thedenverpost--2020-07-21--Rockies power rankings: How the national media ranks Colorado entering the 2020 season

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is mere days away .
With it comes hope for every fan base .
So , with everyone tied for first place right now , here ’ s how several publications from around the country rate the Rockies in their power rankings .
Bleacher Report ’ s Joel Reuter ( No .
27 ) : “ The Rockies saw their win total plummet from 91 in 2018 to 71 in 2019 , and the front office responded by sitting on its hands .
They may still finish ahead of the rebuilding San Francisco Giants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that organization seems to have a clear direction .
The Rockies are utterly lost.
” CBS Sports ’ Matt Snyder ( No .
24 ) : “ There isn ’ t much to like about an increased importance of bullpen depth early on here.
” NBC Sports Bay Area ’ s Alex Pavlovic ( No .
25 ) : “ Three months ago they were looking at a last-place finish and the likelihood they would have to trade Nolan Arenado , so a 60-game season doesn ’ t look too bad , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put up goofy numbers over two months .
Playing at Coors Field could help Arenado or Charlie Blackmon become that person.
” NBC Sports Chicago ’ s Vinnie Duber ( No .
22 ) : “ Nolan Arenado was not pleased with the Rockies this spring , nor should he have been , as that team seems to have ratcheted up to contender status only to fall back to Earth faster than anyone could have imagined .
They still have a collection of good hitters and some promising prospects on the way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ always plagued the Rox is doing so again : pitching a mile above sea level.
” NBC Sports Washington ’ s Matt Weyrich ( No .
22 ) : “ As for the Rockies , well , Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story might put up some video game numbers playing a 60-game season with half their plate appearances coming at Coors Field.
” Meanwhile , oddsmaker Bovada has the Rockies as the 23rd-best odds to win the World Series at 150-to-1 .
The Dodgers and Yankees are favored at 15/4 odds .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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The 2020 Major League Baseball season is mere days away. With it comes hope for every fan base.
So, with everyone tied for first place right now, here’s how several publications from around the country rate the Rockies in their power rankings.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter (No. 27): “The Rockies saw their win total plummet from 91 in 2018 to 71 in 2019, and the front office responded by sitting on its hands. They may still finish ahead of the rebuilding San Francisco Giants in the standings, but at least that organization seems to have a clear direction. The Rockies are utterly lost.”
CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder (No. 24): “There isn’t much to like about an increased importance of bullpen depth early on here.”
MLB.com’s Alyson Footer (No. 24): No summary.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic (No. 25): “Three months ago they were looking at a last-place finish and the likelihood they would have to trade Nolan Arenado, so a 60-game season doesn’t look too bad, all things considered. Someone is going to put up goofy numbers over two months. Playing at Coors Field could help Arenado or Charlie Blackmon become that person.”
NBC Sports Chicago’s Vinnie Duber (No. 22): “Nolan Arenado was not pleased with the Rockies this spring, nor should he have been, as that team seems to have ratcheted up to contender status only to fall back to Earth faster than anyone could have imagined. They still have a collection of good hitters and some promising prospects on the way. But the same thing that’s always plagued the Rox is doing so again: pitching a mile above sea level.”
NBC Sports Washington’s Matt Weyrich (No. 22): “As for the Rockies, well, Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story might put up some video game numbers playing a 60-game season with half their plate appearances coming at Coors Field.”
Meanwhile, oddsmaker Bovada has the Rockies as the 23rd-best odds to win the World Series at 150-to-1. The Dodgers and Yankees are favored at 15/4 odds. The over-under for Colorado wins total is 27.5.
— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
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thedenverpost--2020-07-21--After year of controversy, who should lead the Aurora Police Department?

When Vanessa Wilson was appointed the interim chief of the Aurora Police Department in December , she didn ’ t shy from the fact that she was taking over after a string of negative incidents .
“ Let ’ s be honest , I ’ m stepping in at a very turbulent time , ” Wilson said at the news conference .
The controversies haven ’ t stopped since then , even as the city searched for a permanent chief to lead the department .
Whomever the city manager chooses to step into the role will take over a department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain at the hands of three of its officers all while navigating a national conversation about the future of policing .
“ We ’ re in the one of the biggest movements in history , ever probably , and the spotlight is on Aurora , ” said Candice Bailey , a community organizer who sits on the Aurora Police Community Task Force .
Both external candidates for the position — Baltimore County Police Col. Alexander Jones and Dallas ’ Assistant Chief Avery Moore — declined interviews with The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department forward .
A spokesman for the city of Aurora declined a request to interview the two internal candidates , Wilson and Cmdr .
Marcus Dudley , the head of the internal affairs bureau .
The city manager is expected this month to recommend a candidate to the City Council , which will vote whether to approve the selection .
The new chief will have to regain trust with community members , navigate discussions about defunding the agency , respond to city , state and federal investigations into the death of McClain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to establish civilian oversight over the department .
“ The next chief is obviously not going to have an easy job before them because they ’ ll have a department that does need , in my opinion , a fair bit of housecleaning , ” Councilman Juan Marcano said .
Internally , the next chief also will have to deal with a crisis of morale and an increasing number of officers who are leaving the force , said Sgt .
Marc Sears , president of the Aurora Fraternal Order of Police union .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very different place in policing than we ’ ve ever been before , ” said Chuck Wexler , executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum , which consults in chief searches nationwide .
“ I don ’ t think the importance of police chiefs has been felt more than it has before .
Leadership matters .
We ’ re in a period of incredible change .
Really , it ’ s overstated but it ’ s uncharted waters .
“ I tell chiefs , the good news is you got the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got the job , ” he said .
In the past year , the department has been embroiled in the following controversies : • Aug. 24 : Violent arrest of McClain , which later led to his death and sparked a series of protests and rallies • Oct. 10 : An officer shoots a man through the front window of the man ’ s home after officers failed to announce they were police • Dec. 10 : News reports reveal the case of an officer who passed out drunk in his car while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigated or fired • Dec. 16 : A former officer is sentenced to jail for stealing from a police nonprofit while still on the force • Jan. 13 : An Aurora police officer pleads guilty to driving under the influence and prohibited use of a weapon , and later resigns • April 6 : The department fires an officer after he drunkenly drove a car in a Colorado Springs neighborhood • June 15 : Another officer is fired for drunkenly crashing his car • June 27 : Police use batons and pepper spray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in honor of McClain • July 3 : Three officers are fired , and another resigns , in connection with mocking photos taken near a memorial to McClain • July 17 : Public records reveal an officer who was fired in February had left a restrained woman on the floor of his patrol car for 21 minutes despite her pleas that she couldn ’ t breathe One of the internal candidates is intimately familiar with some of the most high-profile incidents of the past year .
Dudley , the internal affairs commander , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation into the death of McClain .
He also was involved in the investigation into Nate Meier , the Aurora officer found passed out drunk in his car while on duty .
Meier did not face charges and kept his job , though Dudley was one of the high-ranking department leaders to recommend Meier be fired .
The police chief at the time , Nick Metz , overruled those recommendations .
Dudley is also a finalist to become the police chief in Waco , Texas .
Jones , of Baltimore County , applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the fall of 2019 but was not selected .
City leaders will have to decide whether to bring in an outsider to move the department forward or to elevate a longtime member of the embattled police force .
“ Sometimes someone from inside the department can hit the ground running and knows what needs to be done , ” Wexler said .
“ Sometimes someone from the outside can be a fresh set of eyes.
” Existing knowledge of Aurora ’ s growing and deeply multicultural community is a must , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re in , it would be deaf to Aurora to pick someone who doesn ’ t know our history , our culture , ” she said .
The series of incidents has prompted the City Council to conduct a deep examination of the department ’ s policies and procedures .
For several meetings , representatives have presented on topics such as use-of-force protocol , the internal affairs process and crowd-control techniques .
During a meeting last week of a council committee , Wilson and other top departmental leaders responded to questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aurora police disproportionately use force against Black people .
An analysis of all 2019 incidents in which Aurora police reported they used force shows that 47 % of the people officers used force against were Black .
Black people make up 16 % of the city ’ s population .
Councilwoman Angela Lawson questioned Wilson over the numbers , which she said were “ disturbing.
” “ I can certainly understand why people of color feel the way they do ” about being disproportionately targeted , Lawson said .
Wilson said she couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that she ’ d look into them .
The data offers credence to a lack of trust many people of color in the community have felt for years .
As an educator , Bailey sometimes led students through a simple game .
She ’ d create a line on the floor and ask students to step forward if they could answer “ yes ” to fun questions : Do you like to smile ?
Is your favorite color blue ?
“ If we did one of those inside of our community and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been assaulted by the police ?
Have your rights ever been violated in court ?
, ’ we ’ d all be on the line , ” she said .
Marcano said he ’ s received many emails over the past few weeks from his constituents about the police department .
Some show support for the department and say its funding should be increased .
Others say they have lost trust in the department and that the role of police in the community needs to be re-evaluated .
The latter message is more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chief candidates , though to different degrees , seemed interested in having a conversation about police responsibilities , Marcano said of his one-on-one conversations with the four finalists .
Broader conversations also are needed about the roots of crime : generational poverty , housing instability , hunger , untreated mental health needs .
“ I ’ m not blaming any individual officer or any individual chief of police , ” Marcano said .
“ This is systemic .
This is nationwide.
” One of the agency ’ s police unions agrees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ put the burden on the police — no matter what the problem is we have to handle it , ” Sears , the Aurora Fraternal Order of Police president , said .
“ We have to be handymen .
We have to be therapists .
We have to be school counselors.
” The union is open to having conversations about shifting some of those responsibilities to civilians hired within the department , but doesn ’ t want the agency ’ s budget reduced , he said .
More important to the union than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support the officers , Sears said .
Morale is low in the department and an unprecedented number of officers are resigning or retiring , he said .
“ The morale is horrible , ” he said .
“ It ’ s absolutely horrible.
” He dismissed the recent protests of the department and said he believes the majority of Aurora residents trust its officers .
Sears attributed all of the criticism of the agency to a small group that happens to have a large audience , including the news media .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Sears said of the protesters .
“ They ’ e just here to cause commotion and be a thorn in our sides .
“ I don ’ t think that we have the trust of the activists , ” Sears said .
“ I don ’ t think that we have the trust of anarchists .
And you know what , I don ’ t want their trust .
I don ’ t care !
”

