thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Altitude-Comcast lawsuit: Federal judge deems anticompetitive claim “plausible” in partially denying

Altitude-Comcast lawsuit: Federal judge deems anticompetitive claim “plausible” in partially denying motion to dismiss

The legal dispute between Comcast and Altitude TV , blacking out local Avalanche and Nuggets games on the state ’ s largest cable provider , will continue after a federal judge partially denied Comcast ’ s motion to dismiss the case .
Altitude , a Kroenke-owned independent regional sports network , argues that Comcast has negotiated with illegal business tactics that “ make no economic sense ” in a plot to buy or eliminate the RSN after their contract expired in September 2019 .
Comcast contends that Altitude is conflating a “ routine commercial disagreement ” with a violation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Judge William Martinez partially denied Comcast ’ s request to dismiss the case , per online court records , allowing it to proceed as both sides produce evidence in the discovery phase .
Martinez dismissed several Altitude claims within its lawsuit , however , he wrote that it “ has alleged facts sufficient to show that its allegations of anticompetitive conduct are plausible ” against Comcast .
“ We are pleased the decision will allow Altitude to proceed with its case to prove that Comcast ’ s actions are an attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Isaacson , Altitude ’ s outside counsel at Paul , Weiss , Rifkind , Wharton & Garrison LLP , told The Denver Post .
“ The judge ’ s ruling also means that we can obtain the information we need to prove this claim .
We feel confident that the law and the facts will lead to a decision that will prevent Comcast from taking unfair advantage of Denver region sports fans.
” What does that mean for local Avalanche and Nuggets fans with a new season fast approaching ?
A potential ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal in financial terms the RSN deems acceptable , would effectively end the stalemate .
It won ’ t happen anytime soon , though , with the final pretrial conference not set until April 4 , 2022 .
Industry precedent also suggests a jury trial is unlikely .
Public scrutiny of Comcast ’ s business practices — threatening significant financial loss and additional lawsuits — might lead the cable giant to reconsider its ongoing dispute with Altitude .
But that ’ s not guaranteed , either .
Altitude continues to be carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kroenke and Comcast amid the coronavirus pandemic could also force a deal as high-level negotiations are still possible between the pair of billion-dollar entities .
The Nuggets ’ first preseason game is set for Dec. 12 at the Golden State Warriors .
The Avalanche ’ s preseason schedule has yet to be released .

The legal dispute between Comcast and Altitude TV, blacking out local Avalanche and Nuggets games on the state’s largest cable provider, will continue after a federal judge partially denied Comcast’s motion to dismiss the case.
Altitude, a Kroenke-owned independent regional sports network, argues that Comcast has negotiated with illegal business tactics that “make no economic sense” in a plot to buy or eliminate the RSN after their contract expired in September 2019. Comcast contends that Altitude is conflating a “routine commercial disagreement” with a violation of antitrust laws.
Last week, U.S. District Judge William Martinez partially denied Comcast’s request to dismiss the case, per online court records, allowing it to proceed as both sides produce evidence in the discovery phase. Martinez dismissed several Altitude claims within its lawsuit, however, he wrote that it “has alleged facts sufficient to show that its allegations of anticompetitive conduct are plausible” against Comcast.
“We are pleased the decision will allow Altitude to proceed with its case to prove that Comcast’s actions are an attempt to monopolize the Denver market,” William Isaacson, Altitude’s outside counsel at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, told The Denver Post. “The judge’s ruling also means that we can obtain the information we need to prove this claim. We feel confident that the law and the facts will lead to a decision that will prevent Comcast from taking unfair advantage of Denver region sports fans.”
Comcast director of external communications Leslie Oliver told The Denver Post: “Comcast is encouraged that the Court dismissed most of Altitude’s frivolous claims at this early stage in the proceeding, and that the Court expressed skepticism about the one claim that it did not reject outright. We agree with the Court’s skeptical view of the remaining allegations and look forward to getting the rest of the case dismissed promptly.”
What does that mean for local Avalanche and Nuggets fans with a new season fast approaching?
A potential ruling in favor of Altitude, forcing Comcast to deal in financial terms the RSN deems acceptable, would effectively end the stalemate. It won’t happen anytime soon, though, with the final pretrial conference not set until April 4, 2022. Industry precedent also suggests a jury trial is unlikely.
Public scrutiny of Comcast’s business practices — threatening significant financial loss and additional lawsuits — might lead the cable giant to reconsider its ongoing dispute with Altitude. But that’s not guaranteed, either. Altitude continues to be carried by DirecTV.
The financial pressure on Kroenke and Comcast amid the coronavirus pandemic could also force a deal as high-level negotiations are still possible between the pair of billion-dollar entities.
The Nuggets’ first preseason game is set for Dec. 12 at the Golden State Warriors. The Avalanche’s preseason schedule has yet to be released.


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Gov. Polis says Colorado prisoners shouldn’t get COVID-19 vaccine before free people

Gov .
Jared Polis said he believes incarcerated people , who ’ ve been subject to many of Colorado ’ s most severe coronavirus outbreaks , should not receive access to upcoming vaccines ahead of free people .
It ’ s a position he ’ s stated twice in the last week , and that seems to go against the vaccine distribution plan Colorado ’ s Department of Public Health and Environment published weeks ago .
That framework puts incarcerated people at the top of Phase 2 ( of three ) — below “ critical workforce ” and “ highest-risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general public and people deemed high-risk but not “ highest-risk , ” such as adults 65 and older or adults with diabetes and other COVID-19 co-morbidities .
During a joint press conference with Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday , Polis was asked by a Fox News reporter “ why those who are incarcerated may get access before those 65 and older or who have high risk condition.
” The reporter also asked Polis , a Democrat , to respond to a Denver Post column by the Republican District Attorney George Brauchler of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brauchler took issue with the state ’ s distribution plan for incarcerated people and wrote , “ What in the hell is Gov .
Polis doing ?
” “ That won ’ t happen .
There ’ s no way that prisoners are going to get it before members of a vulnerable population , ” Polis told the reporter .
“ Now , as we ( vaccinate people ) 65 and up , I would think that would include prisoners that are in that category , but the vast majority of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll first go to people in nursing homes , veterans ’ facilities , front-line workers .
“ So , there ’ s no way it ’ s going to go to prisoners ” — he chuckled as he said the word “ prisoners ” — “ before it goes to the people who haven ’ t committed any crime .
That ’ s obvious , so those are just false .
Clearly the actual proposal on how we ’ re going to do it will be amended .
It ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way we ’ re going to look at that .
I think we ’ re awaiting some word from the CDC.
” At a separate press conference last week , Polis was asked a question in Spanish about vaccine prioritization , to which he responded , in part , “ Personas libres deben recibirlo antes de personas en carceles.
” The statement translates to mean that free people should get the vaccine before incarcerated people .
The incarcerated have consistently been among the state ’ s most vulnerable people in terms of risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in jails and prisons have mostly dwarfed those in other settings — that ’ s been true nationally , not just in Colorado — and some of the worst of these outbreaks have come in recent weeks .
In mid-November , the El Paso County Sheriff ’ s Office reported that the jail in Colorado Springs , which has a capacity of about 1,200 , had seen close to 1,000 positive COVID-19 cases at one time .
The vast majority were among inmates , many of whom have not been convicted of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members .
One of the biggest concerns for health officials regarding outbreaks among incarcerated people is that staff members , unlike longer-term inmates , can easily transmit the disease into their communities .
Polis has previously said jails and prisons aren ’ t a COVID-19 concern on their own , so much as congregate living is a concern in general .
But the state ’ s data indicates that jails and prisons are in a uniquely dangerous spot , in large part because they have much larger populations than , say , dormitories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 settings with at least 100 residents confirmed to be positive for the virus , as of Nov. 25 , were jails and prisons , according to state data .
( The 14th is a homeless shelter in Denver . )
Poor people and people of color are vastly overrepresented in Colorado jails and prisons .
On Tuesday , the state Department of Corrections reported the total COVID-19 death toll among Colorado prisoners now stands at 11 .
Four of those 11 have been reported in the last week alone .
Given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the governor ’ s office to ask whether there is an epidemiological rationale for the governor ’ s position on vaccines for incarcerated people and where will those people fall on the revised priority list .
In a statement , Polis spokesman Conor Cahill did not directly answer either question .
“ The Governor believes that no human being , including those in custody , should be denied the vaccine .
So too , no prisoner should be placed ahead of others just because they are a prisoner , ” Cahill wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run counter to the stated mission of Dean Williams , the Polis appointee and director of the Colorado DOC .
Williams has often said he believes that the state should work to make prison less punitive — that is , while prison itself is a punishment , he believes that prisoners should not be subjected to additional punishment once behind bars .
A spokesman for Williams declined to make him available for an interview Tuesday .
The governor ’ s remarks have drawn strong condemnation from criminal justice reform advocates .
Tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Polis campaigned on a ‘ progressive ’ vision .
But this rhetoric is as regressive as can be .
People in prisons are people , and prisons and jails are COVID hot spots .
No one ’ s sentence includes COVID & vaccines aren ’ t allocated based on a governor ’ s ( flawed ) moral compass.
” Rebecca Wallace , an attorney with the ACLU of Colorado , told The Post she senses “ that in all areas except corrections , Gov .
Polis crafts his COVID-19 policies based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was disappointed to see Polis “ throw in his hat in the ring with punishment-oriented George Brauchler ” rather than with his own health department .
Said Wallace , “ In promising to vaccinate free Coloradans before incarcerated ones , Gov .
Polis puts politics above public health .
Our jails and prisons host the largest outbreaks in the state , leaving not only incarcerated people , but staff and the surrounding communities at grave risk .
”

