thedenverpost--2020-12-15--In a first, leading Republicans acknowledge Biden as president-elect

WASHINGTON — For the first time , a groundswell of leading Republicans said Monday that Democrat Joe Biden is the winner of the presidential election , essentially abandoning President Donald Trump ’ s assault on the outcome after the Electoral College certified the vote .
With states affirming the results , the Republicans faced a pivotal choice – to declare Biden the president-elect , as the tally showed , or keep standing silently by as Trump wages a potentially damaging campaign to overturn the election .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , was quiet on the issue Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time has come .
“ At some point you have to face the music , ” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota , the second-ranking GOP leader .
“ Once the Electoral College settles the issue today , it ’ s time for everybody to move on.
” Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri , the chairman of the inaugural committee , said the panel will now “ deal with Vice President Biden as the president-elect.
” Just last week , the Republicans on the inauguration committee had declined to publicly do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Electoral College vote “ was significant.
” Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn said barring further legal challenges it appears Biden will be president .
“ That ’ s sort of the nature of these elections .
You got to have a winner .
You got to have a loser , ” Cornyn said , adding that once Trump ’ s legal arguments are exhausted , “ Joe Biden ’ s on a path to be president of the United States.
” The turnaround comes nearly six weeks after Election Day .
Many Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , enabling Trump to wage an unprecedented challenge to the nation ’ s cherished system of voting .
Some GOP lawmakers have vowed to carry the fight to Jan. 6 when Congress votes to accept or reject the Electoral College results .
Others have said Trump ’ s legal battles should continue toward resolution by inauguration day , Jan. 20 .
“ It ’ s a very , very narrow path for the president , ” said Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , a top Trump ally .
“ But having said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those legal challenges play out.
” Historians and election officials have warned that Trump ’ s unfounded claims of voter fraud threaten to erode Americans ’ faith in the election system , and that lawmakers have a responsibility under the oath of office to defend the Constitution .
“ The campaign to overturn the outcome is a dangerous thing , ” said Julian Zelizer , a professor of history and public policy at Princeton .
“ This is a Republican operation , not a presidential operation , ” Zelizer said .
“ Without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do what he is doing.
” Trump is trying to throw out the ballots of thousands of Americans , particularly those who voted by mail , in dozens of lawsuits that have mostly failed .
His legal team is claiming irregularities , even though Attorney General William Barr , who abruptly resigned Monday , has said there is no evidence of widespread fraud that would alter the election results .
State election officials , including Republicans , have said the election was fair and valid .
In a decisive blow to Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week declined to take up two of his cases challenging the election process in key states .
Former Senate GOP leader Trent Lott said Monday there is little reason for Trump to continue the fight .
“ I don ’ t see many avenues left for the president to pursue , ” Lott said in an interview .
“ Once the Electoral College has voted , most people are going to recognize Joe Biden as the president-elect.
” Former House Speaker John Boehner , a Republican , has also said it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stating in a forum last month that , “ The election is over , in everybody ’ s mind except Donald Trump.
” Before Monday , just a handful of current Republican elected officials in Congress had acknowledged Biden as president-elect .
Even fewer have reached out to congratulate him .
Among GOP senators , Susan Collins , Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski have been most outspoken in declaring Biden the winner .
Others said they were waiting for the Electoral College vote , which is normally a routine step in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s refusal to concede .
“ Although I supported President Trump , the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect , ” said Sen .
Rob Portman , R-Ohio , in a statement .
Still , many Republicans in Congress are backing Trump ’ s legal battles .
Some 120 House Republicans signed on to the failed Texas lawsuit last week asking the Supreme Court to take up the case seeking to throw out election results in the swing-states of Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas , who volunteered to argue the case before the Supreme Court , was holding a telephone town hall Monday urging “ participation in the fight to defend the integrity ” of the election .
One House Republican , Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama , has vowed to challenge the Electoral College results on Jan. 6 , when Congress convenes a joint session to receive the outcome .
At that time , any challenge in Congress would need to be raised by at least one member of the House and Senate .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will join in making the case .
It appears highly unlikely there is enough congressional support to overturn the election .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that it ’ s as if Biden has to win “ again and again and again ” before Republicans will accept it .
Many Republicans are unwilling to declare Biden the winner for the same reasons they avoided standing up to Trump during his presidency .
The president remains popular back home , and they are reluctant to cross him or risk public retribution from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump prepares to leave office , his supporters are voters lawmakers need for their own reelections .
Rep. Alex Mooney , R-W.Va. , introduced a resolution in Congress last week suggesting no one be declared president-elect until all investigations are completed .
He proposed it after constituents confronted him last month demanding he do more to support Trump .
Overhanging their calculations is the Georgia runoff elections Jan. 5 that will decide control of the Senate .
Incumbent GOP senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler need Trump ’ s support to defend their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rafael Warnock .

WASHINGTON — For the first time, a groundswell of leading Republicans said Monday that Democrat Joe Biden is the winner of the presidential election, essentially abandoning President Donald Trump’s assault on the outcome after the Electoral College certified the vote.
With states affirming the results, the Republicans faced a pivotal choice – to declare Biden the president-elect, as the tally showed, or keep standing silently by as Trump wages a potentially damaging campaign to overturn the election.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was quiet on the issue Monday. But a number of senators said the time has come.
“At some point you have to face the music,” said Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking GOP leader. “Once the Electoral College settles the issue today, it’s time for everybody to move on.”
Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, the chairman of the inaugural committee, said the panel will now “deal with Vice President Biden as the president-elect.”
Just last week, the Republicans on the inauguration committee had declined to publicly do so. He said Monday’s Electoral College vote “was significant.”
Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn said barring further legal challenges it appears Biden will be president.
“That’s sort of the nature of these elections. You got to have a winner. You got to have a loser,” Cornyn said, adding that once Trump’s legal arguments are exhausted, “Joe Biden’s on a path to be president of the United States.”
The turnaround comes nearly six weeks after Election Day. Many Republicans have ridden out the time in silence, enabling Trump to wage an unprecedented challenge to the nation’s cherished system of voting.
Some GOP lawmakers have vowed to carry the fight to Jan. 6 when Congress votes to accept or reject the Electoral College results. Others have said Trump’s legal battles should continue toward resolution by inauguration day, Jan. 20.
“It’s a very, very narrow path for the president,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top Trump ally. “But having said that, I think we’ll let those legal challenges play out.”
Historians and election officials have warned that Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud threaten to erode Americans’ faith in the election system, and that lawmakers have a responsibility under the oath of office to defend the Constitution.
“The campaign to overturn the outcome is a dangerous thing,” said Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public policy at Princeton.
“This is a Republican operation, not a presidential operation,” Zelizer said. “Without their silence, he couldn’t do what he is doing.”
Trump is trying to throw out the ballots of thousands of Americans, particularly those who voted by mail, in dozens of lawsuits that have mostly failed. His legal team is claiming irregularities, even though Attorney General William Barr, who abruptly resigned Monday, has said there is no evidence of widespread fraud that would alter the election results. State election officials, including Republicans, have said the election was fair and valid.
In a decisive blow to Trump’s legal efforts, the Supreme Court last week declined to take up two of his cases challenging the election process in key states.
Former Senate GOP leader Trent Lott said Monday there is little reason for Trump to continue the fight.
“I don’t see many avenues left for the president to pursue,” Lott said in an interview. “Once the Electoral College has voted, most people are going to recognize Joe Biden as the president-elect.”
Former House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, has also said it’s clear that Biden is the winner, stating in a forum last month that, “The election is over, in everybody’s mind except Donald Trump.”
Before Monday, just a handful of current Republican elected officials in Congress had acknowledged Biden as president-elect. Even fewer have reached out to congratulate him.
Among GOP senators, Susan Collins, Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski have been most outspoken in declaring Biden the winner.
Others said they were waiting for the Electoral College vote, which is normally a routine step in the elections process but has been amplified by Trump’s refusal to concede.
“Although I supported President Trump, the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, in a statement.
“The presidential election is over,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.
Still, many Republicans in Congress are backing Trump’s legal battles. Some 120 House Republicans signed on to the failed Texas lawsuit last week asking the Supreme Court to take up the case seeking to throw out election results in the swing-states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia.
GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who volunteered to argue the case before the Supreme Court, was holding a telephone town hall Monday urging “participation in the fight to defend the integrity” of the election.
One House Republican, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, has vowed to challenge the Electoral College results on Jan. 6, when Congress convenes a joint session to receive the outcome.
At that time, any challenge in Congress would need to be raised by at least one member of the House and Senate. It’s unclear if any GOP senator will join in making the case. It appears highly unlikely there is enough congressional support to overturn the election.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that it’s as if Biden has to win “again and again and again” before Republicans will accept it.
Many Republicans are unwilling to declare Biden the winner for the same reasons they avoided standing up to Trump during his presidency.
The president remains popular back home, and they are reluctant to cross him or risk public retribution from him on Twitter and beyond. As Trump prepares to leave office, his supporters are voters lawmakers need for their own reelections.
Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., introduced a resolution in Congress last week suggesting no one be declared president-elect until all investigations are completed. He proposed it after constituents confronted him last month demanding he do more to support Trump.
Overhanging their calculations is the Georgia runoff elections Jan. 5 that will decide control of the Senate. Incumbent GOP senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler need Trump’s support to defend their seats against Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Rafael Warnock.


