thedenverpost--2020-08-29--NHL’s protest “pause” will undoubtedly aid banged up Avalanche

Throughout the regular season , the Avalanche won more than it lost with an injury-depleted lineup .
Ravaged by injuries to top scorers , depth players , and their top two goalies , the Avs persevered and won an NHL-most 24 games on the road .
But let ’ s face it , Colorado is in a much better position to win with most of its players available .
Well , the Avs are still on the road , like the other three teams in the Western Conference bubble in Edmonton , and this sudden break in action from teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might prove helpful .
This team needs rest .
It needs to get healthy .
And a three-day break between games at Rogers Place can only help .
Following their 6-4 victory in Game 3 on Wednesday night to trim the Dallas Stars ’ lead in the series to 2-1 , the Avs were down two key defensemen , two important forwards and No .
1 goalie Philipp Grubauer .
If Game 4 was played on Friday as originally scheduled , Colorado would have again been without Grubauer and defenseman Erik Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nikita Zadorov .
Forward Joonas Donskoi , who was “ unfit to play ” in Game 3 , might have toughened it out in Game 4 , but that was far from a sure thing .
With the Avs not giving information regarding injuries , we really don ’ t know when the injured players will be back .
But it ’ s probably safe to assume Grubauer is not likely to return in this series , Johnson is highly questionable and Calvert , Zadorov and Donskoi could return for Sunday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avalanche fan , the NHL ’ s second “ pause ” this season comes at an opportune time .
Even if the aforementioned players don ’ t return Sunday , their availability for Monday ’ s Game 5 is higher than it might have been .
The Avs took Friday off , with no media availability with players or coach Jared Bednar .
They will practice Saturday in Edmonton , and more might be known more about the injured players — each of whom plays a significant role .
Johnson , Zadorov and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of guys you need at this time of the season when toughness is paramount to team success .
It goes beyond body checking because these are the guys who stand their ground after the whistle when the line is drawn .
Their replacements are far less willing to play that role , because if they were , they wouldn ’ t be replacements .
Donskoi is an ideal third-line winger capable of playing on the second line and contribute to scoring — including on the second power-play unit .
He was replaced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connor , who made his NHL playoff debut on the fourth line .
Nothing against the O ’ Connor , 24 , but the University of Denver product logged a team-low 7:44 Wednesday and his future in this league is playing a bottom-six/penalty-killing role .
As for Grubauer , I suspect his season has ended .
His replacement , Pavel Francouz , is capable of leading this team to victory and he ’ s trusted by his teammates .
But the Avs ’ depth at goaltending has certainly diminished .
Colorado can win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conference final .
And if that occurs , many might point to the playoff “ pause ” as something that not only benefited team morale , but increased its chances on the ice .

Throughout the regular season, the Avalanche won more than it lost with an injury-depleted lineup.
Ravaged by injuries to top scorers, depth players, and their top two goalies, the Avs persevered and won an NHL-most 24 games on the road.
But let’s face it, Colorado is in a much better position to win with most of its players available.
Well, the Avs are still on the road, like the other three teams in the Western Conference bubble in Edmonton, and this sudden break in action from teams sitting out due to social injustice protests might prove helpful.
This team needs rest. It needs to get healthy. And a three-day break between games at Rogers Place can only help.
Following their 6-4 victory in Game 3 on Wednesday night to trim the Dallas Stars’ lead in the series to 2-1, the Avs were down two key defensemen, two important forwards and No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer.
If Game 4 was played on Friday as originally scheduled, Colorado would have again been without Grubauer and defenseman Erik Johnson, and probably forward Matt Calvert and defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Forward Joonas Donskoi, who was “unfit to play” in Game 3, might have toughened it out in Game 4, but that was far from a sure thing.
With the Avs not giving information regarding injuries, we really don’t know when the injured players will be back. But it’s probably safe to assume Grubauer is not likely to return in this series, Johnson is highly questionable and Calvert, Zadorov and Donskoi could return for Sunday’s game.
If you’re an Avalanche fan, the NHL’s second “pause” this season comes at an opportune time. Even if the aforementioned players don’t return Sunday, their availability for Monday’s Game 5 is higher than it might have been.
The Avs took Friday off, with no media availability with players or coach Jared Bednar. They will practice Saturday in Edmonton, and more might be known more about the injured players — each of whom plays a significant role.
Johnson, Zadorov and Calvert, in particular, are the type of guys you need at this time of the season when toughness is paramount to team success. It goes beyond body checking because these are the guys who stand their ground after the whistle when the line is drawn. Their replacements are far less willing to play that role, because if they were, they wouldn’t be replacements.
Donskoi is an ideal third-line winger capable of playing on the second line and contribute to scoring — including on the second power-play unit. He was replaced in Game 3 by Logan O’Connor, who made his NHL playoff debut on the fourth line. Nothing against the O’Connor, 24, but the University of Denver product logged a team-low 7:44 Wednesday and his future in this league is playing a bottom-six/penalty-killing role.
As for Grubauer, I suspect his season has ended. His replacement, Pavel Francouz, is capable of leading this team to victory and he’s trusted by his teammates. But the Avs’ depth at goaltending has certainly diminished.
Colorado can win this series and advance to the Western Conference final. And if that occurs, many might point to the playoff “pause” as something that not only benefited team morale, but increased its chances on the ice.


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Broncos’ Melvin Gordon, a Kenosha native, says players are “fighting the same battle” as Colin Kaepe

Broncos’ Melvin Gordon, a Kenosha native, says players are “fighting the same battle” as Colin Kaepernick four years ago

Broncos running back Melvin Gordon is frustrated with the NFL , saying on Friday it ’ s been “ slow to the party ” to address issues of racial injustice and police brutality .
In lieu of Thursday ’ s practice , the Broncos met in the morning and then reconvened at their facility in the afternoon , discussing Jacob Blake ’ s shooting in Kenosha , Wis. , last weekend , and the unrest in the country following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25 .
The meetings came four years after 49ers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the national anthem .
And the discussions hit close to home for Gordon , who is a native of Kenosha .
“ I do believe this is what ( Kaepernick ) was doing , ” Gordon said .
“ He was trying to bring this to light , and years later here we are , fighting the same battle.
” Those issues are now at the forefront of cancellations and postponements across all four major pro sports leagues .
Broncos cornerback Justin Simmons asserted the team will continue to use its platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s great that we had great conversations , but at this point , conversation is only going to take you so far — we need action , we need change , ” Simmons said .
“ Colorado is a big sports state , and there ’ s no one that holds more power in all those sports than the Denver Broncos .
We have a real chance here to take hold of some ( change ) , and to use our platform to run with it.
” After the Broncos practiced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fangio said he was “ impressed with the players and where they ’ re coming from , ” following Thursday ’ s non-football meetings .
“ We all know this was going to be an improvise-and-adjust training camp with everything going on , and ( Thursday ) was one of those days , ” Fangio said .
“ We did , and we think we ’ re better off for it.
” Gordon addressed the team Thursday , then spoke with media Friday .
He called the footage of Blake ’ s shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend — “ disgusting ” and “ heartbreaking.
” He said he now feels like he needs to step up his community outreach in his hometown .
And he again wondered why there are those who have not grasped the seriousness of the issue of police brutality against Black citizens .
“ I want people to sit back and understand , and look at it as if that was your brother , or your husband , or your whatever being shot in the back , or being shot in the middle of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , ” Gordon said .
“ Look at it from that point , and just try to educate yourself on what ( Black Americans ) go through.
” Gordon said the Broncos “ probably would ’ ve sat out ” of practice again Friday if a poll of players had been taken .
“ ( The coaches ) say , ‘ Practice , ’ and we ’ ve got to go do that at this point until we can find a way to make a better stand , ” Gordon said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ because unlike in the basketball season ( with the NBA ) , we ’ re not playing any games to boycott… There ’ s only so much we can do right now , until at least the season starts.
” Simmons said that conversations in Thursday ’ s meetings included the prospect of requesting a meeting with Gov .
Jared Polis to discuss the case of Elijah McClain , a Black man who died in Aurora police custody last August .
Simmons said the team is still discussing what sort of protest it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sept. 14 .
In 2017 , Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall and receiver Demaryius Thomas also knelt to bring attention to police brutality , and in Week 3 of that season , 32 Denver players knelt during the anthem in Buffalo .
Simmons said that if the team does decide to kneel before the Titans ’ game in two weeks , he hopes the team ’ s support will be different this time around .
“ If we decide to take a knee , I hope the Broncos ( as an organization ) will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that wasn ’ t really the case when B-Marsh and D.T .
were here in 2017 , ” Simmons said .
Simmons was also very vocal about the specifics of the Blake shooting , and of the football fans who are critical of him for using his platform as a professional athlete to speak out against racial injustice .
Regarding Blake , who was shot seven times in the back after officers attempted to tase him , Simmons said Blake ’ s past actions shouldn ’ t be justification for the actions taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting , Blake was facing charges for felony third-degree sexual assault , misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct .
“ I don ’ t know when in America it became okay to start looking up people ’ s past history and then for them to be ( automatically ) condemned , and for it to be justified why he was shot seven times in the back , ” Simmons said .
“ That makes zero sense .
We have a whole process of innocent before proven guilty… Innocent civilians are being murdered in cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are just cool with it .
”