Gov. Jared Polis said he believes incarcerated people, who’ve been subject to many of Colorado’s most severe coronavirus outbreaks, should not receive access to upcoming vaccines ahead of free people.
It’s a position he’s stated twice in the last week, and that seems to go against the vaccine distribution plan Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment published weeks ago. That framework puts incarcerated people at the top of Phase 2 (of three) — below “critical workforce” and “highest-risk individuals,” but ahead of the general public and people deemed high-risk but not “highest-risk,” such as adults 65 and older or adults with diabetes and other COVID-19 co-morbidities.
During a joint press conference with Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday, Polis was asked by a Fox News reporter “why those who are incarcerated may get access before those 65 and older or who have high risk condition.” The reporter also asked Polis, a Democrat, to respond to a Denver Post column by the Republican District Attorney George Brauchler of the 18th Judicial District. In that column, Brauchler took issue with the state’s distribution plan for incarcerated people and wrote, “What in the hell is Gov. Polis doing?”
“That won’t happen. There’s no way that prisoners are going to get it before members of a vulnerable population,” Polis told the reporter. “Now, as we (vaccinate people) 65 and up, I would think that would include prisoners that are in that category, but the vast majority of people 65 and up are free. It’ll first go to people in nursing homes, veterans’ facilities, front-line workers.
“So, there’s no way it’s going to go to prisoners” — he chuckled as he said the word “prisoners” — “before it goes to the people who haven’t committed any crime. That’s obvious, so those are just false. Clearly the actual proposal on how we’re going to do it will be amended. It’ll be released next week, kind of the way we’re going to look at that. I think we’re awaiting some word from the CDC.”
At a separate press conference last week, Polis was asked a question in Spanish about vaccine prioritization, to which he responded, in part, “Personas libres deben recibirlo antes de personas en carceles.” The statement translates to mean that free people should get the vaccine before incarcerated people.
The incarcerated have consistently been among the state’s most vulnerable people in terms of risk of catching the virus. Outbreak numbers in jails and prisons have mostly dwarfed those in other settings — that’s been true nationally, not just in Colorado — and some of the worst of these outbreaks have come in recent weeks. In mid-November, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office reported that the jail in Colorado Springs, which has a capacity of about 1,200, had seen close to 1,000 positive COVID-19 cases at one time.
The vast majority were among inmates, many of whom have not been convicted of a crime, and 73 were among staff members. One of the biggest concerns for health officials regarding outbreaks among incarcerated people is that staff members, unlike longer-term inmates, can easily transmit the disease into their communities.
Polis has previously said jails and prisons aren’t a COVID-19 concern on their own, so much as congregate living is a concern in general. But the state’s data indicates that jails and prisons are in a uniquely dangerous spot, in large part because they have much larger populations than, say, dormitories or nursing homes. Thirteen of the 14 settings with at least 100 residents confirmed to be positive for the virus, as of Nov. 25, were jails and prisons, according to state data. (The 14th is a homeless shelter in Denver.) Poor people and people of color are vastly overrepresented in Colorado jails and prisons.
On Tuesday, the state Department of Corrections reported the total COVID-19 death toll among Colorado prisoners now stands at 11. Four of those 11 have been reported in the last week alone.
Given the data, The Denver Post followed up with the governor’s office to ask whether there is an epidemiological rationale for the governor’s position on vaccines for incarcerated people and where will those people fall on the revised priority list.
In a statement, Polis spokesman Conor Cahill did not directly answer either question.
“The Governor believes that no human being, including those in custody, should be denied the vaccine. So too, no prisoner should be placed ahead of others just because they are a prisoner,” Cahill wrote.
The governor’s position seems to run counter to the stated mission of Dean Williams, the Polis appointee and director of the Colorado DOC. Williams has often said he believes that the state should work to make prison less punitive — that is, while prison itself is a punishment, he believes that prisoners should not be subjected to additional punishment once behind bars.
A spokesman for Williams declined to make him available for an interview Tuesday.
The governor’s remarks have drawn strong condemnation from criminal justice reform advocates. Tweeted the New York University professor Rachel Barkow, “Polis campaigned on a ‘progressive’ vision. But this rhetoric is as regressive as can be. People in prisons are people, and prisons and jails are COVID hot spots. No one’s sentence includes COVID & vaccines aren’t allocated based on a governor’s (flawed) moral compass.”
Rebecca Wallace, an attorney with the ACLU of Colorado, told The Post she senses “that in all areas except corrections, Gov. Polis crafts his COVID-19 policies based on expert public health guidance.” She said she was disappointed to see Polis “throw in his hat in the ring with punishment-oriented George Brauchler” rather than with his own health department.
Said Wallace, “In promising to vaccinate free Coloradans before incarcerated ones, Gov. Polis puts politics above public health. Our jails and prisons host the largest outbreaks in the state, leaving not only incarcerated people, but staff and the surrounding communities at grave risk.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Nuggets forward JaMychal Green eager to fill Jerami Grant’s role: “It wasn’t a tough decision”

Veteran forward JaMychal Green had been on the Nuggets ’ radar long before that first hectic night of free agency two weeks ago .
And they were fans of his well before Green ’ s Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to Denver in the second round of last season ’ s playoffs .
Green , who signed a 2-year , $ 15 million deal with the Nuggets less than two weeks ago , said he was “ very close ” to signing in Denver last offseason before he decided to return to Los Angeles .
“ I always kept that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me and coach Malone , we always kept a relationship throughout the season , ” Green said at his introductory news conference Tuesday .
“ Just felt like it was the right decision to come here.
” There were numerous aspects of playing with Denver that appealed to Green in the wake of the Clippers ’ playoff implosion .
Green said he appreciated Denver ’ s unselfish style of play , recognized their young talent and noticed their tenacity when the Clippers were up 3-1 on them .
“ Blowing a 3-1 lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ It just showed you the type of heart they had.
” That ’ s perhaps a nod to the Nuggets ’ ethos as much as it is an indictment on the Clippers ’ DNA .
Green also said he liked Malone ’ s approach to coaching in that he empowers his players .
“ It ’ s not like a green light ( to shoot ) , but you go out there comfortable , ” he said .
But aside from his toughness and 3-point shooting , both appealing traits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying power among the West elite , Green wanted to be in Denver .
And following the Jerami Grant mess – which saw the versatile forward bypass the same money to sign with Detroit – that was important .
“ A guy like JaMychal Green , who we have looked at in the past , decided to come and be a Denver Nugget , ” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone .
“ We are thrilled about that.
” At some point amid negotiations with Grant , the Nuggets looked internally and reached a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his role despite a chance for a title and while making the same amount of money , perhaps the Nuggets were better off without him .
From that perspective , the Green signing makes even more sense .
Green had interest from teams like the Clippers , Lakers , Spurs , Bucks and 76ers , among several others , according to a league source .
Winning was important to him .
“ I always wanted to go to a team that was a contender and that ’ s going to compete , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Pretty much every team that was coming to me was mostly a playoff team .
It really wasn ’ t a hard decision.
” Green has already projected a willingness to play any role the Nuggets want him to .
That ’ s a mindset Grant grappled with during his one season in Denver .
Grant , who backed up Paul Millsap the entire regular season , felt coming off the bench was a personal sacrifice , according to a league source .
It ’ s part of the reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a team that is also less likely to compete for a championship .
With Denver , Green knows he ’ s in a place to contend .
It ’ s why he ’ ll fill whatever role Malone finds for him .
“ Being in the starting lineup doesn ’ t mean anything to me , ” Green said .
“ I just want my minutes .
I want to be out there to help compete , help to get the win .
Starting or finishing the game … I just want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my role.
” And the Nuggets are more than happy to have him .