thedenverpost--2020-12-15--Reluctantly, Denver City Council approve raises for police officers

Reluctantly , Denver City Council cemented a raise for police Monday night by approving a controversial union contract for about 1,450 officers .
But not before a few lambasted Mayor Michael Hancock ’ s administration .
The agreement — approved on a 10-3 margin — came from an arbitrator after council denied the originally proposed contract in September .
At the time , opposing council members said they were uncomfortable giving police raises while other city employees face unpaid furloughs , especially following the unrest stemming from the George Floyd protests this summer .
In addition , council members recalled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the first days of negotiations .
Administration officials called that an accidental omission , but the move clearly damaged the trust between them and the city ’ s legislative body .
After that rejection , an arbitrator ruled that the Denver Police Protective Association should receive a 2 % raise on Jan. 1 , 2022 , and another 1.5 % raise on July 1 , 2022 .
Officers won ’ t receive a raise next year and will forfeit holiday pay and some retiree benefits as well .
The arbitrator ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city attorney ’ s office told council members Monday night .
To vote it down would be to expose the city to possible litigation .
Although she voted to approve the contract — albeit after a long sigh — Councilwoman Robin Kniech called the negotiations a perversion of the city ’ s charter .
“ I ’ m voting for this tonight because of the legal consequences that will occur but I could not remain silent in what I consider to be a bad-faith outcome between the branches of government that requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Stacie Gilmore also acknowledged that the negotiations started off on the wrong foot and more work is needed to “ make sure this never happens again to another City Council.
” Ultimately , Gilmore voted for the agreement .
Council members Candi CdeBaca , Chris Hinds and Amanda Sawyer did not , however .

Reluctantly, Denver City Council cemented a raise for police Monday night by approving a controversial union contract for about 1,450 officers.
But not before a few lambasted Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration.
The agreement — approved on a 10-3 margin — came from an arbitrator after council denied the originally proposed contract in September. At the time, opposing council members said they were uncomfortable giving police raises while other city employees face unpaid furloughs, especially following the unrest stemming from the George Floyd protests this summer.
In addition, council members recalled that their representative had been left out of the first days of negotiations. Administration officials called that an accidental omission, but the move clearly damaged the trust between them and the city’s legislative body.
After that rejection, an arbitrator ruled that the Denver Police Protective Association should receive a 2% raise on Jan. 1, 2022, and another 1.5% raise on July 1, 2022. Officers won’t receive a raise next year and will forfeit holiday pay and some retiree benefits as well.
The arbitrator’s ruling was binding, a representative from the city attorney’s office told council members Monday night. To vote it down would be to expose the city to possible litigation.
Although she voted to approve the contract — albeit after a long sigh — Councilwoman Robin Kniech called the negotiations a perversion of the city’s charter.
“I’m voting for this tonight because of the legal consequences that will occur but I could not remain silent in what I consider to be a bad-faith outcome between the branches of government that requires rectifying,” Kniech said.
Council President Stacie Gilmore also acknowledged that the negotiations started off on the wrong foot and more work is needed to “make sure this never happens again to another City Council.”
Ultimately, Gilmore voted for the agreement. Council members Candi CdeBaca, Chris Hinds and Amanda Sawyer did not, however.


thedenverpost--2020-12-15--Next ask for Broncos’ depleted secondary: On short week, prepare for Josh Allen, Bills’ high-powered

Next ask for Broncos’ depleted secondary: On short week, prepare for Josh Allen, Bills’ high-powered passing attack

Sunday ’ s win against Carolina cost the Broncos two more cornerbacks among an already depleted secondary .
Now Denver is tasked with containing one of the league ’ s top passing attacks when it faces Buffalo on Saturday .
The red-hot Bills sit atop the AFC East and feature the league ’ s third-ranked passing attack ( 272.8 yards/game ) against the Broncos ’ 10th-ranked pass defense ( 220.7 ) .
Broncos coach Vic Fangio confirmed Duke Dawson and Kevin Toliver both sustained season-ending knee injuries against the Panthers , joining Bryce Callahan ( foot , out at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( torn ACL last week ) and A.J .
Bouye ( suspended rest of season ) on the list of unavailable cornerbacks against Buffalo .
“ This is rare , ” the 34-year NFL coaching veteran said , acknowledging the Broncos have an expedited timeline in front of them to get ready for quarterback Josh Allen , wideout Stefon Diggs and the rest of the Bills ’ potent weapons .
“ We ’ re going to adjust our workload this week to where Wednesday we ’ re not going to do a whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( increase the workload ) , and then Friday will be like a normal Saturday , ” Fangio said .
The many injuries present an extended opportunity for Will Parks , who played 81 % of the defensive snaps against Carolina at nickel back after Dawson went down .
Parks recorded six tackles and a sack .
Parks , who played in Denver from 2016-19 before spending the first few months of 2020 in Philadelphia , was claimed off waivers Dec. 2 .
“ Will overall did a nice job , ” Fangio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play at the end of the half sacking ( Panthers quarterback Teddy ) Bridgewater there on that two-minute drive which was the deciding play there for us to get him stopped at the half .
He had some other good plays .
And he had some plays that he would like to do over , which I think he can attribute to rustiness and how we play certain things , but hopefully he ’ ll get that out of his system and he ’ ll be better for it this week.
” At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL with 1,167 yards receiving ) and reliable No .
2 threat Cole Beasley ( 838 yards receiving ) will fall on a couple of unproven players : rookie Michael Ojemudia and fourth-year pro De ’ Vante Bausby .
Ojemudia has played every defensive snap the past two weeks after being benched earlier in the season .
“ Sunday he had some good plays similar to Bausby , and then some others where we would have liked for him to have played him better — and I ’ m sure he feels the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bausby , meanwhile , has taken the long road back to relevancy in Denver after playing four games for the Broncos earlier in the season , getting released , signing in Arizona , getting released there and then being claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on Nov. 10 .
He , like Ojemudia , also played every defensive snap Sunday .
“ He had a stretch there where they caught some balls in front of him that he was slow to react to , but overall , I thought he competed well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his secondary , Allen — sixth in the NFL in passing yards at 3,641 and seventh in rating at 103.3 — comes into his first game in Denver as the Broncos quarterback who could ’ ve been .
In 2018 , general manager John Elway chose outside linebacker Bradley Chubb at No .
5 overall over Allen , who was taken two picks later by Buffalo .
After a rocky rookie season in which he was 5-6 in 11 starts , Allen took a huge step forward last season in leading the Bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s continued that growth this season , emerging as one of the best young quarterbacks in the league .
The Bills are closing in on their first AFC East title since 1995 .
Bolles , Fant illness updates .
Left tackle Garett Bolles missed his first career game Sunday due to a non-COVID illness , and tight end Noah Fant exited early in the game , also due to a non-COVID illness .
The Broncos believe both players had some sort of food poisoning .
They stayed in Charlotte as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday morning after again testing negative for COVID .
Both are expected to play Saturday .
Footnotes .
Kicker Brandon McManus tweeted Monday he ’ s going on the COVID/reserve list because of a close contact outside the Broncos ’ facility .
Per NFL rules a five-day quarantine is required because of that close contact , and McManus said he still “ plan ( s ) on playing Saturday.
” If McManus isn ’ t cleared to play , Taylor Russolino ( signed Dec. 7 ) is the team ’ s practice squad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a DUI on Oct. 17 in Denver , had his case continued to January , so he won ’ t be serving his likely three-game suspension ( as mandated by the CBA ) until next season….Von Miller , the Broncos ’ All-Pro , who has yet to play this season due to a preseason ankle injury that required surgery , was back at practice last week , running around .
But Fangio said he doesn ’ t anticipate Miller playing Saturday .