Broncos running back Melvin Gordon is frustrated with the NFL, saying on Friday it’s been “slow to the party” to address issues of racial injustice and police brutality.
In lieu of Thursday’s practice, the Broncos met in the morning and then reconvened at their facility in the afternoon, discussing Jacob Blake’s shooting in Kenosha, Wis., last weekend, and the unrest in the country following the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.
The meetings came four years after 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem. And the discussions hit close to home for Gordon, who is a native of Kenosha.
“I do believe this is what (Kaepernick) was doing,” Gordon said. “He was trying to bring this to light, and years later here we are, fighting the same battle.”
Those issues are now at the forefront of cancellations and postponements across all four major pro sports leagues. Broncos cornerback Justin Simmons asserted the team will continue to use its platform to bring about positive change.
“It’s great that we had great conversations, but at this point, conversation is only going to take you so far — we need action, we need change,” Simmons said. “Colorado is a big sports state, and there’s no one that holds more power in all those sports than the Denver Broncos. We have a real chance here to take hold of some (change), and to use our platform to run with it.”
After the Broncos practiced as scheduled Friday morning, coach Vic Fangio said he was “impressed with the players and where they’re coming from,” following Thursday’s non-football meetings.
“We all know this was going to be an improvise-and-adjust training camp with everything going on, and (Thursday) was one of those days,” Fangio said. “We did, and we think we’re better off for it.”
Gordon addressed the team Thursday, then spoke with media Friday. He called the footage of Blake’s shooting — which has gone viral since last weekend — “disgusting” and “heartbreaking.” He said he now feels like he needs to step up his community outreach in his hometown. And he again wondered why there are those who have not grasped the seriousness of the issue of police brutality against Black citizens.
“I want people to sit back and understand, and look at it as if that was your brother, or your husband, or your whatever being shot in the back, or being shot in the middle of the street, or having his throat stepped on,” Gordon said. “Look at it from that point, and just try to educate yourself on what (Black Americans) go through.”
Gordon said the Broncos “probably would’ve sat out” of practice again Friday if a poll of players had been taken.
“(The coaches) say, ‘Practice,’ and we’ve got to go do that at this point until we can find a way to make a better stand,” Gordon said. “It’s tough right now because unlike in the basketball season (with the NBA), we’re not playing any games to boycott… There’s only so much we can do right now, until at least the season starts.”
Simmons said that conversations in Thursday’s meetings included the prospect of requesting a meeting with Gov. Jared Polis to discuss the case of Elijah McClain, a Black man who died in Aurora police custody last August. Simmons said the team is still discussing what sort of protest it wants to do during its season opener Sept. 14.
In 2017, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall and receiver Demaryius Thomas also knelt to bring attention to police brutality, and in Week 3 of that season, 32 Denver players knelt during the anthem in Buffalo. Simmons said that if the team does decide to kneel before the Titans’ game in two weeks, he hopes the team’s support will be different this time around.
“If we decide to take a knee, I hope the Broncos (as an organization) will have their players’ backs, as that wasn’t really the case when B-Marsh and D.T. were here in 2017,” Simmons said.
Simmons was also very vocal about the specifics of the Blake shooting, and of the football fans who are critical of him for using his platform as a professional athlete to speak out against racial injustice.
Regarding Blake, who was shot seven times in the back after officers attempted to tase him, Simmons said Blake’s past actions shouldn’t be justification for the actions taken by Kenosha police. Prior to the shooting, Blake was facing charges for felony third-degree sexual assault, misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct.
“I don’t know when in America it became okay to start looking up people’s past history and then for them to be (automatically) condemned, and for it to be justified why he was shot seven times in the back,” Simmons said. “That makes zero sense. We have a whole process of innocent before proven guilty… Innocent civilians are being murdered in cold blood, and (some people) are just cool with it.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Rapids coach Robin Fraser says he expects team to play Saturday’s match vs. Sporting Kansas City

Two days after the Colorado Rapids decided not to play a scheduled game at FC Dallas , head coach Robin Robin Fraser said he expects his players to take the field for a home match Saturday night against Sporting Kansas City .
“ I don ’ t really have any reason to expect our players to sit out , ” Fraser said during a video news conference Friday afternoon .
Five of the six MLS games were postponed Wednesday after players stood in solidarity with the Milwaukee Bucks .
The NBA team sat out its playoff game against the Orlando @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. following the shooting of Jacob Black by police in Kenosha , Wisc .
The cause is something that is near and dear to several Rapids , including Kei Kamara , who is a part of Black Players For Change , a group that is working on more inclusion across all of MLS .
“ We made a decision together as players and staff to not play our game because there ’ s more happening in our country to distract our minds to soccer , ” Kamara tweeted Wednesday night .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the saying ‘ it ’ s just a game.
’ ” Most of the reaction around the league has been in support of the players , with Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen the lone loud dissenting voice .
In an interview with KXRK , Hansen said he felt disrespected by the protests and that it had “ taken the wind out of his sails ” about owning the team — comments that were met with almost immediate condemnation by MLS .
Not long after , a report published by The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Salt Lake owner .
It included an alleged remark made by Hansen to Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta , who is Black , when he played for Dallas .
The MLS Players Association called for an immediate suspension of Hansen in the wake of the article , and MLS announced it would investigate the allegations .
LAFC coach Bob Bradley said Hansen does not belong in soccer and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore said he was involved in a group that ’ s ready to buy the team .
“ The immediate short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are held accountable for acts of injustice or certainly perceived acts of injustice , ” Fraser said about social movements in sports .
“ The endgame here really is that everyone is comfortable in society and feels equal to everyone else .
The steps of how to get there are not exactly clear but that ’ s certainly where we ’ re ultimately assessed to go .
”

Two days after the Colorado Rapids decided not to play a scheduled game at FC Dallas, head coach Robin Robin Fraser said he expects his players to take the field for a home match Saturday night against Sporting Kansas City.
“I don’t really have any reason to expect our players to sit out,” Fraser said during a video news conference Friday afternoon.
Five of the six MLS games were postponed Wednesday after players stood in solidarity with the Milwaukee Bucks. The NBA team sat out its playoff game against the Orlando Magic to protest racial injustices in the U.S. following the shooting of Jacob Black by police in Kenosha, Wisc.
The cause is something that is near and dear to several Rapids, including Kei Kamara, who is a part of Black Players For Change, a group that is working on more inclusion across all of MLS.
“We made a decision together as players and staff to not play our game because there’s more happening in our country to distract our minds to soccer,” Kamara tweeted Wednesday night. “This is the first time I can agree to the saying ‘it’s just a game.’”
Most of the reaction around the league has been in support of the players, with Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen the lone loud dissenting voice. In an interview with KXRK, Hansen said he felt disrespected by the protests and that it had “taken the wind out of his sails” about owning the team — comments that were met with almost immediate condemnation by MLS.
Not long after, a report published by The Athletic alleged a history of racist comments from the Salt Lake owner. It included an alleged remark made by Hansen to Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta, who is Black, when he played for Dallas.
Hansen has since taking a leave of absence from the team following his initial comments.
The MLS Players Association called for an immediate suspension of Hansen in the wake of the article, and MLS announced it would investigate the allegations. LAFC coach Bob Bradley said Hansen does not belong in soccer and USMNT striker Jozy Altidore said he was involved in a group that’s ready to buy the team.
“The immediate short run is to make sure that people are held accountable for acts of injustice or certainly perceived acts of injustice,” Fraser said about social movements in sports. “The endgame here really is that everyone is comfortable in society and feels equal to everyone else. The steps of how to get there are not exactly clear but that’s certainly where we’re ultimately assessed to go.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--“We are human”: Hundreds rally in Denver to commemorate the March on Washington

Fifty-seven years after Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. led the March on Washington , hundreds of people rallied in Denver on Friday for the same causes the civil rights leader and thousands of others demanded for Black people that historic day in the nation ’ s capital .
The anniversary of the one of the largest human rights rallies in American history this year comes amid a national reckoning on racial justice and police brutality , ignited again this week by the shooting of Jacob Blake , a Black man , by Kenosha , Wisconsin police .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endangered species , ” Alvertis Simmons , a longtime Denver civil rights leader , told the crowd gathered in City Park .
He made his comments in front of a memorial for King , who cast his shadow over a series of speakers , including Black mothers who lost children to gun violence and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet , D-Colorado .
“ Yes , we are human , ” Simmons said , “ If we break the law , we should be cuffed and taken to jail — not beaten upside the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beings.
” The speakers invoked the names of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain , who died a year ago , after Aurora officers put him in a chokehold and paramedics injected him with a heavy dose of ketamine .
“ One of the reasons we say the names of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain , ” Bennet , a former presidential candidate , told the crowd , “ … is because you know and I know that what happened to them would never have happened to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my three daughters.
” Metra Bell took the microphone Friday morning , asking the audience to pray with her because today would be rough .
Her 19-year-old son , Darrell Mitchell , was shot and killed last year in broad daylight in Denver — a city that has seen a disturbing increase in youth violence .
“ This park should be flooded every time a Black juvenile is killed , ” Bell said through intermittent sobs .
She knows the usual tropes and made a point of repeating that her son wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t killed by another Black man .
Justice , the mother has found , remains out of reach .
“ If you don ’ t got money for a lawyer , ” Bell said , “ then you have no say so over the justice system.
” Rick Martinez watched the speakers from afar .
As he faced King ’ s statue , the Denver resident lamented the lack of purple in a country that ’ s increasingly dark red or dark blue .
“ It ’ s been a long time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin Luther King , ” he said .
Just over two miles away , hundreds more people carrying signs and bullhorns marched from Civic Center past Denver ’ s police headquarters , jail and courthouse , chanting “ enough is enough ” and “ no justice , no peace ; no racist police.
” Speakers outside police headquarters urged protesters to remain nonviolent and deescalate conflict , as a small group of officers clad in helmets and anti-riot shields stood 100 feet behind a chainlink fence .