Veteran forward JaMychal Green had been on the Nuggets’ radar long before that first hectic night of free agency two weeks ago.
And they were fans of his well before Green’s Clippers blew a 3-1 lead to Denver in the second round of last season’s playoffs.
Green, who signed a 2-year, $15 million deal with the Nuggets less than two weeks ago, said he was “very close” to signing in Denver last offseason before he decided to return to Los Angeles.
“I always kept that in the back of my mind so me and coach Malone, we always kept a relationship throughout the season,” Green said at his introductory news conference Tuesday. “Just felt like it was the right decision to come here.”
There were numerous aspects of playing with Denver that appealed to Green in the wake of the Clippers’ playoff implosion. Green said he appreciated Denver’s unselfish style of play, recognized their young talent and noticed their tenacity when the Clippers were up 3-1 on them.
“Blowing a 3-1 lead, they just fought,” Green said. “It just showed you the type of heart they had.”
That’s perhaps a nod to the Nuggets’ ethos as much as it is an indictment on the Clippers’ DNA. Green also said he liked Malone’s approach to coaching in that he empowers his players.
“It’s not like a green light (to shoot), but you go out there comfortable,” he said.
But aside from his toughness and 3-point shooting, both appealing traits as the Nuggets try to prove their staying power among the West elite, Green wanted to be in Denver. And following the Jerami Grant mess – which saw the versatile forward bypass the same money to sign with Detroit – that was important.
“A guy like JaMychal Green, who we have looked at in the past, decided to come and be a Denver Nugget,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone. “We are thrilled about that.”
At some point amid negotiations with Grant, the Nuggets looked internally and reached a conclusion. If Grant was unhappy sacrificing his role despite a chance for a title and while making the same amount of money, perhaps the Nuggets were better off without him.
From that perspective, the Green signing makes even more sense. Green had interest from teams like the Clippers, Lakers, Spurs, Bucks and 76ers, among several others, according to a league source. Winning was important to him.
“I always wanted to go to a team that was a contender and that’s going to compete, that was going to win,” Green said. “Pretty much every team that was coming to me was mostly a playoff team. It really wasn’t a hard decision.”
Green has already projected a willingness to play any role the Nuggets want him to. That’s a mindset Grant grappled with during his one season in Denver. Grant, who backed up Paul Millsap the entire regular season, felt coming off the bench was a personal sacrifice, according to a league source. It’s part of the reason he coveted a bigger role in Detroit — a team that is also less likely to compete for a championship.
With Denver, Green knows he’s in a place to contend. It’s why he’ll fill whatever role Malone finds for him.
“Being in the starting lineup doesn’t mean anything to me,” Green said. “I just want my minutes. I want to be out there to help compete, help to get the win. Starting or finishing the game … I just want to be out there and just do my role.”
And the Nuggets are more than happy to have him.


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Victim of abuse by Denver’s Father Woody speaks out: “They’re no longer going to have this shining l

Victim of abuse by Denver’s Father Woody speaks out: “They’re no longer going to have this shining light”

For four decades , Denverites invoked Father Woody ’ s name as they cared for tens of thousands of people without homes or food .
The local legend , formally known as Father Charles Woodrich , died in 1991 , but his legacy remained in annual giveaways to the poor , in one of Denver ’ s largest homeless shelters , in programs administered by Denver ’ s Catholic university and in a day shelter for those who are hungry .
That legacy of Denver ’ s so-called “ patron of the poor ” was obliterated Tuesday when Woodrich was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a report spearheaded by the Colorado Attorney General ’ s Office .
Woodrich , according to the report , molested three boys between the ages of 12 and 16 in the 1970s and 1980s while he served as the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in downtown Denver .
The priest plied two of the boys with alcohol and asked another to pose in his underwear and took pictures of him , according to the report .
The revelation has forced a reckoning among the institutions that invoke his name in their work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that everybody wants to make him out to be , ” one of Woodrich ’ s victims told The Denver Post on Tuesday .
The man , contacted through his attorney and listed as Woodrich ’ s “ Victim # 1″ in the report , spoke on the condition he not be publicly identified , citing the stigma attached to the assault .
The Denver Post does name survivors of sexual assault without permission .
The man was 12 years old and an altar server when Woodrich began grooming him in 1983 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ molested the boy once or twice a month , often in the priest ’ s residence , according to the man and the report .
Woodrich befriended the boy ’ s family and used alcohol and paid jobs around the parish to groom him .
The man didn ’ t tell anybody , he said .
Woodrich was a well-known and beloved priest and he didn ’ t think anybody would believe him .
His family still doesn ’ t know .
“ At the time , I felt so isolated because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have anywhere to go to , anywhere to turn to , ” he said .
“ Not even my mother .
She ’ s a single mother raising four kids , she had to worry about that , it wasn ’ t easy for her .
I couldn ’ t put that kind of pressure on her.
” But the abuse derailed his life , he said .
He acted out .
He became involved in criminal mischief and experienced homelessness — becoming part of the population that Woodrich built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost 50 years old , he ’ s still angry about what Woodrich did to him .
“ I ’ ve never had a normal relationship , ” he said .
“ I ’ ve never had a relationship last more than a couple months at a time .
A lot of loneliness .
A lot of missed opportunities .
I didn ’ t want my family to know , so I was alone.
” Woodrich had an extensive career at the Archdiocese of Denver .
Originally from New York , Woodrich joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next 38 years he pastored two churches , led communications for the Denver archdiocese , served as editor of the Denver Catholic Register and was chosen to escort Mother Teresa on her two visits to Denver .
He is credited with co-founding the Samaritan House , one of Denver ’ s largest shelters for people without homes , and is remembered for opening Holy Ghost Catholic Church to the homeless on cold nights .
A day shelter founded by some of his former parishioners after his death was called Father Woody ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , nonprofits have thrown a Christmas party and a cash giveaway for low-income families in his name .
Regis University , a Jesuit Catholic institution , named one of its continuous volunteer projects the “ Father Woody Programs.
” Now , all of those groups are reckoning with the fallout .
“ Due to these credible allegations , we have rechristened our service program to honor our Jesuit namesake , St. John Francis Regis , who toiled to serve the poor and needy , ” Regis University spokeswoman Jennifer Forker said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission has not.
” Officials with the Archdiocese of Denver said in a statement that they would remove the name of any priest identified in the report from any honorary designations , including buildings and programs .
“ It is important to note that the ministerial work of the Church is the work of Jesus Christ , not the work of a specific priest , ” officials said in the statement .
“ Any employee or volunteer who has participated in the work of Christ in serving others should not feel that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Haven of Hope leaders on Tuesday said they removed Woodrich ’ s name from their organization earlier this year after learning the priest was being investigated .
The nonprofit also on Tuesday removed a page from their website with a brief biography of Woodrich .
“ The only thing that matters is the work we are doing , ” the organization said in a statement posted on Facebook .
“ We must protect the work at all costs so it can continue .
With that said we have always strived to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t change.
” Catholic Charities , which runs the Samaritan House shelter , also did not respond to an email .
Woodrich being publicly named as an abuser brought great relief to at least one of his victims .
The man abused by Woodrich beginning in 1983 said that was his main goal for approaching officials about the priest , though he also received money through the reparations program .
“ They ’ re no longer going to have this shining light , ” he said .
“ And I know he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might say that work was the greater good , considering what he did from the homeless and the poor .
My mom was one of those people .
And he took advantage of us .
”