Sunday’s win against Carolina cost the Broncos two more cornerbacks among an already depleted secondary. Now Denver is tasked with containing one of the league’s top passing attacks when it faces Buffalo on Saturday.
The red-hot Bills sit atop the AFC East and feature the league’s third-ranked passing attack (272.8 yards/game) against the Broncos’ 10th-ranked pass defense (220.7).
Broncos coach Vic Fangio confirmed Duke Dawson and Kevin Toliver both sustained season-ending knee injuries against the Panthers, joining Bryce Callahan (foot, out at least one more game), Essang Bassey (torn ACL last week) and A.J. Bouye (suspended rest of season) on the list of unavailable cornerbacks against Buffalo.
“This is rare,” the 34-year NFL coaching veteran said, acknowledging the Broncos have an expedited timeline in front of them to get ready for quarterback Josh Allen, wideout Stefon Diggs and the rest of the Bills’ potent weapons.
“We’re going to adjust our workload this week to where Wednesday we’re not going to do a whole lot physically and then Thursday we will (increase the workload), and then Friday will be like a normal Saturday,” Fangio said.
The many injuries present an extended opportunity for Will Parks, who played 81% of the defensive snaps against Carolina at nickel back after Dawson went down. Parks recorded six tackles and a sack. Parks, who played in Denver from 2016-19 before spending the first few months of 2020 in Philadelphia, was claimed off waivers Dec. 2.
“Will overall did a nice job,” Fangio said. “He made a great play at the end of the half sacking (Panthers quarterback Teddy) Bridgewater there on that two-minute drive which was the deciding play there for us to get him stopped at the half. He had some other good plays. And he had some plays that he would like to do over, which I think he can attribute to rustiness and how we play certain things, but hopefully he’ll get that out of his system and he’ll be better for it this week.”
At cornerback, stopping Stefon Diggs (third in NFL with 1,167 yards receiving) and reliable No. 2 threat Cole Beasley (838 yards receiving) will fall on a couple of unproven players: rookie Michael Ojemudia and fourth-year pro De’Vante Bausby.
Ojemudia has played every defensive snap the past two weeks after being benched earlier in the season.
“Sunday he had some good plays similar to Bausby, and then some others where we would have liked for him to have played him better — and I’m sure he feels the same way,” Fangio said.
Bausby, meanwhile, has taken the long road back to relevancy in Denver after playing four games for the Broncos earlier in the season, getting released, signing in Arizona, getting released there and then being claimed off waivers from the Cardinals on Nov. 10. He, like Ojemudia, also played every defensive snap Sunday.
“He had a stretch there where they caught some balls in front of him that he was slow to react to, but overall, I thought he competed well,” Fangio said.
While Fangio juggles his secondary, Allen — sixth in the NFL in passing yards at 3,641 and seventh in rating at 103.3 — comes into his first game in Denver as the Broncos quarterback who could’ve been. In 2018, general manager John Elway chose outside linebacker Bradley Chubb at No. 5 overall over Allen, who was taken two picks later by Buffalo.
After a rocky rookie season in which he was 5-6 in 11 starts, Allen took a huge step forward last season in leading the Bills to an AFC wild card berth. He’s continued that growth this season, emerging as one of the best young quarterbacks in the league. The Bills are closing in on their first AFC East title since 1995.
Bolles, Fant illness updates. Left tackle Garett Bolles missed his first career game Sunday due to a non-COVID illness, and tight end Noah Fant exited early in the game, also due to a non-COVID illness. The Broncos believe both players had some sort of food poisoning. They stayed in Charlotte as a precaution Sunday night, then flew home Monday morning after again testing negative for COVID. Both are expected to play Saturday.
Footnotes. Kicker Brandon McManus tweeted Monday he’s going on the COVID/reserve list because of a close contact outside the Broncos’ facility. Per NFL rules a five-day quarantine is required because of that close contact, and McManus said he still “plan(s) on playing Saturday.” If McManus isn’t cleared to play, Taylor Russolino (signed Dec. 7) is the team’s practice squad kicker.… Melvin Gordon, who was arrested for a DUI on Oct. 17 in Denver, had his case continued to January, so he won’t be serving his likely three-game suspension (as mandated by the CBA) until next season….Von Miller, the Broncos’ All-Pro, who has yet to play this season due to a preseason ankle injury that required surgery, was back at practice last week, running around. But Fangio said he doesn’t anticipate Miller playing Saturday.


thedenverpost--2020-12-14--Nuggets’ Michael Malone implores urgency from Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic: “We cannot ease into this”

Last season ’ s Nuggets were awe-inspiring .
Their dual 3-1 comebacks made NBA history .
With only nine days until the season opener , coach Michael Malone is long past the sentimentality .
“ My message to our team has been , ‘ We can not ease into this , ’ ” Malone said Monday , two days ahead of their second preseason game .
“ Unlike the ‘ Bubble , ’ we have not clinched a playoff spot yet , and the West is tough .
Things change quickly in this league .
If we think we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just automatically gon na be in the postseason , we ’ ll be in for a rude awakening.
” Despite the positives from Saturday ’ s preseason opener , film revealed plenty for a perfectionist like Malone to be displeased with .
Their first-half transition defense , for example , was lazy and disconnected .
On offense , Denver turned it over 17 times , including three by Jamal Murray and two from Michael Porter Jr .
When the Nuggets did take care of the ball , they didn ’ t adhere to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of camp : taking corner 3s and minimizing mid-range looks .
And even if certain facets of their loss to the Warriors had been cleaner , Malone would ’ ve found other areas to refine .
His urgency following Monday ’ s practice was palpable .
“ It got really sloppy at times , ” Malone said .
“ It ’ s still falling on me as a head coach to be the guy that stops it , addresses it .
I can ’ t wait for the day in practice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a practice , when somebody on our team has the ( courage ) to stop practice and get on their teammates , and say , ‘ We ’ re not getting better right now .
We ’ re going through the motions , we ’ re creating bad habits.
’ “ …Until that changes , I ’ ll continue to be the bad guy because I do a really good job of that.
” Malone ’ s rant was preceded by questions all-but challenging his stars , Nikola Jokic and Murray , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t sharp Saturday and settled for too many of the aforementioned mid-range looks , has admitted there ’ s a mental toll to re-starting the season barely two months after Denver ’ s Western Conference Finals run .
“ Obviously we got two months off , and I took those two months off , ” Murray said .
“ Now , it ’ s just more of a mental game for me , just finding my spots , finding my shot , getting a little rhythm.
” It was only days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lethal one-two punch that knocked the Jazz and Clippers out of the playoffs in historic fashion .
“ I go back and watch those games , those highlights and ( Jokic ) is like , ‘ What we did was crazy , ’ ” Murray said .
“ I ’ m like , ‘ Hell yeah it was crazy !
’ We were locked in .
It was a lot of fun .
I still go back and watch the tapes , watch the film .
… I said it before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say it again , if we ’ re on our game , there ’ s not many teams that will be able to stop us .
… I wish we could fast-forward to the playoffs right now.
” And that ’ s exactly the mentality Malone is trying to erase .
Good habits start in training camp , in the preseason .
There ’ s no way to accelerate the process .
The only option is to oblige .
In a loaded Western Conference , with a condensed 72-game regular season , Malone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season with urgency while well aware of the toll the “ Bubble ” took on all of them .
“ We all want more , we didn ’ t achieve our goal , ” Malone said .
“ And so if you want more , human nature , most people will say , ‘ Well I want more , but I want to do less.
’ And so a thing we ’ ve talked about is bringing more .
All of us , individually and collectively , have to find a way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Even if it means moving on from last season ’ s magic a lot faster than anyone likes .

Last season’s Nuggets were awe-inspiring. Their dual 3-1 comebacks made NBA history. With only nine days until the season opener, coach Michael Malone is long past the sentimentality.
“My message to our team has been, ‘We cannot ease into this,’” Malone said Monday, two days ahead of their second preseason game. “Unlike the ‘Bubble,’ we have not clinched a playoff spot yet, and the West is tough. Things change quickly in this league. If we think we can just show up and we’re just automatically gonna be in the postseason, we’ll be in for a rude awakening.”
Despite the positives from Saturday’s preseason opener, film revealed plenty for a perfectionist like Malone to be displeased with.
Their first-half transition defense, for example, was lazy and disconnected. On offense, Denver turned it over 17 times, including three by Jamal Murray and two from Michael Porter Jr. When the Nuggets did take care of the ball, they didn’t adhere to points that had been emphasized since the start of camp: taking corner 3s and minimizing mid-range looks. And even if certain facets of their loss to the Warriors had been cleaner, Malone would’ve found other areas to refine. His urgency following Monday’s practice was palpable.
“It got really sloppy at times,” Malone said. “It’s still falling on me as a head coach to be the guy that stops it, addresses it. I can’t wait for the day in practice, not just during games, but during a practice, when somebody on our team has the (courage) to stop practice and get on their teammates, and say, ‘We’re not getting better right now. We’re going through the motions, we’re creating bad habits.’
“…Until that changes, I’ll continue to be the bad guy because I do a really good job of that.”
Malone’s rant was preceded by questions all-but challenging his stars, Nikola Jokic and Murray, to hold teammates accountable.
Murray, who wasn’t sharp Saturday and settled for too many of the aforementioned mid-range looks, has admitted there’s a mental toll to re-starting the season barely two months after Denver’s Western Conference Finals run.
“Obviously we got two months off, and I took those two months off,” Murray said. “Now, it’s just more of a mental game for me, just finding my spots, finding my shot, getting a little rhythm.”
It was only days ago that he and Jokic reminisced about their lethal one-two punch that knocked the Jazz and Clippers out of the playoffs in historic fashion.
“I go back and watch those games, those highlights and (Jokic) is like, ‘What we did was crazy,’” Murray said. “I’m like, ‘Hell yeah it was crazy!’ We were locked in. It was a lot of fun. I still go back and watch the tapes, watch the film. … I said it before the Bubble started, and I’ll say it again, if we’re on our game, there’s not many teams that will be able to stop us. … I wish we could fast-forward to the playoffs right now.”
And that’s exactly the mentality Malone is trying to erase. Good habits start in training camp, in the preseason. There’s no way to accelerate the process. The only option is to oblige.
In a loaded Western Conference, with a condensed 72-game regular season, Malone is imploring his team to start this season with urgency while well aware of the toll the “Bubble” took on all of them.
“We all want more, we didn’t achieve our goal,” Malone said. “And so if you want more, human nature, most people will say, ‘Well I want more, but I want to do less.’ And so a thing we’ve talked about is bringing more. All of us, individually and collectively, have to find a way to bring more than we brought last season.”
Even if it means moving on from last season’s magic a lot faster than anyone likes.