Fifty-seven years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the March on Washington, hundreds of people rallied in Denver on Friday for the same causes the civil rights leader and thousands of others demanded for Black people that historic day in the nation’s capital.
The anniversary of the one of the largest human rights rallies in American history this year comes amid a national reckoning on racial justice and police brutality, ignited again this week by the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by Kenosha, Wisconsin police.
“We, as Black men, are an endangered species,” Alvertis Simmons, a longtime Denver civil rights leader, told the crowd gathered in City Park. He made his comments in front of a memorial for King, who cast his shadow over a series of speakers, including Black mothers who lost children to gun violence and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado.
“Yes, we are human,” Simmons said, “If we break the law, we should be cuffed and taken to jail — not beaten upside the head. We should be treated like human beings.”
The speakers invoked the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain, who died a year ago, after Aurora officers put him in a chokehold and paramedics injected him with a heavy dose of ketamine.
“One of the reasons we say the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain,” Bennet, a former presidential candidate, told the crowd, “… is because you know and I know that what happened to them would never have happened to me. It would never have happened to my three daughters.”
Metra Bell took the microphone Friday morning, asking the audience to pray with her because today would be rough. Her 19-year-old son, Darrell Mitchell, was shot and killed last year in broad daylight in Denver — a city that has seen a disturbing increase in youth violence.
“This park should be flooded every time a Black juvenile is killed,” Bell said through intermittent sobs.
She knows the usual tropes and made a point of repeating that her son wasn’t in a gang and he wasn’t killed by another Black man. Justice, the mother has found, remains out of reach.
“If you don’t got money for a lawyer,” Bell said, “then you have no say so over the justice system.”
Rick Martinez watched the speakers from afar. As he faced King’s statue, the Denver resident lamented the lack of purple in a country that’s increasingly dark red or dark blue.
“It’s been a long time since we had someone bring inclusion like Martin Luther King,” he said.
Just over two miles away, hundreds more people carrying signs and bullhorns marched from Civic Center past Denver’s police headquarters, jail and courthouse, chanting “enough is enough” and “no justice, no peace; no racist police.”
Speakers outside police headquarters urged protesters to remain nonviolent and deescalate conflict, as a small group of officers clad in helmets and anti-riot shields stood 100 feet behind a chainlink fence.


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Victims of shooting during Kenosha protest engaged gunman

CHICAGO — A man known for his love of skateboarding , a Texas transplant to the state and a college student acting as a volunteer medic were killed or wounded this week by a 17-year-old gunman amid chaos on the streets of Kenosha , Wisconsin .
Kyle Rittenhouse , of Antioch , Illinois , has been charged with fatally shooting two protesters and wounding a third .
Attorneys representing Rittenhouse have said he acted to defend himself .
Kenosha County prosecutors said in court records this week that the first person shot around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday has been identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenosha .
Prosecutors said Rosenbaum followed Rittenhouse into a used car lot , where he threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him .
The medical examiner found that Rosenbaum was shot in the groin , back and left hand .
The wounds fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver .
He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead .
Friends have told local media that Rosenbaum was originally from Texas and previously lived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , where his young daughter lives .
According to his Facebook page , he worked at a Wendy ’ s restaurant in Kenosha .
The Associated Press was unable to reach family members by phone this week .
Rittenhouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell , according to the complaint and video footage .
Anthony Huber , 26 , of Silver Lake , was shot in the chest after apparently trying to wrest the gun away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hannah Gittings , Huber ’ s girlfriend , told WBBM-TV that he pushed her out of the way before chasing after the man others on the street had identified as the shooter .
Huber ’ s friends gathered at a Kenosha skate park this week to remember him and his passion for skateboarding .
According to court records , Huber had a skateboard in his right hand and used it to “ make contact ” with Rittenhouse ’ s left shoulder as they struggled for control of the gun .
Other protesters remembered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he was shot , and Gittings told the group that he was an amazing person .
“ He took down an armed gunman with nothing but his ( profanity ) skateboard , ” Gittings said , according to the Chicago Tribune .
The Kenosha News reported that local protest organizers said both Rosenbaum and Huber had participated in demonstrations this spring and summer , beginning with the May death of George Floyd after a Minnesota police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed man ’ s neck .
“ They came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Porche Bennett , a Kenosha resident who has organized protests .
“ Sweet .
Loving .
They were the sweetest hearts , souls .
I called Anthony my hippie guy .
They were sweet guys.
” Bennett said she was particularly grateful to Huber , who stood in front of her when authorities used tear gas during protests outside the Kenosha County Courthouse this week .
The third man to be shot was wounded in the left arm .
Court records said Gaige Grosskreutz , 26 , appeared to be holding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot at Huber .
Grosskreutz is an activist who volunteered as a medic during the Kenosha demonstrations , according to Milwaukee activist Bethany Crevensten .
She said Grosskreutz was part of a group of roughly two dozen activists who have demonstrated around Milwaukee in the wake of Floyd ’ s death and went to Kenosha to protest .
Grosskreutz , who was wearing a backpack and cap labeled “ paramedic , ” was shot in the arm , Crevensten said .
“ He was a hero and he is a hero , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allis , was recovering after surgery and was not yet giving interviews , Crevensten said this week .
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Grosskreutz is a senior at Northland College in Ashland and the college registrar ’ s office said he is set to graduate in December .
The paper also reported that he previously worked as a special events coordinator , wilderness medical instructor and sea kayak guide at Lost Creek Adventures in Cornucopia , according to an online LinkedIn profile .
The company offers kayak tours , rentals and programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Lakeshore .

CHICAGO — A man known for his love of skateboarding, a Texas transplant to the state and a college student acting as a volunteer medic were killed or wounded this week by a 17-year-old gunman amid chaos on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, has been charged with fatally shooting two protesters and wounding a third. Attorneys representing Rittenhouse have said he acted to defend himself.
Kenosha County prosecutors said in court records this week that the first person shot around 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday has been identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha.
Prosecutors said Rosenbaum followed Rittenhouse into a used car lot, where he threw a plastic bag at the gunman and attempted to take the weapon from him.
The medical examiner found that Rosenbaum was shot in the groin, back and left hand. The wounds fractured his pelvis and perforated his right lung and liver. He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead.
Friends have told local media that Rosenbaum was originally from Texas and previously lived in Arizona before moving to Wisconsin this year, where his young daughter lives. According to his Facebook page, he worked at a Wendy’s restaurant in Kenosha.
The Associated Press was unable to reach family members by phone this week.
Rittenhouse then ran down the street and was chased by several people shouting that he just shot someone before he tripped and fell, according to the complaint and video footage.
Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, was shot in the chest after apparently trying to wrest the gun away from Rittenhouse, the complaint said.
Hannah Gittings, Huber’s girlfriend, told WBBM-TV that he pushed her out of the way before chasing after the man others on the street had identified as the shooter.
Huber’s friends gathered at a Kenosha skate park this week to remember him and his passion for skateboarding. According to court records, Huber had a skateboard in his right hand and used it to “make contact” with Rittenhouse’s left shoulder as they struggled for control of the gun.
Other protesters remembered Huber on Wednesday night near the spot where he was shot, and Gittings told the group that he was an amazing person.
“He took down an armed gunman with nothing but his (profanity) skateboard,” Gittings said, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The Kenosha News reported that local protest organizers said both Rosenbaum and Huber had participated in demonstrations this spring and summer, beginning with the May death of George Floyd after a Minnesota police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed man’s neck.
“They came out here every time with us,” said Porche Bennett, a Kenosha resident who has organized protests. “Sweet. Loving. They were the sweetest hearts, souls. I called Anthony my hippie guy. They were sweet guys.”
Bennett said she was particularly grateful to Huber, who stood in front of her when authorities used tear gas during protests outside the Kenosha County Courthouse this week.
The third man to be shot was wounded in the left arm. Court records said Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, appeared to be holding a gun when he approached Rittenhouse after he shot at Huber.
Grosskreutz is an activist who volunteered as a medic during the Kenosha demonstrations, according to Milwaukee activist Bethany Crevensten.
She said Grosskreutz was part of a group of roughly two dozen activists who have demonstrated around Milwaukee in the wake of Floyd’s death and went to Kenosha to protest. Grosskreutz, who was wearing a backpack and cap labeled “paramedic,” was shot in the arm, Crevensten said.
“He was a hero and he is a hero,” she said.
Grosskreutz, of West Allis, was recovering after surgery and was not yet giving interviews, Crevensten said this week.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Grosskreutz is a senior at Northland College in Ashland and the college registrar’s office said he is set to graduate in December.
The paper also reported that he previously worked as a special events coordinator, wilderness medical instructor and sea kayak guide at Lost Creek Adventures in Cornucopia, according to an online LinkedIn profile. The company offers kayak tours, rentals and programs on wilderness skills within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Saunders: Trevor Story has emerged as Rockies’ voice, in and out of the clubhouse

