts,” Reilly said, referring to post-fire hazard maps that the USGS put out this week. “The flow may not necessarily be a catastrophic debris flow at Hanging Lake, but there’s the potential for increased sediment and ash that could affect the quality of the ecosystem at Hanging Lake.”
Warnings would be conveyed, as at present, by meteorologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service — largely triggered by rates of rainfall. Two-tenths of an inch in 15 minutes has been identified as a threshold around Glenwood Canyon for setting off slides.
That’s less than half an inch per hour and not an unusual rainstorm even in semi-arid Colorado, yet it could set off what the hydrologists described as significant debris flows that typically gain momentum leading to larger rock-ripping torrents downstream.
The scientists said more monitoring using precise instruments, combined with detailed mapping from aerial surveys, will help reduce the false alarms that authorities issued after the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire that destabilized the already crumbly, pinkish granite foothills west of Colorado Springs.
For decades, the U.S. Geological Survey has served as one of the nation’s main hubs for hard climate science, from investigations of Antarctic ice that provided context for current atmospheric concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases (currently at 412 parts per million, the highest level in human history) to measuring the global average rate of sea level rise (about 3 millimeters a year).
Monitoring instruments also help assess water quality, and after recent wildfires led to advance warning for water providers to close intake systems to prevent clogging as sediments thickened.
Wildfires that burn off vegetation typically lead to increased organic carbon material and sediment, higher water temperatures and “flashier” stream flow, Grand Junction-based hydrologist Cory Williams said. And the runoff in coming weeks from the Pine Gulch wildfire, now the largest in Colorado’s recorded history, likely will measure high in salinity and selenium, he said.
The USGS budget around $1 billion a year ranks less than other federal agencies — the Department of Defense receives more than $680 billion — despite growing evidence and concerns about climate warming impacts on people and the economy. A 2018 federal assessment of climate change found that people moving away from coastlines would be unavoidable.
More funding for the USGS would help, Reilly said Thursday, but added that’s not likely to happen. A former astronaut and exploration geologist, he has focused on “force multiplier” collaboration with other federal and state agencies and on re-organizing within the USGS to encourage “integrated science” related to immediate challenges.
Climate warming impacts vary around the country. Drought conditions and insect infestations in forests rank among the multiple drivers of landscape changes in Colorado and the West. And past suppression of wildfires has loaded forests so that wildfires, when they ignite, tend to burn big.
Changing landscapes mean Americans must think carefully about their own position in the nature, Reilly said.
“You have to be aware of your surroundings wherever you are building,” he said. “You have to do what you can do to reduce the threat. In Colorado’s rural areas, we tend to build pretty big houses and we love to have trees around our houses. … Those can have an immediate impact on fire intensity. We can do a lot better in how we manage our forests right now, removing as much of that loading as possible.
“We also have to recognize that fire is part of a natural process. Are we doing the best we can in not adding risk to situations in how we build?”


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--New tools, staff may reduce wait times for customer service from Colorado’s unemployment office

Kerry Torres ’ situation is desperate and she ’ s hardly alone .
The 44-year-old single mom first applied for unemployment in Colorado on June 26 after being laid off from her job , one of more than 736,0000 Coloradans to seek state benefits since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic .
To date , the Castle Rock resident has not received any money or been able to reach a human representative of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment .
Her most recent interaction with the unemployment office call center came roughly four weeks ago .
She spoke to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ automation software the state launched in July in hopes of making its unemployment call center more efficient .
The software couldn ’ t address her problem , so she scheduled a callback appointment .
The earliest date offered was Sept. 4 .
Now she waits while expenses pile up .
“ I have a month more of bills .
I am running out of money .
I ’ m trying to keep a roof over my son ’ s head .
What am I going to do ?
” Torres said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials are aware many people are facing long wait times for callback appointments .
The average is four to eight weeks , according to Cher Haavind , the department ’ s deputy executive director .
Department leaders emphasize they are taking steps to address the backlog .
• An automated call campaign this week seeking to reach all of the roughly 30,000 people in the callback queue for the state unemployment system to encourage them to try the virtual agent ’ s recently added fact-finding functions .
With the ability to collect information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s a tech upgrade that should be able to solve problems more quickly .
• The hire of 61 new department staff starting Sept. 14 .
Thirty of those people are expected to join the call center , working with 90 existing full-time employees and 14 temporary staffers handling callbacks .
The federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program has its own , separate call center .
“ As we do every single week , my team continues to work hard at finding efficiencies within our processes so that we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Jeff Fitzgerald , the state ’ s unemployment director , said Thursday .
“ As a result of that work they have found some additional capacity , and we continue on a weekly basis to open up more slots.
” The problem with opening up new slots — some as soon as Sept. 2 were available Thursday morning , Fitzgerald said — is they may go to people calling in with more recent problems , as opposed to people who have been waiting weeks or months like Torres .
The department is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address that he said .
The virtual agent , which can be accessed at colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/unemployment , has handled 580,000 user sessions since July and led to 25,000 callback sessions , Haavind said .
The online tool is much more accurate and effective than the call-in one , she added .
The labor department also is urging people using the system to help their fellow applicants out by canceling their appointment if they get their problem solved or become unavailable .
There is a 25 % no-show rate for callback appointments .
Canceling a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers online .

