thedenverpost--2020-11-30--Colorado’s Joe Neguse continues rapid rise within U.S. House leadership

U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse ’ s recent election to a position within House leadership puts the rising Democratic star on an impressive trajectory at the age of 36 .
Neguse , of Lafayette , was unanimously elected co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee , the No .
8 position in House leadership .
He ’ s the youngest member of leadership and will be the first sophomore congressman to serve as DPCC co-chair .
“ Joe Neguse is brilliant , hard-working , personable and strategic .
That ’ s a powerful combination and a recipe for tremendous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Representatives , ” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries , a New York Democrat .
In a Democratic caucus led by an 80-year-old speaker , an 81-year-old majority leader and an 80-year-old whip , turnover at the top is expected soon and Neguse has placed himself in the line of succession , should he choose to remain in the U.S. House for long .
Barring an unusual redistricting next year , Neguse ’ s 2nd Congressional District will remain solidly Democratic — it hasn ’ t elected a Republican since Watergate , and Neguse won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 percentage points .
It can also be a stepping stone : of his four most recent predecessors , three went on to be either senator or governor , a prominence no other Colorado district can boast of .
It ’ s a popular parlor game among Democratic politicos in Colorado to speculate about Neguse ’ s next moves , which all expect to continue an ascendant career .
Even Rep. Ken Buck , chair of the Colorado GOP , has praised Neguse , a fellow Judiciary Committee member he has gotten to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as a personable and talented politician .
The DPCC is the messaging arm for House Democrats , a caucus that will have the narrowest majority in decades — probably 222 seats , to 213 Republican seats — next year after unexpected losses Nov. 3 .
It ’ s a caucus that has faced infighting this month between liberals and moderates over messaging ; moderates say liberal messages like “ defund the police ” cost swing state Democrats their reelection .
“ I think our messaging at the national level — and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay focused on the core values that are shared by everyone in the caucus , ” Neguse said when asked about the internal politics in an interview Tuesday .
“ To me , that ’ s sort of the central thrust of the DPCC ’ s work : trying to convene every member of the caucus to ensure they all have a seat at the table — the most liberal members of our caucus and the most conservative members — to make their case ” and then crafting a message that encompasses all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a task easier said than done .
Neguse , who is prone to a sprightly optimism , has spent months talking with colleagues from across the political spectrum about the Democratic caucus ’ s policy and messaging priorities .
Several of those colleagues — moderates and progressives alike — say Neguse , a Boulder County liberal himself , is well positioned to bridge the caucus ’ s philosophical canyons in years to come .
“ I can see why he ’ s achieved so much at such a young age , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate from Minnesota and friend of Neguse .
“ He combines a very progressive heart with an equally pragmatic head , which is a great combination in the Democratic caucus .
He has made decency cool again.
” Rep. Deb Haaland , a New Mexico progressive , said he is skilled and strategic .
Jeffries , who served with Neguse on the Judiciary Committee during last December ’ s impeachment hearings , said Neguse compelled Democrats to be disciplined and on-message as they spoke about the president ’ s actions .
“ Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temptation to message to our respective progressive districts , one of the things that would bring the country together was to identify a unifying message around presidential accountability , ” Jeffries recalled in an interview Wednesday .
“ Joe is certainly a rising star in the House Democratic caucus , ” added Jeffries , who may be the next Democratic speaker of the House , “ and the best is yet to come .
”

U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse’s recent election to a position within House leadership puts the rising Democratic star on an impressive trajectory at the age of 36.
Neguse, of Lafayette, was unanimously elected co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, the No. 8 position in House leadership. He’s the youngest member of leadership and will be the first sophomore congressman to serve as DPCC co-chair.
“Joe Neguse is brilliant, hard-working, personable and strategic. That’s a powerful combination and a recipe for tremendous success in the United States House of Representatives,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat.
In a Democratic caucus led by an 80-year-old speaker, an 81-year-old majority leader and an 80-year-old whip, turnover at the top is expected soon and Neguse has placed himself in the line of succession, should he choose to remain in the U.S. House for long.
Barring an unusual redistricting next year, Neguse’s 2nd Congressional District will remain solidly Democratic — it hasn’t elected a Republican since Watergate, and Neguse won elections in 2018 and this month by 26 percentage points. It can also be a stepping stone: of his four most recent predecessors, three went on to be either senator or governor, a prominence no other Colorado district can boast of.
It’s a popular parlor game among Democratic politicos in Colorado to speculate about Neguse’s next moves, which all expect to continue an ascendant career. Even Rep. Ken Buck, chair of the Colorado GOP, has praised Neguse, a fellow Judiciary Committee member he has gotten to know on flights to and from Washington, as a personable and talented politician.
The DPCC is the messaging arm for House Democrats, a caucus that will have the narrowest majority in decades — probably 222 seats, to 213 Republican seats — next year after unexpected losses Nov. 3. It’s a caucus that has faced infighting this month between liberals and moderates over messaging; moderates say liberal messages like “defund the police” cost swing state Democrats their reelection.
“I think our messaging at the national level — and in the House Democratic caucus — ought to stay focused on the core values that are shared by everyone in the caucus,” Neguse said when asked about the internal politics in an interview Tuesday.
“To me, that’s sort of the central thrust of the DPCC’s work: trying to convene every member of the caucus to ensure they all have a seat at the table — the most liberal members of our caucus and the most conservative members — to make their case” and then crafting a message that encompasses all views, the congressman added.
It’s a task easier said than done. Neguse, who is prone to a sprightly optimism, has spent months talking with colleagues from across the political spectrum about the Democratic caucus’s policy and messaging priorities. Several of those colleagues — moderates and progressives alike — say Neguse, a Boulder County liberal himself, is well positioned to bridge the caucus’s philosophical canyons in years to come.
“I can see why he’s achieved so much at such a young age,” said Rep. Dean Phillips, a moderate from Minnesota and friend of Neguse. “He combines a very progressive heart with an equally pragmatic head, which is a great combination in the Democratic caucus. He has made decency cool again.”
Rep. Deb Haaland, a New Mexico progressive, said he is skilled and strategic. Jeffries, who served with Neguse on the Judiciary Committee during last December’s impeachment hearings, said Neguse compelled Democrats to be disciplined and on-message as they spoke about the president’s actions.
“Joe understood intrinsically that while there was a temptation to message to our respective progressive districts, one of the things that would bring the country together was to identify a unifying message around presidential accountability,” Jeffries recalled in an interview Wednesday.
“Joe is certainly a rising star in the House Democratic caucus,” added Jeffries, who may be the next Democratic speaker of the House, “and the best is yet to come.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-30--Metro Denver’s housing market has staying power, but it will need to get through a bumpy winter

Metro Denver ’ s housing market seems unstoppable , setting record after record in the resale market and leading the country for the gain in pending new home sales .
But the rising tide of COVID-19 cases and the economic disruption they will trigger are raising concerns about the staying power of the housing recovery both here and across the country .
“ If there is a nationwide lockdown , it will be very harmful to the economy , a devastating blow , ” Lawrence Yun , chief economist with the National Association of Realtors recently told the 2020 Realtors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to face a second recession.
” Existing-home sales in the U.S. rose for the fifth consecutive month in October to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.85 million homes , which represents a 26.6 % increase from the pace a year earlier and is the strongest pace since 2005 , according to the NAR .
In Denver , home sales last month rose only 16.3 % , but likely because buyers couldn ’ t find enough to buy .
The number of homes listed for sale at the end of October was down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the median price for a single-family home sold is up 14.3 % over the year to $ 519,900 , according to a report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors .
Buyers are so desperate to find homes they are scouring obituaries and divorce filings to get an early start on potential listings , according to Money magazine .
And yet there are concerns that the market may have gotten ahead of itself , given the economic strain many households continue to suffer and the potential for another wave of job cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election is resolved .
We will feel good when we get another fiscal stimulus package .
And we will feel good when there is a trusted vaccine , ” said Ali Wolf , chief economist with Zonda .
Another fiscal stimulus package remains in limbo .
And while there is good news on the vaccine front , the vaccines won ’ t arrive soon enough to forestall a record level of hospitalizations in the days ahead .
“ Given all of these , we are at a higher risk of a double-dip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past , ” Wolf said .
And a double-dip recession , if one happens , won ’ t be good for housing markets in the near-term .
Further out , the housing markets face the expiration of forbearance agreements which allowed struggling borrowers to skip up to 12 months of mortgage payments during the pandemic .
Buyers who start paying again have the option of making up those missed payments over time or tacking them onto the end of the mortgage .
But those who still can ’ t make the mortgage when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They will likely be forced to sell .
But Yun said the situation now is different than 12 years ago , when struggling homeowners were forced to sell into a glutted market where many homes weren ’ t worth what was owed on them .
In metro Denver , there is less than a one month inventory of single-family homes available given the pace of sales , making it likely that buyers would quickly snap up any distressed homes that showed up .
Housing analysts are also closely watching for changes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One proposal his campaign floated in October was to provide first-time buyers an advance tax credit of up to $ 15,000 that they could bring to the closing table , making housing more accessible .
But there is another proposal , the elimination of 1031 Exchanges , that the industry finds troubling , Yun said .
That tax break allows real estate investors to defer taxes on gains from a sale if they roll over the proceeds into a new investment .
It is especially popular with land developers , who take raw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , sell those lots , defer the gains and use the money to buy even more land and start the process all over .
Removing the 1031 Exchange allowance could severely limit the supply of lots , and with it the supply of new homes , keeping the market constrained , Yun warned .
Lower interest rates resulting from the pandemic have boosted affordability and spurred a surge in demand .
With supply tight , home prices have risen sharply to fill the gap .
The greatest risk to the housing market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yun said .
A spike in interest rates would shrink the pool of potential buyers and potentially drive down prices .
But what might cause a spike ?
Unrestrained federal borrowing to stimulate the economy could cause bond investors to lose confidence , and an unexpected jump in inflation could send them running for the door .
Mark Vitner , a senior economist at Wells Fargo & Co. , also speaking to the NAR conference , said that whenever the economy suffers an outside shock , shifts already underway get accelerated and traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he expects will have staying power is the move away from large , expensive and dense coastal cities like New York , San Francisco , and Los Angeles and towards medium-sized cities in the mountain west , the southeast and Texas .
“ Those shocks tend to result in paradigm shifts .
Disruptions in one market tend to cause opportunities in others , ” Vitner said .
He lists cities like Denver , Austin , Portland , Ore. , and Charlotte , N.C. , as places where the pandemic has opened up new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wind at its back longer term , ” he said , even if that means having to pass through some turbulent months this winter .