Last winter , I was talking with Cory Sullivan , the former Rockies outfielder who ’ s now a TV analyst for AT & T SportsNet .
The subject was leadership , team chemistry and star shortstop Trevor Story .
“ Trevor is one of the few elite players who have the leadership gene in him , ” Sullivan said .
“ When it does come out , he is going to be unstoppable .
Typically , leaders are role players , but with Trevor , it ’ s screaming to come out.
” It ’ s easy to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ baseball field , where he was batting .306 with .999 OPS entering the weekend series with San Diego at Coors Field .
His nine home runs , 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases led the team .
But more than that , Story has become the voice of the team , both in the clubhouse and in public .
That was apparent Thursday when Story talked to the media about the Rockies ’ decision to postpone their game at Arizona to protest racial injustice in America .
Story was honest and articulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked him what he thought about those fans who think the Rockies should just play ball and not comment on social issues .
“ I think , ‘ just shut up and play your sport ’ is very simple-minded , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t think that that ’ s doing a great job of putting yourself in other people ’ s shoes.
” Wednesday night , while the Rockies decided to play against the Diamondbacks , Matt Kemp , who is Black , chose not to play .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team made a mistake .
“ Yesterday was tough , ” Story said Thursday .
“ Honestly speaking , mentally I wasn ’ t all the way there .
Realizing the hurt that Matt is going through , that the Black community is going through , was weighing on my mind .
That was all I could think about yesterday .
“ After reflecting on it , that ’ s the way I felt .
It bothered me to my core that we kind of missed the opportunity.
” Speaking to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of players enjoy , particularly when it comes to tough topics or tough times .
And I don ’ t know if Story enjoys talking to us — I ’ m sure he gets tired of it — but he recognizes that it ’ s part of his job .
It ’ s a responsibility he takes seriously .
In a “ normal ” year , he makes himself available in the clubhouse .
During this strange year , he ’ s frequently made time to appear on the Zoom interviews that allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can .
The players ’ first obligation , of course , is to their teammates and sometimes it ’ s not easy to deal with the media when the team is losing .
Things can get chilly , even hostile .
It ’ s one of the reasons why , during a normal season , I try to interview players away from their teammates .
It establishes a comfort zone , allowing me to get a truer measure of the pulse of the team and the player doesn ’ t have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether on the record or off , whether in front of the camera or off , is always thoughtful and even-tempered .
I asked manager Bud Black if it really matters that Story has emerged as the team spokesman .
“ I think it matters and I admire it , ” Black said .
“ I think it shows that he ’ s willing to step up and answer questions during a tough time .
I think it ’ s awesome because I know that there are questions to be asked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players and starting pitchers .
“ I think it shows the growth of Trevor and where he is now in his fifth season and his place on this team .
It ’ s about him knowing his responsibility .
”

Last winter, I was talking with Cory Sullivan, the former Rockies outfielder who’s now a TV analyst for AT&T SportsNet. The subject was leadership, team chemistry and star shortstop Trevor Story.
“Trevor is one of the few elite players who have the leadership gene in him,” Sullivan said. “When it does come out, he is going to be unstoppable. Typically, leaders are role players, but with Trevor, it’s screaming to come out.”
Sullivan was spot on.
It’s easy to see what Story’s doing on the baseball field, where he was batting .306 with .999 OPS entering the weekend series with San Diego at Coors Field. His nine home runs, 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases led the team.
But more than that, Story has become the voice of the team, both in the clubhouse and in public. That was apparent Thursday when Story talked to the media about the Rockies’ decision to postpone their game at Arizona to protest racial injustice in America. Story was honest and articulate, his emotions were raw.
I asked him what he thought about those fans who think the Rockies should just play ball and not comment on social issues.
“I think, ‘just shut up and play your sport’ is very simple-minded,” he said. “I don’t think that that’s doing a great job of putting yourself in other people’s shoes.”
Wednesday night, while the Rockies decided to play against the Diamondbacks, Matt Kemp, who is Black, chose not to play. Story had the guts to admit that the team made a mistake.
“Yesterday was tough,” Story said Thursday. “Honestly speaking, mentally I wasn’t all the way there. Realizing the hurt that Matt is going through, that the Black community is going through, was weighing on my mind. That was all I could think about yesterday.
“After reflecting on it, that’s the way I felt. It bothered me to my core that we kind of missed the opportunity.”
Speaking to the media is not something that a lot of players enjoy, particularly when it comes to tough topics or tough times. And I don’t know if Story enjoys talking to us — I’m sure he gets tired of it — but he recognizes that it’s part of his job. It’s a responsibility he takes seriously.
In a “normal” year, he makes himself available in the clubhouse. During this strange year, he’s frequently made time to appear on the Zoom interviews that allow us to cover the team as best we can.
The players’ first obligation, of course, is to their teammates and sometimes it’s not easy to deal with the media when the team is losing. Things can get chilly, even hostile. It’s one of the reasons why, during a normal season, I try to interview players away from their teammates. It establishes a comfort zone, allowing me to get a truer measure of the pulse of the team and the player doesn’t have to be worried about speaking frankly.
Story, whether on the record or off, whether in front of the camera or off, is always thoughtful and even-tempered.
I asked manager Bud Black if it really matters that Story has emerged as the team spokesman.
“I think it matters and I admire it,” Black said. “I think it shows that he’s willing to step up and answer questions during a tough time. I think it’s awesome because I know that there are questions to be asked, and need to be asked, of players and starting pitchers.
“I think it shows the growth of Trevor and where he is now in his fifth season and his place on this team. It’s about him knowing his responsibility.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-28--Higher stakes at Daytona mean “crazy things will happen”

DAYTONA BEACH , Fla. — Racing at Daytona International Speedway always comes with a hefty dose of drama .
Bad breaks .
Close calls .
Harrowing crashes .
Overtime affairs .
Last-lap heroics .
Underdog stories .
NASCAR ’ s premier Cup Series could have all the above during its regular-season finale Saturday night .
The final three playoff spots are up for grabs as stock car racing returns to the high-banked superspeedway two weeks after running the road course .
Nearly half the field is looking to clinch a postseason berth with a victory , including seven-time series champion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make for a 400-mile , white-knuckle ride at close to 200 mph .
“ A lot of people are desperate , ” said Team Penske driver Joey Logano , who ’ s already locked into the playoffs .
“ Crazy things will happen.
” That ’ s exactly what NASCAR envisioned when it moved Daytona ’ s summertime extravaganza to the regular-season finale .
Cup races at Daytona already were considered wild-card events in which just about anyone could end up in victory lane .
Now , there ’ s even more on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is retiring as a full-time driver at the end of the season .
He likely would be safely in the predicted playoff field had he not missed a race because he tested positive for COVID-19 and had a second-place finish thrown out after his car failed inspection .
“ We ’ ll see how it plays out .
It could be a storybook ending for us , which would be amazing , and I know the fans would really appreciate that and enjoy it , ” Johnson said .
“ We all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m excited .
I ’ m ready to go .
I ’ m not one to spend too much time to get overly sentimental.
” Johnson ’ s winless drought is at 119 races , dating to June 2017 .
He ’ s won three times at Daytona , with his last one coming in 2013 .
He enters the weekend trailing Matt DiBenedetto by nine points and Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron by four in the standings .
Johnson ’ s best shot at making the postseason — assuming he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make up ground on DiBenedetto or Byron in the points and not have someone below him in the standings pull off a huge upset .
Adding to the intrigue , Johnson ’ s former longtime crew chief on the No .
48 Chevrolet , Chad Knaus , is now atop Byron ’ s pit box .
“ I ’ ve been there .
I ’ ve had him coaching me along .
I just know where his head is , and I know how difficult and weird it is to look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got to beat , and then the way you go about motivating yourself to beat your competition , ” Johnson said .
“ I ’ m sitting on my side going through the same thing , and it ’ s William and Chad , specifically Chad.
” Thirteen spots are already secured for the 16-driver postseason field .
Points leader Kevin Harvick , Denny Hamlin , Brad Keselowski , Chase Elliott , Logano , Martin Truex Jr. , Ryan Blaney , Alex Bowman , Austin Dillon , Cole Custer , Aric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are locked in .
Clint Bowyer is 14th and needs just three points to clinch a playoff spot .
DiBenedetto , Byron and Johnson are essentially vying for the final two positions .
But if an outlier wins — notable drivers include Erik Jones , Bubba Wallace , Ricky Stenhouse Jr. , Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth — then there would just be one spot remaining for those three drivers on the bubble .
“ Nothing really fazes me a whole lot at this point in my career , ” said DiBenedetto , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Wood Brothers Racing .
“ All I can do is just not really stress .
I let my wife do all the stressing for me .
She ’ s been a basket case of emotion this week.
” Tiny Lund ( 1963 ) , Greg Sacks ( 1985 ) , Derricke Cope ( 1990 ) and Trevor Bayne ( 2011 ) are among the most shocking winners at NASCAR ’ s hometown track .
Last year , Justin Haley added another fluky outcome to Daytona ’ s lore by winning a rain-shorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Daytona .
Throw in the raised stakes , and it ’ s sure to create an ultra-intense couple of hours on the track .
“ It ’ s going to be crazy all the way down to the finish , ” Stenhouse said .
“ I think it ’ s going to keep everybody on the edge of their seat for sure .
”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Racing at Daytona International Speedway always comes with a hefty dose of drama. Bad breaks. Close calls. Harrowing crashes. Overtime affairs. Last-lap heroics. Underdog stories.
NASCAR’s premier Cup Series could have all the above during its regular-season finale Saturday night.
The final three playoff spots are up for grabs as stock car racing returns to the high-banked superspeedway two weeks after running the road course. Nearly half the field is looking to clinch a postseason berth with a victory, including seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson. The high stakes could make for a 400-mile, white-knuckle ride at close to 200 mph.
“A lot of people are desperate,” said Team Penske driver Joey Logano, who’s already locked into the playoffs. “Crazy things will happen.”
That’s exactly what NASCAR envisioned when it moved Daytona’s summertime extravaganza to the regular-season finale. Cup races at Daytona already were considered wild-card events in which just about anyone could end up in victory lane. Now, there’s even more on the line.
Especially for Johnson, who is retiring as a full-time driver at the end of the season. He likely would be safely in the predicted playoff field had he not missed a race because he tested positive for COVID-19 and had a second-place finish thrown out after his car failed inspection.
“We’ll see how it plays out. It could be a storybook ending for us, which would be amazing, and I know the fans would really appreciate that and enjoy it,” Johnson said. “We all understand the story lines. I’m excited. I’m ready to go. I’m not one to spend too much time to get overly sentimental.”
Johnson’s winless drought is at 119 races, dating to June 2017. He’s won three times at Daytona, with his last one coming in 2013.
He enters the weekend trailing Matt DiBenedetto by nine points and Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron by four in the standings. Johnson’s best shot at making the postseason — assuming he doesn’t win at Daytona — requires him to make up ground on DiBenedetto or Byron in the points and not have someone below him in the standings pull off a huge upset.
Adding to the intrigue, Johnson’s former longtime crew chief on the No. 48 Chevrolet, Chad Knaus, is now atop Byron’s pit box.
“I’ve been there. I’ve had him coaching me along. I just know where his head is, and I know how difficult and weird it is to look at the 48 car as the guy they’ve got to beat, and then the way you go about motivating yourself to beat your competition,” Johnson said. “I’m sitting on my side going through the same thing, and it’s William and Chad, specifically Chad.”
Thirteen spots are already secured for the 16-driver postseason field. Points leader Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Cole Custer, Aric Almirola, Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch are locked in.
Clint Bowyer is 14th and needs just three points to clinch a playoff spot. DiBenedetto, Byron and Johnson are essentially vying for the final two positions.
But if an outlier wins — notable drivers include Erik Jones, Bubba Wallace, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth — then there would just be one spot remaining for those three drivers on the bubble.
“Nothing really fazes me a whole lot at this point in my career,” said DiBenedetto, who drives the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing. “All I can do is just not really stress. I let my wife do all the stressing for me. She’s been a basket case of emotion this week.”
Tiny Lund (1963), Greg Sacks (1985), Derricke Cope (1990) and Trevor Bayne (2011) are among the most shocking winners at NASCAR’s hometown track. Last year, Justin Haley added another fluky outcome to Daytona’s lore by winning a rain-shorted July race.
So anything can happen at Daytona. Throw in the raised stakes, and it’s sure to create an ultra-intense couple of hours on the track.
“It’s going to be crazy all the way down to the finish,” Stenhouse said. “I think it’s going to keep everybody on the edge of their seat for sure.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Denver Fire Department unveils HAZMAT training tool