For four decades, Denverites invoked Father Woody’s name as they cared for tens of thousands of people without homes or food.
The local legend, formally known as Father Charles Woodrich, died in 1991, but his legacy remained in annual giveaways to the poor, in one of Denver’s largest homeless shelters, in programs administered by Denver’s Catholic university and in a day shelter for those who are hungry.
That legacy of Denver’s so-called “patron of the poor” was obliterated Tuesday when Woodrich was named as a child sex abuser in a report spearheaded by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Woodrich, according to the report, molested three boys between the ages of 12 and 16 in the 1970s and 1980s while he served as the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in downtown Denver. The priest plied two of the boys with alcohol and asked another to pose in his underwear and took pictures of him, according to the report.
The revelation has forced a reckoning among the institutions that invoke his name in their work.
“He wasn’t the saint that everybody wants to make him out to be,” one of Woodrich’s victims told The Denver Post on Tuesday.
The man, contacted through his attorney and listed as Woodrich’s “Victim #1″ in the report, spoke on the condition he not be publicly identified, citing the stigma attached to the assault. The Denver Post does not name survivors of sexual assault without permission.
The man was 12 years old and an altar server when Woodrich began grooming him in 1983. For the next six years, Woodrich molested the boy once or twice a month, often in the priest’s residence, according to the man and the report. Woodrich befriended the boy’s family and used alcohol and paid jobs around the parish to groom him.
The man didn’t tell anybody, he said. Woodrich was a well-known and beloved priest and he didn’t think anybody would believe him. His family still doesn’t know.
“At the time, I felt so isolated because I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t have anywhere to go to, anywhere to turn to,” he said. “Not even my mother. She’s a single mother raising four kids, she had to worry about that, it wasn’t easy for her. I couldn’t put that kind of pressure on her.”
But the abuse derailed his life, he said. He acted out. He became involved in criminal mischief and experienced homelessness — becoming part of the population that Woodrich built his name on by helping. Now almost 50 years old, he’s still angry about what Woodrich did to him.
“I’ve never had a normal relationship,” he said. “I’ve never had a relationship last more than a couple months at a time. A lot of loneliness. A lot of missed opportunities. I didn’t want my family to know, so I was alone.”
Woodrich had an extensive career at the Archdiocese of Denver. Originally from New York, Woodrich joined the priesthood in 1953 and over the next 38 years he pastored two churches, led communications for the Denver archdiocese, served as editor of the Denver Catholic Register and was chosen to escort Mother Teresa on her two visits to Denver.
He is credited with co-founding the Samaritan House, one of Denver’s largest shelters for people without homes, and is remembered for opening Holy Ghost Catholic Church to the homeless on cold nights. A day shelter founded by some of his former parishioners after his death was called Father Woody’s Haven of Hope. For nearly 40 years, nonprofits have thrown a Christmas party and a cash giveaway for low-income families in his name. Regis University, a Jesuit Catholic institution, named one of its continuous volunteer projects the “Father Woody Programs.”
Now, all of those groups are reckoning with the fallout.
“Due to these credible allegations, we have rechristened our service program to honor our Jesuit namesake, St. John Francis Regis, who toiled to serve the poor and needy,” Regis University spokeswoman Jennifer Forker said. “The name has changed but the mission has not.”
Officials with the Archdiocese of Denver said in a statement that they would remove the name of any priest identified in the report from any honorary designations, including buildings and programs.
“It is important to note that the ministerial work of the Church is the work of Jesus Christ, not the work of a specific priest,” officials said in the statement. “Any employee or volunteer who has participated in the work of Christ in serving others should not feel that their work has in any way been diminished.”
Haven of Hope leaders on Tuesday said they removed Woodrich’s name from their organization earlier this year after learning the priest was being investigated. The nonprofit also on Tuesday removed a page from their website with a brief biography of Woodrich.
“The only thing that matters is the work we are doing,” the organization said in a statement posted on Facebook. “We must protect the work at all costs so it can continue. With that said we have always strived to be a Haven of Hope, this won’t change.”
Catholic Charities, which runs the Samaritan House shelter, also did not respond to an email.
Woodrich being publicly named as an abuser brought great relief to at least one of his victims. The man abused by Woodrich beginning in 1983 said that was his main goal for approaching officials about the priest, though he also received money through the reparations program.
“They’re no longer going to have this shining light,” he said. “And I know he was a huge impact and some people might say that work was the greater good, considering what he did from the homeless and the poor. My mom was one of those people. And he took advantage of us.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--CU Buffs need RB depth to show up, give Jarek Broussard support

Colorado has a deep pool of talent at running back , but to this point , it ’ s mainly been a one-man show .
Sophomore Jarek Broussard has been exceptional , with 432 yards and three touchdowns and he ranks fourth nationally in yards per game ( 144.0 ) .
Broussard can become the first player in CU history to open a season with four straight 100-yard games when the Buffs ( 3-0 , 2-0 Pac12 ) visit Arizona ( 0-3 , 0-3 ) on Saturday in Tucson ( 5 p.m. , TV : FS-1 ) .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have relied on him .
“ You want to keep the hot guy going , ” Buffs head coach Karl Dorrell said .
“ Jarek has been tremendous these first three games , so he ’ s definitely a big part of our success and in terms of how we ’ re able to run the football.
” Could the Buffs be relying too much on Broussard , however ?
The 5-foot-9 , 185-pound Broussard is averaging 30.0 carries per game , second nationally to Minnesota ’ s Mohamed Ibrahim ( 31.0 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truncated season , but Broussard would be on pace for 360 carries in a normal , 12-game season .
The CU record is 301 , by Phillip Lindsay in 2017 .
Given his success , it ’ s tough to take Broussard off the field , but it would help the Buffs to get a second or third running back going .
Jaren Mangham , who had 441 yards in 2019 , has 17 carries for just 24 yards .
Joe Davis had a career-high seven carries last week against San Diego State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s got 23 yards on 10 carries this season .
True freshmen Ashaad Clayton and Jayle Stacks have each played just one snap .
Clayton , a four-star recruit in the 2020 class , was given one random carry , for three yards , against Stanford on Nov. 14 .
As a group , the backups have 28 carries for 50 yards , while Mangham and Clayton didn ’ t even play against San Diego State on Saturday .
Still , Dorrell said the staff has confidence in all of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem to have in a lot of ways , ” Dorrell said of the depth , “ but I know it ’ s frustrating probably from the players ’ end , because we do have good depth in the backfield .
I understand they want to prove and show that they have the ability to help this team .
You want that attitude and you want them to be determined and driven and confident that they can do that .
“ It is something that is difficult to manage and we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we move forward.
” Moving forward , the Buffs might need someone to take pressure off Broussard , who has seen his effectiveness take a steep drop late in games .
In quarters 1-3 this season , Broussard has 61 carries for 346 yards ( 5.67 per carry ) .
In the fourth quarter , he has 29 carries for 89 yards ( 3.07 ) .
During the last two games , CU has had 31 offensive snaps in the fourth quarter , with 22 of those being handoffs to Broussard , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on one run vs. San Diego State .
While Broussard is having a great season and the Buffs are producing 191.67 yards per game on the ground ( fifth in the Pac-12 ) , the run game hasn ’ t been as effective as that would suggest .
Nationally , CU ranks third with 52.33 rushing attempts per game – only option teams Army and Air Force run it more – but the Buffs ’ 3.66-yard-per-carry average ranks 99th ( and 11th in the Pac-12 ) .
The Buffs like their depth in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second half of the season , they need it to show up .
“ Everybody ’ s really playing hard and practicing hard , ” Dorrell said .
“ They ’ ve already proven to us ( in practice ) that they ’ re capable and very , very good backs that can help us be successful .
“ They just have to be ready when their number is called .
”

Colorado has a deep pool of talent at running back, but to this point, it’s mainly been a one-man show.
Sophomore Jarek Broussard has been exceptional, with 432 yards and three touchdowns and he ranks fourth nationally in yards per game (144.0).
Broussard can become the first player in CU history to open a season with four straight 100-yard games when the Buffs (3-0, 2-0 Pac12) visit Arizona (0-3, 0-3) on Saturday in Tucson (5 p.m., TV: FS-1).
It’s easy to see why the Buffs have relied on him.
“You want to keep the hot guy going,” Buffs head coach Karl Dorrell said. “Jarek has been tremendous these first three games, so he’s definitely a big part of our success and in terms of how we’re able to run the football.”
Could the Buffs be relying too much on Broussard, however?
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Broussard is averaging 30.0 carries per game, second nationally to Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim (31.0).
This is, obviously, a truncated season, but Broussard would be on pace for 360 carries in a normal, 12-game season. The CU record is 301, by Phillip Lindsay in 2017.
Given his success, it’s tough to take Broussard off the field, but it would help the Buffs to get a second or third running back going.
Jaren Mangham, who had 441 yards in 2019, has 17 carries for just 24 yards.
Joe Davis had a career-high seven carries last week against San Diego State, but gained just 10 yards. He’s got 23 yards on 10 carries this season.
True freshmen Ashaad Clayton and Jayle Stacks have each played just one snap. Clayton, a four-star recruit in the 2020 class, was given one random carry, for three yards, against Stanford on Nov. 14.
As a group, the backups have 28 carries for 50 yards, while Mangham and Clayton didn’t even play against San Diego State on Saturday.
Still, Dorrell said the staff has confidence in all of them.
“It’s a good problem to have in a lot of ways,” Dorrell said of the depth, “but I know it’s frustrating probably from the players’ end, because we do have good depth in the backfield. I understand they want to prove and show that they have the ability to help this team. You want that attitude and you want them to be determined and driven and confident that they can do that.
“It is something that is difficult to manage and we’ve got to continue to manage that as we move forward.”
Moving forward, the Buffs might need someone to take pressure off Broussard, who has seen his effectiveness take a steep drop late in games.
In quarters 1-3 this season, Broussard has 61 carries for 346 yards (5.67 per carry). In the fourth quarter, he has 29 carries for 89 yards (3.07).
During the last two games, CU has had 31 offensive snaps in the fourth quarter, with 22 of those being handoffs to Broussard, for 52 yards – half of that coming on one run vs. San Diego State.
While Broussard is having a great season and the Buffs are producing 191.67 yards per game on the ground (fifth in the Pac-12), the run game hasn’t been as effective as that would suggest.
Nationally, CU ranks third with 52.33 rushing attempts per game – only option teams Army and Air Force run it more – but the Buffs’ 3.66-yard-per-carry average ranks 99th (and 11th in the Pac-12).
The Buffs like their depth in the backfield, but heading into the second half of the season, they need it to show up.
“Everybody’s really playing hard and practicing hard,” Dorrell said. “They’ve already proven to us (in practice) that they’re capable and very, very good backs that can help us be successful.
“They just have to be ready when their number is called.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-01--Tony La Russa scheduled to change plea in drunken driving case

PHOENIX — Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa is scheduled to change his plea to misdemeanor charges stemming from his drunken driving arrest nine months ago on a freeway in Phoenix .
The Hall of Fame manager , who had previously pleaded not guilty to the two drunken driving charges , is scheduled to change his plea on Dec. 21 in Maricopa County Justice Court .
Authorities say La Russa , who won a World Series with Oakland and two more with St. Louis , blew out a tire on the grey Lexus he was driving in a collision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smoking .
Tests taken the night of his arrest showed his blood alcohol concentration was .095 — above the legal limit of .08 .
The arrest occurred on Feb. 24 , but the charges were filed on Oct. 28 — one day before his hiring by Chicago .
La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Florida in 2007 after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol .
La Russa was hired by Chicago in a surprise move after Rick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team said was a mutual decision .