Metro Denver’s housing market seems unstoppable, setting record after record in the resale market and leading the country for the gain in pending new home sales. But the rising tide of COVID-19 cases and the economic disruption they will trigger are raising concerns about the staying power of the housing recovery both here and across the country.
“If there is a nationwide lockdown, it will be very harmful to the economy, a devastating blow,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist with the National Association of Realtors recently told the 2020 Realtors Conference & Expo. “We will have to face a second recession.”
Existing-home sales in the U.S. rose for the fifth consecutive month in October to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.85 million homes, which represents a 26.6% increase from the pace a year earlier and is the strongest pace since 2005, according to the NAR.
In Denver, home sales last month rose only 16.3%, but likely because buyers couldn’t find enough to buy. The number of homes listed for sale at the end of October was down nearly 44% over the past year and the median price for a single-family home sold is up 14.3% over the year to $519,900, according to a report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.
Buyers are so desperate to find homes they are scouring obituaries and divorce filings to get an early start on potential listings, according to Money magazine.
And yet there are concerns that the market may have gotten ahead of itself, given the economic strain many households continue to suffer and the potential for another wave of job cuts.
“We will feel good when the election is resolved. We will feel good when we get another fiscal stimulus package. And we will feel good when there is a trusted vaccine,” said Ali Wolf, chief economist with Zonda.
Another fiscal stimulus package remains in limbo. And while there is good news on the vaccine front, the vaccines won’t arrive soon enough to forestall a record level of hospitalizations in the days ahead.
“Given all of these, we are at a higher risk of a double-dip recession than we have been in the past,” Wolf said. And a double-dip recession, if one happens, won’t be good for housing markets in the near-term.
Further out, the housing markets face the expiration of forbearance agreements which allowed struggling borrowers to skip up to 12 months of mortgage payments during the pandemic. Buyers who start paying again have the option of making up those missed payments over time or tacking them onto the end of the mortgage.
But those who still can’t make the mortgage when the agreements expire face a difficult predicament. They will likely be forced to sell. But Yun said the situation now is different than 12 years ago, when struggling homeowners were forced to sell into a glutted market where many homes weren’t worth what was owed on them.
In metro Denver, there is less than a one month inventory of single-family homes available given the pace of sales, making it likely that buyers would quickly snap up any distressed homes that showed up.
Housing analysts are also closely watching for changes that might come with a Biden administration. One proposal his campaign floated in October was to provide first-time buyers an advance tax credit of up to $15,000 that they could bring to the closing table, making housing more accessible.
But there is another proposal, the elimination of 1031 Exchanges, that the industry finds troubling, Yun said. That tax break allows real estate investors to defer taxes on gains from a sale if they roll over the proceeds into a new investment.
It is especially popular with land developers, who take raw land, convert it into lots for homes, sell those lots, defer the gains and use the money to buy even more land and start the process all over. Removing the 1031 Exchange allowance could severely limit the supply of lots, and with it the supply of new homes, keeping the market constrained, Yun warned.
Lower interest rates resulting from the pandemic have boosted affordability and spurred a surge in demand. With supply tight, home prices have risen sharply to fill the gap. The greatest risk to the housing market going forward are rising interest rates, Yun said.
A spike in interest rates would shrink the pool of potential buyers and potentially drive down prices. But what might cause a spike? Unrestrained federal borrowing to stimulate the economy could cause bond investors to lose confidence, and an unexpected jump in inflation could send them running for the door.
Mark Vitner, a senior economist at Wells Fargo & Co., also speaking to the NAR conference, said that whenever the economy suffers an outside shock, shifts already underway get accelerated and traditional patterns get disrupted.
One shift that he expects will have staying power is the move away from large, expensive and dense coastal cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and towards medium-sized cities in the mountain west, the southeast and Texas.
“Those shocks tend to result in paradigm shifts. Disruptions in one market tend to cause opportunities in others,” Vitner said. He lists cities like Denver, Austin, Portland, Ore., and Charlotte, N.C., as places where the pandemic has opened up new opportunities.
“Housing has got the wind at its back longer term,” he said, even if that means having to pass through some turbulent months this winter.


thedenverpost--2020-11-30--Broncos Q-and-A: Did coaches help fill-in quarterback Kendall Hinton reach comfort level?

Question : The Broncos didn ’ t start a quarterback of any kind , choosing to go with the wildcat early on .
Agree , disagree or indifferent ?
The main objective in the first quarter for the Broncos ’ coaches should have been to get practice squad receiver-turned-quarterback Kendall Hinton comfortable and in some type of rhythm even if that meant an early hand-off or three .
Instead , Hinton ’ s first snap was on third-and-3 ( throwaway ) , his third snap was on third-and-12 ( incompletion ) and his fourth snap was on third-and-9 ( five-yard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other nitpick was having him roll out on his first pass and others throughout .
Hinton needed to be kept stationary and worrying about the pass , not the footwork and the pass .
Q : The Saints didn ’ t score first until the 10:19 mark of the second quarter .
What went right early on for the Broncos ’ defense ?
A : Saints quarterback Taysom Hill ’ s first six drop-backs ended in two sacks , a three-yard scramble , one incompletion and completions of two and three yards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But starting with its third drive , New Orleans decided to take the air out of the football and run it , .. and run it … and run it .
The Saints finished with 44 carries , the most allowed by the Broncos since only last year ( Buffalo 49 carries ) .
On their first scoring drive , the Saints ran on the final 10 plays ( 53 yards total ) .
They did it by using two-tight end or tight end/sixth offensive lineman personnel and ran at the Broncos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewer defensive lineman on the field .
The Saints gained 4 , 14 , 1 , 5 , 5 , 2 , 6 and 1 yards , all but the first play coming against the Broncos ’ nickel package .
Q : The Broncos ’ committed three more turnovers , bringing their season total to a whopping 26 .
What happened on those plays ?
A : Fumble — center Lloyd Cushenberry ’ s snap to running back Phillip Lindsay late in the second quarter was low and went through Lindsay ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to pick it up instead of falling on it .
New Orleans started at the Broncos ’ 13 and quickly made it 14-0 .
Interception — two plays from scrimmage later , on second-and-8 from the 27 , was the final turning point .
Hinton had good protection vs. the Saints ’ four-man rush ( threw in 3.28 seconds ) and undershot receiver DaeSean Hamilton .
Janoris Jenkins returned it to the Broncos ’ 41 and the Saints added a field goal for a 17-0 lead .
Ball game .
Interception — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter , Hinton faced second-and-10 from his 44 .
This was a young guy trying to make a play .
Hinton rolled right and with two rushers coming after him , threw off his back foot , overshooting tight end Troy Fumagalli .
Q : Lindsay ( knee ) and cornerback Bryce Callahan ( ankle ) were unable to finish the game .
Reasons for concern ?
• Kiszla : Shame on NFL for rubbing COVID hypocrisy in face of Broncos , making them play without QB in ridiculous loss • Saints coach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sympathy for Vic Fangio .
Or for the Broncos .
• Quarterback-less Broncos no match for New Orleans : “ We weren ’ t given a chance ” • Kendall Hinton , Broncos find silver linings in rookie WR ’ s debut as NFL quarterback : “ I never thought I ’ d be back taking the reins ” • Broncos Report Card : No surprises as shorthanded offense struggles in loss to Saints A : Yes , yes , a hundred times yes .
Lindsay was grinding away for yards when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a Week 1 turf toe and Week 7 concussion .
Callahan ’ s absence would be huge because he ’ s been arguably the Broncos ’ best cornerback .
When he departed , rookie Michael Ojemudia , who was benched after the Atlanta game for poor tackling , joined A.J .
Bouye and rookie Essang Bassey on the field .
Playing Kansas City on Sunday night minus Callahan should be a scary thought for the Broncos .