The gray behemoth rested atop a bright red semi trailer , four different types of valves protruding from the top , as Denver firefighters and city officials stood nearby , looking proudly at the department ’ s most recent high-dollar purchase .
Think of it almost as a railroad car , said Mike Pylar , captain of the Denver Fire Department ’ s hazardous materials team .
The difference is , this one can be moved by semi and is used to mimic virtually any setup a rail car carrying potentially deadly chemicals might have .
Pylar and others reviewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tool Friday at the city ’ s fire station at 9150 E. 50th Ave. — a purchase that ’ s the culmination of a years-long conversation about how to be prepared for an accident — or worse — on Denver ’ s rails .
Trains move deadly chemicals like chlorine and ammonia through Denver ’ s residential and pedestrian-heavy neighborhoods daily , Pylar said .
While crews already train to handle and mitigate accidents or potential attacks on those rail cars , they haven ’ t been able to train on anything so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ We can take this anywhere and everywhere , ” Pylar said .
At-large City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega was among those who began raising concerns years ago about the risks of rail cars passing through Denver ’ s neighborhoods .
The biggest concern is human error , Pylar said , although cities must also be prepared for the possibility of terrorist attacks .
A chlorine spill , or an attack on a car carrying ammonia , would be deadly , he said .
Through a grant from the Urban Area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy the “ rail car trainer , ” which Ortega , Pylar and others received with open arms Friday .
The trainer is already in use for training exercises , Pylar said .
Other fire districts can borrow the rail car and train their crews , he said .
This is important because any extreme hazardous material spill in the area will almost certainly require a regional response rather than a local one .

The gray behemoth rested atop a bright red semi trailer, four different types of valves protruding from the top, as Denver firefighters and city officials stood nearby, looking proudly at the department’s most recent high-dollar purchase.
Think of it almost as a railroad car, said Mike Pylar, captain of the Denver Fire Department’s hazardous materials team. The difference is, this one can be moved by semi and is used to mimic virtually any setup a rail car carrying potentially deadly chemicals might have.
Pylar and others reviewed the department’s $150,000 training tool Friday at the city’s fire station at 9150 E. 50th Ave. — a purchase that’s the culmination of a years-long conversation about how to be prepared for an accident — or worse — on Denver’s rails.
Trains move deadly chemicals like chlorine and ammonia through Denver’s residential and pedestrian-heavy neighborhoods daily, Pylar said. While crews already train to handle and mitigate accidents or potential attacks on those rail cars, they haven’t been able to train on anything so realistic. At least not locally, he said.
“We can take this anywhere and everywhere,” Pylar said.
At-large City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega was among those who began raising concerns years ago about the risks of rail cars passing through Denver’s neighborhoods.
The biggest concern is human error, Pylar said, although cities must also be prepared for the possibility of terrorist attacks. A chlorine spill, or an attack on a car carrying ammonia, would be deadly, he said.
Through a grant from the Urban Area Security Initiative, the city was able to buy the “rail car trainer,” which Ortega, Pylar and others received with open arms Friday.
The trainer is already in use for training exercises, Pylar said. Other fire districts can borrow the rail car and train their crews, he said. This is important because any extreme hazardous material spill in the area will almost certainly require a regional response rather than a local one.


thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Tech company with ICE contracts makes stealth move to Denver

The stealthy arrival of Palantir Technologies last week ranks among the biggest tech company relocations to Denver ever , and , given its work with U.S. immigration officials , one of the most controversial , too .
The move comes at a pivotal time for the Silicon Valley-born data analytics company , which is valued at around $ 20 billion .
Palantir provides software to clients in defense , law enforcement , pharmaceuticals and dozens of other industries , working in areas ranging from health data tracking to logistics to government surveillance .
The company , which now lists its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palo Alto , California , filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday laying the groundwork for a long-awaited initial public offering .
The filing comes after the company told the SEC in July it was seeking to raise $ 961 million in private markets .
A Palantir spokeswoman declined to comment for this story , noting the company is in a quiet period ahead of its forthcoming stock listing .
The Denver Business Journal first reported the company ’ s relocation last week .
Sam Bailey , vice president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Commerce , called the move “ a huge validater ” for the city as a player on the national tech scene .
“ I think for the metro Denver region , it means that you don ’ t have to be in the Bay Area or on the East Coast to become a public company , ” Bailey said .
“ You can do it that here in Colorado , in the middle of the country.
” Palantir ’ s client list includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement , and while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that its data software aids in deportations , the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition , or CIRC , has already condemned its arrival in the state .
“ Our understanding at CIRC is that a lot of the work that Palantir is supporting really violates the civil liberties of immigrant communities , ” said Siena Mann , the coalition ’ s campaign manager .
When state Sen. Julie Gonzales , D-Denver , heard about Palantir coming to the city , she reached out to immigrant rights and civil rights groups in the area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ working on a bill that would have prevented ICE from “ data mining ” immigrants ’ contact information from state databases to use for immigration and deportation procedures .
While she had to drop the bill after the state began focusing on its coronavirus response , she is considering a similar one in the 2021 legislative session .
In a letter included in its SEC filing earlier this week , Palantir CEO Alex Karp noted ideological differences with other Silicon Valley tech companies .
The company co-founded by conservative billionaire Peter Thiel .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may know more than most about building software .
But they do not know more about how society should be organized or what justice requires , ” Karp wrote .
“ Our software is used to target terrorists and to keep soldiers safe .
If we are going to ask someone to put themselves in harm ’ s way , we believe that we have a duty to give them what they need to do their job.
” State and city economic development officials have issued statements touting Colorado ’ s strong business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workforce as factors they believe helped attract Palantir .
“ The city did not recruit or offer any incentives for Palantir to relocate to Denver , but we ’ re not surprised that our workforce talent pool and quality of life is a major selling point for any major tech company , and has made us a destination for these businesses to locate and relocate , ” reads a statement from Mayor Michael Hancock ’ s office .
A Hancock spokesman declined to comment on the company ’ s work with ICE .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had nearly 2,400 employees as of Dec. 31 .
The company lost around $ 580 million last year and has never had a profitable year since its launch in 2003 .

The stealthy arrival of Palantir Technologies last week ranks among the biggest tech company relocations to Denver ever, and, given its work with U.S. immigration officials, one of the most controversial, too.
The move comes at a pivotal time for the Silicon Valley-born data analytics company, which is valued at around $20 billion. Palantir provides software to clients in defense, law enforcement, pharmaceuticals and dozens of other industries, working in areas ranging from health data tracking to logistics to government surveillance.
The company, which now lists its address at 1555 Blake St. instead of Palo Alto, California, filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday laying the groundwork for a long-awaited initial public offering. The filing comes after the company told the SEC in July it was seeking to raise $961 million in private markets.
A Palantir spokeswoman declined to comment for this story, noting the company is in a quiet period ahead of its forthcoming stock listing. The Denver Business Journal first reported the company’s relocation last week.
Sam Bailey, vice president of economic development with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, called the move “a huge validater” for the city as a player on the national tech scene.
“I think for the metro Denver region, it means that you don’t have to be in the Bay Area or on the East Coast to become a public company,” Bailey said. “You can do it that here in Colorado, in the middle of the country.”
Palantir’s client list includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and while the company has pushed back on the idea that its data software aids in deportations, the Colorado Immigrants Rights Coalition, or CIRC, has already condemned its arrival in the state.
“Our understanding at CIRC is that a lot of the work that Palantir is supporting really violates the civil liberties of immigrant communities,” said Siena Mann, the coalition’s campaign manager.
When state Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, heard about Palantir coming to the city, she reached out to immigrant rights and civil rights groups in the area.
Prior to the pandemic, Gonzales was working on a bill that would have prevented ICE from “data mining” immigrants’ contact information from state databases to use for immigration and deportation procedures. While she had to drop the bill after the state began focusing on its coronavirus response, she is considering a similar one in the 2021 legislative session.
In a letter included in its SEC filing earlier this week, Palantir CEO Alex Karp noted ideological differences with other Silicon Valley tech companies. The company co-founded by conservative billionaire Peter Thiel.
“The engineering elite of Silicon Valley may know more than most about building software. But they do not know more about how society should be organized or what justice requires,” Karp wrote. “Our software is used to target terrorists and to keep soldiers safe. If we are going to ask someone to put themselves in harm’s way, we believe that we have a duty to give them what they need to do their job.”
State and city economic development officials have issued statements touting Colorado’s strong business environment, quality of life and talented workforce as factors they believe helped attract Palantir.
“The city did not recruit or offer any incentives for Palantir to relocate to Denver, but we’re not surprised that our workforce talent pool and quality of life is a major selling point for any major tech company, and has made us a destination for these businesses to locate and relocate,” reads a statement from Mayor Michael Hancock’s office.
A Hancock spokesman declined to comment on the company’s work with ICE.
According to its SEC filing, Palantir had nearly 2,400 employees as of Dec. 31. The company lost around $580 million last year and has never had a profitable year since its launch in 2003.


thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Lack of COVID-19 testing at Colorado’s rural universities epitomizes higher education inequities

Adams State University President Cheryl Lovell is imploring the state — or anyone who will listen — to help connect the rural school with the COVID-19 testing it ’ s currently unable to afford or access , even as roughly 850 students move onto campus in the midst of a pandemic .
The Alamosa campus , known for serving a sizable population of Hispanic students and other traditionally underrepresented groups , isn ’ t able to test students , staff or faculty for the new coronavirus , she said .
“ Not everyone lives in a metropolitan area of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing site almost anywhere , ” Lovell said Friday .
“ Help us reach a population that has been most damaged .
Students of color , people of color and low income neighborhoods have been most impacted by COVID , and here ’ s a chance for someone to make a difference in a meaningful way for a rural community that needs it.
” Since March , when colleges across Colorado made a nearly overnight transition to remote learning in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus , only seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 tests , with one person testing positive , said Chris Lopez , the university ’ s spokesman .
While larger institutions like the University of Colorado Boulder have the finances and scientists necessary to administer and rapidly return thousands of COVID-19 tests , some smaller institutions in rural areas with fewer resources are either barely able to test students or fated to wait so many days for results they ’ re practically moot .
The disparity in testing is another reminder of the imbalance wrought by Colorado ’ s limited higher-education funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a makeover , awards money based largely on how many students an institution enrolls , disadvantaging the schools that most need help .
The financially fraught Adams State , which lacks a student health center , is left to rely on students to monitor their symptoms , report them to the school and then be referred to the San Luis Valley Health Respirator Clinic for next steps .
Angie Paccione , executive director of Colorado Department of Higher Education , said she ’ s working with the state health department to help Adams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for its campus community , recognizing the university lacks the resources of larger institutions .
Ramping up at for Adams State is a priority for state officials , but other smaller Colorado universities also struggle to do enough screening — or do it in a timely manner .
Donna Souder Hodge , Colorado State University Pueblo ’ s COVID-19 coordinator , said the southern Colorado campus was not doing any large-scale or surveillance testing for the new coronavirus .
“ It is a resource issue , ” Souder Hodge said .
“ Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , our ability to get it or get it quickly is pretty limited .
This is what we are able to do on our campus — on a smaller campus — serving an under-severed population.
” In addition to following federal , state and local public health guidelines such as providing quarantine rooms on campus , daily health screenings , temperature checks and cleaning protocols , CSU Pueblo is offering free testing for interested students , staff and faculty .
Since around 400 students moved back to campus last week , the university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ None of those tests came back positive , but Souder Hodge said on Thursday that one student had tested positive for the virus through a test conducted off campus .
Tests conducted on campus get results back within 10 to 15 minutes , but Souder Hodge said the quicker tests can result in a higher percentage of false negatives .
“ We always follow up by telling any individual to go get an additional test through the county , ” Souder Hodge said .
“ The average time for those results is something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s obviously concerning.
” Jeff Dupont , associate vice president for student affairs at Durango ’ s Fort Lewis College , said the approximately 1,400 students who moved onto campus were all tested for COVID-19 , plus an additional 400 students not living on campus .
However , it took two to three days before getting those test results back , meaning students moved into the dorms before knowing whether they were infected .
Dupont said students were told to stay in their rooms until they had results back and were provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Lewis administered 1,845 tests with 17 coming back positive as of Thursday .
Three are considered recovered cases .
“ We just didn ’ t have access to anything faster to give faster results , ” Dupont said .
“ Most other tests in our community are taking between five and six days to get results , so we ’ re actually pretty pleased with two to three days.
” At resource-rich CU Boulder , all students moving into dormitories were either rapid-tested for COVID-19 upon arrival or within a five-day window @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials to proactively quarantine infected students .
Even so , CU ’ s testing dashboard , intended to inform the community about how many COVID-19 cases the university is uncovering , has been met with criticism over the way it presents data , not offering a total number of cumulative cases , only the numbers of new infections within certain date ranges .
The university announced Thursday the tool will be updated to better serve the community .
CU officials have not said how many total cases of COVID-19 they ’ ve detected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning this summer .
The university ’ s dashboard reports 16 positive tests between Aug. 17 and 22 , and nine new case between Aug. 23 and 27 .
CU spokeswoman Melanie Parra said she could not confirm whether a New York Times report of 53 positive cases at CU Boulder was accurate .
At Colorado State University , spokesman Mike Hooker said 7,500 students , faculty and staff were screened during the move-in process and 88 had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday .
The state ’ s outbreak database also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to the campus ’ s athletic program , another to the Kappa Sigma fraternity .
And 155 students in a Colorado College dorm were quarantined after one of them tested positive for COVID-19 .
Lovell said it ’ s too early to tell whether a lack of COVID-19 has impacted Adams State , although she said it ’ s inevitable despite the precautions the university has taken such as hand sanitizer machines , mask mandates , social distancing signage and other guidance from state and federal public health agencies .
“ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got a pretty significant population of color so it just hits us even harder because that ’ s a group who has been impacted more intensely than the Caucasian population , ” Lovell said .
“ This is the heartland of agricultural labor of the state .
We ’ ve got an important role to play in agriculture , and our university has a role to play in that region and with the uncertainty of a global pandemic , it ’ s important to remember not everyone experiences this state the same way.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ health news sent straight to your inbox .

Adams State University President Cheryl Lovell is imploring the state — or anyone who will listen — to help connect the rural school with the COVID-19 testing it’s currently unable to afford or access, even as roughly 850 students move onto campus in the midst of a pandemic.
The Alamosa campus, known for serving a sizable population of Hispanic students and other traditionally underrepresented groups, isn’t able to test students, staff or faculty for the new coronavirus, she said.
“Not everyone lives in a metropolitan area of the state where you can find a drive-by testing site almost anywhere,” Lovell said Friday. “Help us reach a population that has been most damaged. Students of color, people of color and low income neighborhoods have been most impacted by COVID, and here’s a chance for someone to make a difference in a meaningful way for a rural community that needs it.”
Since March, when colleges across Colorado made a nearly overnight transition to remote learning in a bid to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, only seven Adams State community members have been given COVID-19 tests, with one person testing positive, said Chris Lopez, the university’s spokesman.
While larger institutions like the University of Colorado Boulder have the finances and scientists necessary to administer and rapidly return thousands of COVID-19 tests, some smaller institutions in rural areas with fewer resources are either barely able to test students or fated to wait so many days for results they’re practically moot.
The disparity in testing is another reminder of the imbalance wrought by Colorado’s limited higher-education funding, a system that, although awaiting a makeover, awards money based largely on how many students an institution enrolls, disadvantaging the schools that most need help.
The financially fraught Adams State, which lacks a student health center, is left to rely on students to monitor their symptoms, report them to the school and then be referred to the San Luis Valley Health Respirator Clinic for next steps.
Angie Paccione, executive director of Colorado Department of Higher Education, said she’s working with the state health department to help Adams State institute a robust COVID-19 testing regimen for its campus community, recognizing the university lacks the resources of larger institutions.
Lacking resources to properly test
Ramping up at for Adams State is a priority for state officials, but other smaller Colorado universities also struggle to do enough screening — or do it in a timely manner.
Donna Souder Hodge, Colorado State University Pueblo’s COVID-19 coordinator, said the southern Colorado campus was not doing any large-scale or surveillance testing for the new coronavirus.
“It is a resource issue,” Souder Hodge said. “Even if we wanted to do additional testing, our ability to get it or get it quickly is pretty limited. This is what we are able to do on our campus — on a smaller campus — serving an under-severed population.”
In addition to following federal, state and local public health guidelines such as providing quarantine rooms on campus, daily health screenings, temperature checks and cleaning protocols, CSU Pueblo is offering free testing for interested students, staff and faculty. Since around 400 students moved back to campus last week, the university has tested 20 people for COVID-19. None of those tests came back positive, but Souder Hodge said on Thursday that one student had tested positive for the virus through a test conducted off campus.
Tests conducted on campus get results back within 10 to 15 minutes, but Souder Hodge said the quicker tests can result in a higher percentage of false negatives.
“We always follow up by telling any individual to go get an additional test through the county,” Souder Hodge said. “The average time for those results is something between seven and 11 days… so that’s obviously concerning.”
Jeff Dupont, associate vice president for student affairs at Durango’s Fort Lewis College, said the approximately 1,400 students who moved onto campus were all tested for COVID-19, plus an additional 400 students not living on campus. However, it took two to three days before getting those test results back, meaning students moved into the dorms before knowing whether they were infected. Dupont said students were told to stay in their rooms until they had results back and were provided grab-and-go meals.
Since Aug. 17, Fort Lewis administered 1,845 tests with 17 coming back positive as of Thursday. Three are considered recovered cases.
“We just didn’t have access to anything faster to give faster results,” Dupont said. “Most other tests in our community are taking between five and six days to get results, so we’re actually pretty pleased with two to three days.”
Wider testing on big campuses
At resource-rich CU Boulder, all students moving into dormitories were either rapid-tested for COVID-19 upon arrival or within a five-day window of moving to Boulder, allowing campus officials to proactively quarantine infected students.
Even so, CU’s testing dashboard, intended to inform the community about how many COVID-19 cases the university is uncovering, has been met with criticism over the way it presents data, not offering a total number of cumulative cases, only the numbers of new infections within certain date ranges. The university announced Thursday the tool will be updated to better serve the community.
CU officials have not said how many total cases of COVID-19 they’ve detected on campus after staff and students began returning this summer. The university’s dashboard reports 16 positive tests between Aug. 17 and 22, and nine new case between Aug. 23 and 27. CU spokeswoman Melanie Parra said she could not confirm whether a New York Times report of 53 positive cases at CU Boulder was accurate.
At Colorado State University, spokesman Mike Hooker said 7,500 students, faculty and staff were screened during the move-in process and 88 had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Thursday. The state’s outbreak database also includes two related to CSU: one linked to the campus’s athletic program, another to the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
And 155 students in a Colorado College dorm were quarantined after one of them tested positive for COVID-19.
Lovell said it’s too early to tell whether a lack of COVID-19 has impacted Adams State, although she said it’s inevitable despite the precautions the university has taken such as hand sanitizer machines, mask mandates, social distancing signage and other guidance from state and federal public health agencies.
“What’s tough is we’ve got a pretty significant population of color so it just hits us even harder because that’s a group who has been impacted more intensely than the Caucasian population,” Lovell said. “This is the heartland of agricultural labor of the state. We’ve got an important role to play in agriculture, and our university has a role to play in that region and with the uncertainty of a global pandemic, it’s important to remember not everyone experiences this state the same way.”
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thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Former DU star Kristen Hamilton finds place with USWNT, NWSL despite different path