Kerry Torres’ situation is desperate and she’s hardly alone.
The 44-year-old single mom first applied for unemployment in Colorado on June 26 after being laid off from her job, one of more than 736,0000 Coloradans to seek state benefits since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the Castle Rock resident has not received any money or been able to reach a human representative of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
Her most recent interaction with the unemployment office call center came roughly four weeks ago. She spoke to the “virtual agent” — Google automation software the state launched in July in hopes of making its unemployment call center more efficient. The software couldn’t address her problem, so she scheduled a callback appointment. The earliest date offered was Sept. 4. Now she waits while expenses pile up.
“I have a month more of bills. I am running out of money. I’m trying to keep a roof over my son’s head. What am I going to do?” Torres said. “It’s horrible.”
Labor department officials are aware many people are facing long wait times for callback appointments. The average is four to eight weeks, according to Cher Haavind, the department’s deputy executive director.
Department leaders emphasize they are taking steps to address the backlog.
Those include:
An automated call campaign this week seeking to reach all of the roughly 30,000 people in the callback queue for the state unemployment system to encourage them to try the virtual agent’s recently added fact-finding functions. With the ability to collect information about questions that often bog down claims, it’s a tech upgrade that should be able to solve problems more quickly.
The hire of 61 new department staff starting Sept. 14. Thirty of those people are expected to join the call center, working with 90 existing full-time employees and 14 temporary staffers handling callbacks. The federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program has its own, separate call center.
Launching a Spanish-language version of the virtual agent Friday.
“As we do every single week, my team continues to work hard at finding efficiencies within our processes so that we can provide more callback sessions to claimants,” Jeff Fitzgerald, the state’s unemployment director, said Thursday. “As a result of that work they have found some additional capacity, and we continue on a weekly basis to open up more slots.”
The problem with opening up new slots — some as soon as Sept. 2 were available Thursday morning, Fitzgerald said — is they may go to people calling in with more recent problems, as opposed to people who have been waiting weeks or months like Torres. The department is working to find a technology fix to address that he said.
The virtual agent, which can be accessed at colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/unemployment, has handled 580,000 user sessions since July and led to 25,000 callback sessions, Haavind said. The online tool is much more accurate and effective than the call-in one, she added.
The labor department also is urging people using the system to help their fellow applicants out by canceling their appointment if they get their problem solved or become unavailable. There is a 25% no-show rate for callback appointments. Canceling a callback is an option the virtual agent offers online.


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Denver weather: Kiss the 90s goodbye as cold front comforts NE Colorado

Say goodbye to the hot and hazy weather .
There ’ s a 50 % chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms in Denver on Friday and the high temperature will be a seasonal 85 degrees .
A cooler , moist air mass is expected over northeastern and north central Colorado on Friday and Saturday , according to the National Weather Service .
Rain is expected in the mountains with a chance of rain on the Eastern Plains .
On Saturday in Denver there ’ s a slight chance for morning showers , with an afternoon shower likely and a possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service .
Skies will be partly sunny and the high temperature will hit 85 degrees .
The chance for precipitation is 60 % .
On Sunday the chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms drops to 10 % , with skies mostly sunny and a high temp near 89 degrees .
Monday ’ s high temperature in Denver should only muster 78 degrees , according to the weather service .
Skies will be sunny and there is just a slight chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms .
There ’ s a good chance for @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Say goodbye to the hot and hazy weather. There’s a 50% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms in Denver on Friday and the high temperature will be a seasonal 85 degrees.
A cooler, moist air mass is expected over northeastern and north central Colorado on Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Rain is expected in the mountains with a chance of rain on the Eastern Plains.
On Saturday in Denver there’s a slight chance for morning showers, with an afternoon shower likely and a possible afternoon thunderstorm, according to the weather service. Skies will be partly sunny and the high temperature will hit 85 degrees. The chance for precipitation is 60%.
On Sunday the chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms drops to 10%, with skies mostly sunny and a high temp near 89 degrees.
Monday’s high temperature in Denver should only muster 78 degrees, according to the weather service. Skies will be sunny and there is just a slight chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
There’s a good chance for mountain rainfall on Monday and Tuesday.


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Ask Amy: Dad wants to “Meet the Parents”

Dear Amy : My wife and I share your column at the breakfast table .
Can you settle this for us ?
Our son , a senior in college , claims that he has found the love of his life .
“ Ashley ” is also a senior .
They have been going out for over a year , and it is clear that he wants to marry her .
It seems like since he has made this emotional commitment , perhaps it would be time to meet her parents and family .
I wanted to invite them out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ golf , the pool , and a fancy dinner at our country club , but my wife didn ’ t think that was a good idea .
She claimed it was too soon to “ meet the parents.
” They live in a very upscale area , and I ’ m supposing that my wife has looked up what they paid for their house , how much fancier their country club is than ours , and is probably afraid that our standard of living won ’ t live up to their standards and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Is there an appropriate time for our families to get to know each other in this situation , especially given this perceived difference in financial net worth ?
Dear Eager : Even though you have submitted your question during a global pandemic , where — for some — a trip to the grocery store is considered a luxury , I ’ m going to pretend ( along with you ) that none of this is happening right now , and that life is more like a John Hughes movie than a zombie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his girlfriend seems to have compelled you to do a lot of projecting .
First of all , you are using this column to communicate with your wife .
Please , lower your paper , laptop , tablet or phone and speak directly to her .
Is she really so shallow that she would research another family ’ s net worth before inviting them to meet ?
Or perhaps you are so insecure about your own ( enviable ) privilege that you have forgotten that this is really supposed to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting is nerve-wracking , no matter what , but you are making this about you , when it really should be about your son .
You and your wife need to realign your values , and simply tell your son , “ We would like to spend more time with ‘ Ashley , ’ and also meet her folks when you two are ready.
” Also , in my opinion , an entire day at the club is way too much time to slot into a first meeting .
If you happen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as this other family when/if the students return , a quick coffee with all of you at the campus café might be the best way to meet .
Dear Amy : My husband and my core group of friends are all in our early to mid-70s .
We are all practicing our state ’ s mandates for people in our age group , which means safer-at-home , masks and social distancing when we do go out in public .
Because we are also isolated from our children and grandchildren , my husband and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these friends to see how they are faring and whether they need assistance obtaining groceries , medications or other necessities .
However , only one other person reciprocates !
Our friends usually say they are lonely , but they don ’ t seem to recognize that the same is probably true for the rest of the group .
Recently when I called one of these friends , she chastised me for not contacting her for a while .
I responded that perhaps she could have reached out to me and she didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep in touch , but am I selfish to wish they would call us once in a while to see how we ’ re doing ?
Dear Feeling Forgotten : You are doing a laudable job initiating this contact with friends .
You should be more transparent now in describing your own feelings , followed by a specific ask : “ I ’ m feeling lonely , too .
Could you do me a favor and call me sometimes , too ?
That would really make me happy.
” Dear Amy : Thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mom , ” regarding a vegan diet .
We raised our children on a vegan diet and they ’ ve done very well and have never been sick !
Dear Proud : I raised mine as omnivores and same result !
But yes , a vegan diet is safe and healthy for growing children .