Question: The Broncos didn’t start a quarterback of any kind, choosing to go with the “wildcat” early on. Agree, disagree or indifferent?
Answer: Disagree.
The main objective in the first quarter for the Broncos’ coaches should have been to get practice squad receiver-turned-quarterback Kendall Hinton comfortable and in some type of rhythm even if that meant an early hand-off or three.
Instead, Hinton’s first snap was on third-and-3 (throwaway), his third snap was on third-and-12 (incompletion) and his fourth snap was on third-and-9 (five-yard scramble). Not ideal.
The other nitpick was having him roll out on his first pass and others throughout. Hinton needed to be kept stationary and worrying about the pass, not the footwork and the pass.
Q: The Saints didn’t score first until the 10:19 mark of the second quarter. What went right early on for the Broncos’ defense?
A: Saints quarterback Taysom Hill’s first six drop-backs ended in two sacks, a three-yard scramble, one incompletion and completions of two and three yards. The pass rush was getting to Hill.
But starting with its third drive, New Orleans decided to take the air out of the football and run it, .. and run it … and run it. The Saints finished with 44 carries, the most allowed by the Broncos since last year (Buffalo 49 carries).
On their first scoring drive, the Saints ran on the final 10 plays (53 yards total). They did it by using two-tight end or tight end/sixth offensive lineman personnel and ran at the Broncos’ nickel front, which has one fewer defensive lineman on the field.
Q: The Broncos’ committed three turnovers, bringing their season total to a whopping 26. What happened on those plays?
A: Fumble — center Lloyd Cushenberry’s snap to running back Phillip Lindsay late in the second quarter was low and went through Lindsay’s legs. The Saints recovered when Lindsay tried to pick it up instead of falling on it. New Orleans started at the Broncos’ 13 and quickly made it 14-0.
Interception — two plays from scrimmage later, on second-and-8 from the 27, was the final turning point. Hinton had good protection vs. the Saints’ four-man rush (threw in 3.28 seconds) and undershot receiver DaeSean Hamilton. Janoris Jenkins returned it to the Broncos’ 41 and the Saints added a field goal for a 17-0 lead. Ball game.
Interception — on the opening drive of the third quarter, Hinton faced second-and-10 from his 44. This was a young guy trying to make a play. Hinton rolled right and with two rushers coming after him, threw off his back foot, overshooting tight end Troy Fumagalli.
Q: Lindsay (knee) and cornerback Bryce Callahan (ankle) were unable to finish the game. Reasons for concern?
A: Yes, yes, a hundred times yes.
Lindsay was grinding away for yards when he sustained his third injury of the season after a Week 1 turf toe and Week 7 concussion.
Callahan’s absence would be huge because he’s been arguably the Broncos’ best cornerback. When he departed, rookie Michael Ojemudia, who was benched after the Atlanta game for poor tackling, joined A.J. Bouye and rookie Essang Bassey on the field.
Playing Kansas City on Sunday night minus Callahan should be a scary thought for the Broncos.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--DPS board member Tay Anderson hospitalized after collapsing from severe chest pain

Denver Public Schools board member Tay Anderson was taken to a hospital for testing after collapsing at a Target .
Anderson , who suffered severe chest pains , is stable , according to a tweet signed by his family .
The family thanked Target staff and emergency medical technicians “ for their help to ensure he was taken care of.
” Anderson , an at-large director with the school board , is a social and political activist who led George Floyd demonstrations over the summer .
Last week , Anderson tangled with Mayor Michael Hancock over allegations by Hancock and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board was to blame for the recent departure of district Superintendent Susana Cordova .
Anderson labeled the claim “ unsubstantiated.
” In July , Anderson was injured and taken to a hospital during a protest outside a homeless camp in downtown Denver .
Anderson said that Denver police pushed him to the ground .
Videos from the scene , posted on social media , showed Anderson in the middle of a group that was challenging police over a camp eviction at Lincoln Park .
On Monday evening , more than 1,000 people liked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 200 had commented .
The comments were filled out by well wishers hoping and praying for a speedy recovery .

Denver Public Schools board member Tay Anderson was taken to a hospital for testing after collapsing at a Target.
Today Director Anderson suffered severe chest pains and collapsed at @Target. He is in stable condition and will be receiving further testing. We want to thank the staff at Target and the EMT’s for their help to ensure he was taken care of. – Family — Tay Anderson (@TayAndersonCO) December 1, 2020
Anderson, who suffered severe chest pains, is stable, according to a tweet signed by his family.
The family thanked Target staff and emergency medical technicians “for their help to ensure he was taken care of.”
Anderson, an at-large director with the school board, is a social and political activist who led George Floyd demonstrations over the summer.
Last week, Anderson tangled with Mayor Michael Hancock over allegations by Hancock and former Mayor Federico Peña that the DPS board was to blame for the recent departure of district Superintendent Susana Cordova. Anderson labeled the claim “unsubstantiated.”
In July, Anderson was injured and taken to a hospital during a protest outside a homeless camp in downtown Denver. Anderson said that Denver police pushed him to the ground. Videos from the scene, posted on social media, showed Anderson in the middle of a group that was challenging police over a camp eviction at Lincoln Park.
On Monday evening, more than 1,000 people liked the family’s Twitter post and more than 200 had commented. The comments were filled out by well wishers hoping and praying for a speedy recovery.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--PHOTOS: Homeless camp along Platte River in RiNo cleared

A Denver Police officer directs Tammy Licausi , a houseless woman , to leave the area along Denargo street on @ @ @ @ @ Denver .
Licausi was despondent over the loss of all of her belongings as city @ @ @ @ @ put debris from the camps into dump trucks .
Licausi , who has been homeless @ @ @ @ @ year , said she has a broken back , her identity was stolen and she @ @ @ @ @ She is n't sure what she will do or where she will go after today @ @ @ @ @ in the camps that have been set up near the Platte River in the RiNo @ @ @ @ @ operation that is expected to last for several days , Denver officials uprooted a large @ @ @ @ @ 100 people live in tents , tarps and cars .
Those who live in the @ @ @ @ @ place to go , saying city resources are stretched too thin to serve everyone in @ @

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 30: Tammy Licausi, a houseless woman, hangs onto a chain link fence is despondent over the loss of all of her belongings as city crews use heavy equipment to put debris from the camps into dump trucks along Denargo street on November 30, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. Licausi, who has been homeless in Denver for over a year, said she has a broken back, her identity was stolen and she was shot last week. She isn't sure what she will do or where she will go after today. Over 100 people live in the camps that have been set up near the Platte River in the RiNo district. In a predawn operation that is expected to last for several days, Denver officials uprooted a large street camp where more than 100 people live in tents, tarps and cars. Those who live in the camp scrambled to find another place to go, saying city resources are stretched too thin to serve everyone in need. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--PHOTOS: Several Republicans maskless during COVID-19 special session at Colorado Capitol

Colorado Representative Julie McCluskie is surrounded by protective plastic barriers that reflect the names of the representatives from the monitor @ @ @ @ @ House chambers at the Colorado State Capitol during an emergency legislative session on Nov. 30 @ @ @ @ @ Reflected in the plastic barriers are the names of the representatives coming off the monitor @ @ @ @ @ sessions , prompted by the governor , are to address housing , child care , @ @ @ @ @ during the Coronavirus pandemic .

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Colorado Rep. Julie McCluskie is surrounded by protective plastic barriers that reflect the names of the representatives from the monitor on the wall in the House chambers at the Colorado Capitol in Denver during an emergency legislative session on Nov. 30, 2020. Reflected in the plastic barriers are the names of the representatives coming off the monitor in the room. The sessions, prompted by the governor, are to address housing, child care, small business and food security during the coronavirus pandemic.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--CHSAA petitions state to allow for fans at state football championship games in Pueblo

The Colorado High School Activities Association is making one last push to allow for fan attendance at its state championship @ @ @ @ @ The championship finalists from all classes , from 6-man to 5A , will converge on @ @ @ @ @ week .
CHSAA and local health authorities had initially approved fan attendance for up to @ @ @ @ @ strict health and social distancing measures enforced .
But the widespread transmission of COVID-19 last @ @ @ @ @ the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to prohibit fans from the event .
@ @ @ @ @ it has asked the governor ’ s office to reconsider a second variance to allow @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
The new proposal asks for two guests per player and one guest per @ @ @ @ @ commissioner Bert Borgmann told The Denver Post .
CHSAA is hosting a video news conference @ @ @ @ @ coaches when more information is expected to be available on the status of their attendance @ @