When Vanessa Wilson was appointed the interim chief of the Aurora Police Department in December, she didn’t shy from the fact that she was taking over after a string of negative incidents.
“Let’s be honest, I’m stepping in at a very turbulent time,” Wilson said at the news conference.
The controversies haven’t stopped since then, even as the city searched for a permanent chief to lead the department. Whomever the city manager chooses to step into the role will take over a department recently thrust into the national spotlight for the death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain at the hands of three of its officers all while navigating a national conversation about the future of policing.
“We’re in the one of the biggest movements in history, ever probably, and the spotlight is on Aurora,” said Candice Bailey, a community organizer who sits on the Aurora Police Community Task Force.
Both external candidates for the position — Baltimore County Police Col. Alexander Jones and Dallas’ Assistant Chief Avery Moore — declined interviews with The Denver Post about how they would move the department forward. A spokesman for the city of Aurora declined a request to interview the two internal candidates, Wilson and Cmdr. Marcus Dudley, the head of the internal affairs bureau.
The city manager is expected this month to recommend a candidate to the City Council, which will vote whether to approve the selection. The new chief will have to regain trust with community members, navigate discussions about defunding the agency, respond to city, state and federal investigations into the death of McClain, and work with a group trying to establish civilian oversight over the department.
“The next chief is obviously not going to have an easy job before them because they’ll have a department that does need, in my opinion, a fair bit of housecleaning,” Councilman Juan Marcano said.
Internally, the next chief also will have to deal with a crisis of morale and an increasing number of officers who are leaving the force, said Sgt. Marc Sears, president of the Aurora Fraternal Order of Police union.
“Honestly, we’re in a very different place in policing than we’ve ever been before,” said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, which consults in chief searches nationwide. “I don’t think the importance of police chiefs has been felt more than it has before. Leadership matters. We’re in a period of incredible change. Really, it’s overstated but it’s uncharted waters.
“I tell chiefs, the good news is you got the job and the bad news is you got the job,” he said.
Next chief
In the past year, the department has been embroiled in the following controversies:
One of the internal candidates is intimately familiar with some of the most high-profile incidents of the past year.
Dudley, the internal affairs commander, oversaw the major crimes department during its investigation into the death of McClain. He also was involved in the investigation into Nate Meier, the Aurora officer found passed out drunk in his car while on duty. Meier did not face charges and kept his job, though Dudley was one of the high-ranking department leaders to recommend Meier be fired. The police chief at the time, Nick Metz, overruled those recommendations.
Dudley is also a finalist to become the police chief in Waco, Texas. Jones, of Baltimore County, applied to be chief of Columbus, Ohio, in the fall of 2019 but was not selected.
City leaders will have to decide whether to bring in an outsider to move the department forward or to elevate a longtime member of the embattled police force.
“Sometimes someone from inside the department can hit the ground running and knows what needs to be done,” Wexler said. “Sometimes someone from the outside can be a fresh set of eyes.”
Existing knowledge of Aurora’s growing and deeply multicultural community is a must, Bailey said.
“Given the inferno we’re in, it would be deaf to Aurora to pick someone who doesn’t know our history, our culture,” she said.
External pressure
The series of incidents has prompted the City Council to conduct a deep examination of the department’s policies and procedures. For several meetings, representatives have presented on topics such as use-of-force protocol, the internal affairs process and crowd-control techniques.
During a meeting last week of a council committee, Wilson and other top departmental leaders responded to questions about use-of-force, including data that shows Aurora police disproportionately use force against Black people.
An analysis of all 2019 incidents in which Aurora police reported they used force shows that 47% of the people officers used force against were Black. Black people make up 16% of the city’s population.
Councilwoman Angela Lawson questioned Wilson over the numbers, which she said were “disturbing.”
“I can certainly understand why people of color feel the way they do” about being disproportionately targeted, Lawson said.
Wilson said she couldn’t immediately explain the numbers, but that she’d look into them.
The data offers credence to a lack of trust many people of color in the community have felt for years.
As an educator, Bailey sometimes led students through a simple game. She’d create a line on the floor and ask students to step forward if they could answer “yes” to fun questions: Do you like to smile? Is your favorite color blue?
“If we did one of those inside of our community and we asked, ‘Have you ever been assaulted by the police? Have your rights ever been violated in court?,’ we’d all be on the line,” she said.
Marcano said he’s received many emails over the past few weeks from his constituents about the police department. Some show support for the department and say its funding should be increased. Others say they have lost trust in the department and that the role of police in the community needs to be re-evaluated. The latter message is more common, he said.
All of the chief candidates, though to different degrees, seemed interested in having a conversation about police responsibilities, Marcano said of his one-on-one conversations with the four finalists. Broader conversations also are needed about the roots of crime: generational poverty, housing instability, hunger, untreated mental health needs.
“I’m not blaming any individual officer or any individual chief of police,” Marcano said. “This is systemic. This is nationwide.”
Internal fallout
One of the agency’s police unions agrees.
“What this country has done is put the burden on the police — no matter what the problem is we have to handle it,” Sears, the Aurora Fraternal Order of Police president, said. “We have to be handymen. We have to be therapists. We have to be school counselors.”
The union is open to having conversations about shifting some of those responsibilities to civilians hired within the department, but doesn’t want the agency’s budget reduced, he said.
More important to the union than any reform is a chief who will support the officers, Sears said. Morale is low in the department and an unprecedented number of officers are resigning or retiring, he said.
“The morale is horrible,” he said. “It’s absolutely horrible.”
He dismissed the recent protests of the department and said he believes the majority of Aurora residents trust its officers. Sears attributed all of the criticism of the agency to a small group that happens to have a large audience, including the news media.
“They’re not going to win,” Sears said of the protesters. “They’re just here to cause commotion and be a thorn in our sides.
“I don’t think that we have the trust of the activists,” Sears said. “I don’t think that we have the trust of anarchists. And you know what, I don’t want their trust. I don’t care!”


thedenverpost--2020-07-21--Colorado’s COVID-19 cases rise for fifth week, though hospitalizations remain far from April peak