Jeff Hooker has seen it happen before .
Every few years , a talent of immense ability emerges .
A player so good coaches realize she is destined for greatness from a young age .
Think Mallory Pugh or Lindsey Horan — Colorado soccer prodigies in every sense of the word .
“ You look at some kids who are just exceptional , and you ’ re going , ‘ Oh man , that kid ’ s got a chance to make the youth national team or at least try out for it , ’ ” said Hooker , entering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women ’ s soccer coach .
“ She ’ s not one that I said that about at that age.
” Now a striker with the powerhouse North Carolina Courage , Hamilton has come a long way from her soccer beginnings in the front yard of her childhood home in Littleton .
She ’ s a three-time NWSL champion , an internationally capped USWNT player , and most recently won the 2019-20 Julie Dolan Medal for being the best player in Australia ’ s W-League during a recent loan spell with the Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional success , however , sets her apart from the rest .
“ It puts me in a really unique position to be able to relate to some of the girls who might be on a similar path to mine , ” she said .
“ Players who are in college are like , ‘ It ’ s so inspiring knowing that if I wasn ’ t in the youth system , it doesn ’ t mean the dream is over.
’ ” While Hamilton may not have been a soccer wunderkind like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her develop during her time at Columbine High School , and later at the University of Denver , believe Hamilton ’ s success is a validation of her qualities as a player and person .
“ It ’ s great to see someone with a blue-collar personality and work rate be successful , ” Hooker said .
“ She didn ’ t get many of the accolades other kids growing up between the age of 16 and 18 did , but it never bothered her .
She put her head down and just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hamilton has played soccer since she was four , and met Hooker when he coached her U-11 club team , when she constantly got into trouble for unfocused energy .
She eventually got more serious about the game and developed a passion for it , making Columbine ’ s varsity team as a freshman and transforming into a college prospect .
After committing to DU as a sophomore , everything started to click .
Her first step , quickness , and physicality all improved , but Hooker was most impressed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For Hamilton , that competitiveness arose because of opportunity .
Throughout childhood , she ’ d seen professional women ’ s soccer leagues fold due to a lack of funding .
The rise of the NWSL near the end of her prep career presented a chance to pursue what she loved .
“ The NWSL pops up and there ’ s kind of hope that there ’ s going to be a professional league that ’ s going to be sustainable and substantial and stay around for a while , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the drive to get to that point changed my mindset.
” By the time she arrived at DU , Hamilton was on another level .
She absorbed everything coaches taught her , learned Hooker ’ s system , and after just a few weeks on campus , Hooker was convinced she ’ d play beyond college .
The forward shined at Denver .
Her 138 career points , 51 goals and 18 game-winners remain school records .
In 2013 , she was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist as one of the best players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nicholette DiGiacomo ’ s extra-time winner against Maryland , helping lead the Pios to their first Sweet 16 trip in 2012 .
Following her graduation in 2013 , she entered the 2014 NWSL Draft where she was part of a stacked class that included current stars Julie Ertz , Kealia Watt , and No .
1 overall pick Crystal Dunn .
At a draft party held by her sister , Nicole , Kristen watched as name after name came off the board until finally , with the very last pick , the Western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It was this moment of just pure excitement for all of us , ” Nicole said .
The joy didn ’ t last long .
In Kristen ’ s first preseason game with the Flash , she tore her ACL after going into a 50-50 challenge with the opposing goalkeeper .
“ It was tough , obviously because of the pain having not gone through that , but mentally as well , ” Hamilton said .
“ You ’ re trying to figure out , ‘ Why am I doing this ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come back and continue to play professionally ?
Is this something I want to do and pursue ?
’ ” The answer to all of those questions was “ yes.
” Hamilton returned and made her official NWSL debut for the Flash in 2015 .
A year later , she helped the team win the title .
She stayed with the team again after new ownership moved the Flash south and rebranded the franchise the North Carolina Courage .
Playing with established stars like Abby Dahlkemper , Debinha , Dunn , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lynn Williams , Hamilton struggled for game time .
Though she considered asking for a trade , she eventually adjusted to an unfamiliar role and contributed to the team ’ s title game runs in 2017 and 2018 , winning the latter .
“ As a professional athlete , everyone wants to start , everyone wants to play minutes and when you ’ re not it ’ s hard , it takes a toll , ” she said , “ but I think one of the biggest things for me was just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and patience paid off in 2019 .
She scored her first professional hat trick in a 3-0 win against the Orlando Pride in June , then put four past the Houston Dash a month later .
Hamilton ’ s nine goals tied her for third in the league , and she was named to the NWSL second-team all league .
Her performances also led to a USWNT call-up during the victory tour following the 2019 World Cup , and Hamilton earned her first international cap Sept. 3 , 2019 , at 27 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a packed stadium , ” Hamilton said .
“ Hearing the crowd and the noise , and wearing that jersey was really special.
” Before participating in the NWSL Challenge Cup this summer , Hamilton played abroad for the first time in her career in Australia — mentoring and leading young players for the first time since college .
For now , Hamilton ’ s future remains in North Carolina as she recently extended her contract with the club through 2022 .
But she hopes to rejoin the USWNT again and play overseas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but normal , but now , through perseverance and commitment , she ’ s done what few people believed was possible all those years ago .
And she ’ s not done yet .
“ I want to show what I can do because it ’ s not a fluke that I ’ m here , ” she said .