The Colorado High School Activities Association is making one last push to allow for fan attendance at its state championship football games this week.
The championship finalists from all classes, from 6-man to 5A, will converge on the ThunderBowl at CSU-Pueblo this week. CHSAA and local health authorities had initially approved fan attendance for up to 1,400 people per game with strict health and social distancing measures enforced. But the widespread transmission of COVID-19 last week in Pueblo County led the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to prohibit fans from the event.
Late Monday, CHSAA announced it has asked the governor’s office to reconsider a second variance to allow for football fans at championship weekend. The new proposal asks for two guests per player and one guest per registered coach, assistant CHSAA commissioner Bert Borgmann told The Denver Post.
CHSAA is hosting a video news conference Tuesday afternoon with championship game coaches when more information is expected to be available on the status of their attendance request.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Weld County man sentenced to almost four years in federal prison for smuggling gun parts

A Weld County man was sentenced on Monday to just under four years in federal prison for smuggling gun parts out of the country and for possessing unregistered firearms .
Michael John Suppes , 47 , was sentenced to 46 months and ordered to serve three years of supervised releases after his prison term , according to a U.S. Attorney ’ s Office , District of Colorado , news release .
Suppes , as part of a plea agreement , will forfeit 123 firearms , firearm parts , ammunition and nearly $ 300,000 , according to the release .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Suppes unlawfully engaged in the manufacturing and dealing of firearms , prosecutors said .
Between Jan. 25 , 2015 , and Nov. 5 , 2018 , Suppes shipped more than 1,200 domestic and international packages .
“ Suppes came to the attention of Homeland Security Investigations ( HSI ) after it learned of multiple packages that contained concealed gun parts destined for other countries , including Saudi Arabia , India , and Cambodia , ” the release said .
“ The gun parts required an export license , which Suppes did not obtain.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Suppes arranged to sell firearms — 30 AR-15 and 20 AK-47 rifles — to a buyer , an undercover U.S. agent in Mexico , along with gun magazines and ammunition .
He was arrested in possession of the rifles and the other items .
“ Selling AR-15 and AK-47 semi-automatic rifles and parts to individuals in Mexico serves only to increase the violence there and the drug trafficking into the United States , ” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn in the release .
“ By taking this individual off the streets and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have stopped a significant pipeline of this deadly trade.
” The U.S .
Postal Inspection Service ( USPIS ) , the Weld County Sheriff ’ s Office and the Colorado State Patrol assisted in the this case .

A Weld County man was sentenced on Monday to just under four years in federal prison for smuggling gun parts out of the country and for possessing unregistered firearms.
Michael John Suppes, 47, was sentenced to 46 months and ordered to serve three years of supervised releases after his prison term, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, news release.
Suppes, as part of a plea agreement, will forfeit 123 firearms, firearm parts, ammunition and nearly $300,000, according to the release.
Not a licensed firearm dealer or manufacturer, Suppes unlawfully engaged in the manufacturing and dealing of firearms, prosecutors said. Between Jan. 25, 2015, and Nov. 5, 2018, Suppes shipped more than 1,200 domestic and international packages.
“Suppes came to the attention of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) after it learned of multiple packages that contained concealed gun parts destined for other countries, including Saudi Arabia, India, and Cambodia,” the release said. “The gun parts required an export license, which Suppes did not obtain.”
Between December 2018 and April 2019, Suppes arranged to sell firearms — 30 AR-15 and 20 AK-47 rifles — to a buyer, an undercover U.S. agent in Mexico, along with gun magazines and ammunition. He was arrested in possession of the rifles and the other items.
“Selling AR-15 and AK-47 semi-automatic rifles and parts to individuals in Mexico serves only to increase the violence there and the drug trafficking into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn in the release. “By taking this individual off the streets and putting him in a federal prison, we have stopped a significant pipeline of this deadly trade.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Weld County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado State Patrol assisted in the this case.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--No excuses approach part of CU Buffs’ success

The Colorado football program has been handed plenty of excuses this year .
First , the Buffaloes had their head coach of just 14 months , Mel Tucker , suddenly leave in mid-February .
That led to hiring Karl Dorrell as his replacement on Feb. 23 – about two months after most teams fill vacancies .
Just a couple weeks after Dorrell was hired , the coronavirus pandemic canceled spring practices and forced him to wait more than seven months to conduct his first official practice .
Throw in the fact that the Buffs had almost no experience at quarterback @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the NFL and were coming off three consecutive losing seasons , and it was pretty easy for pundits to predict a dismal season for CU .
All along , Dorrell has refused to make excuses , his players have bought into that approach and they ’ re now sitting at 3-0 ( 2-0 in the Pac-12 ) with a chance to compete for the South division title during the final two weeks of the truncated season , including Saturday at Arizona ( 5 p.m. , TV : FS-1 ) .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the success ) , it ’ s no question on that , ” Dorrell said Monday as the Buffs began preparations for Arizona ( 0-3 , 0-3 ) .
“ This team felt like they were capable of winning and having success right now .
“ I didn ’ t want to make excuses early .
We don ’ t make excuses .
We ’ re going to do the best we can with what we have in our program and we feel we have very capable players , and they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geared on maximizing our potential with what we have here in this building , so that ’ s the mindset I think the whole team understands and has bought into.
” Senior quarterback Sam Noyer credits Dorrell for preaching a “ no excuses ” attitude , and it ’ s made a difference in year that ’ s been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ We don ’ t know what ’ s going to happen today , we don ’ t know what ’ s going to happen in the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noyer said .
“ It doesn ’ t matter .
… We ’ ve just got to be prepared and we do a great job of preparing each and every week .
It doesn ’ t matter who we play on any day and so I think it ’ s important for our guys just to stay prepared and stay ready for any situation , so that we can ’ t use excuses .
That ’ s one thing that coach Dorrell has harped on since he ’ s been here .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys and I think you see that.
” Having no excuses has helped the Buffs achieve some success , and their confidence is growing as they continue to win .
“ That ’ s what you want , ” Dorrell said .
“ Usually when you ’ re having success and you ’ re winning games , even though they haven ’ t been perfect wins … there are standards that we ’ re trying to establish in our style of play in every phase .
“ Their confidence is getting better , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re a good football team .
We know that we can be better.
” Star backer Chris Miller has played in two of CU ’ s three games and he ’ s left both of them early because of shoulder injuries .
Dorrell said Miller and the Buffs are hoping he can get back on the field .
“ That ’ s something that ’ s going to be plaguing Chris for the rest of the season , ” Dorrell said .
“ It ’ s one of those things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we ’ re trying to manage for him to get back on the field .
It ’ s still kind of a process of working with him week to week to see where his health is and what we can do with him as we go.
” Nose tackle Jalen Sami played just 12 snaps against San Diego State on Saturday because of an ankle sprain .
He played a total of 99 snaps in the first two games .
“ He ’ s able to do everything from a productive standpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his position , ” Dorrell said , “ but we didn ’ t want to put too much on him because he ’ s still a little bit dinged .
It should be better this week where he gets more playing time.
” There were reports Monday that the Sun Bowl , which features teams from the Pac-12 and ACC , will be canceled .
The Sun Bowl , scheduled for Dec. 31 , has been played every year since 1935 , and is held in El Paso , Texas .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowl as the second-longest running bowls , behind the Rose Bowl , which has been played every year since 1916 .
The Pac-12 has tie-ins with eight bowls , three of which have been canceled : Holiday , Redbox and Sun .
Colorado ’ s Nate Landman was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week Monday .
Other Pac-12 weekly honors : Oregon State ’ s Jermar Jefferson ( offense ) and Nathan Eldridge ( offensive line ) ; Stanford ’ s Thomas Booker ( special teams ) ; and Washington ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dylan Morris ( freshman ) .