PHOENIX — Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa is scheduled to change his plea to misdemeanor charges stemming from his drunken driving arrest nine months ago on a freeway in Phoenix.
The Hall of Fame manager, who had previously pleaded not guilty to the two drunken driving charges, is scheduled to change his plea on Dec. 21 in Maricopa County Justice Court.
Authorities say La Russa, who won a World Series with Oakland and two more with St. Louis, blew out a tire on the grey Lexus he was driving in a collision with a curb that left the vehicle smoking. Tests taken the night of his arrest showed his blood alcohol concentration was .095 — above the legal limit of .08.
The arrest occurred on Feb. 24, but the charges were filed on Oct. 28 — one day before his hiring by Chicago.
La Russa pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Florida in 2007 after police found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light and smelling of alcohol.
La Russa was hired by Chicago in a surprise move after Rick Renteria was let go in what the team said was a mutual decision.


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--First COVID vaccines to arrive in Larimer County on Dec. 12, health director says

The first round of COVID-19 vaccines is expected in Larimer County on Dec. 12 , and a plan for distribution is in the works , the county ’ s top health official said Tuesday .
“ We are excited to get that vaccine out , ” said Larimer County Public Health Director Tom Gonzales during the weekly county commissioners meeting .
“ The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel.
” Gonzales said Tuesday morning that the Pfizer vaccine is expected to come to the county in three rounds , each with different focuses .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into three focuses : emergency room medical personnel , health-care workers and outpatient health-care workers first ; critical workers including emergency responders law-enforcement officers and correctional facility workers second ; and finally high-risk people .
The first shipment is expected to come in Dec. 12 and , while not large , will be used primarily on medical workers in hospital emergency rooms , Gonzales said .
The second shipment should come in late December , he said .
The second phase is planned to be used on people in congregate housing , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people experiencing homelessness ; and essential workers , including grocery store workers and teachers .
Gonzales said he is working to get teachers into the first round so they can receive the vaccine before January in preparation for the spring semester .
The final phase of vaccinations is planned for the general public , and Gonzales said those supplies will most likely come in the late spring or early summer — around April through June .
Gonzales said at least the first two shipments will be the Pfizer vaccine , and officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this week , such as whether other vaccination options will be used .
Larimer County has been in the red risk level since last week as case numbers continue to rise .
As of Tuesday , the county had recorded more than 10,000 cases since March , with a two-week rate of 834 cases per 100,000 residents and 112 COVID-19 patients in the hospital .
Gonzales said nine COVID-19 deaths of Larimer County residents were reported the week of Nov. 23-29 .
“ That is the highest one-week death rate during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the previous high was five reported deaths in the early stages of the pandemic .
Commissioner Tom Donnelly said that , looking at the community dashboard found at larimer.org/health , the case-by-day and two-week positivity rates appeared to be dipping .
He asked Gonzales if this was the community taking warnings seriously , or if a dip in testing sites caused the slight downturn .
Gonzales said that while testing sites were closed Thursday and Friday last week , the graphs do seem to be showing a slight change .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little bit , ” Gonzales said .
“ That is good news , ( but ) it is a little too early to tell.
” Gonzales said health officials are seeing the greatest infection rate coming from the community , especially from private gatherings of more than one household .
“ We are encouraging our residents to not mingle with other households , stay home as much as possible , limit their exposure out in the community , ” Gonzales said .
“ Those are some big suggestions.
” Join our Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Colorado .

The first round of COVID-19 vaccines is expected in Larimer County on Dec. 12, and a plan for distribution is in the works, the county’s top health official said Tuesday.
“We are excited to get that vaccine out,” said Larimer County Public Health Director Tom Gonzales during the weekly county commissioners meeting. “The vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Gonzales said Tuesday morning that the Pfizer vaccine is expected to come to the county in three rounds, each with different focuses. The first phase of vaccines will be broken down into three focuses: emergency room medical personnel, health-care workers and outpatient health-care workers first; critical workers including emergency responders law-enforcement officers and correctional facility workers second; and finally high-risk people.
The first shipment is expected to come in Dec. 12 and, while not large, will be used primarily on medical workers in hospital emergency rooms, Gonzales said. The second shipment should come in late December, he said.
The second phase is planned to be used on people in congregate housing, such as students in dorms, jail inmates and people experiencing homelessness; and essential workers, including grocery store workers and teachers.
Gonzales said he is working to get teachers into the first round so they can receive the vaccine before January in preparation for the spring semester.
The final phase of vaccinations is planned for the general public, and Gonzales said those supplies will most likely come in the late spring or early summer — around April through June.
Gonzales said at least the first two shipments will be the Pfizer vaccine, and officials will have more information after a meeting later this week, such as whether other vaccination options will be used.
Larimer County has been in the red risk level since last week as case numbers continue to rise. As of Tuesday, the county had recorded more than 10,000 cases since March, with a two-week rate of 834 cases per 100,000 residents and 112 COVID-19 patients in the hospital.
Gonzales said nine COVID-19 deaths of Larimer County residents were reported the week of Nov. 23-29.
“That is the highest one-week death rate during the pandemic,” Gonzales said, adding that the previous high was five reported deaths in the early stages of the pandemic.
Commissioner Tom Donnelly said that, looking at the community dashboard found at larimer.org/health, the case-by-day and two-week positivity rates appeared to be dipping. He asked Gonzales if this was the community taking warnings seriously, or if a dip in testing sites caused the slight downturn.
Gonzales said that while testing sites were closed Thursday and Friday last week, the graphs do seem to be showing a slight change.
“We are seeing it plateau, maybe bend a little bit,” Gonzales said. “That is good news, (but) it is a little too early to tell.”
Gonzales said health officials are seeing the greatest infection rate coming from the community, especially from private gatherings of more than one household.
“We are encouraging our residents to not mingle with other households, stay home as much as possible, limit their exposure out in the community,” Gonzales said. “Those are some big suggestions.”
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Denver weather: Bitter cold with a slight chance of snow flurries Wednesday

Denverites can expect Wednesday to be another bitter cold day .
At 7 a.m. the temperature hovered around 19 degrees @ @ @ @ @ reported .
The high is expected to only hit about 32 degrees with an evening @ @ @ @ @ according to the NWS in Boulder .
There is a 20 % chance of snow @ @ @ @ @ but the majority of those are expected to fall south of Interstate 70 .
There @ @ @ @ @ expected with up to 30 mph gusts along the I-25 corridor and 40-50 mph winds @ @ @ @ @ is expected to warm slightly with a high of 46 and a low of 24 @ @ @ @ @ continue the warming trend with a high of 57 and a low of 27 degrees @ @ @ @ @

Denverites can expect Wednesday to be another bitter cold day. At 7 a.m. the temperature hovered around 19 degrees, the National Weather Service reported.
The high is expected to only hit about 32 degrees with an evening low of 15 degrees, according to the NWS in Boulder. There is a 20% chance of snow flurries after 4 p.m., but the majority of those are expected to fall south of Interstate 70.
There is also some high winds expected with up to 30 mph gusts along the I-25 corridor and 40-50 mph winds across the plains.
Even colder today, and windy for the plains. Gusts to 30 mph in Denver and 50 mph out on the plains. Flurries mainly south of I-70. #cowx pic.twitter.com/XIV67oNkX2 — NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) December 2, 2020
Thursday is expected to warm slightly with a high of 46 and a low of 24 degrees forecast. Friday will continue the warming trend with a high of 57 and a low of 27 degrees, the NWS reported.