Cases of COVID-19 rose in Colorado for the fifth week in a row following a long decline , reaching levels not seen since April .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 3,113 new cases of the coronavirus in the week ending Sunday .
The state had recorded 3,760 cases during the peak week for infections in late April .
The increase in cases from two weeks ago to last week was relatively small , at about 6 % , but it followed an increase of 50 % .
Because the rate of increase has been up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s difficult to tell whether the state ’ s rise in cases is gaining steam or slowing down .
More than 40,000 people in Colorado have been confirmed to have contracted the virus since March , with testing scaling up to record levels in recent weeks — even as ongoing delays in results have frustrated many .
Following a slow increase in the positivity rate since mid-June , that figure — the percentage of overall tests that come back positive — began dropping late last week .
Additionally , hospitalizations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 888 .
The Colorado Hospital Association reported 275 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday .
The number of hospitalizations had risen rapidly in the first weeks of July , but the increase leveled out over the weekend .
Ventilator usage jumped on July 10 , but has been relatively stable since .
UCHealth , which operates 12 hospitals in Colorado , said Monday that while it ’ s still considered “ a very manageable and safe level , ” the network ’ s current number of nearly 70 coronavirus patients is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks ago .
One factor in the lower hospitalization rate compared to April could be that recent infections are more likely to be in children , teens and young adults , who are less likely to need intensive care than the older people who disproportionately hit at the beginning of the pandemic .
It ’ s also possible that the rate will rise , since most people don ’ t develop severe symptoms in the first days of the illness .
Deaths may have been down compared to the previous week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trend may take at least another week .
Deaths from the second week of July were still being reported Monday .
If the numbers don ’ t change much , however , it could signal last week ’ s increase in deaths was a blip , rather than a trend .
Some experts have raised concerns that the increase in cases could generate more patients in need of intensive care than hospitals can accommodate .
Others are less concerned , saying hospitals can adapt .
Social distancing has fallen steadily in Colorado since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the White House coronavirus task force , though some local experts think the real change began a few weeks later .
Typically , cases are reported one to two weeks after infection , so changes in behavior don ’ t show up immediately in the data .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Cases of COVID-19 rose in Colorado for the fifth week in a row following a long decline, reaching levels not seen since April.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 3,113 new cases of the coronavirus in the week ending Sunday. The state had recorded 3,760 cases during the peak week for infections in late April.
The increase in cases from two weeks ago to last week was relatively small, at about 6%, but it followed an increase of 50%. Because the rate of increase has been up and down over the last five weeks, it’s difficult to tell whether the state’s rise in cases is gaining steam or slowing down.
More than 40,000 people in Colorado have been confirmed to have contracted the virus since March, with testing scaling up to record levels in recent weeks — even as ongoing delays in results have frustrated many. Following a slow increase in the positivity rate since mid-June, that figure — the percentage of overall tests that come back positive — began dropping late last week.
Additionally, hospitalizations are still far from their April peak of 888.
The Colorado Hospital Association reported 275 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday. The number of hospitalizations had risen rapidly in the first weeks of July, but the increase leveled out over the weekend. Ventilator usage jumped on July 10, but has been relatively stable since.
UCHealth, which operates 12 hospitals in Colorado, said Monday that while it’s still considered “a very manageable and safe level,” the network’s current number of nearly 70 coronavirus patients is more than double what it was just two weeks ago.
One factor in the lower hospitalization rate compared to April could be that recent infections are more likely to be in children, teens and young adults, who are less likely to need intensive care than the older people who disproportionately hit at the beginning of the pandemic. It’s also possible that the rate will rise, since most people don’t develop severe symptoms in the first days of the illness.
Deaths may have been down compared to the previous week, but a clear answer on the fatality trend may take at least another week. Deaths from the second week of July were still being reported Monday. If the numbers don’t change much, however, it could signal last week’s increase in deaths was a blip, rather than a trend.
Some experts have raised concerns that the increase in cases could generate more patients in need of intensive care than hospitals can accommodate. Others are less concerned, saying hospitals can adapt.
Social distancing has fallen steadily in Colorado since mid-May, according to a report prepared for the White House coronavirus task force, though some local experts think the real change began a few weeks later. Typically, cases are reported one to two weeks after infection, so changes in behavior don’t show up immediately in the data.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-07-21--Broncos Mailbag: Will team regret not doing more to address cornerback position?

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O ’ Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the offseason .
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here .
Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter .
How can left tackle Garret Bolles be underrated when he holds the NFL record for holding penalties for the last three years ?
Also , why does John Elway keep saying he ’ s getting better instead of getting rid of him ?
The folks at Pro Football Focus declared Bolles as being underrated earlier this month .
I keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I ’ m going to declare Bolles as properly rated .
Good enough in the final half of 2019 for the Broncos to give him a shot at keeping his starting job , but not good enough for the Broncos to pick up his 2021 contract option .
The key for Bolles is matching his availability ( never missed a start ) with his productivity ( avoid the train-wreck game ) .
In Elway ’ s last public comments about left tackle , he declared the position open for competition between Bolles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of getting better play at that spot .
I have been reading a lot on which rookie is going to make the biggest impact .
I have heard Jerry Jeudy , KJ Hamler or Michael Ojemudia .
My bet is on Lloyd Cushenberry .
What better way to make a difference in a game than to have a rookie center that can come in and basically run the offensive line and give Drew Lock time ?
If the Broncos have big games , you might want to take a look at the offensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as that is where it starts .
Cushenberry , a third-round pick by the Broncos , will be a good choice as soon as it ’ s determined he will start at center .
I expect him to be snapping it to Lock in Week 1 , but the Broncos are adamant Cushenberry will compete against Patrick Morris and Austin Schlottmann .
Cushenberry rising up to seize the job will be important because the Broncos need continuity at center after Matt Paradis ( Carolina ) and Connor McGovern ( New York Jets ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offseasons .
If I had to list the concern points on the Broncos ’ offensive line , left and right tackle would be atop the list , ahead of center ( Cushenberry ) , left guard ( Dalton Risner ) and right guard ( Graham Glasgow ) .
Right tackle is a concern because Ja ’ Wuan James was unable to finish a game last year and left tackle is a concern because of Bolles .
The Broncos essentially traded out No .
1 cornerbacks , but outside of that , stuck with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Callahan can stay healthy .
Do you think the pass rush will make this a moot point ?
Or might the front office ’ s relative inaction come back to haunt the team in games against the Chiefs ?
Yes , the Broncos essentially swapped out Chris Harris ( signed with the Chargers ) for A.J .
Bouye ( acquired in a trade from Jacksonville ) .
And , yes , the Broncos are taking a large leap of faith in having confidence Callahan ( out all of 2019 with a foot injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grind and believing Ojemudia ( a third-round pick from Iowa ) can be a quick NFL study .
Did they wait one round too long to draft a corner ?
Perhaps , as they took Hamler instead .
Ojemudia better be ready to play because at the very least he should win the No .
3 job and play outside on at least 60-65 % of the defensive snaps .
If Callahan goes down , uh-oh .
Duke Dawson got a few shots at the nickel last year and it didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside guys only .
For the Broncos ’ sake , Callahan must stay healthy .
From what I saw of quarterback Jeff Driskel at previous stops , I wasn ’ t all that impressed .
Why do you think the Broncos opted for him over other veterans ?
If Drew Lock goes down , can Driskel hold down the fort ?
Is there any chance Brett Rypien supplants him ?
Signing Driskel instead of a more-established quarterback with starting experience was a clear sign the Broncos are all in on Lock this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I figured the Broncos would sign a backup who knew he wasn ’ t competing for the starting job but could lean on his 25 , 30 , 35 , 40 career starts to help guide Lock along in his first full season as the No .
1 guy .
Driskel was 1-4 as Cincinnati ’ s starter in 2018 and 0-3 as Detroit ’ s starter last year .
Neither situation was great ( he was sacked 27 times ) , but he did have more touchdowns ( 10 ) than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes down , the Broncos are in trouble and that ’ s not a knock on Driskel .
I would expect him to be the No .
2 this year and have Rypien on hand to develop as a practice squad player .
How much do you think the Broncos ’ home-field advantage will be affected by reduced capacity ?
At the very least , it seems like the pass rush might be hindered .
Does it matter ?
I ’ ll vote for “ doesn ’ t matter ” except for , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass-rush situations where the fans are loud and the stadium is shaking and opposing offenses have to use a silent snap count .
The key is having good players .
From 2012-15 , the Broncos were 28-4 at home , tied with New England for the best record in the league .
From 2016-19 , the Broncos were 17-15 at home , tied for 17th .
Good teams make things happen on their home field regardless of the opponent , situation or environment .
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more daily updates on Twitter .