Dear Amy: My wife and I share your column at the breakfast table. Can you settle this for us?
Our son, a senior in college, claims that he has found the love of his life. “Ashley” is also a senior. They have been going out for over a year, and it is clear that he wants to marry her.
It seems like since he has made this emotional commitment, perhaps it would be time to meet her parents and family.
I wanted to invite them out to our suburb to enjoy a round of golf, the pool, and a fancy dinner at our country club, but my wife didn’t think that was a good idea. She claimed it was too soon to “meet the parents.”
They live in a very upscale area, and I’m supposing that my wife has looked up what they paid for their house, how much fancier their country club is than ours, and is probably afraid that our standard of living won’t live up to their standards and will sour their outlook on our son.
This is hurtful.
Is there an appropriate time for our families to get to know each other in this situation, especially given this perceived difference in financial net worth?
— Eager Dad
Dear Eager: Even though you have submitted your question during a global pandemic, where — for some — a trip to the grocery store is considered a luxury, I’m going to pretend (along with you) that none of this is happening right now, and that life is more like a John Hughes movie than a zombie apocalypse.
Your son’s attachment to his girlfriend seems to have compelled you to do a lot of projecting.
First of all, you are using this column to communicate with your wife. Please, lower your paper, laptop, tablet or phone and speak directly to her.
Is she really so shallow that she would research another family’s net worth before inviting them to meet? Or perhaps you are so insecure about your own (enviable) privilege that you have forgotten that this is really supposed to be a human moment? Yes, two families meeting is nerve-wracking, no matter what, but you are making this about you, when it really should be about your son.
You and your wife need to realign your values, and simply tell your son, “We would like to spend more time with ‘Ashley,’ and also meet her folks when you two are ready.”
Also, in my opinion, an entire day at the club is way too much time to slot into a first meeting. If you happen to be on campus at the same time as this other family when/if the students return, a quick coffee with all of you at the campus café might be the best way to meet.
Dear Amy: My husband and my core group of friends are all in our early to mid-70s. We are all practicing our state’s mandates for people in our age group, which means safer-at-home, masks and social distancing when we do go out in public.
Because we are also isolated from our children and grandchildren, my husband and I have been communicating with each of these friends to see how they are faring and whether they need assistance obtaining groceries, medications or other necessities. However, only one other person reciprocates!
Our friends usually say they are lonely, but they don’t seem to recognize that the same is probably true for the rest of the group.
Recently when I called one of these friends, she chastised me for not contacting her for a while. I responded that perhaps she could have reached out to me and she didn’t respond. We will continue to keep in touch, but am I selfish to wish they would call us once in a while to see how we’re doing?
— Feeling Forgotten in Colorado
Dear Feeling Forgotten: You are doing a laudable job initiating this contact with friends. You should be more transparent now in describing your own feelings, followed by a specific ask: “I’m feeling lonely, too. Could you do me a favor and call me sometimes, too? That would really make me happy.”
Dear Amy: Thank you for your response to “Concerned Mom,” regarding a vegan diet. We raised our children on a vegan diet and they’ve done very well and have never been sick!
— Proud Vegan
Dear Proud: I raised mine as omnivores and same result! But yes, a vegan diet is safe and healthy for growing children.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Teen accused of killing 2 thrust into debate over protests