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Mountain pine tree that feeds grizzlies is threatened by climate change, beatles

BILLINGS , Mont .
— Climate change , voracious beetles and disease are imperiling the long-term survival of a high-elevation pine tree that ’ s a key source of food for some grizzly bears and found across the West , U.S. officials said Tuesday .
A Fish and Wildlife Service proposal scheduled to be published Wednesday would protect the whitebark pine tree as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act , according to documents posted by the Office of the Federal Register .
The move marks a belated acknowledgement of the tree ’ s severe declines in recent decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But government officials said they do not plan to designate which forest habitats are critical to the tree ’ s survival , stopping short of what some environmentalists argue is needed .
Whitebark pines can live up to 1,000 years and are found at elevations up to 12,000 feet ( 3,600 meters ) — conditions too harsh for most tress to survive .
Environmentalists had petitioned the government in 1991 and again in 2008 to protect the trees , which occur across 126,000 square miles ( 326,164 square kilometers ) of land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington , Oregon , California , Nevada and western Canada .
A nonnative fungus has been killing whitebark pines for a century .
More recently , the trees have proven vulnerable to bark beetles that have killed millions of acres of forest , and climate change that scientists say is responsible for more severe wildfire seasons .
The trees have been all but wiped out in some areas , including the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park , where they are a source of food for threatened grizzly bears .
More than half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now dead , according to a 2018 study from the U.S. Forest Service .
That has complicated government efforts to declare grizzlies in the Yellowstone area as a recovered species that no longer needs federal protection .
Grizzlies raid caches of whitebark pine cones that are hidden by squirrels and devour the seeds within the cones to fatten up for winter .
A 2009 court ruling that restored protections for Yellowstone bears cited in part the tree ’ s decline , although government studies later concluded the grizzlies could find other things to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking steps to protect the pine trees , wildlife officials in 2011 acknowledged that whitebark pines needed protections but they took no immediate action , saying other species faced more immediate threats .
An attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council , which submitted the 2008 petition for protections , lamented that it took so long but said the proposal was still worth celebrating .
“ This is the federal government admitting that climate change is killing off a widely distributed tree , and we know that ’ s just the tip of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened , ” said Rebecca Riley , legal director for the environmental group ’ s nature program .
The government ’ s proposal describes the threats to the pine tree imminent and said it was one of many plants expected to be impacted as climate change moves faster than they can adapt .
“ Whitebark pine survives at high elevations already , so there is little remaining habitat in many areas for the species to migrate to higher elevations in response to warmer temperatures , ” Fish and Wildlife Service officials wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pine stands have seen severe reductions in regeneration because of wildfires , a fungal disease called white pine blister rust , mountain pine beetles and climate change .
Amid those growing threats , federal officials are working in conjunction with researchers and private groups on plans to gather cones from trees that are resistant to blister rust , grow their seeds in greenhouses and then plant them back on the landscape , said Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Amy Nicholas .
A draft of that nationwide restoration is expected by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options to revive this species , ” Nicholas said .
The decision not to pursue protections for the tree ’ s habitat is in line with another recent action by the Fish and Wildlife Service — the denial of critical habitat for t he endangered rusty patched bumblebee .
The bee ’ s population has plummeted 90 percent over about two decades .
As with whitebark pine , loss of the bee ’ s habitat was considered less important than other threats .
The two cases underscore a pattern of opposition to habitat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , environmentalists said .
The Fish and Wildlife Service under Trump also has proposed rules to restrict what lands can be declared worthy of protections and to give greater weight to the economic benefits of development .
“ It ’ s clear that the intent is to limit protection of habitat for threatened and endangered species .
Whitebark pine is another example of that , ” said Noah Greenwald with the Center for Biological Diversity .
Fish and Wildlife Service Wyoming Field Supervisor Tyler Abbott said it would not be prudent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major threats to the trees ’ survival can ’ t be addressed through land management .
“ The driving factor ( in the tree ’ s decline ) is that white pine blister rust , and that ’ s working synergistically with mountain pine beetle , the altered fire regime , climate change , ” Abbott said .
“ These are biological factors that we really don ’ t have any control over .
”

BILLINGS, Mont. — Climate change, voracious beetles and disease are imperiling the long-term survival of a high-elevation pine tree that’s a key source of food for some grizzly bears and found across the West, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
A Fish and Wildlife Service proposal scheduled to be published Wednesday would protect the whitebark pine tree as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, according to documents posted by the Office of the Federal Register.
The move marks a belated acknowledgement of the tree’s severe declines in recent decades and sets the stage for restoration work. But government officials said they do not plan to designate which forest habitats are critical to the tree’s survival, stopping short of what some environmentalists argue is needed.
Whitebark pines can live up to 1,000 years and are found at elevations up to 12,000 feet (3,600 meters) — conditions too harsh for most tress to survive.
Environmentalists had petitioned the government in 1991 and again in 2008 to protect the trees, which occur across 126,000 square miles (326,164 square kilometers) of land in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and western Canada.
A nonnative fungus has been killing whitebark pines for a century. More recently, the trees have proven vulnerable to bark beetles that have killed millions of acres of forest, and climate change that scientists say is responsible for more severe wildfire seasons.
The trees have been all but wiped out in some areas, including the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park, where they are a source of food for threatened grizzly bears. More than half of whitebark pines in the U.S. are now dead, according to a 2018 study from the U.S. Forest Service.
That has complicated government efforts to declare grizzlies in the Yellowstone area as a recovered species that no longer needs federal protection. Grizzlies raid caches of whitebark pine cones that are hidden by squirrels and devour the seeds within the cones to fatten up for winter.
A 2009 court ruling that restored protections for Yellowstone bears cited in part the tree’s decline, although government studies later concluded the grizzlies could find other things to eat.
After getting sued for not taking steps to protect the pine trees, wildlife officials in 2011 acknowledged that whitebark pines needed protections but they took no immediate action, saying other species faced more immediate threats.
An attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, which submitted the 2008 petition for protections, lamented that it took so long but said the proposal was still worth celebrating.
“This is the federal government admitting that climate change is killing off a widely distributed tree, and we know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are many species threatened,” said Rebecca Riley, legal director for the environmental group’s nature program.
The government’s proposal describes the threats to the pine tree imminent and said it was one of many plants expected to be impacted as climate change moves faster than they can adapt.
“Whitebark pine survives at high elevations already, so there is little remaining habitat in many areas for the species to migrate to higher elevations in response to warmer temperatures,” Fish and Wildlife Service officials wrote.
The officials added that overall, whitebark pine stands have seen severe reductions in regeneration because of wildfires, a fungal disease called white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetles and climate change.
Amid those growing threats, federal officials are working in conjunction with researchers and private groups on plans to gather cones from trees that are resistant to blister rust, grow their seeds in greenhouses and then plant them back on the landscape, said Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Amy Nicholas. A draft of that nationwide restoration is expected by the end of next year.
“We do have options to revive this species,” Nicholas said.
The decision not to pursue protections for the tree’s habitat is in line with another recent action by the Fish and Wildlife Service — the denial of critical habitat for t he endangered rusty patched bumblebee.
The bee’s population has plummeted 90 percent over about two decades. As with whitebark pine, loss of the bee’s habitat was considered less important than other threats.
The two cases underscore a pattern of opposition to habitat protections by the administration of President Donald Trump, environmentalists said.
The Fish and Wildlife Service under Trump also has proposed rules to restrict what lands can be declared worthy of protections and to give greater weight to the economic benefits of development.
“It’s clear that the intent is to limit protection of habitat for threatened and endangered species. Whitebark pine is another example of that,” said Noah Greenwald with the Center for Biological Diversity.
Fish and Wildlife Service Wyoming Field Supervisor Tyler Abbott said it would not be prudent to designate areas for habitat protections since the major threats to the trees’ survival can’t be addressed through land management.
“The driving factor (in the tree’s decline) is that white pine blister rust, and that’s working synergistically with mountain pine beetle, the altered fire regime, climate change,” Abbott said. “These are biological factors that we really don’t have any control over.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Judge throws out Trump rules limiting skilled-workers on H1-B visas

CHICAGO — A federal judge on Tuesday struck down two Trump administration rules designed to drastically curtail the number of visas issued each year to skilled foreign workers .
The changes applying to the H-1B visa program announced in October include imposing salary requirements on companies employing skilled overseas workers and limits on specialty occupations .
Department of Homeland Security officials deemed it a priority because of coronavirus-related job losses and estimated as many as one-third of those who have applied for H-1B ’ s in recent years would be denied under the new rules .
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t follow transparency procedures and its contention that the changes were an emergency response to pandemic job losses didn ’ t hold water because the Trump administration has floated the idea for some time but only published the rules in October .
“ The COVID-19 pandemic is an event beyond defendants ’ control , yet it was within defendants ’ control to take action earlier than they did , ” White wrote .
The U.S. issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas each year in sectors including technology , engineering and medicine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years and renewable .
Most of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S. are from India and China .
The H-1B rules announced weeks before the election were part of President Donald Trump ’ s wider agenda to curb nearly all forms of immigration .
In June , he issued an order temporarily suspending the H-1B program until the end of the year .
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and universities including the California Institute of Technology sued in California , arguing there wasn ’ t adequate notice or time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes .
They also said the rules , particularly related to requiring a prevailing wage for visa-holders , would have a drastic impact on new hires and “ sever the employment relationship of hundreds of thousands of existing employees in the United States.
” The University of Utah cited an example where an H-1B employee seeking renewal was paid an $ 80,000 salary but would have to be paid $ 208,000 under the new rule .
The judge agreed that the federal government didn ’ t make a case for implementing the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes agencies accountable to the public by requiring a detailed process for enacting regulations .
“ Defendants failed to show there was good cause to dispense with the rational and thoughtful discourse that is provided by the APA ’ s notice and comment requirements , ” White wrote .
The rule on wages , proposed by the Department of Labor , took effect in October , while the Homeland Security rule on occupations and other issues was supposed to take effect Monday .
It also would have placed limits on “ offsite ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visa holders to other companies ; their visas would have been limited to one year at a time .
“ This is incredibly important decision to preserve the H-1B program , ” said attorney Paul Hughes , who represented the plaintiffs .
“ This ruling enables those individuals to maintain their jobs and their families in the United States.
” The Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that the ruling “ has many companies across various industries breathing a huge sigh of relief , ” with the visa changes having “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations of many businesses.
” Messages left Tuesday for spokespeople with the Labor and Homeland Security departments weren ’ t immediately returned .
The wage rule has prompted at least two other federal lawsuits in New Jersey and Washington , D.C .