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag periodically during the offseason.
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here. Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter.
How can left tackle Garret Bolles be underrated when he holds the NFL record for holding penalties for the last three years? Also, why does John Elway keep saying he’s getting better instead of getting rid of him?
— Karrin Feser, Cottage Grove
The folks at Pro Football Focus declared Bolles as being underrated earlier this month. I keep my own data on run- and pass-blocking and I’m going to declare Bolles as properly rated. Good enough in the final half of 2019 for the Broncos to give him a shot at keeping his starting job, but not good enough for the Broncos to pick up his 2021 contract option. The key for Bolles is matching his availability (never missed a start) with his productivity (avoid the train-wreck game). In Elway’s last public comments about left tackle, he declared the position open for competition between Bolles and Elijah Wilkinson and stressed the importance of getting better play at that spot.
I have been reading a lot on which rookie is going to make the biggest impact. I have heard Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler or Michael Ojemudia. My bet is on Lloyd Cushenberry. What better way to make a difference in a game than to have a rookie center that can come in and basically run the offensive line and give Drew Lock time? If the Broncos have big games, you might want to take a look at the offensive line and especially the rookie center, as that is where it starts.
— Del, Lamar
Cushenberry, a third-round pick by the Broncos, will be a good choice as soon as it’s determined he will start at center. I expect him to be snapping it to Lock in Week 1, but the Broncos are adamant Cushenberry will compete against Patrick Morris and Austin Schlottmann. Cushenberry rising up to seize the job will be important because the Broncos need continuity at center after Matt Paradis (Carolina) and Connor McGovern (New York Jets) left in free agency the past two offseasons. If I had to list the concern points on the Broncos’ offensive line, left and right tackle would be atop the list, ahead of center (Cushenberry), left guard (Dalton Risner) and right guard (Graham Glasgow). Right tackle is a concern because Ja’Wuan James was unable to finish a game last year and left tackle is a concern because of Bolles.
The Broncos essentially traded out No. 1 cornerbacks, but outside of that, stuck with the status quo with the hope Bryce Callahan can stay healthy. Do you think the pass rush will make this a moot point? Or might the front office’s relative inaction come back to haunt the team in games against the Chiefs?
— Troy, Port Angeles, Washington
Yes, the Broncos essentially swapped out Chris Harris (signed with the Chargers) for A.J. Bouye (acquired in a trade from Jacksonville). And, yes, the Broncos are taking a large leap of faith in having confidence Callahan (out all of 2019 with a foot injury) can stay healthy through a 16-game grind and believing Ojemudia (a third-round pick from Iowa) can be a quick NFL study. Did they wait one round too long to draft a corner? Perhaps, as they took Hamler instead. Ojemudia better be ready to play because at the very least he should win the No. 3 job and play outside on at least 60-65% of the defensive snaps. If Callahan goes down, uh-oh. Duke Dawson got a few shots at the nickel last year and it didn’t work out. Bouye and Ojemudia are outside guys only. For the Broncos’ sake, Callahan must stay healthy.
From what I saw of quarterback Jeff Driskel at previous stops, I wasn’t all that impressed. Why do you think the Broncos opted for him over other veterans? If Drew Lock goes down, can Driskel hold down the fort? Is there any chance Brett Rypien supplants him?
— Jeff, Aurora
Signing Driskel instead of a more-established quarterback with starting experience was a clear sign the Broncos are all in on Lock this year. And that’s mostly fine. I figured the Broncos would sign a backup who knew he wasn’t competing for the starting job but could lean on his 25, 30, 35, 40 career starts to help guide Lock along in his first full season as the No. 1 guy. Driskel was 1-4 as Cincinnati’s starter in 2018 and 0-3 as Detroit’s starter last year. Neither situation was great (he was sacked 27 times), but he did have more touchdowns (10) than interceptions (six). If Lock goes down, the Broncos are in trouble and that’s not a knock on Driskel. I would expect him to be the No. 2 this year and have Rypien on hand to develop as a practice squad player.
How much do you think the Broncos’ home-field advantage will be affected by reduced capacity? At the very least, it seems like the pass rush might be hindered. Does it matter?
— Matt, East Colfax
I’ll vote for “doesn’t matter” except for, as you pointed out, those key pass-rush situations where the fans are loud and the stadium is shaking and opposing offenses have to use a silent snap count. The key is having good players. From 2012-15, the Broncos were 28-4 at home, tied with New England for the best record in the league. From 2016-19, the Broncos were 17-15 at home, tied for 17th. Good teams make things happen on their home field regardless of the opponent, situation or environment.
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here. Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter.


thedenverpost--2020-07-21--Ask Amy: Pandemic amplifies long-distance loneliness

Dear Amy : Not long before the pandemic started , I moved across the country .
I ’ ve tried staying in touch with people where I used to live , and I spent about six months in my new home getting out and about and meeting people .
I created a few acquaintances , but that ’ s it so far .
I ’ ve tried suggesting video or phone chats , but people I know ( in both places ) aren ’ t able to/interested in more than texting to keep in touch .
The past three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a health condition that puts me at high risk , so I don ’ t see an end in sight without a vaccine .
There ’ s not really any way to make new friends currently while staying at home , so how do I deal with texting being my only form of contact for the next year or so ?
Dear Isolated : I certainly hope it won ’ t be a year before you are able to move around with a feeling of safety concerning your health .
A year is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from most human contact .
My first recommendation is for you to adopt a pet , if you are able and if your health allows .
Shelters are offering adoptions via appointment , and if there is a way for you to do this safely , I hope you will consider it .
Many people who are still working ( remotely ) are completely exhausted with videoconferencing .
What seemed like a fun novelty four months ago ( “ Zoom cocktails , cool ! )
now feels forced .
Texting is not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but if you put some effort into becoming an engaging correspondent ( not initiating too often , being responsive to others , and occasionally sending fun memes and videos ) , texting can be a somewhat satisfying way of staying connected .
You could also see if your hometown friends might want to create a standing date to play an online game like “ Words with Friends.
” Understand , however , that many people are struggling right now – just as you are .
What I ’ m trying to say is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is everyone .
Your local library might host a ( virtual ) book club you could join .
Doing this would help you to connect in-person when the world opens up .
Yes – you can make new friends while staying at home .
There are numerous online communities for any interest you might have – or acquire .
Reddit.com is ( basically ) the internet ’ s bulletin board .
I just randomly looked up “ Portland/knitting ” and felt instantly cheered by the photos and comments of knitters in Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knit – OR live in Portland ! )
Dear Amy : I am retired .
I never married and have no children .
Thanks to the careful budgeting of my parents and an uncle , I am what would be called comfortably well off .
Now that I have the time and my health , I have indulged in traveling .
If all goes well , I ’ m planning a trip to Europe later this year .
I offered all three of my nieces a chance to go with me .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so it looks like I am going by myself .
My brother called me and asked me how it was that I can afford to take the kids to Europe and not help him with other bills .
I am likely to get overburdened with his bills , and I didn ’ t feel comfortable signing a loan for him .
My brother told me that I was not to have anything to do with his kids .
I am a consenting adult who can decide for myself who I will and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all three nieces are consenting adults and can make their own decisions .
I ’ d love to hear your take on the situation .
Dear Aunt : I ’ m volunteering to be your “ companion , ” like a character in an E.M Forster novel .
Otherwise , yes – you are all consenting adults , and your brother does not have the right to control either you or his adult daughters .
However – understand that parents are able to pull all sorts of strings with their children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about that .
Dear Amy : Your reader , “ NOT Born in the USA ” wanted to become more “ American.
” Jacques Barzun , a man who ’ d covered baseball for 55 years , once said , “ Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball , the rules , and reality of the game.
” That said , I ’ m not completely sure that is true anymore , but it ’ s a start .

Dear Amy: Not long before the pandemic started, I moved across the country. I’ve tried staying in touch with people where I used to live, and I spent about six months in my new home getting out and about and meeting people.
I created a few acquaintances, but that’s it so far.
I’ve tried suggesting video or phone chats, but people I know (in both places) aren’t able to/interested in more than texting to keep in touch.
The past three months have been isolating, and I have a health condition that puts me at high risk, so I don’t see an end in sight without a vaccine.
There’s not really any way to make new friends currently while staying at home, so how do I deal with texting being my only form of contact for the next year or so?
— Isolated
Dear Isolated: I certainly hope it won’t be a year before you are able to move around with a feeling of safety concerning your health. A year is a very long time to be isolated from most human contact.
My first recommendation is for you to adopt a pet, if you are able and if your health allows. Shelters are offering adoptions via appointment, and if there is a way for you to do this safely, I hope you will consider it.
Many people who are still working (remotely) are completely exhausted with videoconferencing. What seemed like a fun novelty four months ago (“Zoom cocktails, cool!) now feels forced.
Texting is not an optimal way to stay in touch, but if you put some effort into becoming an engaging correspondent (not initiating too often, being responsive to others, and occasionally sending fun memes and videos), texting can be a somewhat satisfying way of staying connected.
You could also see if your hometown friends might want to create a standing date to play an online game like “Words with Friends.”
Understand, however, that many people are struggling right now – just as you are. What I’m trying to say is – it’s not you. It is everyone.
Your local library might host a (virtual) book club you could join. Doing this would help you to connect in-person when the world opens up.
Yes – you can make new friends while staying at home. There are numerous online communities for any interest you might have – or acquire. Reddit.com is (basically) the internet’s bulletin board. I just randomly looked up “Portland/knitting” and felt instantly cheered by the photos and comments of knitters in Portland. (And I don’t knit – OR live in Portland!)
Dear Amy: I am retired. I never married and have no children. Thanks to the careful budgeting of my parents and an uncle, I am what would be called comfortably well off. Now that I have the time and my health, I have indulged in traveling.
If all goes well, I’m planning a trip to Europe later this year. I offered all three of my nieces a chance to go with me. All three turned me down for good reasons, so it looks like I am going by myself.
My brother called me and asked me how it was that I can afford to take the kids to Europe and not help him with other bills. I am likely to get overburdened with his bills, and I didn’t feel comfortable signing a loan for him.
My brother told me that I was not to have anything to do with his kids. I am a consenting adult who can decide for myself who I will and won’t associate with. Furthermore, all three nieces are consenting adults and can make their own decisions. I’d love to hear your take on the situation.
— Loving Aunt
Dear Aunt: I’m volunteering to be your “companion,” like a character in an E.M Forster novel.
Otherwise, yes – you are all consenting adults, and your brother does not have the right to control either you or his adult daughters. However – understand that parents are able to pull all sorts of strings with their children, and there is nothing you can do about that.
Dear Amy: Your reader, “NOT Born in the USA” wanted to become more “American.”
I suggest he/she start learning about baseball.
Jacques Barzun, a man who’d covered baseball for 55 years, once said, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules, and reality of the game.”
That said, I’m not completely sure that is true anymore, but it’s a start.
— Baseball Fan
Dear Fan: Great suggestion!
(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--2020-07-21--Colorado’s biggest musicians boycott Fiddler’s Green as pressure mounts against Greenwood Village po