thedenverpost--2020-12-14--Goldberg: COVID meds are scarce, but not for Trump cronies

According to a document from the Department of Health and Human Services , a total of 108 doses of Regeneron ’ s monoclonal antibody cocktail have been allocated to Washington , which had 265 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday alone .
Somehow Rudy Giuliani , Donald Trump ’ s lawyer , got one of those doses .
In an interview with a New York radio station on Tuesday , Giuliani did us all the favor of explaining why he qualified for privileged treatment .
“ I had very mild symptoms , ” he told the radio station , WABC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t me , I wouldn ’ t have been put in the hospital .
Sometimes when you ’ re a celebrity , they ’ re worried if something happens to you ; they ’ re going to examine it more carefully and do everything right.
” He said on another show on the same station that the president ’ s physician was involved in his care .
Giuliani , of course , is not the only presidential crony to get access to highly rationed experimental therapies .
Trump himself was among the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside of a clinical trial , before it received an emergency use authorization from the FDA on Nov. 21 .
In October , Chris Christie , the former New Jersey governor and an informal adviser to the president , got a different monoclonal antibody treatment , one produced by Eli Lilly .
Housing Secretary Ben Carson wrote on Facebook that Trump “ cleared ” him to receive monoclonal antibody therapy when he was hospitalized with COVID-19 last month .
Some of these men received their treatments before they were available to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a member of the public .
His case sheds light on two kinds of corruption .
There ’ s the corruption of an administration that appears to be using government power to procure potentially lifesaving favors for the president ’ s friends .
And there ’ s the corruption of a for-profit medical system in which VIP patients can receive extraordinary levels of care , sometimes at the expense of the less connected .
Both the Regeneron and Eli Lilly therapies are meant for people who are at risk of getting sick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not those who are hospitalized already .
The emergency use authorization for the Regeneron treatment specifically says that it is “ not authorized ” for “ adults or pediatric patients who are hospitalized due to Covid-19.
” A physician with experience administering the new monoclonal antibodies , who didn ’ t want to use his name because he ’ s not authorized by his hospital to speak publicly , said giving them to Giuliani “ appears to be an inappropriate use outside the guidelines of the EUA for a very scarce resource.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health and Human Services , as of Wednesday the entire country had about 77,000 total doses of the Regeneron cocktail and almost 260,000 doses of Eli Lilly ’ s monoclonal antibody treatment .
That ’ s less than you ’ d need to treat everyone who ’ d tested positive in just the previous two days .
Right now , the criteria for distributing these drugs can be murky .
Robert Klitzman , co-founder of the Center for Bioethics at Columbia , said that the federal government allocates doses to states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals then decide which patients among those most at risk will get treated .
Some states have developed guidelines for monoclonal antibody treatment , “ but my understanding is that most states have not yet done that , ” Klitzman said .
Hospitals try to come up with ethical triage frameworks , but Klitzman told me there are often workaround for VIPs .
He said it helps to know someone on the hospital ’ s board , bodies that typically include wealthy philanthropists .
Often , he said , when these millionaires and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a friend , “ hospitals do it.
” Why ?
“ Hospitals have huge financial problems , especially at the moment with COVID , ” he said .
They ’ ve had to shut down profitable elective surgeries and treat many people without insurance .
More than ever , he said , they “ need money that is given philanthropically from potential donors.
” In other words , Giuliani was right : Celebrities have access to better care than ordinary people .
“ When someone is in the public eye , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or has already been a donor to a hospital , then there ’ s folks in the hospital hierarchy , in the administration , who are keenly aware if they ’ re coming in , if they ’ re present , if they need something , ” said Shoa Clarke , a cardiologist and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine .
COVID , which is leading to rationing of medical resources , only magnifies this long-standing inequality .
But like so many in Trump ’ s orbit , Giuliani combines unusual candor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest about trading on his fame , but uses his ultra-elite experience to play down the dangers of COVID for everyone .
“ If you get early treatment nothing ’ s going to happen to you , ” he said on WABC , adding , “ You totally eliminate the chance of dying.
” This is wildly untrue .
Even if monoclonal antibody therapies were a foolproof cure — and there ’ s no evidence they are — most people who listen to Giuliani won ’ t have access to them .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s too late .
“ This message that ’ s been delivered , that maybe we don ’ t need to be so worried about COVID , that has been a deadly message , and it ’ s part of a bigger package of misinformation that ’ s been spread across our country , and it ’ s why we ’ re in the position we ’ re in right now , ” said Clarke .
When I spoke to him on Wednesday , he ’ d just learned that one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ re expecting the others to follow suit in the next few weeks , to the point where we don ’ t have ICU beds available anymore , ” he said .
But don ’ t worry .
If friends of Trump need one , they ’ ll surely find a way .
Michelle Goldberg has been an opinion columnist for The New York Times since 2017 .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit @ @ @ @ @

According to a document from the Department of Health and Human Services, a total of 108 doses of Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody cocktail have been allocated to Washington, which had 265 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday alone. Somehow Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s lawyer, got one of those doses. In an interview with a New York radio station on Tuesday, Giuliani did us all the favor of explaining why he qualified for privileged treatment.
“I had very mild symptoms,” he told the radio station, WABC. “I think if it wasn’t me, I wouldn’t have been put in the hospital. Sometimes when you’re a celebrity, they’re worried if something happens to you; they’re going to examine it more carefully and do everything right.” He said on another show on the same station that the president’s physician was involved in his care.
Giuliani, of course, is not the only presidential crony to get access to highly rationed experimental therapies. Trump himself was among the very first people to get the Regeneron treatment outside of a clinical trial, before it received an emergency use authorization from the FDA on Nov. 21.
In October, Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor and an informal adviser to the president, got a different monoclonal antibody treatment, one produced by Eli Lilly. Housing Secretary Ben Carson wrote on Facebook that Trump “cleared” him to receive monoclonal antibody therapy when he was hospitalized with COVID-19 last month.
Some of these men received their treatments before they were available to the public. Giuliani may have got his instead of a member of the public. His case sheds light on two kinds of corruption. There’s the corruption of an administration that appears to be using government power to procure potentially lifesaving favors for the president’s friends. And there’s the corruption of a for-profit medical system in which VIP patients can receive extraordinary levels of care, sometimes at the expense of the less connected.
Both the Regeneron and Eli Lilly therapies are meant for people who are at risk of getting sick enough with COVID to be hospitalized, not those who are hospitalized already. The emergency use authorization for the Regeneron treatment specifically says that it is “not authorized” for “adults or pediatric patients who are hospitalized due to Covid-19.”
A physician with experience administering the new monoclonal antibodies, who didn’t want to use his name because he’s not authorized by his hospital to speak publicly, said giving them to Giuliani “appears to be an inappropriate use outside the guidelines of the EUA for a very scarce resource.” Very scarce indeed: According to the Department of Health and Human Services, as of Wednesday the entire country had about 77,000 total doses of the Regeneron cocktail and almost 260,000 doses of Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody treatment. That’s less than you’d need to treat everyone who’d tested positive in just the previous two days.
Right now, the criteria for distributing these drugs can be murky. Robert Klitzman, co-founder of the Center for Bioethics at Columbia, said that the federal government allocates doses to states, states allocate them to hospitals and hospitals then decide which patients among those most at risk will get treated. Some states have developed guidelines for monoclonal antibody treatment, “but my understanding is that most states have not yet done that,” Klitzman said.
Hospitals try to come up with ethical triage frameworks, but Klitzman told me there are often workaround for VIPs. He said it helps to know someone on the hospital’s board, bodies that typically include wealthy philanthropists. Often, he said, when these millionaires and billionaires ask hospital administrators for special treatment for a friend, “hospitals do it.”
Why? “Hospitals have huge financial problems, especially at the moment with COVID,” he said. They’ve had to shut down profitable elective surgeries and treat many people without insurance. More than ever, he said, they “need money that is given philanthropically from potential donors.”
In other words, Giuliani was right: Celebrities have access to better care than ordinary people. “When someone is in the public eye, or if someone is a potential donor, or has already been a donor to a hospital, then there’s folks in the hospital hierarchy, in the administration, who are keenly aware if they’re coming in, if they’re present, if they need something,” said Shoa Clarke, a cardiologist and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. COVID, which is leading to rationing of medical resources, only magnifies this long-standing inequality.
But like so many in Trump’s orbit, Giuliani combines unusual candor with unusual deceptiveness. He’s honest about trading on his fame, but uses his ultra-elite experience to play down the dangers of COVID for everyone. “If you get early treatment nothing’s going to happen to you,” he said on WABC, adding, “You totally eliminate the chance of dying.”
This is wildly untrue. Even if monoclonal antibody therapies were a foolproof cure — and there’s no evidence they are — most people who listen to Giuliani won’t have access to them. They might not learn that until it’s too late.
“This message that’s been delivered, that maybe we don’t need to be so worried about COVID, that has been a deadly message, and it’s part of a bigger package of misinformation that’s been spread across our country, and it’s why we’re in the position we’re in right now,” said Clarke.
When I spoke to him on Wednesday, he’d just learned that one of the hospitals in his area had reached capacity. “We’re expecting the others to follow suit in the next few weeks, to the point where we don’t have ICU beds available anymore,” he said.
But don’t worry. If friends of Trump need one, they’ll surely find a way.
Michelle Goldberg has been an opinion columnist for The New York Times since 2017.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-12-14--Trump says AG William Barr resigning, will leave before Christmas

WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr , one of President Donald Trump ’ s staunchest allies , is resigning amid lingering tension with the president over the president ’ s baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into President-elect Joe Biden ’ s son .
Barr went Monday to the White House , where Trump said the attorney general submitted his letter of resignation .
“ As per letter , Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family , ” Trump tweeted .
Trump has publicly expressed his anger about Barr ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month that the Justice Department had found no widespread election fraud that would change the outcome of the election .
Trump has also been angry that the Justice Department did not publicly announce it was investigating Hunter Biden ahead of the election , despite department policy against such a pronouncement .
Barr in his resignation letter said he updated Trump Monday on the department ’ s “ review of voter fraud allegations in the 2020 election and how these allegations will continue to be pursued.
” He added that his last day on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen , whom he labeled “ an outstanding person , ” will become Acting Attorney General .
Despite Trump ’ s obvious disdain for those who publicly disagree with him , Barr had generally remained in the president ’ s good graces and has been one of the president ’ s most ardent allies .
Before the election , he had repeatedly raised the notion that mail-in voting could be especially vulnerable to fraud during the coronavirus pandemic as Americans feared going to polls .
But Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially public criticism , from his allies and often fires back in kind .
Barr , who was serving in his second stint as attorney general , sought to paint himself as an independent leader who would not bow to political pressure .
But Democrats have repeatedly accused Barr of acting more like the president ’ s personal attorney than the attorney general , and Barr had proved to be a largely reliable Trump ally and defender of presidential power .
Before releasing special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s full report on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results in a manner favorable to Trump even though Mueller pointedly said he couldn ’ t exonerate the president of obstruction of justice .
He also appointed as special counsel the U.S. attorney who is conducting a criminal investigation into the origins of the FBI ’ s probe of the 2016 election that morphed into Mueller ’ s investigation of possible Trump-Russia cooperation , following Trump ’ s repeated calls to “ investigate the investigators.
” Barr also ordered Justice Department prosecutors to review the handling of the federal investigation into Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn and then sought to dismiss the criminal charges against Flynn , who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI .
Trump later pardoned Flynn .
Barr ’ s break from Trump over election fraud wasn ’ t the first .
Earlier this year , Barr told ABC News that the president ’ s tweets about Justice Department cases “ make it impossible for me to do my job ” and tensions flared just a few months ago when the two were increasingly at odds over the pace of the Durham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a lack of arrests and Barr was privately telling people he was frustrated by Trump ’ s public pronouncements about the case .
Trump was also said to blame Barr for comments from FBI Director Chris Wray on election fraud and mail-in voting that didn ’ t jibe with the president ’ s alarmist rhetoric .
Associated Press writers Colleen Long , Eric Tucker , Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr, one of President Donald Trump’s staunchest allies, is resigning amid lingering tension with the president over the president’s baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into President-elect Joe Biden’s son.
Barr went Monday to the White House, where Trump said the attorney general submitted his letter of resignation. “As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family,” Trump tweeted.
Trump has publicly expressed his anger about Barr’s statement to The Associated Press earlier this month that the Justice Department had found no widespread election fraud that would change the outcome of the election. Trump has also been angry that the Justice Department did not publicly announce it was investigating Hunter Biden ahead of the election, despite department policy against such a pronouncement.
Barr in his resignation letter said he updated Trump Monday on the department’s “review of voter fraud allegations in the 2020 election and how these allegations will continue to be pursued.” He added that his last day on the job would be Dec. 23.
Trump said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen, whom he labeled “an outstanding person,” will become Acting Attorney General.
Despite Trump’s obvious disdain for those who publicly disagree with him, Barr had generally remained in the president’s good graces and has been one of the president’s most ardent allies. Before the election, he had repeatedly raised the notion that mail-in voting could be especially vulnerable to fraud during the coronavirus pandemic as Americans feared going to polls.
But Trump has a low tolerance for criticism, especially public criticism, from his allies and often fires back in kind.
Barr, who was serving in his second stint as attorney general, sought to paint himself as an independent leader who would not bow to political pressure. But Democrats have repeatedly accused Barr of acting more like the president’s personal attorney than the attorney general, and Barr had proved to be a largely reliable Trump ally and defender of presidential power.
Before releasing special counsel Robert Mueller’s full report on the Russia investigation last year, Barr framed the results in a manner favorable to Trump even though Mueller pointedly said he couldn’t exonerate the president of obstruction of justice.
He also appointed as special counsel the U.S. attorney who is conducting a criminal investigation into the origins of the FBI’s probe of the 2016 election that morphed into Mueller’s investigation of possible Trump-Russia cooperation, following Trump’s repeated calls to “investigate the investigators.”
Barr also ordered Justice Department prosecutors to review the handling of the federal investigation into Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn and then sought to dismiss the criminal charges against Flynn, who had twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Trump later pardoned Flynn.
Barr’s break from Trump over election fraud wasn’t the first. Earlier this year, Barr told ABC News that the president’s tweets about Justice Department cases “make it impossible for me to do my job” and tensions flared just a few months ago when the two were increasingly at odds over the pace of the Durham investigation.
Trump had been increasingly critical about a lack of arrests and Barr was privately telling people he was frustrated by Trump’s public pronouncements about the case.
Trump was also said to blame Barr for comments from FBI Director Chris Wray on election fraud and mail-in voting that didn’t jibe with the president’s alarmist rhetoric.
Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Eric Tucker, Jonathan Lemire and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-12-14--DU Pioneers’ Carter Savoie named NCHC co-rookie of the week

After helping lead the Denver Pioneers men ’ s ice hockey to two wins last week , freshman forward Carter @ @ @ @ @ the NCHC co-rookie of the week .
Savoie tallied three goals and an assist in @ @ @ @ @ North Dakota and Miami .
He became the first Pioneers freshman to score in the @ @ @ @ @ collegiate career .
Through six games , he is tied for the NCAA lead in @ @ @ @ @ 5-foot-9 Canadian was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round of the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ overall pick .

After helping lead the Denver Pioneers men’s ice hockey to two wins last week, freshman forward Carter Savoie on Monday was named the NCHC co-rookie of the week.
Savoie tallied three goals and an assist in DU’s victories over North Dakota and Miami. He became the first Pioneers freshman to score in the first five games of his collegiate career. Through six games, he is tied for the NCAA lead in goals with six.
The 5-foot-9 Canadian was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL draft with the 100th overall pick.


thedenverpost--2020-12-14--Crunch time for COVID-19 relief as bipartisan bills unveiled