ANTIOCH , Ill. — A white 17-year-old who says he went to protests in Wisconsin to protect businesses and people has become a flashpoint in a debate over anti-racism demonstrations that have gripped many American cities and the vigilantism that has sometimes met them .
On Tuesday , Kyle Rittenhouse grabbed an AR-15 style rifle and joined several other armed people in the streets of Kenosha , where businesses had been vandalized and buildings burned following a police shooting that left Jacob Blake , a Black man , paralyzed .
By the end of the night , prosecutors say , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounded a third .
At a hearing Friday , a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse , who is in custody in Illinois , should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges , including first-degree intentional homicide that could land him in prison for the rest of his life .
To some , Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters .
But to others — who have become frustrated with demonstrations and unrest across the country — he ’ s seen as a hero who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were left unprotected .
“ Kyle is an innocent boy who justifiably exercised his fundamental right of self-defense .
In doing so , he likely saved his own life and possibly the lives of others , ” said Lin Wood , a prominent Atlanta attorney who is now part of a team representing Rittenhouse .
The protests in Kenosha are just the latest to erupt during a reckoning over policing and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
As they have in other cities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some points , and the National Guard was called in .
The commander of the force said Friday over 1,000 guard members had been deployed , and more were on the way .
Rittenhouse , once part of a youth cadet program for aspiring police officers , can be seen on his Facebook page posing in a blue police uniform with a silver badge and broad-brimmed hat .
In other online photos and videos , he takes target practice and brandishes a rifle above the caption , “ Blue Lives Matter.
” On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of a boarded-up building , he spoke to a reporter from the Daily Caller news site .
“ People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business , ” Rittenhouse said .
“ And part of my job is to also help people .
If there is somebody hurt , I ’ m running into harm ’ s way .
That ’ s why I have my rifle.
” Rittenhouse and a friend armed themselves on Tuesday and made their way to a mechanic shop whose owner had put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a statement from John Pierce , an attorney representing Rittenhouse .
In the attorney ’ s description of events , Rittenhouse had tried to offer medical help to injured people before he was “ accosted by multiple rioters , ” leading him to open fire .
The hashtag # FreeKyleRittenhouse has trended on Twitter , a self-described Christian fundraising site , GiveSendGo , says it has raised more than $ 100,000 for Rittenhouse ’ s defense , and a post including photos of Rittenhouse cleaning up graffiti in Kenosha before the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The night of the shootings , Rittenhouse is seen on video as a green-shirted figure running across a parking lot with a rifle followed by a man later identified as Joseph Rosenbaum , 36 , according to a criminal complaint .
Rosenbaum throws a plastic bag at Rittenhouse , misses , then five shots ring out , and Rosenbaum falls to the ground .
He later was declared dead .
“ I just killed somebody , ” Rittenhouse says into his cellphone , according to the complaint , and he starts running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beat him up !
” one person in the crowd says .
Another yells , “ Get him !
Get that dude !
” Rittenhouse trips and falls .
One man holding a skateboard appears to try to grab the gun from Rittenhouse .
A shot rings out , and the man , Anthony Huber , 26 , staggers away .
He also died .
In the scuffle , lasting just seconds , Rittenhouse shoots a third person armed with a handgun , according to the complaint .
That man , Gaige Grosskreutz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his arm but has survived .
After the shootings , Rittenhouse can be seen walking toward police with his gun slung over his shoulder and his hands in the air .
Police riding in tactical vehicles roll right past him .
He later turned himself in in his hometown of Antioch , Illinois , according to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis .
The police have faced questions about that response .
On Friday , Miskinis described a chaotic scene to reporters and said that “ there was nothing to suggest that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any criminal behavior.
” Miskinis said it was not a lapse in judgment to not stop Rittenhouse and ask for identification to see if he was old enough to carry a weapon , given the number of people on the street , many wearing masks that obscured their faces .
Wisconsin allows gun owners to openly carry in public , but a person under 18 can ’ t legally possess or carry a firearm unless that person is hunting or target practicing with an adult or in the military .
Before the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanking the group Rittenhouse was with for their help and tossing them bottles of water .
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters Friday those officers were not his deputies .
He added that he was not asking armed citizens to help law enforcement respond to unrest .
Before the shooting , Rittenhouse lived in a quiet apartment complex a half-hour ’ s drive away from Kenosha , with his single mother , Wendy Rittenhouse , a 45-year-old nursing assistant who filed for bankruptcy two years ago .
Jeanie Quillin , who lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not know the Rittenhouses but said area residents were on edge over the teen ’ s arrest and their fears that the demonstrations could come to their doorsteps .
“ I want to know how a 17-year-old could get ahold of an AR-15 , ” she added .
Rittenhouse ’ s mother did not return calls Thursday , and the nursing home listed in court papers as her employer , Libertyville Manor , would not confirm she still worked there .
Rittenhouse dropped out of high school during the 2017-18 school year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school district official sent to The Washington Post .
A year earlier , court records show , his mother had asked for an order of protection from police for Rittenhouse and his now 19-year-old sister , McKenzie , saying that a 13-year-old bully was calling her son “ dumb ” and “ stupid ” and threatening him .
She eventually dropped the matter .
On his social media posts , Rittenhouse appeared to be an enthusiastic participant in the Public Safety Cadet program run by local police departments that trains 14- to 21-year-olds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beyond confirming he was involved , the Grayslake Police Department would not comment further .
On his 16th birthday , he appealed to Facebook friends to help him celebrate by donating to a nonprofit supporting police called Humanizing the Badge .
Rittenhouse also did a stint as a part-time lifeguard at the YMCA in Lindenhurst , Illinois , according to Man-Yan Lee , a representative for the organization ’ s metro Chicago branch .
He was furloughed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic .
In videos on his TikTok account , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen assembling and disassembling a rifle and what appears to be a shotgun .
“ Bruh , I ’ m just tryna be famous , ” he says on his TikTok bio page .
Condon reported from New York .
Associated Press writers Scott Bauer and Todd Richmond in Madison , Wisconsin ; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas ; Don Babwin and Sophia Tareen in Chicago ; Tammy Webber in Fenton , Michigan ; and David Klepper in Providence , Rhode Island , contributed , as did news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York @