Colorado’s biggest musicians boycott Fiddler’s Green as pressure mounts against Greenwood Village police resolution

From a distance , it may have looked like a breezy summer concert in an affluent Denver suburb .
But the hundreds of people that gathered in the park behind Greenwood Village City Hall on Monday night weren ’ t just there to hear Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats , the Flobots or Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers .
They were there to let the Greenwood Village City Council know its resolution shielding the city ’ s police officers from civil liability in instances of civil rights violations won ’ t stand .
Not if they and some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have anything to say about it .
The “ march and play-in for justice ” was the second demonstration outside Greenwood Village city hall since the council sought to undermine the state ’ s new accountability legislation by resolving never to find its officers acted in bad faith in interactions with residents .
After the resolution passed July 6 , more than 100 protesters took to the streets despite the use of a city snow plow to block street access to the city hall parking lot .
In between Rateliff ’ s hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s cover of Bruce Springsteen , State Sen. Jeff Bridges took the microphone .
Bridges , who lives in Greenwood Village , said his first concert was at Greenwood Village venue Fiddler ’ s Green Amphitheater , but that he won ’ t return to the venue until the City Council rescinds its resolution .
“ Our officers must be exemplary , not exempt , ” Bridges said .
Just after 9 p.m. , after more music from the Brothers of Brass brass band , the assembled crowd set out for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Denver School Board helped lead the demonstration , along with the police reform bill ’ s prime sponsor , Rep. Leslie Herod , D-Denver .
“ Do your job , ” he called .
“ Uphold the law , ” the crowd responded .
Senate Bill 217 was drafted and passed this spring following protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the deaths of other unarmed Black people , including Aurora ’ s Elijah McClain last fall .
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats , The Lumineers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gospel group Spirit of Grace and artists Erica Brown and Andrea Marchant all participated in Monday night ’ s protest .
“ Live performances at Fiddler ’ s Green are a major source of revenue for the city of Greenwood Village , ” the petition read .
“ Because the city council does not understand why it is imperative — from a civil rights and safety perspective — to abide by our statewide laws , we hope that they understand why it is also an economic imperative that we as artists and fans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Greenwood Village.
” For residents with long memories , the protests are reminiscent of the early ’ 90s boycott of Colorado by touring musicians such as Madonna and Elton John , the result of Amendment 2 , a statewide ballot initiative that passed by a slim margin in 1992 and prohibited Colorado from enacting anti-discrimination protections for gays , lesbians and bisexuals .
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the amendment in 1995 for being unconstitutional , but its three-year reign cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to historians and news reports .
“ Amendment 2 may be the biggest public-relations disaster ever to hit Colorado , ” The Denver Post reported at the time .
Withholding performances , and therefore revenue , is just the starting point , musicians say .
If the resolution doesn ’ t disappear , the goal is to erode the prestige formerly associated with Fiddler ’ s Green — as well stigmatize it as being located in a city that ’ s unsafe for people of color .
“ In general , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people don ’ t have , ” said Storm Gloor , associate professor of Music and Entertainment Industry Studies at the University of Colorado Denver .
“ If I were to take a stand on something , I wouldn ’ t have a lot to personally negotiate with .
But artists do.
” That ’ s the point , of course , of corralling platinum-selling acts such as The Lumineers , whose singer — Schultz — provided one of the top-billed names at Monday night ’ s event .
Their voices give the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herod , the Denver Democrat who chairs the state ’ s Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and put the event together .
“ Nathaniel and his band were the first to sign on board — and I mean within hours , ” she said .
“ But of course bands like Flobots have always been there .
This isn ’ t just a moment for Colorado artists , but a movement .
It ’ s not just about police accountability , but about the way we show up in life and respect Black lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are willing to put their livelihoods on the line for Black lives , and that can ’ t be understated.
” Mega-promoter AEG Presents , whose Rocky Mountain office books Fiddler ’ s Green and all but controls the regional touring scene , also released a statement in support of the event Monday night .
“ AEG Presents and the Museum of Outdoor Arts , the nonprofit which owns Fiddler ’ s Green Amphitheater , stand together in support of Black Lives Matter and against social and racial injustice .
We also stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have come forward to lend their voices to progress , both locally and nationally , ” it read .
“ AEG Presents , as a music company that operates a venue in Greenwood Village and works closely with its police department , has unique perspective and connections to this issue .
We have already reached out to key voices on both sides with the intent of bringing all parties together for meaningful dialogue and resolution.
” Singer Lerea Edwards performed at the event with her gospel group , Spirit of Grace .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ musicians who are standing up for this , but there are so many more who have been marginalized over the years and who don ’ t have that voice , ” Edwards said .
“ From what I ’ ve seen , the music community stands united in this , and if you can ’ t love one of us , you can ’ t love any of us.
” Edwards , who is Black , said she took part because she doesn ’ t feel safe inviting her family to Greenwood Village @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s done all over the state with acts ranging from famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to Colorado pop act OneRepublic .
“ We ’ ve tried holding police accountable by being quiet , by prayer , by peaceful protests , ” she said .
“ All these different avenues to try to have equal civil rights .
And nothing.
” The goal of Monday ’ s event , and other recent protests , is not to tear down the city , Sen. Bridges said .
It ’ s to show how many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Bill 217 on police accountability is one of the most important anti-racist bills in state history , and it passed with unanimous , bipartisan support , ” he said .
“ Saying parts of it don ’ t apply to the city I live in undermines the bill and sends a very dangerous message to communities of color.
” Colorado musicians using their star power to bring attention to the Greenwood Village resolution puts added pressure on city council , he said .
“ These musicians bring with them enormous fan bases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This was already getting some attention , but nothing like the kind it ’ s getting now .
”