The Colorado football program has been handed plenty of excuses this year.
First, the Buffaloes had their head coach of just 14 months, Mel Tucker, suddenly leave in mid-February. That led to hiring Karl Dorrell as his replacement on Feb. 23 – about two months after most teams fill vacancies.
Just a couple weeks after Dorrell was hired, the coronavirus pandemic canceled spring practices and forced him to wait more than seven months to conduct his first official practice.
Throw in the fact that the Buffs had almost no experience at quarterback, lost their best player from 2019 to the NFL and were coming off three consecutive losing seasons, and it was pretty easy for pundits to predict a dismal season for CU.
All along, Dorrell has refused to make excuses, his players have bought into that approach and they’re now sitting at 3-0 (2-0 in the Pac-12) with a chance to compete for the South division title during the final two weeks of the truncated season, including Saturday at Arizona (5 p.m., TV: FS-1).
“It’s been a big part (of the success), it’s no question on that,” Dorrell said Monday as the Buffs began preparations for Arizona (0-3, 0-3). “This team felt like they were capable of winning and having success right now.
“I didn’t want to make excuses early. We don’t make excuses. We’re going to do the best we can with what we have in our program and we feel we have very capable players, and they’re proving that. Everything is really geared on maximizing our potential with what we have here in this building, so that’s the mindset I think the whole team understands and has bought into.”
Senior quarterback Sam Noyer credits Dorrell for preaching a “no excuses” attitude, and it’s made a difference in year that’s been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen today ,we don’t know what’s going to happen in the next 24 hours, 48 hours,” Noyer said. “It doesn’t matter. … We’ve just got to be prepared and we do a great job of preparing each and every week. It doesn’t matter who we play on any day and so I think it’s important for our guys just to stay prepared and stay ready for any situation, so that we can’t use excuses. That’s one thing that coach Dorrell has harped on since he’s been here. I think it’s really important for guys and I think you see that.”
Having no excuses has helped the Buffs achieve some success, and their confidence is growing as they continue to win.
“That’s what you want,” Dorrell said. “Usually when you’re having success and you’re winning games, even though they haven’t been perfect wins … there are standards that we’re trying to establish in our style of play in every phase.
“Their confidence is getting better, and rightfully so. It should be. We’re a good football team. We know that we can be better.”
Injury updates
Star backer Chris Miller has played in two of CU’s three games and he’s left both of them early because of shoulder injuries. Dorrell said Miller and the Buffs are hoping he can get back on the field.
“That’s something that’s going to be plaguing Chris for the rest of the season,” Dorrell said. “It’s one of those things that he’s trying to manage, we’re trying to manage for him to get back on the field. It’s still kind of a process of working with him week to week to see where his health is and what we can do with him as we go.”
Nose tackle Jalen Sami played just 12 snaps against San Diego State on Saturday because of an ankle sprain. He played a total of 99 snaps in the first two games.
“He’s able to do everything from a productive standpoint, for what he needs to do for his position,” Dorrell said, “but we didn’t want to put too much on him because he’s still a little bit dinged. It should be better this week where he gets more playing time.”
Report: Sun Bowl to be canceled
There were reports Monday that the Sun Bowl, which features teams from the Pac-12 and ACC, will be canceled.
The Sun Bowl, scheduled for Dec. 31, has been played every year since 1935, and is held in El Paso, Texas. It tied with the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl as the second-longest running bowls, behind the Rose Bowl, which has been played every year since 1916.
The Pac-12 has tie-ins with eight bowls, three of which have been canceled: Holiday, Redbox and Sun.
Notable
Colorado’s Nate Landman was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week Monday. Other Pac-12 weekly honors: Oregon State’s Jermar Jefferson (offense) and Nathan Eldridge (offensive line); Stanford’s Thomas Booker (special teams); and Washington’s Zion Tupuola-Fetui (defensive line) and Dylan Morris (freshman).


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--An expired domain name led to dead end for Colorado unemployment filers Monday

Some Coloradans seeking to file a state unemployment claim or request payments from the state on Monday morning ran into an error message because the labor department was renewing its rights to a key domain name .
Typing myui.coworkforce.com into a browser was a dead end for a few hours Monday because the Colorado Department of Labor and employment was “ in the renewal process ” for the domain , Cher Haavind , the department ’ s deputy executive director , said in an email .
“ The redirect was unavailable for a few hours this morning and is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday afternoon .
There are multiple pathways to access the online unemployment application for state benefits , Haavind said , and only trying to navigate directly to myui.coworkforce.com was affected by the expired domain .
The outage was first reported by the Colorado Sun .
It ’ s the latest in a series of technical and customer services problems that have dogged the state ’ s unemployment system since the novel coronavirus pandemic began and people started applying for state support in unprecedented numbers .
It also comes amid a new surge in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on businesses like salons and restaurants in efforts to combat a third wave of the COVID-19 infections in the state .
During the week ending Nov. 21 , 15,528 people filed initial claims for unemployment support from the state , the highest single-week total since May .
It marked a 69.3 % increase over the prior week and is more than double the number of people who filed claims for regular unemployment benefits in the first week of November .
The total does not account for people seeking aid through the federally funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has declined to reported new filings for that program for the past two weeks after a rapid spike triggered a fraud investigation .
Since mid March , more than 800,000 people in Colorado have filed for some form of unemployment benefits .
That ’ s more than a quarter of the state ’ s active workforce as measured in October , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .

Some Coloradans seeking to file a state unemployment claim or request payments from the state on Monday morning ran into an error message because the labor department was renewing its rights to a key domain name.
Typing myui.coworkforce.com into a browser was a dead end for a few hours Monday because the Colorado Department of Labor and employment was “in the renewal process” for the domain, Cher Haavind, the department’s deputy executive director, said in an email.
“The redirect was unavailable for a few hours this morning and is now active again,” Haavind wrote on Monday afternoon.
There are multiple pathways to access the online unemployment application for state benefits, Haavind said, and only trying to navigate directly to myui.coworkforce.com was affected by the expired domain.
The outage was first reported by the Colorado Sun. It’s the latest in a series of technical and customer services problems that have dogged the state’s unemployment system since the novel coronavirus pandemic began and people started applying for state support in unprecedented numbers.
It also comes amid a new surge in unemployment claims as the state tightens restrictions on businesses like salons and restaurants in efforts to combat a third wave of the COVID-19 infections in the state.
During the week ending Nov. 21, 15,528 people filed initial claims for unemployment support from the state, the highest single-week total since May. It marked a 69.3% increase over the prior week and is more than double the number of people who filed claims for regular unemployment benefits in the first week of November.
The total does not account for people seeking aid through the federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. The state has declined to reported new filings for that program for the past two weeks after a rapid spike triggered a fraud investigation.
Since mid March, more than 800,000 people in Colorado have filed for some form of unemployment benefits. That’s more than a quarter of the state’s active workforce as measured in October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Garett Bolles’ comeback from maligned lineman to highly-paid left tackle sweet for him, Broncos Coun

Garett Bolles’ comeback from maligned lineman to highly-paid left tackle sweet for him, Broncos Country

Garett Bolles is no stranger to overcoming long odds .
That ’ s why Bolles cementing another comeback this past weekend — when the much-maligned left tackle signed a four-year , $ 68 million contract extension — makes his story even sweeter for both him and Broncos fans who had written him off as a first-round bust .
“ ( John Elway and the Broncos ) drafted me and they took a chance on me when they didn ’ t have to , ” Bolles said .
“ I ’ ve had my bumps in the road over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to love and care for me and now they blessed me again for another four years .
So , I ’ m grateful for them… I ’ m just extremely emotional about being a Bronco for the next four years.
” Bolles endured hometown boos multiple times over his first three seasons , but they didn ’ t slow his progress , nor douse his confidence .
He owned his subpar play and didn ’ t blink through the first 10 games of 2020 after the Broncos declined his fifth-year option in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prove-it year .
“ The fans had the right to boo me because I wasn ’ t playing well , ” Bolles said .
“ I was hurting our team in a lot of ways , and it was up to me to fix those things.
” Around midway through last season , the 28-year-old began to turn the corner .
Bolles had 5 disruptions ( 0 sacks , 3 knockdowns , 2 pressures ) and 8 penalties in the final eight games after giving up 15 and 9 in those respective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was incremental improvement , but obviously not enough of a sample size to convince Elway to pick up the option valued at $ 11.064 million .
But Bolles continued his upward trend this year while on a $ 3.5 million salary , playing to Pro Bowl standards as the highest-rated left tackle in the NFL , per Pro Football Focus .
It ’ s a remarkable and rather sudden turnaround for a player whose career seemed to be going off the tracks .
Then again , maybe it wasn ’ t so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shove aside earlier in his life .
First , there was his rocky upbringing , which featured jail , addiction and plenty of troublemaking before he got on the straight path thanks to a Utah family that took him in at 19 .
Then , the side-road to the NFL by way of community college and just one year at Utah , from where he was drafted No .
20 overall by the Broncos in 2017 with plenty of cynical second-guessers .
Those doubters swelled throughout Bolles ’ first three seasons when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year yet struggled with consistency and avoiding penalties .
It appeared Bolles ’ fairy tale run was up .
And it looked like Elway ’ s post-draft analysis on Bolles — “ If Garett turns out to be what we think he is , he solves a big problem for us for a long time , and that ’ s left tackle ” — was exceedingly misplaced .
But coach Vic Fangio never lost faith in Bolles , who never lost faith in himself .
Before his breakout season accelerated under the tutelage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Munchak , Bolles tuned out all the noise this past offseason .
He took time to reflect on his weaknesses and the misplaced details that were causing them .
“ I ( reflected ) by watching film , by studying , by taking multiple sets in the kitchen and having my wife rush me and identifying the little things ( in my technique ) , ” Bolles said .
“ Those little things turn into big things over the years .
If I eliminate the little ( mistakes ) and continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were the things that helped me change my game.
” Now one of the league ’ s highest-paid left tackles , the Broncos are placing faith in Bolles — again — that he ’ s a long-term solution at the position .
“ I would think too , probably , that it being his contract year helped him get motivated , ” Fangio said .
“ We ’ re trusting him that he ’ s going to keep that same mindset moving forward.
” That trust , discussed between Bolles and Fangio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension was announced , is not taken lightly by the durable Bolles .
In 727 snaps this year , Bolles has allowed 0.5 sacks , 8 quarterback knockdowns , 4.5 “ bad ” run plays and seven penalties ( three enforced ) , per Denver Post game charting .
He has not missed a snap since Week 5 of 2018 .
“ That moment I had with ( Fangio ) when we both shed teary eyes and then that he said , ‘ I knew you could do it , ’ that meant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I also told him , ‘ I won ’ t let you down coach , ’ and he told me he ’ s going to hold me accountable to that .
”