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a detailed COVID-19 aid proposal on Monday in hopes it would serve as a model for its battling leaders to follow as they try to negotiate a final agreement on a new round of virus relief .
The dozen or so lawmakers unveiled two bills .
One is a $ 748 billion aid package containing money for struggling businesses , the unemployed , schools , and for vaccine distribution .
The other bill proposes a $ 160 billion aid package for state and local governments that ’ s favored by Democrats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But agreement proved impossible and most Democrats opposed a compromise on the liability issue forged by GOP Sen .
Rob Portman of Ohio .
The path forward for their proposals — and for COVID-19 aid more generally — remains unclear .
Parallel negotiations over virus relief and government funding are proceeding on the leadership level involving House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. , and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and that ’ s where any agreement is likely to be forged .
Outstanding issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second round of direct payments to individuals , a plan for $ 300 bonus unemployment benefits , state and local aid , and the GOP-sought liability shield against COVID-19-related lawsuits .
Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , said she hoped that top Capitol Hill leaders and the administration will use the proposals as the basis for a COVID-relief package “ that is urgently needed by our struggling families , our hard-hit small businesses , our stressed-out health care providers , our overwhelmed Postal Service , our challenged schools , and so many others.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and local governments , a top Pelosi priority , and the liability shield , a top demand of McConnell .
The Kentucky Republican has suggested an all-or-nothing approach in which the fate of both ideas is linked to the other — either both are added or both are dropped .
Pelosi is insisting , so far , that state and local aid be added , demanding that McConnell compromise on his pet provision .
Agreement remains elusive .
But progress was being reported on another key front , too , as lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will be the basis for the last significant legislation of the Trump presidency .
There ’ s a hoped-for deadline of midnight Friday to deliver the completed package to President Donald Trump , which is when a partial government shutdown would arrive with the expiration of last week ’ s temporary funding bill .
But there ’ s no guarantee that the massive year-end measure will be completed in time .
If the talks drag , further temporary bills could be needed .
Meanwhile , negotiations on a $ 1.4 trillion catchall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said a congressional aide participating in the talks .
While details are closely held , “ the status quo is prevailing.
” That means Trump would get another $ 1.4 billion or so for a final installment to continue construction of his long-sought U.S.-Mexico border wall .
Republicans have succeeded in killing a $ 12 billion plan to break last year ’ s budget mini-agreement by using accounting maneuvers to pad veterans health care funding to accommodate big cost increases from expanding access to health care services from private providers .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being employed to provide for equivalent spending increases for other domestic programs .
At issue are two long-delayed pillars of Capitol Hill ’ s agenda under divided government — COVID-19 relief and the annual appropriations process by which Congress passes day-to-day agency funding bills .
Election-year politics and the maddening dysfunction of the Senate have stalled legislation on both topics for months .
The post-election lame-duck session is the last chance to wrap up the unfinished work this year , a goal of all involved , though they have been slow until now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pull the measure together .
Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke Sunday afternoon and are likely to be the crucial pair to watch going down the stretch .
She has not thrown in the towel on her drive to obtain state and local aid , which was part of the almost $ 2 trillion CARES Act in March .
President-elect Joe Biden wants as much COVID relief as possible but has no direct influence on the negotiations .
While he ’ ll empower Democrats after taking office next year , GOP leaders like McConnell are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale back her demands .
And while McConnell supported a $ 300 per week bonus unemployment benefit this summer , he ’ s pulled back after the November election .
No .
2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland displayed flexibility in an appearance on CNN on Sunday that Republicans interpreted as a harbinger of further Democratic retreat .
“ The legislative process is a give and take and the items that I just mentioned are absolutely critical to get done , and although I think state and local assistance is critically important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Hoyer said .
“ I would be shocked if we didn ’ t see something pretty concrete by at least Wednesday , ” said Sen. John Cornyn , R-Texas .
“ Because we got to vote on this thing by Friday and get out of here.
” Also in the mix is a deal to curb “ surprise medical bills , ” the astonishingly high fees charged to patients with health insurance when they are treated by a doctor or hospital outside of their insurer ’ s provider network .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting emergency services and for patients undergoing complex surgeries where another specialist might have to be called in .
Although there ’ s agreement among most lawmakers and the White House that patients should not face thousands of dollars in unexpected bills , legislation has been slow to gel .
It ’ s been blocked by a lobbying war between consumer groups and insurers on one side , and on the other , doctors and investors in medical practices .
The potential compromise would ban surprise bills for emergency room visits and scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorse the agreement .
Associated Press writer Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to the report .

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of lawmakers unveiled a detailed COVID-19 aid proposal on Monday in hopes it would serve as a model for its battling leaders to follow as they try to negotiate a final agreement on a new round of virus relief.
The dozen or so lawmakers unveiled two bills. One is a $748 billion aid package containing money for struggling businesses, the unemployed, schools, and for vaccine distribution. The other bill proposes a $160 billion aid package for state and local governments that’s favored by Democrats and GOP-sought provisions shielding businesses from COVID-related lawsuits. But agreement proved impossible and most Democrats opposed a compromise on the liability issue forged by GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio.
The path forward for their proposals — and for COVID-19 aid more generally — remains unclear. Parallel negotiations over virus relief and government funding are proceeding on the leadership level involving House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and that’s where any agreement is likely to be forged.
Outstanding issues in the leadership talks include a potential second round of direct payments to individuals, a plan for $300 bonus unemployment benefits, state and local aid, and the GOP-sought liability shield against COVID-19-related lawsuits.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she hoped that top Capitol Hill leaders and the administration will use the proposals as the basis for a COVID-relief package “that is urgently needed by our struggling families, our hard-hit small businesses, our stressed-out health care providers, our overwhelmed Postal Service, our challenged schools, and so many others.”
A key tradeoff involves aid to states and local governments, a top Pelosi priority, and the liability shield, a top demand of McConnell. The Kentucky Republican has suggested an all-or-nothing approach in which the fate of both ideas is linked to the other — either both are added or both are dropped. Pelosi is insisting, so far, that state and local aid be added, demanding that McConnell compromise on his pet provision. Agreement remains elusive.
But progress was being reported on another key front, too, as lawmakers cobbled together a year-end catchall funding package that will be the basis for the last significant legislation of the Trump presidency.
There’s a hoped-for deadline of midnight Friday to deliver the completed package to President Donald Trump, which is when a partial government shutdown would arrive with the expiration of last week’s temporary funding bill. But there’s no guarantee that the massive year-end measure will be completed in time. If the talks drag, further temporary bills could be needed.
Meanwhile, negotiations on a $1.4 trillion catchall spending bill are “essentially finished,” said a congressional aide participating in the talks. While details are closely held, “the status quo is prevailing.” That means Trump would get another $1.4 billion or so for a final installment to continue construction of his long-sought U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Republicans have succeeded in killing a $12 billion plan to break last year’s budget mini-agreement by using accounting maneuvers to pad veterans health care funding to accommodate big cost increases from expanding access to health care services from private providers. Instead, a different set of moves is being employed to provide for equivalent spending increases for other domestic programs.
At issue are two long-delayed pillars of Capitol Hill’s agenda under divided government — COVID-19 relief and the annual appropriations process by which Congress passes day-to-day agency funding bills. Election-year politics and the maddening dysfunction of the Senate have stalled legislation on both topics for months.
The post-election lame-duck session is the last chance to wrap up the unfinished work this year, a goal of all involved, though they have been slow until now to forge the often-tricky compromises required to pull the measure together.
Pelosi and Mnuchin spoke Sunday afternoon and are likely to be the crucial pair to watch going down the stretch. She has not thrown in the towel on her drive to obtain state and local aid, which was part of the almost $2 trillion CARES Act in March.
President-elect Joe Biden wants as much COVID relief as possible but has no direct influence on the negotiations. While he’ll empower Democrats after taking office next year, GOP leaders like McConnell are playing hardball and have forced Pelosi to scale back her demands. And while McConnell supported a $300 per week bonus unemployment benefit this summer, he’s pulled back after the November election.
No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer of Maryland displayed flexibility in an appearance on CNN on Sunday that Republicans interpreted as a harbinger of further Democratic retreat.
“The legislative process is a give and take and the items that I just mentioned are absolutely critical to get done, and although I think state and local assistance is critically important, the others are critically important too,” Hoyer said.
“I would be shocked if we didn’t see something pretty concrete by at least Wednesday,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “Because we got to vote on this thing by Friday and get out of here.”
Also in the mix is a deal to curb “surprise medical bills,” the astonishingly high fees charged to patients with health insurance when they are treated by a doctor or hospital outside of their insurer’s provider network. It’s a particular problem for people getting emergency services and for patients undergoing complex surgeries where another specialist might have to be called in.
Although there’s agreement among most lawmakers and the White House that patients should not face thousands of dollars in unexpected bills, legislation has been slow to gel. It’s been blocked by a lobbying war between consumer groups and insurers on one side, and on the other, doctors and investors in medical practices. The potential compromise would ban surprise bills for emergency room visits and scheduled procedures, but McConnell has yet to endorse the agreement.
Associated Press writer Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to the report.