From a distance, it may have looked like a breezy summer concert in an affluent Denver suburb. But the hundreds of people that gathered in the park behind Greenwood Village City Hall on Monday night weren’t just there to hear Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, the Flobots or Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers.
They were there to let the Greenwood Village City Council know its resolution shielding the city’s police officers from civil liability in instances of civil rights violations won’t stand. Not if they and some of the state’s most prominent musicians have anything to say about it.
The “march and play-in for justice” was the second demonstration outside Greenwood Village city hall since the council sought to undermine the state’s new accountability legislation by resolving never to find its officers acted in bad faith in interactions with residents. After the resolution passed July 6, more than 100 protesters took to the streets despite the use of a city snow plow to block street access to the city hall parking lot.
In between Rateliff’s hit “Say it Louder” and Schultz’s cover of Bruce Springsteen, State Sen. Jeff Bridges took the microphone. Bridges, who lives in Greenwood Village, said his first concert was at Greenwood Village venue Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater, but that he won’t return to the venue until the City Council rescinds its resolution.
“Our officers must be exemplary, not exempt,” Bridges said.
Just after 9 p.m., after more music from the Brothers of Brass brass band, the assembled crowd set out for a march to the amphitheater. Tay Anderson of the Denver School Board helped lead the demonstration, along with the police reform bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver.
“Do your job,” Anderson called. “Uphold the law,” the crowd responded.
Senate Bill 217 was drafted and passed this spring following protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the deaths of other unarmed Black people, including Aurora’s Elijah McClain last fall. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, The Lumineers, Flobots and DeVotchKa, along with gospel group Spirit of Grace and artists Erica Brown and Andrea Marchant, all signed a petition protesting it and circulated it online last week.
“Live performances at Fiddler’s Green are a major source of revenue for the city of Greenwood Village,” the petition read. “Because the city council does not understand why it is imperative — from a civil rights and safety perspective — to abide by our statewide laws, we hope that they understand why it is also an economic imperative that we as artists and fans will now refuse to spend our money in Greenwood Village.”
For residents with long memories, the protests are reminiscent of the early ’90s boycott of Colorado by touring musicians such as Madonna and Elton John, the result of Amendment 2, a statewide ballot initiative that passed by a slim margin in 1992 and prohibited Colorado from enacting anti-discrimination protections for gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the amendment in 1995 for being unconstitutional, but its three-year reign cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues from concerts, conventions and other business, according to historians and news reports.
“Amendment 2 may be the biggest public-relations disaster ever to hit Colorado,” The Denver Post reported at the time.
Withholding performances, and therefore revenue, is just the starting point, musicians say. If the resolution doesn’t disappear, the goal is to erode the prestige formerly associated with Fiddler’s Green — as well stigmatize it as being located in a city that’s unsafe for people of color.
“In general, that is an ability artists have that most people don’t have,” said Storm Gloor, associate professor of Music and Entertainment Industry Studies at the University of Colorado Denver. “If I were to take a stand on something, I wouldn’t have a lot to personally negotiate with. But artists do.”
That’s the point, of course, of corralling platinum-selling acts such as The Lumineers, whose singer — Schultz — provided one of the top-billed names at Monday night’s event. Their voices give the message a different tenor, said Herod, the Denver Democrat who chairs the state’s Black Democratic Legislative Caucus and put the event together.
“Nathaniel and his band were the first to sign on board — and I mean within hours,” she said. “But of course bands like Flobots have always been there. This isn’t just a moment for Colorado artists, but a movement. It’s not just about police accountability, but about the way we show up in life and respect Black lives, period. (These artists) are willing to put their livelihoods on the line for Black lives, and that can’t be understated.”
Mega-promoter AEG Presents, whose Rocky Mountain office books Fiddler’s Green and all but controls the regional touring scene, also released a statement in support of the event Monday night.
“AEG Presents and the Museum of Outdoor Arts, the nonprofit which owns Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater, stand together in support of Black Lives Matter and against social and racial injustice. We also stand in support of all the artists who have come forward to lend their voices to progress, both locally and nationally,” it read. “AEG Presents, as a music company that operates a venue in Greenwood Village and works closely with its police department, has unique perspective and connections to this issue. We have already reached out to key voices on both sides with the intent of bringing all parties together for meaningful dialogue and resolution.”
Singer Lerea Edwards performed at the event with her gospel group, Spirit of Grace.
“I’m glad to see the musicians who are standing up for this, but there are so many more who have been marginalized over the years and who don’t have that voice,” Edwards said. “From what I’ve seen, the music community stands united in this, and if you can’t love one of us, you can’t love any of us.”
Edwards, who is Black, said she took part because she doesn’t feel safe inviting her family to Greenwood Village to see her perform. It’s something she’s done all over the state with acts ranging from famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma to Colorado pop act OneRepublic.
“We’ve tried holding police accountable by being quiet, by prayer, by peaceful protests,” she said. “All these different avenues to try to have equal civil rights. And nothing.”
Wesley Schultz of @thelumineers covering Springsteen’s “My City of Ruins.” Vid doesn’t capture refrain of “Come on rise up.” pic.twitter.com/BTy9mWxTOR — Joe Rubino (@RubinoJC) July 21, 2020
The goal of Monday’s event, and other recent protests, is not to tear down the city, Sen. Bridges said. It’s to show how many people disagree with the city council.
“Senate Bill 217 on police accountability is one of the most important anti-racist bills in state history, and it passed with unanimous, bipartisan support,” he said before the rally. “Saying parts of it don’t apply to the city I live in undermines the bill and sends a very dangerous message to communities of color.”
Colorado musicians using their star power to bring attention to the Greenwood Village resolution puts added pressure on city council, he said.
“These musicians bring with them enormous fan bases and media attention,” Bridges said. “This was already getting some attention, but nothing like the kind it’s getting now.”


thedenverpost--2020-07-21--Global warming is driving polar bears toward extinction, researchers say

Polar bears could become nearly extinct by the end of the century as a result of shrinking sea ice in the Arctic if global warming continues unabated , scientists said Monday .
Nearly all of the 19 subpopulations of polar bears , from the Beaufort Sea off Alaska to the Siberian Arctic , would face being wiped out because the loss of sea ice would force the animals onto land and away from their food supplies for longer periods , the researchers said .
Prolonged fasting , and reduced nursing of cubs by mothers , would lead to rapid declines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very little chance that polar bears would persist anywhere in the world , except perhaps in the very high Arctic in one small subpopulation ” if greenhouse-gas emissions continue at so-called business-as-usual levels , said Peter K. Molnar , a researcher at the University of Toronto Scarborough and lead author of the study , which was published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change .
Even if emissions were reduced to more moderate levels , “ we still are unfortunately going to lose some , especially some of the southernmost populations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The fate of polar bears has long been a flashpoint in the debate over human-caused climate change , used by scientists and environmentalists as well as deniers in their arguments .
By rough estimates there are about 25,000 polar bears in the Arctic .
Their main habitat is sea ice , where they hunt seals by waiting for them to surface at holes in the ice .
In some areas the bears remain on the ice year round , but in others the melting in spring and summer forces them to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ice to capture your food , ” Molnar said .
“ There ’ s not enough food on land to sustain a polar bear population.
” But bears can fast for months , surviving on the energy from the fat they ’ ve built up thanks to their seal diet .
Arctic sea ice grows in the winter and melts and retreats in spring and summer .
As the region has warmed rapidly in recent decades , ice extent in summer has declined by about 13 % per decade compared to the 1981-2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that previously had ice year-round now have ice-free periods in summer .
Other parts are now free of ice for a longer portion of the year than in the past .

Polar bears could become nearly extinct by the end of the century as a result of shrinking sea ice in the Arctic if global warming continues unabated, scientists said Monday.
Nearly all of the 19 subpopulations of polar bears, from the Beaufort Sea off Alaska to the Siberian Arctic, would face being wiped out because the loss of sea ice would force the animals onto land and away from their food supplies for longer periods, the researchers said. Prolonged fasting, and reduced nursing of cubs by mothers, would lead to rapid declines in reproduction and survival.
“There is very little chance that polar bears would persist anywhere in the world, except perhaps in the very high Arctic in one small subpopulation” if greenhouse-gas emissions continue at so-called business-as-usual levels, said Peter K. Molnar, a researcher at the University of Toronto Scarborough and lead author of the study, which was published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.
Even if emissions were reduced to more moderate levels, “we still are unfortunately going to lose some, especially some of the southernmost populations, to sea-ice loss,” Molnar said.
The fate of polar bears has long been a flashpoint in the debate over human-caused climate change, used by scientists and environmentalists as well as deniers in their arguments.
By rough estimates there are about 25,000 polar bears in the Arctic. Their main habitat is sea ice, where they hunt seals by waiting for them to surface at holes in the ice. In some areas the bears remain on the ice year round, but in others the melting in spring and summer forces them to come ashore.
“You need the sea ice to capture your food,” Molnar said. “There’s not enough food on land to sustain a polar bear population.” But bears can fast for months, surviving on the energy from the fat they’ve built up thanks to their seal diet.
Arctic sea ice grows in the winter and melts and retreats in spring and summer. As the region has warmed rapidly in recent decades, ice extent in summer has declined by about 13% per decade compared to the 1981-2010 average. Some parts of the Arctic that previously had ice year-round now have ice-free periods in summer. Other parts are now free of ice for a longer portion of the year than in the past.


thedenverpost--2020-07-21--Trump threatens to send federal law enforcement forces to more cities