Garett Bolles is no stranger to overcoming long odds.
That’s why Bolles cementing another comeback this past weekend — when the much-maligned left tackle signed a four-year, $68 million contract extension — makes his story even sweeter for both him and Broncos fans who had written him off as a first-round bust.
“(John Elway and the Broncos) drafted me and they took a chance on me when they didn’t have to,” Bolles said. “I’ve had my bumps in the road over the last three years, but I know they continue to love and care for me and now they blessed me again for another four years. So, I’m grateful for them… I’m just extremely emotional about being a Bronco for the next four years.”
Bolles endured hometown boos multiple times over his first three seasons, but they didn’t slow his progress, nor douse his confidence. He owned his subpar play and didn’t blink through the first 10 games of 2020 after the Broncos declined his fifth-year option in the offseason, setting Bolles up for a prove-it year.
“The fans had the right to boo me because I wasn’t playing well,” Bolles said. “I was hurting our team in a lot of ways, and it was up to me to fix those things.”
Around midway through last season, the 28-year-old began to turn the corner. Bolles had 5 disruptions (0 sacks, 3 knockdowns, 2 pressures) and 8 penalties in the final eight games after giving up 15 and 9 in those respective categories over the first eight games. It was incremental improvement, but obviously not enough of a sample size to convince Elway to pick up the option valued at $11.064 million.
But Bolles continued his upward trend this year while on a $3.5 million salary, playing to Pro Bowl standards as the highest-rated left tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. It’s a remarkable and rather sudden turnaround for a player whose career seemed to be going off the tracks. Then again, maybe it wasn’t so remarkable considering the adversity Bolles had to shove aside earlier in his life.
First, there was his rocky upbringing, which featured jail, addiction and plenty of troublemaking before he got on the straight path thanks to a Utah family that took him in at 19. Then, the side-road to the NFL by way of community college and just one year at Utah, from where he was drafted No. 20 overall by the Broncos in 2017 with plenty of cynical second-guessers.
Those doubters swelled throughout Bolles’ first three seasons when the left tackle played all 16 games each year yet struggled with consistency and avoiding penalties. It appeared Bolles’ fairy tale run was up. And it looked like Elway’s post-draft analysis on Bolles — “If Garett turns out to be what we think he is, he solves a big problem for us for a long time, and that’s left tackle” — was exceedingly misplaced.
But coach Vic Fangio never lost faith in Bolles, who never lost faith in himself. Before his breakout season accelerated under the tutelage of Hall of Fame offensive line coach Mike Munchak, Bolles tuned out all the noise this past offseason. He took time to reflect on his weaknesses and the misplaced details that were causing them.
“I (reflected) by watching film, by studying, by taking multiple sets in the kitchen and having my wife rush me and identifying the little things (in my technique),” Bolles said. “Those little things turn into big things over the years. If I eliminate the little (mistakes) and continue to focus on the details of the game… they were the things that helped me change my game.”
Now one of the league’s highest-paid left tackles, the Broncos are placing faith in Bolles — again — that he’s a long-term solution at the position.
“I would think too, probably, that it being his contract year helped him get motivated,” Fangio said. “We’re trusting him that he’s going to keep that same mindset moving forward.”
That trust, discussed between Bolles and Fangio in an emotional conversation Saturday before the extension was announced, is not taken lightly by the durable Bolles. In 727 snaps this year, Bolles has allowed 0.5 sacks, 8 quarterback knockdowns, 4.5 “bad” run plays and seven penalties (three enforced), per Denver Post game charting. He has not missed a snap since Week 5 of 2018.
“That moment I had with (Fangio) when we both shed teary eyes and then that he said, ‘I knew you could do it,’ that meant a lot to me,” Bolles said. “I also told him, ‘I won’t let you down coach,’ and he told me he’s going to hold me accountable to that.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Wife pleads guilty in Golden trailer park killing during couple’s two-state crime spree

The wife of a man accused of killing two people during a 2017 crime spree in Colorado and Utah pleaded guilty Monday in the killing of Golden resident Mitchell Ingle .
Kathleen Boutain , 26 , pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and reckless manslaughter ; 19 other counts against her were dismissed as part of the plea deal , according to online court records .
Boutain and her husband , Austin Boutain , 27 , have now both pleaded guilty in Ingle ’ s killing , which happened after a night of partying and prompted the Boutains to flee to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Utah student during a botched carjacking .
The couple was homeless when they met Ingle and joined the 63-year-old in his Golden trailer to drink whiskey and smoke marijuana in October 2017 , according to an affidavit .
As the trio hung out inside the trailer , Ingle suggested all three could have sex , which offended Austin Boutain , he later confessed .
Austin and Kathleen Boutain waited until Ingle fell asleep , then Austin Boutain tried to kill Ingle by shooting him with a crossbow .
He missed — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and the man woke up and ran to the bathroom .
As Ingle reached for the medicine cabinet , Austin Boutain came up behind the man and slit his throat , cutting himself in the process .
Kathleen Boutain bandaged her husband ’ s wound and helped him as they stole Ingle ’ s guns and clothing and fled in Ingle ’ s pickup truck .
The couple drove to Utah , where they ditched the stolen truck and were looking for a new mode of transportation when Austin Boutain tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 23 .
Austin Boutain shot and killed Guo during the attempted carjacking .
Austin Boutain was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in Guo ’ s death .
Kathleen Boutain , who was not with her husband when he killed Guo , pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property in connection with the killing and was sentenced to a year in jail in Utah , according to the Deseret News .
In Colorado , she faces between two and six years in prison on the reckless manslaughter charge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robbery .
She will be sentenced Jan. 4 .

The wife of a man accused of killing two people during a 2017 crime spree in Colorado and Utah pleaded guilty Monday in the killing of Golden resident Mitchell Ingle.
Kathleen Boutain, 26, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and reckless manslaughter; 19 other counts against her were dismissed as part of the plea deal, according to online court records.
Boutain and her husband, Austin Boutain, 27, have now both pleaded guilty in Ingle’s killing, which happened after a night of partying and prompted the Boutains to flee to Utah, where Austin Boutain killed a University of Utah student during a botched carjacking.
The couple was homeless when they met Ingle and joined the 63-year-old in his Golden trailer to drink whiskey and smoke marijuana in October 2017, according to an affidavit.
As the trio hung out inside the trailer, Ingle suggested all three could have sex, which offended Austin Boutain, he later confessed. Austin and Kathleen Boutain waited until Ingle fell asleep, then Austin Boutain tried to kill Ingle by shooting him with a crossbow.
He missed — the shot hit Ingle’s wrist — and the man woke up and ran to the bathroom. As Ingle reached for the medicine cabinet, Austin Boutain came up behind the man and slit his throat, cutting himself in the process.
Kathleen Boutain bandaged her husband’s wound and helped him as they stole Ingle’s guns and clothing and fled in Ingle’s pickup truck.
The couple drove to Utah, where they ditched the stolen truck and were looking for a new mode of transportation when Austin Boutain tried to carjack University of Utah student ChenWei Guo, 23. Austin Boutain shot and killed Guo during the attempted carjacking.
Austin Boutain was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in Guo’s death. Kathleen Boutain, who was not with her husband when he killed Guo, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property in connection with the killing and was sentenced to a year in jail in Utah, according to the Deseret News.
In Colorado, she faces between two and six years in prison on the reckless manslaughter charge and between 10 and 32 years for the robbery. She will be sentenced Jan. 4.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Colorado COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise; Thanksgiving impact still unknown