ANTIOCH, Ill. — A white 17-year-old who says he went to protests in Wisconsin to protect businesses and people has become a flashpoint in a debate over anti-racism demonstrations that have gripped many American cities and the vigilantism that has sometimes met them.
On Tuesday, Kyle Rittenhouse grabbed an AR-15 style rifle and joined several other armed people in the streets of Kenosha, where businesses had been vandalized and buildings burned following a police shooting that left Jacob Blake, a Black man, paralyzed. By the end of the night, prosecutors say, Rittenhouse had killed two people and severely wounded a third.
At a hearing Friday, a judge postponed a decision on whether Rittenhouse, who is in custody in Illinois, should be returned to Wisconsin to face charges, including first-degree intentional homicide that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.
To some, Rittenhouse is a domestic terrorist whose very presence with a rifle incited the protesters. But to others — who have become frustrated with demonstrations and unrest across the country — he’s seen as a hero who took up arms to protect people who were left unprotected.
“Kyle is an innocent boy who justifiably exercised his fundamental right of self-defense. In doing so, he likely saved his own life and possibly the lives of others,” said Lin Wood, a prominent Atlanta attorney who is now part of a team representing Rittenhouse.
The protests in Kenosha are just the latest to erupt during a reckoning over policing and racial injustice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. As they have in other cities, rallies devolved into violence and vandalism at some points, and the National Guard was called in. The commander of the force said Friday over 1,000 guard members had been deployed, and more were on the way.
Rittenhouse, once part of a youth cadet program for aspiring police officers, can be seen on his Facebook page posing in a blue police uniform with a silver badge and broad-brimmed hat. In other online photos and videos, he takes target practice and brandishes a rifle above the caption, “Blue Lives Matter.”
On Tuesday night, as Rittenhouse stood in front of a boarded-up building, he spoke to a reporter from the Daily Caller news site.
“People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business,” Rittenhouse said. “And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, I’m running into harm’s way. That’s why I have my rifle.”
Rittenhouse and a friend armed themselves on Tuesday and made their way to a mechanic shop whose owner had put out a call for protection, according to a statement from John Pierce, an attorney representing Rittenhouse. In the attorney’s description of events, Rittenhouse had tried to offer medical help to injured people before he was “accosted by multiple rioters,” leading him to open fire.
The hashtag #FreeKyleRittenhouse has trended on Twitter, a self-described Christian fundraising site, GiveSendGo, says it has raised more than $100,000 for Rittenhouse’s defense, and a post including photos of Rittenhouse cleaning up graffiti in Kenosha before the shooting was shared and liked thousands of times.
The night of the shootings, Rittenhouse is seen on video as a green-shirted figure running across a parking lot with a rifle followed by a man later identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, according to a criminal complaint. Rosenbaum throws a plastic bag at Rittenhouse, misses, then five shots ring out, and Rosenbaum falls to the ground. He later was declared dead.
“I just killed somebody,” Rittenhouse says into his cellphone, according to the complaint, and he starts running and several people give chase. “Beat him up!” one person in the crowd says. Another yells, “Get him! Get that dude!”
Rittenhouse trips and falls. One man holding a skateboard appears to try to grab the gun from Rittenhouse. A shot rings out, and the man, Anthony Huber, 26, staggers away. He also died.
In the scuffle, lasting just seconds, Rittenhouse shoots a third person armed with a handgun, according to the complaint. That man, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, has a deep wound to his arm but has survived.
After the shootings, Rittenhouse can be seen walking toward police with his gun slung over his shoulder and his hands in the air. Police riding in tactical vehicles roll right past him. He later turned himself in in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois, according to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis.
The police have faced questions about that response.
On Friday, Miskinis described a chaotic scene to reporters and said that “there was nothing to suggest that this person (Rittenhouse) was involved in any criminal behavior.”
Miskinis said it was not a lapse in judgment to not stop Rittenhouse and ask for identification to see if he was old enough to carry a weapon, given the number of people on the street, many wearing masks that obscured their faces.
Wisconsin allows gun owners to openly carry in public, but a person under 18 can’t legally possess or carry a firearm unless that person is hunting or target practicing with an adult or in the military.
Before the shooting, some officers were seen on video thanking the group Rittenhouse was with for their help and tossing them bottles of water.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told reporters Friday those officers were not his deputies. He added that he was not asking armed citizens to help law enforcement respond to unrest.
Before the shooting, Rittenhouse lived in a quiet apartment complex a half-hour’s drive away from Kenosha, with his single mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, a 45-year-old nursing assistant who filed for bankruptcy two years ago.
Jeanie Quillin, who lived in an apartment building next door, did not know the Rittenhouses but said area residents were on edge over the teen’s arrest and their fears that the demonstrations could come to their doorsteps.
“I want to know how a 17-year-old could get ahold of an AR-15,” she added.
Rittenhouse’s mother did not return calls Thursday, and the nursing home listed in court papers as her employer, Libertyville Manor, would not confirm she still worked there.
Rittenhouse dropped out of high school during the 2017-18 school year, according to a statement from a school district official sent to The Washington Post. A year earlier, court records show, his mother had asked for an order of protection from police for Rittenhouse and his now 19-year-old sister, McKenzie, saying that a 13-year-old bully was calling her son “dumb” and “stupid” and threatening him. She eventually dropped the matter.
On his social media posts, Rittenhouse appeared to be an enthusiastic participant in the Public Safety Cadet program run by local police departments that trains 14- to 21-year-olds in the basics of law enforcement. Beyond confirming he was involved, the Grayslake Police Department would not comment further.
On his 16th birthday, he appealed to Facebook friends to help him celebrate by donating to a nonprofit supporting police called Humanizing the Badge.
Rittenhouse also did a stint as a part-time lifeguard at the YMCA in Lindenhurst, Illinois, according to Man-Yan Lee, a representative for the organization’s metro Chicago branch. He was furloughed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In videos on his TikTok account, which has just 25 followers, he is seen assembling and disassembling a rifle and what appears to be a shotgun.
“Bruh, I’m just tryna be famous,” he says on his TikTok bio page.
___
Condon reported from New York. Associated Press writers Scott Bauer and Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin; Jake Bleiberg in Dallas; Don Babwin and Sophia Tareen in Chicago; Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan; and David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed, as did news researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York.


thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Rockies’ aggression on the basepaths is paying dividends

Third-base coach Stu Cole and first-base coach Ron Gideon are making sure the Rockies keep pushing the action on the basepaths , especially during this shortened 60-game season .
“ Ron has done a great job with the guys , going over video and studying opposing pitchers , ” Cole said prior to Friday night ’ s game between the Rockies and San Diego at Coors Field .
“ Guys are looking for keys from the pitchers , and our guys have really taken to it .
I think that ’ s why we ’ ve been successful with stolen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homework.
” The Rockies had 21 stolen bases entering Friday ’ s game , third-most in the National League behind the Padres ( 29 ) and the Marlins ( 27 ) .
Would-be Rockies base thieves had been thrown out only three times .
Shortstop Trevor Story led the team with eight swipes in nine attempts , followed by outfielder Raimel Tapia ( 4-for-5 ) , Sam Hilliard ( 3-for-3 ) and Garrett Hampson ( 3-for-3 ) .
Story had three stolen bases over his last two games , including his third career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What ’ s more , Story ’ s speed has helped him score 29 runs , tied for second in the NL with San Francisco ’ s Mike Yastrzemski , both of whom trailed Padres ’ Fernando Tatis Jr. ( 31 ) .
“ Trevor has become one of the game ’ s elite baserunners , ” Cole said .
“ Anytime he gets on base , he ’ s looking for the next phase .
He ’ s looking to go from second to home or first to third .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll score on a bang-bang play to first base .
He ’ s worked hard on all of those things.
” No .
42 .
Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day on Friday , four months later than usual because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Jackie Robinson Day is customarily held on April 15 , marking the anniversary of his breaking baseball ’ s color line in 1947 .
Robinson was honored on Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom .
For Cole , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and raised in Charlotte , N.C. , it ’ s always a special day .
“ I know the guys enjoy playing on the day when number 42 is honored , ” Cole said .
“ And for me , it ’ s a special day because Jackie Robinson was one of the guys that we talked about when I was a kid , and then growing up playing baseball and getting an opportunity to play in college and also at the professional level .
“ So this is a special day for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure this is a special day for everybody.
” Footnotes .
Outfielder David Dahl ( sore back and side ) , and right-handers Chi Chi Gonzalez ( right biceps tendinitis ) and Wade Davis ( shoulder strain ) are all close to returning from the injured list .
Davis threw a bullpen on Tuesday and manager Bud Black said he ’ s making steady progress .
… Black also said that Joe Harvey ’ s right elbow sprain that landed him on the 45-day injured list and cost him the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The team plans to do more tests on Harvey ’ s elbow ligaments .
On Deck Padres TBD at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela ( 3-1 , 3.96 , ERA ) 6:10 p.m. Saturday , Coors Field TV : AT & T SportsNet Radio : KOA 850 AM/94.1 AM Senzatela needs to rebound from his first rocky performance of the season .
He got shelled in Los Angeles , allowing six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Dodgers .
He gave up four home runs , tying a club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a road game .
But the right-hander has enjoyed success vs. the Padres .
On Aug. 2 at Coors Field , he gave up one run on four hits over six innings as Colorado won , 9-6 .
Senzatela is 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA as a starter vs. San Diego , including a 4-0 record with a 3.28 ERA in four games at Coors .
The Padres had yet to announce their starter for Saturday ’ s game .
Trending : According to STATS , Colorado entered Friday night ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 11 consecutive home games vs. San Diego , the third-longest streak against a single opponent in franchise history .
At issue : Hard-throwing right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz entered the weekend tied for third in the National League with 14 appearances , however , opponents were hitting .327 against him , including right-handers who were hitting .458 ( 11-for-24 ) .
Pitching Probables : Sunday : Padres Chris Paddack ( 2-3 , 5.15 ) at Rockies RHP Ryan Castellani ( 1-1 , 3.54 ) , 1:10 p.m. , ATTRM Monday : Padres TBD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 4.50 ) , 7:40 p.m. , ATTRM Tuesday : Giants RHP Logan Webb ( 2-3 , 4.75 ) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray ( 5.45 ) , 6:40 p.m. , ATTRM