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to deploy federal law enforcement to Chicago and threatened on Monday to send agents to other major cities — all controlled by Democrats .
Governors and other officials reacted angrily to the president ’ s move , calling it an election-year ploy as they squared off over crime , civil liberties and local control that has spread from Portland , Oregon , across the country .
With camouflage-clad agents already sweeping through the streets of Portland , more units were poised to head to Chicago , and Trump suggested that he would follow suit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other urban centers .
Governors and other officials compared his actions to authoritarianism and vowed to pursue legislation or lawsuits to stop him .
The president cast the confrontation in overtly political terms as he seeks an issue that would gain traction with voters at a time when many of his own supporters have soured on his leadership amid a deadly pandemic and economic collapse .
Trailing badly in the polls with just over 100 days until the November election , Trump assailed the “ liberal Democrats ” running American cities and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponent , former Vice President Joe Biden .
“ I ’ m going to do something — that , I can tell you , ” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office .
“ Because we ’ re not going to let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore and all of these — Oakland is a mess .
We ’ re not going to let this happen in our country .
All run by liberal Democrats.
” The president portrayed the nation ’ s cities as out of control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on — all run by Democrats , all run by very liberal Democrats .
All run , really , by radical left , ” Trump said .
He added : “ If Biden got in , that would be true for the country .
The whole country would go to hell .
And we ’ re not going to let it go to hell.
” Democrats said the president was the one out of control .
Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon said he would introduce legislation to limit the role of federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This isn ’ t just an Oregon crisis , ” he said .
“ It ’ s an American crisis .
We need to stop Trump before this spreads.
” He added , “ We won ’ t let these authoritarian tactics stand.
” Federal agents in Portland have snatched protesters off the streets and thrown them into unmarked vehicles without explaining why they were being detained or arrested , according to some of those who have been seized .
Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown has called it “ a blatant abuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wheeler called it “ an attack on our democracy.
” The state attorney general has filed a lawsuit seeking a restraining order against the federal agents for what she called unlawful tactics .
The Trump administration now plans to deploy about 150 Homeland Security Investigations special agents to Chicago in the coming days , according to an official directly involved in the operations .
The special agents , known for conducting long-term investigations into serious crimes like human trafficking and terrorism , are expected to be in the city for at least 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be under the direction of the Justice Department .
Few are denying the city has a violent crime problem .
Sixty-three people were shot in Chicago over the past weekend , 12 of them fatally .
The White House referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security , which declined to comment , as did the Justice Department .
The Homeland Security Department has put about 2,000 officials from Customs and Border Protection , Immigration and Customs Enforcement , the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard on standby to be quickly deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ rapid deployment teams ” were sent to Washington , D.C. , Portland , Pennsylvania and Seattle , the agency said this month .
Many tactical agents from those teams from Customs and Border Protection and ICE are now in Portland .
Some cities have seen increased levels of crime since the protests over George Floyd ’ s death while in police custody in Minneapolis , but no president in modern times has threatened to send in federal law enforcement over local opposition .
In contrast to the president ’ s claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have been in decades , despite the recent uptick in crime .
Some protesters , including in Portland , have targeted federal property and officers with rocks and fireworks , and some protests weeks ago resulted in damage to businesses and looting .
But most of the demonstrations throughout the United States have largely been peaceful .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago made clear on Monday that the federal agents would be no more welcome in her city than they have been in Portland .
“ We don ’ t need federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the street and holding them , I think , unlawfully , ” she said at a morning news conference before reports of the deployment were confirmed .
“ That ’ s not what we need.
” In a four-page letter to Trump sent later in the day and obtained by The New York Times , Lightfoot said if the president really wanted to help Chicago , he should enact gun control , do more to curb the coronavirus and invest in community programs .
“ Any other form of militarized assistance within our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control or within the direct command of the Chicago Police Department would spell disaster , ” she wrote .
Trump administration officials said the deployment to Chicago was separate from the operation in Portland , which ostensibly was to protect the federal courthouse there .
But the Homeland Security Investigations agents have broad authority to enforce federal laws in cities , and the Trump administration deployed them this year to so-called sanctuary cities in an enhanced arrest campaign against immigrants living in the U.S. illegally .
The administration has also previously deployed federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including agents from the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives .
The Department of Homeland Security asserted that it was acting within the law , pointing to 40 U.S. Code 1315 .
Chad F. Wolf , the department ’ s acting secretary , can deputize officers in any department agency , like ICE , Customs and Border Protection or the Secret Service “ as officers and agents for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the federal government and persons on the property , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal agents would not be limited to guarding federal property .
Under the law , the agents could also conduct investigations of crimes committed against a federal property or federal officer throughout the city , Department of Homeland Security officials have said .
Carrie Cordero , a senior fellow for the Center for a New American Security , said that the federal statute did provide flexibility to tap members of various agencies to assist in guarding federal property , but that it was never intended to send border agents trained to investigate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the streets .
“ What ’ s happening is the administration is using DHS to perform basically a federal policing function , which in my view is unconstitutional and is certainly not what Congress intended when it created the department , ” she said .
Stephen I. Vladeck , a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin , said it was not clear how federal agents could occupy the streets of a city that is 99 % not federal property .
“ It ’ s of course the prerogative of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protect federal property , ” Vladeck said .
“ It is not the job of the federal government to be a general police force for all crimes.
” Governors , mayors and other officials from the cities that Trump named on Monday quickly rejected the uninvited intervention of federal agents .
“ It is deeply disturbing that President Trump is once again choosing to spread hateful rhetoric and attempting to suppress the voices of those he doesn ’ t agree with , ” said Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan .
John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duggan of Detroit , said the city had not suffered through the problems that others have after Floyd ’ s death .
“ Detroit is one of the few large cities in the country that has experienced no fires , no stores looted and never requested the National Guard during the protests , ” he said .
“ Not sure where the president is getting his information.
” Asked on Monday about whether he had heard the president ’ s mention of Oakland , Gov .
Gavin Newsom of California — not known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ No , and we ’ d reject it.
” In Philadelphia , the district attorney likened the clash to the fight against fascism in World War II and threatened to criminally charge federal agents sent to his city if they exceeded their authority .
“ Anyone , including federal law enforcement , who unlawfully assaults and kidnaps people will face criminal charges from my office , ” said the district attorney , Larry Krasner .
“ At trial , they will face a Philadelphia jury.
” Wolf dismissed the complaints , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull back regardless of the objections .
“ I don ’ t need invitations by the state , state mayors , or state governors to do our job , ” Wolf said on Fox News .
“ We ’ re going to do that , whether they like us there or not.
” The dispatch of federal agents to cities has become a new front for a president seeking to regain political momentum heading into a fall campaign season .
Eager to recast protests against racial injustice after the George Floyd killing into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump in recent days has repeatedly blamed Democrats for countenancing violence and failing to stand up to crime .
Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office , Trump said federal agents had “ done a fantastic job ” in Portland , which was “ totally out of control , ” and he assailed the governor and other officials there for not welcoming the help .
“ These are anarchists , ” he said .
“ And the politicians out there , yes , they ’ re weak , but they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re actually afraid of these people .
And that ’ s why they say , ‘ We don ’ t want the federal government helping.
’ ” He said other cities were in similar need of federal intervention , naming some of the nation ’ s largest urban centers .
“ How about Chicago ?
” he said Monday .
“ I read the numbers where many people killed over the weekend .
We ’ re looking at Chicago , too .
We ’ re looking at New York.
” The policy closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time the president was weighing the use of federal power , his campaign posted an advertisement online showing an elderly lady in her home at night trying to call 911 during a break-in only to be put on hold because the police had been defunded .
“ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America , ” the ad said .