thedenverpost--2020-12-15--NFL won’t be cutting in line for coronavirus vaccine

The NFL won ’ t be cutting in line to get the coronavirus vaccine .
“ No one should be thinking about the vaccine going anywhere other than our first responders and the most vulnerable people right now , ” said DeMaurice Smith , executive director of the NFL Players Association .
“ We ’ re in complete harmony with the union in that we feel that it ’ s vital that frontline healthcare workers and another essential service workers are at the front of the line , ” said Dr. Allen Sills , the NFL ’ s chief medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is going to be driven by public health concerns and what medical and government officials determine to be the most efficacious for risk reduction across society as a whole .
We ’ re prepared to support that effort , ” Sills said .
The largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history got underway Monday with health workers rolling up their sleeves for the first shots on the same day the nation ’ s COVID-19 death toll hit a staggering 300,000 .
High-risk health care workers and some nursing home residents were among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could finally conquer the outbreak that has upended life across the globe .
While the U.S. hopes for enough of the two approved vaccines to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of the month , and 30 million more in January , there won ’ t be enough for the average person to get a shot until spring .
The NFL will continue spending millions of dollars on daily COVID-19 tests , combined with social distancing and contact tracing to mitigate infections so they can get all 256 regular season games and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Super Bowl 55 on Feb. 7 in Tampa , Florida .
On a recent media conference call , Smith and NFLPA president JC Tretter emphasized that football doesn ’ t deserve any favors or special treatment when it comes to COVID-19 inoculations .
“ Football is not an essential business , ” Smith said .
“ While JC and I have a fiduciary duty to our players , I don ’ t think either of us for a nanosecond forget that we ’ re fortunate enough to be playing a game while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep up safe , and that ’ s where the focus should be.
” Added Tretter , an offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns , “ We as players understand .
We don ’ t expect to jump the line .
We know as a community there are people we need to take care of first : the elderly , the most vulnerable and our first responders .
So , I don ’ t think we have any expectation to cut the line in any way.
” Dozens of NFL players , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus this season , but aside from flareups in Nashville and Baltimore , teams have in most cases been able to tourniquet the outbreaks through ever-evolving COVID-19 protocols .
Players will have to continue daily testing , socially distancing through remote meetings , and wearing their masks and contract tracers as they try to make it through the pandemic season without access to the vaccine .
“ I would just simply say that we ’ re proceeding along as if we ’ ll have to operate the rest of this season through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sills said .
“ And if circumstances change and it appears appropriate and indicated again from a public health standpoint that we are in a place to offer that , then we ’ ll have to reconsider that again jointly with the union , but for the present time we ’ re not counting on that to be impactful into the current season or postseason.
” Once the league crowns a Super Bowl champion in this strangest of seasons , the league will turn its focus to how it will handle the offseason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro scouting combine and college pro , all of which very well could be virtual with vaccines still being distributed .
“ As far as what happens after the vaccine becomes available to the general public , I ’ m sure that ’ s going to be a conversation that we ’ re going to have going forward , and how the vaccine gets rolled out to individual people in our country , ” Smith said .
“ All I can tell you is I ’ m far more focused on how the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in our country right now , ” Smith added .
“ As long as we continue to wear masks , socially distance , aggressively engage in contact tracing and handle our business as players and as staff and we keep ourselves around this ( latest .11 percent ) positivity rate , then I think that should be our focus.
” • Broncos Mailbag : What are the keys for Drew Lock over final three games ?
• Broncos After Further Review : Minus top cornerbacks , defense relied on four-man rush against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Is Broncos ’ offense big enough for Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler ?
• How the 2020 Broncos can make the NFL playoffs entering Week 15 • Broncos Q-and-A : What was key to quarterback Drew Lock ’ s high completion rate Broncos kicker Brandon McManus missed two extra points in Denver ’ s 32-27 win at Carolina , and he had another PAT that his coach wiped off the board when the Panthers jumped offsides .
With the ball going from the 2 to the 1 , Vic Fangio decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last season against Kansas City .
Like last year , the conversion attempt failed , this time leaving Denver ahead 25-10 .
“ I figured it was a good opportunity to go up 17 and make it a three-score game , but it didn ’ t work out , ” Fangio explained .
“ So , it ’ s a 50-50 decision .
I chose the wrong one at that time.
” Patriots coach Bill Belichick had a bit of a malfunction with his double mask in New England ’ s loss to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cameras caught Belichick on the sideline adjusting his face covering and it looked like he had a hole cut out for his mouth .
That prompted all sorts of snark on social media , including one poster who cracked Belichick was cutting his mask like it ’ s a hoodie sleeve .
”

The NFL won’t be cutting in line to get the coronavirus vaccine.
“No one should be thinking about the vaccine going anywhere other than our first responders and the most vulnerable people right now,” said DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association.
“We’re in complete harmony with the union in that we feel that it’s vital that frontline healthcare workers and another essential service workers are at the front of the line,” said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer.
“The rollout of the vaccine is going to be driven by public health concerns and what medical and government officials determine to be the most efficacious for risk reduction across society as a whole. We’re prepared to support that effort,” Sills said.
The largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history got underway Monday with health workers rolling up their sleeves for the first shots on the same day the nation’s COVID-19 death toll hit a staggering 300,000.
High-risk health care workers and some nursing home residents were among the first in line for the shots that could finally conquer the outbreak that has upended life across the globe.
While the U.S. hopes for enough of the two approved vaccines to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of the month, and 30 million more in January, there won’t be enough for the average person to get a shot until spring.
The NFL will continue spending millions of dollars on daily COVID-19 tests, combined with social distancing and contact tracing to mitigate infections so they can get all 256 regular season games and 13 playoff contests in the books culminating in Super Bowl 55 on Feb. 7 in Tampa, Florida.
On a recent media conference call, Smith and NFLPA president JC Tretter emphasized that football doesn’t deserve any favors or special treatment when it comes to COVID-19 inoculations.
“Football is not an essential business,” Smith said. “While JC and I have a fiduciary duty to our players, I don’t think either of us for a nanosecond forget that we’re fortunate enough to be playing a game while millions of people are out there trying to keep up safe, and that’s where the focus should be.”
Added Tretter, an offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, “We as players understand. We don’t expect to jump the line. We know as a community there are people we need to take care of first: the elderly, the most vulnerable and our first responders. So, I don’t think we have any expectation to cut the line in any way.”
Dozens of NFL players, coaches and staff members have contracted the coronavirus this season, but aside from flareups in Nashville and Baltimore, teams have in most cases been able to tourniquet the outbreaks through ever-evolving COVID-19 protocols.
Players will have to continue daily testing, socially distancing through remote meetings, and wearing their masks and contract tracers as they try to make it through the pandemic season without access to the vaccine.
“I would just simply say that we’re proceeding along as if we’ll have to operate the rest of this season through the Super Bowl without a vaccine,” Sills said. “And if circumstances change and it appears appropriate and indicated again from a public health standpoint that we are in a place to offer that, then we’ll have to reconsider that again jointly with the union, but for the present time we’re not counting on that to be impactful into the current season or postseason.”
Once the league crowns a Super Bowl champion in this strangest of seasons, the league will turn its focus to how it will handle the offseason, beginning with free agency, the pro scouting combine and college pro, all of which very well could be virtual with vaccines still being distributed.
“As far as what happens after the vaccine becomes available to the general public, I’m sure that’s going to be a conversation that we’re going to have going forward, and how the vaccine gets rolled out to individual people in our country,” Smith said.
“All I can tell you is I’m far more focused on how the vaccine gets to the people who need it in our country right now,” Smith added. “As long as we continue to wear masks, socially distance, aggressively engage in contact tracing and handle our business as players and as staff and we keep ourselves around this (latest .11 percent) positivity rate, then I think that should be our focus.”
Other notable calls in Week 14 included:
GAMBLING MAN
Broncos kicker Brandon McManus missed two extra points in Denver’s 32-27 win at Carolina, and he had another PAT that his coach wiped off the board when the Panthers jumped offsides. With the ball going from the 2 to the 1, Vic Fangio decided to go for 2 just as he did last season against Kansas City.
Like last year, the conversion attempt failed, this time leaving Denver ahead 25-10.
“I figured it was a good opportunity to go up 17 and make it a three-score game, but it didn’t work out,” Fangio explained. “So, it’s a 50-50 decision. I chose the wrong one at that time.”
MOUTHING OFF
Patriots coach Bill Belichick had a bit of a malfunction with his double mask in New England’s loss to the Rams that kicked off Week 14. Cameras caught Belichick on the sideline adjusting his face covering and it looked like he had a hole cut out for his mouth.
That prompted all sorts of snark on social media, including one poster who cracked Belichick was cutting his mask like it’s a hoodie sleeve.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-15--Colorado road conditions: Overnight snowstorm causing slick driving conditions

More snow fell across Colorado overnight , bringing totals across Denver to several inches over the past few days .
The previous precipitation , some melting , and the fresh storm have made for a challenging commute Tuesday morning .
The Colorado Department of Transportation has plows out clearing roads .
Snow remains on some highways , but most in the metro area are just wet .
Two crashes have delayed Interstate 70 eastbound through downtown .
The stretch on I-70 from Pecos Street through Interstate 25 to Brighton Boulevard is crawling .
A lane was closed for a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interstate 270 eastbound from Interstate 76 to I-25 has minor delays as traffic is backed up there .
Berthoud Pass on Highway 40 has been slowed to 20 mph with snow packed roads .
A crash on Highway 285 north is slowing the movement from University Boulevard to I-25 .
There is also a crash at Alameda Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard .
Despite the slick conditions , there have been any major road closures so far Tuesday .
This story will be updated with updates on road conditions .
Check back later for @ @ @

More snow fell across Colorado overnight, bringing totals across Denver to several inches over the past few days. The previous precipitation and the fresh storm have made for a challenging commute Tuesday morning.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has plows out clearing roads. Snow remains on some highways, but most in the metro area are just wet.
Berthoud Pass on Highway 40 has been slowed to 20 mph with snow-packed roads.
Interstate 70 going west in the mountains is slowed down. Speeds under 20 mph have delayed a portion of the highway from Beaver Brook through US Highway 6 to Idaho Springs.
Further up the road on I-70 west, the road was closed due to a crash at the Eisenhower Tunnel. That stretch of highway reopened at about 10:45 a.m., according to CDOT.
A crash on Highway 285 north did slow movement from University Boulevard to Interstate-25 but has been cleared.
Interstate 270 eastbound from Interstate 76 to I-25 had minor delays as traffic backed up there. Now is clear.
There was also a crash at Alameda Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard.
Two crashes delayed I-70 eastbound through downtown from Pecos Street through I-25 to Brighton Boulevard earlier in the morning. Those are each cleared and speeds are normal.
Despite the slick conditions, there has only been one major road closure so far Tuesday. That closure is of I-70 just before 10 a.m.
Motorists can expect roads to be icy in some spots this morning: Remember to allow yourself that extra stopping distance and give snow plows room to work. Stay warm and safe, #Denver! pic.twitter.com/Md3MMoDLG7 — Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) December 15, 2020
This story will be updated with updates on road conditions. Check back later for the latest news


thedenverpost--2020-12-15--Denver weather: Snow wraps up by midmorning, followed by windy conditions

Coloradans are waking up to a few inches of fresh snow that fell overnight across the Front Range .
The @ @ @ @ @ up by midmorning , followed by a warming trend over the next few days .
@ @ @ @ @ Service , the forecast for Tuesday calls for a high of 34 degrees under mostly @ @ @ @ @ stops .
North winds will shift to the west by the afternoon , with gusts @ @ @ @ @ Winds will persist into the evening as the temperature dips down to 19 degrees .
@ @ @ @ @ conditions Wednesday and a lot more sunshine as the temperature is expected to top out @ @ @ @ @ wind will die down Wednesday evening when the temperatures once again drop into the teens @ @ @ @ @ Thursday of partially cloudy skies and a forecasted high of 51 degrees .
There is @ @ @ @ @ snow again early Friday morning .
Sunday looks to be the prettiest day of the @ @ @ @ @ high in the mid-50s .