Third-base coach Stu Cole and first-base coach Ron Gideon are making sure the Rockies keep pushing the action on the basepaths, especially during this shortened 60-game season.
“Ron has done a great job with the guys, going over video and studying opposing pitchers,” Cole said prior to Friday night’s game between the Rockies and San Diego at Coors Field. “Guys are looking for keys from the pitchers, and our guys have really taken to it. I think that’s why we’ve been successful with stolen bases, because guys are doing their homework.”
The Rockies had 21 stolen bases entering Friday’s game, third-most in the National League behind the Padres (29) and the Marlins (27). Would-be Rockies base thieves had been thrown out only three times. Shortstop Trevor Story led the team with eight swipes in nine attempts, followed by outfielder Raimel Tapia (4-for-5), Sam Hilliard (3-for-3) and Garrett Hampson (3-for-3).
Story had three stolen bases over his last two games, including his third career multi-steal game on Tuesday at Arizona. What’s more, Story’s speed has helped him score 29 runs, tied for second in the NL with San Francisco’s Mike Yastrzemski, both of whom trailed Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. (31).
“Trevor has become one of the game’s elite baserunners,” Cole said. “Anytime he gets on base, he’s looking for the next phase. He’s looking to go from second to home or first to third. If you fall asleep on him, he’ll score on a bang-bang play to first base. He’s worked hard on all of those things.”
No. 42. Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day on Friday, four months later than usual because of the coronavirus pandemic. Jackie Robinson Day is customarily held on April 15, marking the anniversary of his breaking baseball’s color line in 1947.
Robinson was honored on Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. For Cole, a 54-year-old Black man who was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C., it’s always a special day.
“I know the guys enjoy playing on the day when number 42 is honored,” Cole said. “And for me, it’s a special day because Jackie Robinson was one of the guys that we talked about when I was a kid, and then growing up playing baseball and getting an opportunity to play in college and also at the professional level.
“So this is a special day for me, and I’m pretty sure this is a special day for everybody.”
Footnotes. Outfielder David Dahl (sore back and side), and right-handers Chi Chi Gonzalez (right biceps tendinitis) and Wade Davis (shoulder strain) are all close to returning from the injured list. Davis threw a bullpen on Tuesday and manager Bud Black said he’s making steady progress. … Black also said that Joe Harvey’s right elbow sprain that landed him on the 45-day injured list and cost him the rest of the 2020 season is “a little concerning.” The team plans to do more tests on Harvey’s elbow ligaments.
On Deck
Padres TBD at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (3-1, 3.96, ERA)
6:10 p.m. Saturday, Coors Field
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 AM
Senzatela needs to rebound from his first rocky performance of the season. He got shelled in Los Angeles, allowing six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Dodgers. He gave up four home runs, tying a club record for most home runs given up in a road game. But the right-hander has enjoyed success vs. the Padres. On Aug. 2 at Coors Field, he gave up one run on four hits over six innings as Colorado won, 9-6. Senzatela is 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA as a starter vs. San Diego, including a 4-0 record with a 3.28 ERA in four games at Coors. The Padres had yet to announce their starter for Saturday’s game.
Trending: According to STATS, Colorado entered Friday night’s game having scored at least six runs in 11 consecutive home games vs. San Diego, the third-longest streak against a single opponent in franchise history.
At issue: Hard-throwing right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz entered the weekend tied for third in the National League with 14 appearances, however, opponents were hitting .327 against him, including right-handers who were hitting .458 (11-for-24).
Pitching Probables:
Sunday: Padres Chris Paddack (2-3, 5.15) at Rockies RHP Ryan Castellani (1-1, 3.54), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Monday: Padres TBD at Rockies RHP German Marquez (2-4, 4.50), 7:40 p.m., ATTRM
Tuesday: Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-3, 4.75) at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (5.45), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM


thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay the sole survivors to par at Olympia Fields

OLYMPIA FIELDS , Ill. — Rory McIlroy doesn ’ t need fans to keep his head in the game at the BMW Championship .
Olympia Fields is so tough it won ’ t allow anything but his full attention on every shot .
McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay made their share of mistakes Friday and shrugged them off because that ’ s bound to happen on the toughest test the PGA Tour has seen this year .
By the end of another steamy afternoon south of Chicago , they were the sole survivors to par .
One week after McIlroy admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around to provide the cheers , he had a 1-under 69 to share the 36-hole lead with Cantlay .
It was plenty tough for Tiger Woods , whose PGA Tour season appears to be two rounds from being over .
He didn ’ t have enough good shots to atone for his bad ones , and he had to make a 35-foot par putt on his final hole to shoot 75 , leaving him nine shots behind .
Woods was toward the bottom of the pack at a tournament where he needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top 30 who advance to the Tour Championship .
Cantlay holed a 50-foot chip for birdie , and holed out a 50-yard wedge for eagle .
He also missed the green on three of the par 3s , the last one leading to a double bogey .
He finished with a 6-iron out of the thick rough and made a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole .
It added to a 68 , matching the best score of the round .
They were at 1-under 139 , one shot ahead of Hideki @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going in opposite directions when it was time to sign their scorecards .
Matsuyama , the only player to reach 4 under at any point this week , dropped four shots over his last 10 holes for a 73 .
Johnson finished birdie-birdie for 69 .
The phrase “ U.S .
Open ” is being heard a lot more than “ FedEx Cup ” this week .
“ I think the test is what ’ s helped me focus and concentrate because if you lose focus out there for one second … just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you around here , ” McIlroy said .
“ I think one of the big keys this week is just not making big numbers .
If you hit it out of position , get it back in position , make sure that your worse score is bogey and move on .
Honestly , bogeys aren ’ t that bad out here.
” He made a mistake on the 14th hole by going long and left , and only a great wedge to a back pin to 5 feet kept him from a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ par putt .
He flirted with trouble later in his round on the fifth hole with a wedge from 134 yards that came up 30 yards short , the pin tucked behind a big bunker .
He left that in collar short of the green and got up-and-down for bogey .
Cantlay doesn ’ t expect to hole out twice a round with wedges and hopes he can sharpen up his game a little .
Still , he loves the idea of having to think and plot his way around the course .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a test as you would want , ” Cantlay said .
“ It ’ s very , very difficult , and you have to play from the fairway , and you have to play from below the hole , frankly .
The greens have so much slope on them that you really need to be putting uphill .
And so if you ’ re in the rough , it gets exponentially harder to do that.
” For those playing well — anywhere within a few shots of par in this case — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone , regardless of the score , it was a grind .
“ I don ’ t know if any rain will matter , really , ” Kevin Kisner said after a bogey-bogey finish ruined an otherwise good day and gave him a 70 , leaving him three shots behind .
“ I think even par wins the golf tournament.
” Doesn ’ t 280 always win the U.S. Open ?
That ’ s what Arnold Palmer used to say .
And this feels like a U.S. Open .
Go back to Shinnecock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open to find the last time someone won at over par ( Brooks Koepka ) .
For non-majors , the tour said over par hasn ’ t won since Bruce Lietzke at the Byron Nelson Classic in 1981 .
It ’ s a massive change from last week , when Johnson won by 11 shots at 30-under 254 .
“ Last week was fun , too , ” Johnson said .
“ But this week is more of a grind , that ’ s for sure .
Every single hole out here is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really be focused on every shot that you hit.
” Among those two shots behind was Louis Oosthuizen , whose birdie in the dark on the final hole last week at the TPC Boston moved him to No .
70 to qualify for the BMW Championship .
“ This is the golf course I needed to do what I must do , ” he said of moving into the top 30 .
“ Look , this can go really south on you quickly .
You can shoot 6 , 7 over on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you really stick to it and play middle of the greens and lag those putts , you can make a lot of pars .
And you ’ re not going to lose spots if you ’ re making pars .
”