Jeff Hooker has seen it happen before.
Every few years, a talent of immense ability emerges. A player so good coaches realize she is destined for greatness from a young age. Think Mallory Pugh or Lindsey Horan — Colorado soccer prodigies in every sense of the word.
Kristen Hamilton wasn’t that.
“You look at some kids who are just exceptional, and you’re going, ‘Oh man, that kid’s got a chance to make the youth national team or at least try out for it,’” said Hooker, entering his 29th year as the DU Pioneers women’s soccer coach.
“She’s not one that I said that about at that age.”
Now a striker with the powerhouse North Carolina Courage, Hamilton has come a long way from her soccer beginnings in the front yard of her childhood home in Littleton. She’s a three-time NWSL champion, an internationally capped USWNT player, and most recently won the 2019-20 Julie Dolan Medal for being the best player in Australia’s W-League during a recent loan spell with the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Her unconventional path to professional success, however, sets her apart from the rest.
“It puts me in a really unique position to be able to relate to some of the girls who might be on a similar path to mine,” she said. “Players who are in college are like, ‘It’s so inspiring knowing that if I wasn’t in the youth system, it doesn’t mean the dream is over.’”
While Hamilton may not have been a soccer wunderkind like Pugh and Horan, those who saw her develop during her time at Columbine High School, and later at the University of Denver, believe Hamilton’s success is a validation of her qualities as a player and person.
“It’s great to see someone with a blue-collar personality and work rate be successful,” Hooker said. “She didn’t get many of the accolades other kids growing up between the age of 16 and 18 did, but it never bothered her. She put her head down and just continues to try to be the best.”
Hamilton has played soccer since she was four, and met Hooker when he coached her U-11 club team, when she constantly got into trouble for unfocused energy.
She eventually got more serious about the game and developed a passion for it, making Columbine’s varsity team as a freshman and transforming into a college prospect. After committing to DU as a sophomore, everything started to click. Her first step, quickness, and physicality all improved, but Hooker was most impressed by the competitive edge she added to her game.
For Hamilton, that competitiveness arose because of opportunity. Throughout childhood, she’d seen professional women’s soccer leagues fold due to a lack of funding. The rise of the NWSL near the end of her prep career presented a chance to pursue what she loved.
“The NWSL pops up and there’s kind of hope that there’s going to be a professional league that’s going to be sustainable and substantial and stay around for a while,” she said. “So for me, the drive to get to that point changed my mindset.”
By the time she arrived at DU, Hamilton was on another level. She absorbed everything coaches taught her, learned Hooker’s system, and after just a few weeks on campus, Hooker was convinced she’d play beyond college.
The forward shined at Denver. Her 138 career points, 51 goals and 18 game-winners remain school records. In 2013, she was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist as one of the best players in the NCAA. She also assisted Nicholette DiGiacomo’s extra-time winner against Maryland, helping lead the Pios to their first Sweet 16 trip in 2012.
Following her graduation in 2013, she entered the 2014 NWSL Draft where she was part of a stacked class that included current stars Julie Ertz, Kealia Watt, and No. 1 overall pick Crystal Dunn. At a draft party held by her sister, Nicole, Kristen watched as name after name came off the board until finally, with the very last pick, the Western New York Flash called her name.
“It was this moment of just pure excitement for all of us,” Nicole said.
The joy didn’t last long. In Kristen’s first preseason game with the Flash, she tore her ACL after going into a 50-50 challenge with the opposing goalkeeper.
“It was tough, obviously because of the pain having not gone through that, but mentally as well,” Hamilton said. “You’re trying to figure out, ‘Why am I doing this? Do I really want to push myself to come back and continue to play professionally? Is this something I want to do and pursue?’”
The answer to all of those questions was “yes.”
Hamilton returned and made her official NWSL debut for the Flash in 2015. A year later, she helped the team win the title. She stayed with the team again after new ownership moved the Flash south and rebranded the franchise the North Carolina Courage.
Playing with established stars like Abby Dahlkemper, Debinha, Dunn, and behind experienced striking pair of Jessica McDonald and Lynn Williams, Hamilton struggled for game time. Though she considered asking for a trade, she eventually adjusted to an unfamiliar role and contributed to the team’s title game runs in 2017 and 2018, winning the latter.
“As a professional athlete, everyone wants to start, everyone wants to play minutes and when you’re not it’s hard, it takes a toll,” she said, “but I think one of the biggest things for me was just redefining the role.”
The hard work and patience paid off in 2019. She scored her first professional hat trick in a 3-0 win against the Orlando Pride in June, then put four past the Houston Dash a month later. Hamilton’s nine goals tied her for third in the league, and she was named to the NWSL second-team all league.
Her performances also led to a USWNT call-up during the victory tour following the 2019 World Cup, and Hamilton earned her first international cap Sept. 3, 2019, at 27 years old against Portugal.
“It was a packed stadium,” Hamilton said. “Hearing the crowd and the noise, and wearing that jersey was really special.”
Before participating in the NWSL Challenge Cup this summer, Hamilton played abroad for the first time in her career in Australia — mentoring and leading young players for the first time since college.
For now, Hamilton’s future remains in North Carolina as she recently extended her contract with the club through 2022. But she hopes to rejoin the USWNT again and play overseas again.
Her career has been anything but normal, but now, through perseverance and commitment, she’s done what few people believed was possible all those years ago. And she’s not done yet.
“I want to show what I can do because it’s not a fluke that I’m here,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-08-29--Guest commentary: Failure to invest in higher ed forced unsafe rush to bring college kids back to ca

Guest commentary: Failure to invest in higher ed forced unsafe rush to bring college kids back to campus

Like many , today ’ s doomscrolling was filled with pictures of CU students engaging in mass gatherings , with barely a mask in sight .
It ’ s horrifying and upsetting .
But CU emails and social media posts blaming students for the increased risk of COVID in our communities misses the major culprit .
Yes , these students are acting irresponsibly , but we can ’ t solely blame the students .
Blame rests at the feet of our entire system of higher education , which sells college as a consumer experience rather than funding higher education as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that CU and other universities were selling when they told students they ’ d still have an “ on campus experience ?
” Does anyone honestly believe that CU was trying to sell students on the value of in-person classes where masks and increased distance make discussions nearly impossible ?
Or on the joys of seeing new and exciting people from across the quad without the ability to physically interact with them ?
Even I know upper administrators aren ’ t that naive .
Imagine being an undergraduate right now .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ opening up , ” signaling that it ’ s time for The College Experience .
On the flip side , students also see how America has effectively given up trying to protect people during this pandemic , a pandemic going on during increased public awareness of police brutality and massive wildfires ; a “ nothing matters , might as well have fun ” attitude is quite understandable .
Imagine being an 18-22-year-old undergraduate right now ; would you really not be out partying and making new friends ?
To be clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity .
It ’ s terribly selfish and will lead to significant pain , suffering , and death for many in our communities .
But such decisions are not solely due to individual bad actors .
Background conditions impact our decisions ; these students are simply trying to have The College Experience that universities like CU have been selling .
And CU has to sell this because it needs tuition dollars to survive .
The “ Flagship Campus ” of the University of Colorado – enshrined in the constitution of the State of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its budget from the state prior to the pandemic .
( CU as a whole generated over $ 14 billion for Colorado ’ s economy in FY 2019 . )
While there are many reasons for this , the most oppressive is TABOR .
Far too briefly , TABOR severely restricts the money that Colorado can raise and spend , drastically reducing our ability to provide public goods to our community .
Since TABOR was enacted in 1992 , we ’ ve dropped from 35th to 48th nationally in higher-ed funding .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money and the rest of us to get occasional $ 20 refunds , we ’ re letting our state crumble .
With our state ’ s unwillingness to invest in public goods – and any respectable society must view education as a public good – CU and universities around the country are incentivized to focus their limited dollars in attracting students , rather than educating students .
Paying instructional staff like myself $ 13,500 total to teach three classes in a semester is mind boggling until you realize that CU isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The College Experience .
Remember that the next time CU praises the hard work we do to prepare for fall classes .
When CU spends its limited dollars on Buffalo shaped pools and symbolic walkways between buildings , when the citizens of Colorado refuse to adequately fund higher education , and when we as a country have collectively decided that we don ’ t care if tens of thousands are infected daily , we can ’ t start by blaming students .
Yes , they ought to be more responsible .
But individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we should be ashamed of the environment we ’ ve created .
Let ’ s recognize our failings and turn our shame into action .
It ’ s time to invest in public goods .
It ’ s time to invest in us .
Alex Wolf-Root is philosophy lecturer at the University of Colorado Boulder .
He is also the president of United Campus Workers Colorado , the new wall-to-wall union for all CU campuses .
You can reach him via email at president @ ucwcolorado.org .

Like many, today’s doomscrolling was filled with pictures of CU students engaging in mass gatherings, with barely a mask in sight. It’s horrifying and upsetting. But CU emails and social media posts blaming students for the increased risk of COVID in our communities misses the major culprit. Yes, these students are acting irresponsibly, but we can’t solely blame the students. Blame rests at the feet of our entire system of higher education, which sells college as a consumer experience rather than funding higher education as a public good.
What do we think that CU and other universities were selling when they told students they’d still have an “on campus experience?”
Does anyone honestly believe that CU was trying to sell students on the value of in-person classes where masks and increased distance make discussions nearly impossible? Or on the joys of seeing new and exciting people from across the quad without the ability to physically interact with them? Even I know upper administrators aren’t that naive.
Imagine being an undergraduate right now.
On one side, universities across the country are “opening up,” signaling that it’s time for The College Experience. On the flip side, students also see how America has effectively given up trying to protect people during this pandemic, a pandemic going on during increased public awareness of police brutality and massive wildfires; a “nothing matters, might as well have fun” attitude is quite understandable. Imagine being an 18-22-year-old undergraduate right now; would you really not be out partying and making new friends?
To be clear, I don’t condone such activity. It’s terribly selfish and will lead to significant pain, suffering, and death for many in our communities. But such decisions are not solely due to individual bad actors. Background conditions impact our decisions; these students are simply trying to have The College Experience that universities like CU have been selling. And CU has to sell this because it needs tuition dollars to survive.
The “Flagship Campus” of the University of Colorado – enshrined in the constitution of the State of Colorado – got a pathetic 4.8% of its budget from the state prior to the pandemic. (CU as a whole generated over $14 billion for Colorado’s economy in FY 2019.) While there are many reasons for this, the most oppressive is TABOR.
Far too briefly, TABOR severely restricts the money that Colorado can raise and spend, drastically reducing our ability to provide public goods to our community. Since TABOR was enacted in 1992, we’ve dropped from 35th to 48th nationally in higher-ed funding. To allow the wealthy to save significant money and the rest of us to get occasional $20 refunds, we’re letting our state crumble.
Back to CU.
With our state’s unwillingness to invest in public goods – and any respectable society must view education as a public good – CU and universities around the country are incentivized to focus their limited dollars in attracting students, rather than educating students. Paying instructional staff like myself $13,500 total to teach three classes in a semester is mind boggling until you realize that CU isn’t selling instruction; it’s selling The College Experience. Remember that the next time CU praises the hard work we do to prepare for fall classes.
When CU spends its limited dollars on Buffalo shaped pools and symbolic walkways between buildings, when the citizens of Colorado refuse to adequately fund higher education, and when we as a country have collectively decided that we don’t care if tens of thousands are infected daily, we can’t start by blaming students. Yes, they ought to be more responsible. But individual choices are shaped by our environment, and we should be ashamed of the environment we’ve created.
Let’s recognize our failings and turn our shame into action. It’s time to invest in public goods. It’s time to invest in us.
Alex Wolf-Root is philosophy lecturer at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is also the president of United Campus Workers Colorado, the new wall-to-wall union for all CU campuses. You can reach him via email at president@ucwcolorado.org.