Colorado hit another new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations Monday , showing the fall surge isn ’ t over despite some encouraging signs .
Statewide , 1,834 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday , and 106 others were receiving hospital care for COVID-like symptoms but had test results pending .
The rate of growth in hospitalizations has slowed in recent days , which is a positive sign , but it would be better to see the number falling before people who may have been infected on Thanksgiving start to become seriously ill , said Julie Lonborg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ These surges are going to build on each other , so to the extent that we get any time in between ( surges ) to slow it down , it ’ s a big help , ” she said .
Typically , it takes at least a week for any impact from a holiday to show up , because most people don ’ t develop symptoms immediately .
Hospitalizations tend to rise about two weeks after an event where people spread the virus , and deaths may not show up in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event .
The number of infected people is still increasing , but not as fast as it was a week or two ago , said Beth Carlton , an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health .
That means the odds that any particular person you meet is infected will continue to increase , even as the trajectory shows some signs of flattening , she said .
“ The foot is still on the accelerator , but we ’ re not accelerating as fast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so far by sharing staff with sister facilities or calling on agencies they contract with , Lonborg said .
They also are transferring patients to facilities that have more space and staff available , she said .
About 79 % of intensive-care beds and 81 % of beds for general medical care were in use Monday , which was about the same as a week earlier .
A 2017 report from the Colorado Hospital Association showed that on a typical day , about half of all hospital beds in the state were full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how many intensive-care beds were in use in normal times .
Roughly one-third of hospitals reporting to the state said they could have a staffing shortage in the next week , which was about the same as a week earlier .
Nurses and health officials have said they expect short staffing to become a problem before hospitals run out of beds or equipment , such as ventilators .
The number of cases reported to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment last week was down , from 34,457 the previous week to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also fell , which may reflect that some testing sites were closed Thursday , or people may have been reluctant to get tested on a holiday weekend , Carlton said .
The rate of tests coming back positive increased slightly , to 11.7 % , suggesting the state isn ’ t finding all cases .
It ’ s difficult to determine the trajectory of deaths , because reports can be delayed up to two weeks .
The week ending Nov. 15 continued a pattern of increases since early October .
With 211 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week since late April .
The most recent projections from the state health department and School of Public Health , released Wednesday , suggested Colorado may avoid going over hospital capacity this winter , but there is substantial uncertainty about whether hospitalizations will slow down or speed up again .
Infections continued to increase in all regions of the state as of the middle of last week .
We won ’ t know if Thanksgiving gatherings seeded new cases until at least the middle of next week , Carlton said .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because holiday travel happened at the same time that counties were tightening their restrictions and the average person seemed to be decreasing their contacts , she said .
“ There are two competing forces here , ” she said .
Since March , 232,905 people have tested positive for the virus and 13,488 have been hospitalized .
As of Monday , 2,656 died of the virus and 381 others have died with it .
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Colorado hit another new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations Monday, showing the fall surge isn’t over despite some encouraging signs.
Statewide, 1,834 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Monday, and 106 others were receiving hospital care for COVID-like symptoms but had test results pending.
The rate of growth in hospitalizations has slowed in recent days, which is a positive sign, but it would be better to see the number falling before people who may have been infected on Thanksgiving start to become seriously ill, said Julie Lonborg, spokeswoman for the Colorado Hospital Association.
“These surges are going to build on each other, so to the extent that we get any time in between (surges) to slow it down, it’s a big help,” she said.
Typically, it takes at least a week for any impact from a holiday to show up, because most people don’t develop symptoms immediately. Hospitalizations tend to rise about two weeks after an event where people spread the virus, and deaths may not show up in the data until a month or longer after the event.
The number of infected people is still increasing, but not as fast as it was a week or two ago, said Beth Carlton, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health. That means the odds that any particular person you meet is infected will continue to increase, even as the trajectory shows some signs of flattening, she said.
“The foot is still on the accelerator, but we’re not accelerating as fast,” she said.
Hospitals are managing so far by sharing staff with sister facilities or calling on agencies they contract with, Lonborg said. They also are transferring patients to facilities that have more space and staff available, she said.
About 79% of intensive-care beds and 81% of beds for general medical care were in use Monday, which was about the same as a week earlier. A 2017 report from the Colorado Hospital Association showed that on a typical day, about half of all hospital beds in the state were full. It didn’t break out how many intensive-care beds were in use in normal times.
Roughly one-third of hospitals reporting to the state said they could have a staffing shortage in the next week, which was about the same as a week earlier. Nurses and health officials have said they expect short staffing to become a problem before hospitals run out of beds or equipment, such as ventilators.
The number of cases reported to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment last week was down, from 34,457 the previous week to 28,412. The number of tests performed also fell, which may reflect that some testing sites were closed Thursday, or people may have been reluctant to get tested on a holiday weekend, Carlton said. The rate of tests coming back positive increased slightly, to 11.7%, suggesting the state isn’t finding all cases.
It’s difficult to determine the trajectory of deaths, because reports can be delayed up to two weeks. The week ending Nov. 15 continued a pattern of increases since early October. With 211 deaths, it was the highest total in a week since late April.
The most recent projections from the state health department and School of Public Health, released Wednesday, suggested Colorado may avoid going over hospital capacity this winter, but there is substantial uncertainty about whether hospitalizations will slow down or speed up again. Infections continued to increase in all regions of the state as of the middle of last week.
We won’t know if Thanksgiving gatherings seeded new cases until at least the middle of next week, Carlton said. It’s somewhat difficult to project, because holiday travel happened at the same time that counties were tightening their restrictions and the average person seemed to be decreasing their contacts, she said.
“There are two competing forces here,” she said.
Since March, 232,905 people have tested positive for the virus and 13,488 have been hospitalized. As of Monday, 2,656 died of the virus and 381 others have died with it.
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thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Further investigation into Colorado Catholic Church finds 9 more abusive priests, 46 more victims

For two years , Father James Moreno sexually assaulted a teenage boy dozens of times after they met at a Denver Catholic school — including in the rectory of the city ’ s most prominent church .
Moreno assaulted the boy more than 60 times between 1978 and 1980 .
He groomed him , gave him alcohol and marijuana , and raped him , according to a report released Tuesday by the Colorado Attorney General ’ s Office .
The abuse happened all over Denver : in the rooms of St. Andrew ’ s Preparatory Seminary High School , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boy ’ s home , in the rectory of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the heart of Denver , one block from the state Capitol .
The teen , now grown , reported the abuse to authorities last year after the publication of a state-led investigation into child sex abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests in Colorado .
Additional investigation into Colorado ’ s three Catholic dioceses found nine more priests who sexually abused children , including Moreno and a Denver priest and advocate for the poor known as Father Woody , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priests — ending a nearly two-year investigation into the dioceses by state authorities .
The new incidences of abuse included in a supplemental report released Tuesday bring the total number of known abusive priests in Colorado to 52 and the total number of children they abused to 212 , according to the independent investigator hired by the Colorado Attorney General ’ s Office and the diocese .
The investigator , former U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer , released his initial findings in October 2019 but continued to investigate as more survivors came forward after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than half of the 212 children were abused after church leaders knew of allegations that the priest abused children , according to the report .
Several of the children were younger than 10 years old when a priest began to abuse them .
“ Specifically , these incidents provide further evidence that historically the dioceses enabled clergy child sexual abuse by transferring abusive priests to new parishes ; taking no action to restrict their ministry or access to children ; concealing the priests ’ behavior with secrecy , euphemism and lack of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting the abuse to law enforcement , ” Troyer wrote in the supplemental report released Tuesday .
Five of the priests named for the first time Tuesday worked in the Denver Archdiocese : Moreno , Kenneth Funk , Daniel Kelleher , Gregory Smith and Charles Woodrich , who was well known in Denver for serving the poor — he handed out $ 10 bills around Christmas — and helped found the Samaritan House homeless shelter .
Three survivors came forward and said that Woodrich , known as Father Woody , groomed them and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1980s .
One boy was 12 years old when the abuse began and said Woodrich assaulted him at least once a month for six years while Woodrich was pastor at Holy Ghost Parish in Denver , according to the report .
Woodrich died in 1991 .
The other four priests named in the supplemental report worked in the Pueblo diocese : Marvin Kapushion , Duane Repola , Carlos Trujillo and Joseph Walsh .
Both Kapushion and Walsh abused children living at the Sacred Heart Orphanage while working as counselors to the children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ victims were 4 and 7 years old when he started abusing them , according to the report .
At least six of the nine newly-identified abusive priests have died .
Moreno , who is alive , admitted he abused the teen when confronted in late 2019 , according to the report .
He retired from the Denver archdiocese 16 years ago and remains ordained , though church officials are working to formally remove him from the priesthood .
All of the instances of abuse Troyer found happened between 1951 and 1999 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his supplemental report , Troyer commended the dioceses for implementing all of the systemic changes he recommended in the 2019 report .
Each diocese has created independent investigation systems , suspended any priest accused of child sexual misconduct , hired victim-assistance coordinators , improved record keeping and improved communications that encourage people to report abuse to law enforcement .
Each diocese also agreed to regular audits of their child protection systems by a third party .
“ These important improvements appear to be sound , ” Troyer wrote .
“ At this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Colorado investigation followed similar reports in other states , though the scope of the investigation here was more limited than elsewhere .
The Colorado attorney general does not have the power to convene a grand jury to investigate priest abuse , which means the office had to negotiate with the dioceses for access .
Troyer did not have the power to subpeona records or compel testimony and instead relied on documents provided to him by the dioceses , which agreed to give him complete access .
The review also did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priests who work for a religious order instead of a diocese .
The supplemental report released Tuesday included people who came forward to the attorney general ’ s office and the reparations program , but not those who only reported to the dioceses .
Troyer ’ s investigation did not find any substantiated allegations of abuse after 1999 , but he wrote in his October 2019 report that the dioceses ’ poor records and flawed practices made it impossible to know whether there had been no abuse in the past two decades .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have received money from the dioceses through an independent claims process .
As of Oct. 16 , more than $ 6.6 million has been paid to 73 abuse survivors .
The claims process was designed to allow survivors to seek reparations without worrying about statutes of limitation or a public and combative court process .
“ It takes incredible fortitude for victims of sexual abuse to come forward and tell their stories , and they are the heroes of this effort , ” Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a news release Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t one program or dollar amount that can make up for the trauma that many have been through in their lives , but my sincerest hope is that this unique Colorado program has allowed survivors of sexual abuse by a priest to take one more step on the path to healing and recovery .
”