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — Rory McIlroy doesn’t need fans to keep his head in the game at the BMW Championship. Olympia Fields is so tough it won’t allow anything but his full attention on every shot.
McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay made their share of mistakes Friday and shrugged them off because that’s bound to happen on the toughest test the PGA Tour has seen this year.
By the end of another steamy afternoon south of Chicago, they were the sole survivors to par.
One week after McIlroy admitted to going through the motions without spectators around to provide the cheers, he had a 1-under 69 to share the 36-hole lead with Cantlay.
It was plenty tough for Tiger Woods, whose PGA Tour season appears to be two rounds from being over.
He didn’t have enough good shots to atone for his bad ones, and he had to make a 35-foot par putt on his final hole to shoot 75, leaving him nine shots behind. Woods was toward the bottom of the pack at a tournament where he needs to finish around fourth to be among the top 30 who advance to the Tour Championship.
Cantlay holed a 50-foot chip for birdie, and holed out a 50-yard wedge for eagle. He also missed the green on three of the par 3s, the last one leading to a double bogey. He finished with a 6-iron out of the thick rough and made a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. It added to a 68, matching the best score of the round.
They were at 1-under 139, one shot ahead of Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson, who were going in opposite directions when it was time to sign their scorecards. Matsuyama, the only player to reach 4 under at any point this week, dropped four shots over his last 10 holes for a 73. Johnson finished birdie-birdie for 69.
The phrase “U.S. Open” is being heard a lot more than “FedEx Cup” this week.
“I think the test is what’s helped me focus and concentrate because if you lose focus out there for one second … just one lapse in concentration can really cost you around here,” McIlroy said. “I think one of the big keys this week is just not making big numbers. If you hit it out of position, get it back in position, make sure that your worse score is bogey and move on. Honestly, bogeys aren’t that bad out here.”
He made a mistake on the 14th hole by going long and left, and only a great wedge to a back pin to 5 feet kept him from a big blunder, even though he missed the par putt. He flirted with trouble later in his round on the fifth hole with a wedge from 134 yards that came up 30 yards short, the pin tucked behind a big bunker. He left that in collar short of the green and got up-and-down for bogey.
Cantlay doesn’t expect to hole out twice a round with wedges and hopes he can sharpen up his game a little. Still, he loves the idea of having to think and plot his way around the course.
“It’s about as stiff of a test as you would want,” Cantlay said. “It’s very, very difficult, and you have to play from the fairway, and you have to play from below the hole, frankly. The greens have so much slope on them that you really need to be putting uphill. And so if you’re in the rough, it gets exponentially harder to do that.”
For those playing well — anywhere within a few shots of par in this case — it was an enjoyable challenge. For everyone, regardless of the score, it was a grind.
“I don’t know if any rain will matter, really,” Kevin Kisner said after a bogey-bogey finish ruined an otherwise good day and gave him a 70, leaving him three shots behind. “I think even par wins the golf tournament.”
Doesn’t 280 always win the U.S. Open? That’s what Arnold Palmer used to say.
And this feels like a U.S. Open.
Go back to Shinnecock Hills two years ago in the U.S. Open to find the last time someone won at over par (Brooks Koepka). For non-majors, the tour said over par hasn’t won since Bruce Lietzke at the Byron Nelson Classic in 1981.
It’s a massive change from last week, when Johnson won by 11 shots at 30-under 254.
“Last week was fun, too,” Johnson said. “But this week is more of a grind, that’s for sure. Every single hole out here is difficult. You’ve got to really be focused on every shot that you hit.”
Among those two shots behind was Louis Oosthuizen, whose birdie in the dark on the final hole last week at the TPC Boston moved him to No. 70 to qualify for the BMW Championship.
“This is the golf course I needed to do what I must do,” he said of moving into the top 30. “Look, this can go really south on you quickly. You can shoot 6, 7 over on this golf course very quickly. But if you really stick to it and play middle of the greens and lag those putts, you can make a lot of pars. And you’re not going to lose spots if you’re making pars.”