CHICAGO — A federal judge on Tuesday struck down two Trump administration rules designed to drastically curtail the number of visas issued each year to skilled foreign workers.
The changes applying to the H-1B visa program announced in October include imposing salary requirements on companies employing skilled overseas workers and limits on specialty occupations. Department of Homeland Security officials deemed it a priority because of coronavirus-related job losses and estimated as many as one-third of those who have applied for H-1B’s in recent years would be denied under the new rules.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in California said the government didn’t follow transparency procedures and its contention that the changes were an emergency response to pandemic job losses didn’t hold water because the Trump administration has floated the idea for some time but only published the rules in October.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is an event beyond defendants’ control, yet it was within defendants’ control to take action earlier than they did,” White wrote.
The U.S. issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas each year in sectors including technology, engineering and medicine. Usually, they’re issued for three years and renewable. Most of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S. are from India and China.
The H-1B rules announced weeks before the election were part of President Donald Trump’s wider agenda to curb nearly all forms of immigration. In June, he issued an order temporarily suspending the H-1B program until the end of the year.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and universities including the California Institute of Technology sued in California, arguing there wasn’t adequate notice or time for the public to comment on the changes. They also said the rules, particularly related to requiring a prevailing wage for visa-holders, would have a drastic impact on new hires and “sever the employment relationship of hundreds of thousands of existing employees in the United States.”
The University of Utah cited an example where an H-1B employee seeking renewal was paid an $80,000 salary but would have to be paid $208,000 under the new rule.
The judge agreed that the federal government didn’t make a case for implementing the rules under the Administrative Procedure Act, which makes agencies accountable to the public by requiring a detailed process for enacting regulations.
“Defendants failed to show there was good cause to dispense with the rational and thoughtful discourse that is provided by the APA’s notice and comment requirements,” White wrote.
The rule on wages, proposed by the Department of Labor, took effect in October, while the Homeland Security rule on occupations and other issues was supposed to take effect Monday. It also would have placed limits on “offsite” firms that employ and contract out H-1B visa holders to other companies; their visas would have been limited to one year at a time.
“This is incredibly important decision to preserve the H-1B program,” said attorney Paul Hughes, who represented the plaintiffs. “This ruling enables those individuals to maintain their jobs and their families in the United States.”
The Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that the ruling “has many companies across various industries breathing a huge sigh of relief,” with the visa changes having “the potential to be incredibly disruptive to the operations of many businesses.”
Messages left Tuesday for spokespeople with the Labor and Homeland Security departments weren’t immediately returned.
The wage rule has prompted at least two other federal lawsuits in New Jersey and Washington, D.C.


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Warmer world in 2020 busted weather records and hurt people, UN reports

An overheating world obliterated weather records in 2020 , creating an extreme year for hurricanes , wildfires , heat waves , floods , droughts and ice melt , the United Nations ’ weather agency reported Wednesday .
While the globe partly shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic , extremes linked to human-caused climate change intensified , the World Meteorological Organization said in its State of the Global Climate report .
The report kicked off a day when the United Nations pushed for new climate action with two reports and a major speech by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing the woeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is ramping up its efforts for a Dec. 12 climate summit in France on the 5th anniversary of the 2015 Paris climate agreement .
The WMO report found that worsening global warming is being seen in all seven key climate indicators , but it said the problem is more than measurements and is increasing human suffering in an already bad year .
“ In 2020 , over 50 million people have been doubly hit : by climate-related disasters ( floods , droughts and storms ) and the COVID-19 pandemic , ’ the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are suffering from the triple-impact of hurricanes Eta and Iota , COVID-19 and pre-existing humanitarian crises.
” By the time it ends , 2020 will go down as one of three warmest years on record , despite a La Nina cooling of the central Pacific that often lowers temperatures globally , the WMO report said .
This year is set to be about 1.2 degrees Celsius ( 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit ) warmer than the last half of the 1800s , which scientists use as a baseline for warming caused by heat-trapping gases from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas .
Most trapped heat goes into the world ’ s seas , and ocean temperatures now are at record levels , the report said .
“ There is at least a 1-in-5 chance of it temporarily exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2024 , ” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a statement .
The Paris climate accord set a goal of not exceeding 1.5 degrees ( 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit ) of warming since pre-industrial times .
A new analysis by Climate Action Tracker scientists who monitor carbon pollution and pledges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts , if kept , would limit warming to about 2.6 degrees Celsius ( 4.7 degrees Fahrenheit ) and possibly as low as 2.1 degrees Celsius .
Those public commitments include President-elect Joe Biden ’ s promise that the U.S. will have zero net carbon emissions by 2050 and China ’ s goal to do the same by 2060 .
“ 2020 was a shocking year , not only because of COVID , but also because of the impacts from extreme events we saw , ” said Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the WMO report .
Among the dozens of extremes that the report highlighted : • A record 30 Atlantic named tropical storms and hurricanes , plus a record 12 that made U.S. landfalls .
• Death Valley , California , hit 129.9 degrees ( 54.4 degrees Celsius ) , the hottest temperature the world has seen in 80 years , while the Los Angeles metropolitan area logged its hottest day on record with 120.9 degrees ( 49.4 degrees Celsius ) in September .
• Record wildfires struck California and Colorado in the western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season in Australia , worsened by record heat .
• The Arctic had record wildfires and a prolonged heat wave culminating in a 100-degree mark ( 38 degrees Celsius ) in Siberia in June .
Temperatures in Russia from January to August were 2.7 degrees ( 1.5 degrees Celsius ) hotter than the previous record .
• Record low Arctic sea ice was reported for April and August and the yearly minimum , in September , was the second lowest on record .
• More than 2,000 people died in record summer rains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Extensive flooding from extreme rains in Africa killed hundreds of people in Kenya and Sudan .
And in China , the overflowing Yangtze River killed at least 279 people .
• Near-record drought and heat caused heavy crop losses in South America .
Much of central Europe had extensive drought , with a record 43-day spring dry spell in Geneva , home of the WMO .
Mahowald of Cornell said while these events can ’ t solely be blamed on climate change , “ these are the types of events scientists fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

An overheating world obliterated weather records in 2020, creating an extreme year for hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves, floods, droughts and ice melt, the United Nations’ weather agency reported Wednesday.
While the globe partly shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, extremes linked to human-caused climate change intensified, the World Meteorological Organization said in its State of the Global Climate report. The report kicked off a day when the United Nations pushed for new climate action with two reports and a major speech by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing the woeful state of the planet.
The U.N. is ramping up its efforts for a Dec. 12 climate summit in France on the 5th anniversary of the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
The WMO report found that worsening global warming is being seen in all seven key climate indicators, but it said the problem is more than measurements and is increasing human suffering in an already bad year.
“In 2020, over 50 million people have been doubly hit: by climate-related disasters (floods, droughts and storms) and the COVID-19 pandemic,’ the report said. ”Countries in Central America are suffering from the triple-impact of hurricanes Eta and Iota, COVID-19 and pre-existing humanitarian crises.”
By the time it ends, 2020 will go down as one of three warmest years on record, despite a La Nina cooling of the central Pacific that often lowers temperatures globally, the WMO report said.
This year is set to be about 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the last half of the 1800s, which scientists use as a baseline for warming caused by heat-trapping gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Most trapped heat goes into the world’s seas, and ocean temperatures now are at record levels, the report said.
“There is at least a 1-in-5 chance of it temporarily exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2024,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in a statement.
The Paris climate accord set a goal of not exceeding 1.5 degrees (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) of warming since pre-industrial times.
A new analysis by Climate Action Tracker scientists who monitor carbon pollution and pledges to cut them said public commitments to emission cuts, if kept, would limit warming to about 2.6 degrees Celsius (4.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and possibly as low as 2.1 degrees Celsius. Those public commitments include President-elect Joe Biden’s promise that the U.S. will have zero net carbon emissions by 2050 and China’s goal to do the same by 2060.
“2020 was a shocking year, not only because of COVID, but also because of the impacts from extreme events we saw,” said Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald, who wasn’t part of the WMO report.
Among the dozens of extremes that the report highlighted:
A record 30 Atlantic named tropical storms and hurricanes, plus a record 12 that made U.S. landfalls.
Death Valley, California, hit 129.9 degrees (54.4 degrees Celsius), the hottest temperature the world has seen in 80 years, while the Los Angeles metropolitan area logged its hottest day on record with 120.9 degrees (49.4 degrees Celsius) in September.
Record wildfires struck California and Colorado in the western United States, following a major fire season in Australia, worsened by record heat.
The Arctic had record wildfires and a prolonged heat wave culminating in a 100-degree mark (38 degrees Celsius) in Siberia in June. Temperatures in Russia from January to August were 2.7 degrees (1.5 degrees Celsius) hotter than the previous record.
Record low Arctic sea ice was reported for April and August and the yearly minimum, in September, was the second lowest on record.
More than 2,000 people died in record summer rains and flooding in Pakistan and surrounding nations. Extensive flooding from extreme rains in Africa killed hundreds of people in Kenya and Sudan. And in China, the overflowing Yangtze River killed at least 279 people.
Near-record drought and heat caused heavy crop losses in South America. Much of central Europe had extensive drought, with a record 43-day spring dry spell in Geneva, home of the WMO.
Mahowald of Cornell said while these events can’t solely be blamed on climate change, “these are the types of events scientists fear will increase due to climate change.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Climate change damaging more World Heritage sites, report shows