Father James Moreno sexually assaulted a teenage boy dozens of times over two years after they met at a Denver Catholic school — including in the rectory of the city’s most prominent church.
Moreno assaulted the boy more than 60 times between 1978 and 1980. He groomed him, gave him alcohol and marijuana, and raped him, according to a report released Tuesday by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
The abuse happened all over Denver: in the rooms of St. Andrew’s Preparatory Seminary High School, in Moreno’s car, in the boy’s home, in the rectory of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the heart of Denver, one block from the state Capitol.
The teen, now grown, reported the abuse to authorities last year after the publication of a state-led investigation into child sex abuse perpetrated by Catholic priests in Colorado. Additional investigation into Colorado’s three Catholic dioceses found nine more priests who sexually abused children, including Moreno and a Denver priest and advocate for the poor known as Father Woody, along with 46 more victims of abusive priests — ending a nearly two-year investigation into the dioceses by state authorities.
The new incidences of abuse included in a supplemental report released Tuesday bring the total number of known abusive priests in Colorado to 52 and the total number of children they abused to 212, according to the independent investigator hired by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and the diocese. The investigator, former U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, released his initial findings in October 2019 but continued to investigate as more survivors came forward after the publication of his first report.
“The work we have to do is to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said Tuesday during a news conference, noting he didn’t expect to issue any more reports.
More than half of the 212 children were abused after church leaders knew of allegations that the priest abused children, according to the report. Several of the children were younger than 10 years old when a priest began to abuse them.
“Specifically, these incidents provide further evidence that historically the dioceses enabled clergy child sexual abuse by transferring abusive priests to new parishes; taking no action to restrict their ministry or access to children; concealing the priests’ behavior with secrecy, euphemism and lack of documentation; silencing victims; and not reporting the abuse to law enforcement,” Troyer wrote in the supplemental report released Tuesday.
Newly identified priests
Five of the priests named for the first time Tuesday worked in the Denver Archdiocese: Moreno, Kenneth Funk, Daniel Kelleher, Gregory Smith and Charles Woodrich, who was well known in Denver for serving the poor — he handed out $10 bills around Christmas — and helped found the Samaritan House homeless shelter.
Three survivors came forward and said that Woodrich, known as Father Woody, groomed them and assaulted them in the late 1970s and the 1980s. One boy was 12 years old when the abuse began and said Woodrich assaulted him at least once a month for six years while Woodrich was pastor at Holy Ghost Parish in Denver, according to the report. Woodrich died in 1991.
The other four priests named in the supplemental report worked in the Pueblo diocese: Marvin Kapushion, Duane Repola, Carlos Trujillo and Joseph Walsh. Both Kapushion and Walsh abused children living at the Sacred Heart Orphanage while working as counselors to the children there. Walsh’s two known victims were 4 and 7 years old when he started abusing them, according to the report.
At least six of the nine newly-identified abusive priests have died. Moreno, who is alive, admitted he abused the teen when confronted in late 2019, according to the report. He retired from the Denver archdiocese 16 years ago and remains ordained, though church officials are working to formally remove him from the priesthood.
All of the instances of abuse Troyer found happened between 1951 and 1999. The majority happened during the 1960s.
“We also hope that this process has demonstrated our commitment to continuing to enhance and strengthen our child-protection policies so that the sins of the past do not repeat themselves,” the dioceses’ three bishops said Tuesday in a joint statement. “We are grateful for the work completed by the Special Master to thoroughly analyze our protocols and make sure they meet the highest of standards for any youth-serving institution.”
In his supplemental report, Troyer commended the dioceses for implementing all of the systemic changes he recommended in the 2019 report. Each diocese has created independent investigation systems, suspended any priest accused of child sexual misconduct, hired victim-assistance coordinators, improved record keeping and improved communications that encourage people to report abuse to law enforcement. Each diocese also agreed to regular audits of their child protection systems by a third party.
“These important improvements appear to be sound,” Troyer wrote. “At this point, though, they are largely untested.”
There is no enforcement mechanism to make sure the dioceses continue to use the new systems, though Weiser said the dioceses’ public promises to do so and that failing to meet those promises would further hurt the church’s credibility.
“Heartbroken by the pain they have endured”
The Colorado investigation followed similar reports in other states, though the scope of the investigation here was more limited than elsewhere. The Colorado attorney general does not have the power to convene a grand jury to investigate priest abuse, which means the office had to negotiate with the dioceses for access.
Troyer did not have the power to subpoena records or compel testimony and instead relied on documents provided to him by the dioceses, which agreed to give him complete access. The review also did not include allegations of priests abusing adults or priests who work for a religious order instead of a diocese.
“I’m not going to say this a perfect approach… but we believe it is an effective one,” Weiser said.
The supplemental report released Tuesday included people who came forward to the attorney general’s office and the reparations program, but not those who only reported to the dioceses.
Troyer’s investigation did not find any substantiated allegations of abuse after 1999, but he wrote in his October 2019 report that the dioceses’ poor records and flawed practices made it impossible to know whether there had been no abuse in the past two decades.
Dozens of those harmed by abusive priests have received money from the dioceses through an independent claims process. As of Oct. 16, more than $6.6 million had been paid to 73 abuse survivors. The claims process was designed to allow survivors to seek reparations without worrying about statutes of limitation or a public and combative court process.
“We hope and pray that this independent review and reparations process over the last two years has provided a measure of justice and healing for the survivors who came forward and shared their stories,” the bishops said in their statement. “We remain heartbroken by the pain they have endured, we again offer our deepest apologies for the past failures of the Church, and we promise that we will always pray for continued healing for them and their families.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Colorado weather: Should Denver get prepared for Decem-brrrr?

The annual , inevitable slide into winter continues .
Now , Denver finds itself sitting at the beginning of the traditional temperature “ rock bottom.
” Historically , December is the Mile High City ’ s coldest month of the year , just narrowly beating out January by a few tenths of a degree .
But will this December be even colder than normal , or will the warm theme from November carry us through to the end of the year ?
If you have been enjoying the frequency of the mild and sunny days of November , then you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ hat-trick ” of chilly days will greet the Front Range to kick off the new month , it will not be December ’ s defining weather .
The Climate Prediction Center and some other long range forecasting tools are suggesting that December will be another mild month for much of the United States , including Colorado .
Average highs in Denver throughout December are in the low to middle 40s , with typical nighttime temperatures in the upper 10s .
While arctic air outbreaks can still take swipes at the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of very cold days seems to be rather low .
We will likely be gifted with many days to enjoy the outdoors , and another month of friendly heating bills .
Unfortunately , the dry theme of 2020 also looks to continue .
Signs point to December being another below average month in the precipitation department across Colorado .
This is disappointing news for the ongoing drought , and also for snow lovers .
December is typically Denver ’ s third snowiest month , coming in behind March and April .
The city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this month .
However , the expectations for a mild and dry conclusion to the year mean that Denver will almost surely miss that mark .
Interestingly , December has not delivered in the snow department for several years .
The last time that Denver had a snowier-than-average December was in 2016 , when 9.7 inches fell .
Last year , only 2.8 inches of snow blanketed the city , and it all came with one storm on Dec. 28 .

The annual, inevitable slide into winter continues. Now, Denver finds itself sitting at the beginning of the traditional temperature “rock bottom.”
Historically, December is the Mile High City’s coldest month of the year, just narrowly beating out January by a few tenths of a degree. But will this December be even colder than normal, or will the warm theme from November carry us through to the end of the year?
If you have been enjoying the frequency of the mild and sunny days of November, then you might be in luck again. While a “hat-trick” of chilly days will greet the Front Range to kick off the new month, it will not be December’s defining weather.
The Climate Prediction Center and some other long range forecasting tools are suggesting that December will be another mild month for much of the United States, including Colorado.
Average highs in Denver throughout December are in the low to middle 40s, with typical nighttime temperatures in the upper 10s. While arctic air outbreaks can still take swipes at the region, the threat for a long stretch of very cold days seems to be rather low. We will likely be gifted with many days to enjoy the outdoors, and another month of friendly heating bills.
Unfortunately, the dry theme of 2020 also looks to continue. Signs point to December being another below average month in the precipitation department across Colorado. This is disappointing news for the ongoing drought, and also for snow lovers.
December is typically Denver’s third snowiest month, coming in behind March and April. The city would normally tally 8 inches of snow this month. However, the expectations for a mild and dry conclusion to the year mean that Denver will almost surely miss that mark.
Interestingly, December has not delivered in the snow department for several years. The last time that Denver had a snowier-than-average December was in 2016, when 9.7 inches fell. Last year, only 2.8 inches of snow blanketed the city, and it all came with one storm on Dec. 28.