Coloradans are waking up to a few inches of fresh snow that fell overnight across the Front Range.
The snow is expected to wrap up by midmorning, followed by a warming trend over the next few days.
According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for Tuesday calls for a high of 34 degrees under mostly sunny skies once the snow stops. North winds will shift to the west by the afternoon, with gusts over 20 mph possible. Winds will persist into the evening as the temperature dips down to 19 degrees.
There will be more windy conditions Wednesday and a lot more sunshine as the temperature is expected to top out at 45 degrees. The wind will die down Wednesday evening when the temperatures once again drop into the teens, leading into a gorgeous Thursday of partially cloudy skies and a forecasted high of 51 degrees.
There is a 30% chance for snow again early Friday morning. Sunday looks to be the prettiest day of the weekend, with a possible high in the mid-50s.


thedenverpost--2020-12-15--Colorado snow totals for Dec. 14-15, 2020

The following Colorado snow totals have been reported by the National Weather Service for Dec. 14-15 , 2020 , as @ @ @ @ @ Aurora , CO — 3 inches at 12:10 a.m. Black Forest , CO — 2 @ @ @ @ @ Village , CO — 1.5 inches at 4:59 a.m. Denver Intl Airport , CO — @ @ @ @ @ Denver , CO — 2.5 inches at 4:58 a.m. Lakewood , CO — 2 inches @ @ @ @ @ CO — 1.9 inches at 1:28 a.m. Spanish Peaks , CO — 8.9 inches at @ @ @ @ @ — 1.9 inches at 4:44 a.m .

The following Colorado snow totals have been reported by the National Weather Service for Dec. 14-15, 2020, as of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Arvada, CO — 2.2 inches at 7:30 a.m.
Black Forest, CO — 2 inches at 12:46 a.m.
Brighton, CO — 0.3 inch at 5 a.m.
Brush, CO — 0.5 inch at 7 a.m.
Castle Pines, CO — 3.1 inches at 7:18 a.m.
Cherry Creek Reserv, CO — 2.1 inches at 7 a.m.
Commerce City, CO — 1.5 inches at 7 a.m.
Denver, CO — 2.5 inches at 7 a.m.
Elizabeth, CO — 3 inches at 7 a.m.
Elkdale, CO — 3.2 inches at 7 a.m.
Englewood, CO — 2.2 inches at 7 a.m.
Fairplay, CO — 1.2 inches at 7 a.m.
Firestone, CO — 0.2 inch at 7 a.m.
Foxfield, CO — 1.5 inches at 7 a.m.
Gary, CO — 1.2 inches at 6 a.m.
Golden, CO — 3 inches at 7 a.m.
Hygiene, CO — 0.5 inch at 7 a.m.
Ken Caryl, CO — 2.7 inches at 6:30 a.m.
Kittredge, CO — 2 inches at 7 a.m.
Lafayette, CO — 0.6 inch at 7 a.m.
Littleton, CO — 5.5 inches at 6 a.m.
Mead, CO — 0.6 inch at 7 a.m.
Monument, CO — 6 inches at 8:19 a.m.
Mountain View, CO — 2.5 inches at 7 a.m.
Northglenn, CO — 1 inch at 7 a.m.
Rollinsville, CO — 1.2 inches at 7 a.m.
Rosita, CO — 3.5 inches at 7:17 a.m.
Roxborough Park, CO — 2 inches at 6:48 a.m.
Silver Plume, CO — 3 inches at 6 a.m.
Spanish Peaks, CO — 8.9 inches at 6 a.m.
The Pinery, CO — 2.1 inches at 7 a.m.
Todd Creek, CO — 0.7 inch at 7 a.m.
Wah Keeney Park, CO — 1.8 inches at 7 a.m.


thedenverpost--2020-12-15--Colorado’s COVID-19 death toll likely to remain “grim” for few weeks as new cases, hospitalizations

Colorado’s COVID-19 death toll likely to remain “grim” for few weeks as new cases, hospitalizations fall

A quarter of Colorado ’ s nearly 4,000 coronavirus-related deaths came in just three weeks between mid-November and early December , and the remnants of this fall ’ s record surge of infections may not be gone yet .
As the first Colorado health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine got their shots Monday , the state ’ s data both showed the stark toll of the virus ’ fall wave and hinted at better days ahead .
Hospitalizations and new infections both were down , even as deaths continued to rise .
Colorado has reported 3,969 coronavirus-related deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of those , 999 , or just over one in four , happened in the three-week span between Nov. 16 and Dec. 6 .
In the worst three weeks of the spring wave , 698 people were counted in the state ’ s coronavirus toll .
During the best weeks of summer , 15 to 25 people died .
The week ending Dec. 6 was the deadliest of the pandemic , as Colorado recorded the deaths of 382 people who had COVID-19 .
Previously , death totals didn ’ t tend to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent weeks , they ’ ve continued to grow for longer .
As more deaths needed to be reported , some of the data has been delayed longer , according to a statement from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
Death-certificate data also takes longer to get to the state , which is why Colorado ’ s count of people whose deaths ultimately are directly attributed to the virus — currently 3,086 — has fallen much further behind the overall number of people who died after being infected with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 , a decrease of more than 400 patients from the peak on Dec. 2 .
Still , the number of hospitalized patients was still well above the spring peak .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recorded 24,733 new cases in the week ending Sunday .
The numbers had seesawed over the previous three weeks between about 29,000 and 35,000 weekly cases .
The rate of people testing positive for the virus also fell , suggesting the state is doing a better job locating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the goal of 5 % .
Gatherings are still risky because the virus is widespread in much of the state , but it appears the peak of the fall wave has passed , said Beth Carlton , an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health .
That suggests some combination of people ’ s individual choices and policy changes , like moving counties into Level Red on the state ’ s dial framework , helped avoid a Thanksgiving spike , she said .
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , ” she said .
Still , the death toll likely will remain “ grim ” for a few weeks as we see the aftermath of the fall wave , Carlton said .
“ As infections rise , hospitalizations rise , and as hospitalizations rise , so too do deaths , ” she said .
Since March , 291,104 Coloradans have tested positive for the virus , and 16,174 have been hospitalized for it .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

A quarter of Colorado’s nearly 4,000 coronavirus-related deaths came in just three weeks between mid-November and early December, and the remnants of this fall’s record surge of infections may not be gone yet.
As the first Colorado health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine got their shots Monday, the state’s data both showed the stark toll of the virus’ fall wave and hinted at better days ahead. Hospitalizations and new infections both were down, even as deaths continued to rise.
Colorado has reported 3,969 coronavirus-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Of those, 999, or just over one in four, happened in the three-week span between Nov. 16 and Dec. 6. In the worst three weeks of the spring wave, 698 people were counted in the state’s coronavirus toll. During the best weeks of summer, 15 to 25 people died.
The week ending Dec. 6 was the deadliest of the pandemic, as Colorado recorded the deaths of 382 people who had COVID-19.
Previously, death totals didn’t tend to change much after about two weeks. In recent weeks, they’ve continued to grow for longer. As more deaths needed to be reported, some of the data has been delayed longer, according to a statement from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Death-certificate data also takes longer to get to the state, which is why Colorado’s count of people whose deaths ultimately are directly attributed to the virus — currently 3,086 — has fallen much further behind the overall number of people who died after being infected with the virus.
On Monday, 1,585 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, a decrease of more than 400 patients from the peak on Dec. 2. Still, the number of hospitalized patients was still well above the spring peak.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recorded 24,733 new cases in the week ending Sunday. The numbers had seesawed over the previous three weeks between about 29,000 and 35,000 weekly cases.
The rate of people testing positive for the virus also fell, suggesting the state is doing a better job locating cases, though it remained nearly double the goal of 5%.
Gatherings are still risky because the virus is widespread in much of the state, but it appears the peak of the fall wave has passed, said Beth Carlton, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health.
That suggests some combination of people’s individual choices and policy changes, like moving counties into Level Red on the state’s dial framework, helped avoid a Thanksgiving spike, she said.
“There’s a lot of good news this week,” she said.
Still, the death toll likely will remain “grim” for a few weeks as we see the aftermath of the fall wave, Carlton said.
“As infections rise, hospitalizations rise, and as hospitalizations rise, so too do deaths,” she said.
Since March, 291,104 Coloradans have tested positive for the virus, and 16,174 have been hospitalized for it.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.