GENEVA — Climate change is increasingly damaging the U.N. ’ s most cherished heritage sites , a leading conservation agency warned Wednesday , reporting that Australia ’ s Great Barrier Reef and dozens of other natural wonders are facing severe threats .
Climate change that has lead to shrinking glaciers , increasing fires , floods and droughts , and the bleaching of coral reefs are among the troubles facing 83 of the 252 World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO , the U.N. ’ s cultural agency .
Sixteen World Heritage sites have deteriorated since the last World Heritage Outlook was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight improved , said the International Union for Conservation of Nature , made up of governments and civil society groups and advises UNESCO on natural threats to those sites .
“ Natural World Heritage sites are amongst the world ’ s most precious places , and we owe it to future generations to protect them , ” IUCN Director-General Bruno Oberle said .
“ Climate change is wreaking ( havoc ) on natural World Heritage , from shrinking glaciers to coral bleaching to increasingly frequent and severe fires and droughts.
” The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ocean warming , acidification and extreme weather have added to the coral decline and shrinking marine species populations , were one of four sites in Australia under “ very high ” threat .
The islands of protected areas in the Gulf of California in Mexico have also entered the “ critical ” category in the listing .
Spain ’ s Garajonay National Park , Olympic National Park in the United States , and Mexico ’ s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve are among those under “ very high ” threat , the new report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the heritage sites are classified as “ good ” or “ good with some concerns , ” 30 % are of “ significant concern ” and 7 % are in “ critical ” shape .
In a difference from the previous two IUCN reports , climate change has eclipsed “ invasive alien species ” — such as when foreign rodents , fish or plants are transplanted , accidentally or not , to new environments — as the most potent threat against such sites .
Human activities like tourism , hunting and fishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an impact .

GENEVA — Climate change is increasingly damaging the U.N.’s most cherished heritage sites, a leading conservation agency warned Wednesday, reporting that Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and dozens of other natural wonders are facing severe threats.
Climate change that has lead to shrinking glaciers, increasing fires, floods and droughts, and the bleaching of coral reefs are among the troubles facing 83 of the 252 World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO, the U.N.’s cultural agency.
Sixteen World Heritage sites have deteriorated since the last World Heritage Outlook was released three years ago, while only eight improved, said the International Union for Conservation of Nature, made up of governments and civil society groups and advises UNESCO on natural threats to those sites.
“Natural World Heritage sites are amongst the world’s most precious places, and we owe it to future generations to protect them,” IUCN Director-General Bruno Oberle said. “Climate change is wreaking (havoc) on natural World Heritage, from shrinking glaciers to coral bleaching to increasingly frequent and severe fires and droughts.”
The report says the Great Barrier Reef, where ocean warming, acidification and extreme weather have added to the coral decline and shrinking marine species populations, were one of four sites in Australia under “very high” threat.
The islands of protected areas in the Gulf of California in Mexico have also entered the “critical” category in the listing. Spain’s Garajonay National Park, Olympic National Park in the United States, and Mexico’s Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve are among those under “very high” threat, the new report said.
It said while 63% of the heritage sites are classified as “good” or “good with some concerns,” 30% are of “significant concern” and 7% are in “critical” shape.
In a difference from the previous two IUCN reports, climate change has eclipsed “invasive alien species” — such as when foreign rodents, fish or plants are transplanted, accidentally or not, to new environments — as the most potent threat against such sites.
Human activities like tourism, hunting and fishing, and livestock grazing have also had an impact.


thedenverpost--2020-12-02--Lights will shine brighter for Denver home sellers than buyers in 2021

A lack of inventory and continued demand will keep sellers firmly in control of metro Denver ’ s housing market next year , but higher mortgage rates will make homes less affordable and keep a lid on future price gains , according to a forecast from Realtor.com .
Metro Denver is expected to see a 12.5 % increase in home sales next year , which ranks fourth highest out of the 100 metro areas examined , behind only Sacramento , Harrisburg , Pa. , and Charlotte , N.C. , according to the forecast released on Tuesday .
But home prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual pace in October — will run a more modest 5.4 % locally , ranking Denver 33rd on that measure , tied with Columbia , S.C. “ The steadiness in mortgage rates in the first half of the year followed by the rise of mortgage rates in the second half of the year helps dampen some of the price momentum , as affordability becomes a bigger hurdle again for homebuyers , ” said Danielle Hale , chief economist with the residential real estate portal , in an email .
She forecasts U.S. home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with home prices up 5.7 % .
In her forecast , Hale calls for rates on a 30-year mortgage , now below 3 % , to rise to 3.4 % by the second half of next year , meaning they won ’ t help offset record-breaking prices .
Given how elevated prices are in metro Denver relative to incomes , buyers here may have a harder time digesting the added costs .
She said sellers will continue to hold the upper hand , even as more of them are forced to list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which have allowed millions of households to skip making mortgage payments for up to a year .
That added inventory from struggling borrowers will likely be spread out over several months rather than hitting all at once , giving the market more time to absorb the new supply .
So what is keeping demand so strong given such a difficult year ?
Zillow senior economist Skylar Olsen estimates there are 5.7 million “ missing ” households since the Great Recession , including adults still living with parents or doubled up with roommates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home in the U.S. is 34 and many millennials are anxious to get a place of their own .
Nationally , there will be 7.4 % more people turning 34 in the next decade than in the past decade , with Boston and San Diego seeing gains of prime-age buyers jumping more than 19 % .
Boston and Columbus , Ohio , are expected to see increases in prime-age buyers above 15 % , according to Zillow .
In that regard , Denver may see less buying pressure in the years ahead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people turning 34 in the coming decade compared to the last one .
Some of that reflects the surge in older millennials who moved here after the last recession and who fueled strong buying demand .

A lack of inventory and continued demand will keep sellers firmly in control of metro Denver’s housing market next year, but higher mortgage rates will make homes less affordable and keep a lid on future price gains, according to a forecast from Realtor.com.
Metro Denver is expected to see a 12.5% increase in home sales next year, which ranks fourth highest out of the 100 metro areas examined, behind only Sacramento, Harrisburg, Pa., and Charlotte, N.C., according to the forecast released on Tuesday.
But home prices — after revving at a 12.8% annual pace in October — will run a more modest 5.4% locally, ranking Denver 33rd on that measure, tied with Columbia, S.C.
“The steadiness in mortgage rates in the first half of the year followed by the rise of mortgage rates in the second half of the year helps dampen some of the price momentum, as affordability becomes a bigger hurdle again for homebuyers,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist with the residential real estate portal, in an email.
She forecasts U.S. home sales will rise 7% next year, with home prices up 5.7%.
In her forecast, Hale calls for rates on a 30-year mortgage, now below 3%, to rise to 3.4% by the second half of next year, meaning they won’t help offset record-breaking prices. Given how elevated prices are in metro Denver relative to incomes, buyers here may have a harder time digesting the added costs.
She said sellers will continue to hold the upper hand, even as more of them are forced to list due to the expiration of forbearance agreements, which have allowed millions of households to skip making mortgage payments for up to a year. That added inventory from struggling borrowers will likely be spread out over several months rather than hitting all at once, giving the market more time to absorb the new supply.
So what is keeping demand so strong given such a difficult year? Zillow senior economist Jeff Tucker estimates there are 5.7 million “missing” households since the Great Recession, including adults still living with parents or doubled up with roommates. The median age for purchasing a home in the U.S. is 34 and many millennials are anxious to get a place of their own.
Nationally, there will be 7.4% more people turning 34 in the next decade than in the past decade, with Boston and San Diego seeing gains of prime-age buyers jumping more than 19%. Boston and Columbus, Ohio, are expected to see increases in prime-age buyers above 15%, according to Zillow.
In that regard, Denver may see less buying pressure in the years ahead, with only a 1.8% increase in people turning 34 in the coming decade compared to the last one. Some of that reflects the surge in older millennials who moved here after the last recession and who fueled strong buying demand.