Peter Baker, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Monica Davey

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to deploy federal law enforcement to Chicago and threatened on Monday to send agents to other major cities — all controlled by Democrats.
Governors and other officials reacted angrily to the president’s move, calling it an election-year ploy as they squared off over crime, civil liberties and local control that has spread from Portland, Oregon, across the country.
With camouflage-clad agents already sweeping through the streets of Portland, more units were poised to head to Chicago, and Trump suggested that he would follow suit in New York, Philadelphia, Detroit and other urban centers. Governors and other officials compared his actions to authoritarianism and vowed to pursue legislation or lawsuits to stop him.
The president cast the confrontation in overtly political terms as he seeks an issue that would gain traction with voters at a time when many of his own supporters have soured on his leadership amid a deadly pandemic and economic collapse. Trailing badly in the polls with just over 100 days until the November election, Trump assailed the “liberal Democrats” running American cities and tied the issue to his presumptive fall opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden.
“I’m going to do something — that, I can tell you,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Because we’re not going to let New York and Chicago and Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore and all of these — Oakland is a mess. We’re not going to let this happen in our country. All run by liberal Democrats.”
The president portrayed the nation’s cities as out of control. “Look at what’s going on — all run by Democrats, all run by very liberal Democrats. All run, really, by radical left,” Trump said. He added: “If Biden got in, that would be true for the country. The whole country would go to hell. And we’re not going to let it go to hell.”
Democrats said the president was the one out of control. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon said he would introduce legislation to limit the role of federal agents in cities like Portland. “This isn’t just an Oregon crisis,” he said. “It’s an American crisis. We need to stop Trump before this spreads.”
He added, “We won’t let these authoritarian tactics stand.”
Federal agents in Portland have snatched protesters off the streets and thrown them into unmarked vehicles without explaining why they were being detained or arrested, according to some of those who have been seized. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has called it “a blatant abuse of power,” and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called it “an attack on our democracy.” The state attorney general has filed a lawsuit seeking a restraining order against the federal agents for what she called unlawful tactics.
The Trump administration now plans to deploy about 150 Homeland Security Investigations special agents to Chicago in the coming days, according to an official directly involved in the operations. The special agents, known for conducting long-term investigations into serious crimes like human trafficking and terrorism, are expected to be in the city for at least 60 days to help combat violence and would be under the direction of the Justice Department.
Few are denying the city has a violent crime problem. Sixty-three people were shot in Chicago over the past weekend, 12 of them fatally. The White House referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security, which declined to comment, as did the Justice Department.
The Homeland Security Department has put about 2,000 officials from Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard on standby to be quickly deployed to cities. At least 200 members of “rapid deployment teams” were sent to Washington, D.C., Portland, Pennsylvania and Seattle, the agency said this month. Many tactical agents from those teams from Customs and Border Protection and ICE are now in Portland.
Some cities have seen increased levels of crime since the protests over George Floyd’s death while in police custody in Minneapolis, but no president in modern times has threatened to send in federal law enforcement over local opposition.
In contrast to the president’s claims, many major cities remain safer than they have been in decades, despite the recent uptick in crime. Some protesters, including in Portland, have targeted federal property and officers with rocks and fireworks, and some protests weeks ago resulted in damage to businesses and looting. But most of the demonstrations throughout the United States have largely been peaceful.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago made clear on Monday that the federal agents would be no more welcome in her city than they have been in Portland. “We don’t need federal agents without any insignia taking people off the street and holding them, I think, unlawfully,” she said at a morning news conference before reports of the deployment were confirmed. “That’s not what we need.”
In a four-page letter to Trump sent later in the day and obtained by The New York Times, Lightfoot said if the president really wanted to help Chicago, he should enact gun control, do more to curb the coronavirus and invest in community programs.
“Any other form of militarized assistance within our borders that would not be within our control or within the direct command of the Chicago Police Department would spell disaster,” she wrote.
Trump administration officials said the deployment to Chicago was separate from the operation in Portland, which ostensibly was to protect the federal courthouse there.
But the Homeland Security Investigations agents have broad authority to enforce federal laws in cities, and the Trump administration deployed them this year to so-called sanctuary cities in an enhanced arrest campaign against immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The administration has also previously deployed federal officials to combat crime in Chicago, including agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Department of Homeland Security asserted that it was acting within the law, pointing to 40 U.S. Code 1315. Chad F. Wolf, the department’s acting secretary, can deputize officers in any department agency, like ICE, Customs and Border Protection or the Secret Service “as officers and agents for duty in connection with the protection of property owned or occupied by the federal government and persons on the property,” according to the law.
But the federal agents would not be limited to guarding federal property. Under the law, the agents could also conduct investigations of crimes committed against a federal property or federal officer throughout the city, Department of Homeland Security officials have said.
Carrie Cordero, a senior fellow for the Center for a New American Security, said that the federal statute did provide flexibility to tap members of various agencies to assist in guarding federal property, but that it was never intended to send border agents trained to investigate a drug cartel to crack down on protesters in the streets.
“What’s happening is the administration is using DHS to perform basically a federal policing function, which in my view is unconstitutional and is certainly not what Congress intended when it created the department,” she said.
Stephen I. Vladeck, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, said it was not clear how federal agents could occupy the streets of a city that is 99% not federal property. “It’s of course the prerogative of the federal government to enforce federal law and protect federal property,” Vladeck said. “It is not the job of the federal government to be a general police force for all crimes.”
Governors, mayors and other officials from the cities that Trump named on Monday quickly rejected the uninvited intervention of federal agents.
“It is deeply disturbing that President Trump is once again choosing to spread hateful rhetoric and attempting to suppress the voices of those he doesn’t agree with,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.
John Roach, a spokesman for Mayor Mike Duggan of Detroit, said the city had not suffered through the problems that others have after Floyd’s death. “Detroit is one of the few large cities in the country that has experienced no fires, no stores looted and never requested the National Guard during the protests,” he said. “Not sure where the president is getting his information.”
Asked on Monday about whether he had heard the president’s mention of Oakland, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California — not known for his brevity — responded curtly: “No, and we’d reject it.”
In Philadelphia, the district attorney likened the clash to the fight against fascism in World War II and threatened to criminally charge federal agents sent to his city if they exceeded their authority. “Anyone, including federal law enforcement, who unlawfully assaults and kidnaps people will face criminal charges from my office,” said the district attorney, Larry Krasner. “At trial, they will face a Philadelphia jury.”
Wolf dismissed the complaints, making clear that he had no intention to pull back regardless of the objections. “I don’t need invitations by the state, state mayors, or state governors to do our job,” Wolf said on Fox News. “We’re going to do that, whether they like us there or not.”
The dispatch of federal agents to cities has become a new front for a president seeking to regain political momentum heading into a fall campaign season. Eager to recast protests against racial injustice after the George Floyd killing into an us-versus-them battle for law and order, Trump in recent days has repeatedly blamed Democrats for countenancing violence and failing to stand up to crime.
Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said federal agents had “done a fantastic job” in Portland, which was “totally out of control,” and he assailed the governor and other officials there for not welcoming the help. “These are anarchists,” he said. “And the politicians out there, yes, they’re weak, but they’re afraid of these people. They’re actually afraid of these people. And that’s why they say, ‘We don’t want the federal government helping.’”
He said other cities were in similar need of federal intervention, naming some of the nation’s largest urban centers. “How about Chicago?” he said Monday. “I read the numbers where many people killed over the weekend. We’re looking at Chicago, too. We’re looking at New York.”
The policy closely mirrored the politics. At the same time the president was weighing the use of federal power, his campaign posted an advertisement online showing an elderly lady in her home at night trying to call 911 during a break-in only to be put on hold because the police had been defunded. “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” the ad said.


thedenverpost--2020-07-22--Cops: 14 people injured after South Side Chicago shooting

CHICAGO — Fourteen people were injured in connection with a shooting late Tuesday outside a funeral home on Chicago ’ s South Side , police officials said Tuesday .
First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter said mourners outside a funeral home were fired upon from a passing SUV .
Carter says several targets of the shooting returned fire .
The SUV later crashed and the occupants fled in several directions .
One person of interest has been taken into custody .
Carter says all the victims were adults .
The victims were taken by the Chicago Fire Department to nearby hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Langford.. Arnita Geder and Kenneth Hughes said they heard gunshots while in their home watching television , adding that they came outside to find bodies that were shot up and “ laying everywhere.
” “ We thought it was a war out here , ” Geder told the Chicago Sun-Times .
“ It ’ s ridiculous all the shooting that ’ s going on out here , it really has to stop.
” The shooting comes as the Department of Homeland Security is planning to deploy dozens of federal agents to Chicago to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city .
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot , after threatening to sue if President Donald Trump acted without her permission , said Tuesday the city would be working with federal agents to fight crime .
Lightfoot has been skeptical of federal agents being sent to Chicago by Trump due to the controversy in Portland , Oregon , where the Trump administration sent federal officers after weeks of protests there over police brutality and racial injustice that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Lightfoot said she expects Chicago will receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agencies that already work with the city , including the FBI , Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives .
Oregon ’ s governor and Portland ’ s mayor have expressed anger with the presence of the federal agents , saying that the city ’ s protests had started to ease just as the federal agents started taking action .
Trump has framed such protests in the nation ’ s large cities as a failure by “ liberal Democrats ” who run them , praised the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to send agents to other cities .
He pointed to rising gun violence in Chicago , the nation ’ s third-largest city , where more than 63 people were shot , 12 fatally , over the weekend .

CHICAGO — Fourteen people were injured in connection with a shooting late Tuesday outside a funeral home on Chicago’s South Side, police officials said Tuesday.
First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter said mourners outside a funeral home were fired upon from a passing SUV. Carter says several targets of the shooting returned fire. The SUV later crashed and the occupants fled in several directions. One person of interest has been taken into custody. Carter says all the victims were adults.
The victims were taken by the Chicago Fire Department to nearby hospitals in serious condition, said spokesman Larry Langford..
Arnita Geder and Kenneth Hughes said they heard gunshots while in their home watching television, adding that they came outside to find bodies that were shot up and “laying everywhere.”
“We thought it was a war out here,” Geder told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s ridiculous all the shooting that’s going on out here, it really has to stop.”
The shooting comes as the Department of Homeland Security is planning to deploy dozens of federal agents to Chicago to deal with an uptick in violent crime in the city.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, after threatening to sue if President Donald Trump acted without her permission, said Tuesday the city would be working with federal agents to fight crime.
Lightfoot has been skeptical of federal agents being sent to Chicago by Trump due to the controversy in Portland, Oregon, where the Trump administration sent federal officers after weeks of protests there over police brutality and racial injustice that followed the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Lightfoot said she expects Chicago will receive resources that will plug into existing federal agencies that already work with the city, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Oregon’s governor and Portland’s mayor have expressed anger with the presence of the federal agents, saying that the city’s protests had started to ease just as the federal agents started taking action.
Trump has framed such protests in the nation’s large cities as a failure by “liberal Democrats” who run them, praised the officers’ actions and said he was looking to send agents to other cities.
He pointed to rising gun violence in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest city, where more than 63 people were shot, 12 fatally, over the weekend.