thedenverpost--2020-06-28--Former Washington assistant, “Hogs” creator Joe Bugel dies at 80

Former Washington Redskins assistant coach Joe Bugel , regarded as one of the top offensive line coaches in NFL history , has died .
He was 80 .
Bugel died on Sunday , according to a statement from the team , which did not disclose a cause of death .
Bugel was the architect of “ The Hogs , ” the dominant offensive lines that helped lead the team to three Super Bowls under Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs .
Bugel was the team ’ s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1981-82 and became the assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had until 1989 before becoming the head coach of the Phoenix Cardinals .
He returned for a second stint with the team as assistant head coach-offense from 2004-09 .
“ Joe had an incredible passion for the game of football .
He came to work every day with such great excitement and his players had tremendous respect for him .
The strength of our coaching staff on both sides of the ball was a key reason we had so much success , ” Gibbs said in a statement .
“ Bugel was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his impact was felt not only by those Redskins teams , but truly across the entire league .
I will miss his friendship and I will always cherish our late-night arguments putting together the game plan each week .
Pat and I will be praying for his wife Brenda , his girls and their entire family.
” With players such as Jeff Bostic , Joe Jacoby and Hall of Famer Russ Grimm on the offensive line , Washington won the Super Bowl after the 1982 , 1987 and 1991 seasons with three different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the team ’ s first Super Bowl title , tweeted : “ Joe Bugel was a friend as much as a coach .
For those of us who had the privilege to know him we were blessed .
He ’ ll have the best Oline in heaven .
RIP Joe.
” Bugel was promoted to assistant head coach in 1983 , the year the Redskins scored a then-NFL record 541 points .
That team reached the Super Bowl , where it lost to the Los Angeles Raiders .
In his first nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Redskins have four 1,000-yard rushers , one 4,000-yard passer and nine 1,000-yard receivers .
After his first stint in Washington , Bugel was hired by the Cardinals as head coach in 1990 .
He led the team for four seasons before joining the Oakland Raiders as assistant head coach/offense from 1995-96 and head coach in 1997 .
He coached the offensive line for the then-San Diego Chargers from 1998-2001 .
After a two-year break from coaching , Bugel returned to the Redskins in 2004 as assistant head coach-offense under Gibbs , although his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offensive line .
He stayed on as offensive line coach in 2008 and retired following the 2009 season .
“ I am absolutely devastated by the news of Joe ’ s passing .
Joe was a larger-than-life figure and a true legend of his profession , ” owner Dan Snyder said in a statement .
“ He exemplified what it meant to be a Redskin with his character and ability to connect with his players along with a work ethic that was unmatched .
We shared a special bond and he was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 10 , 1940 .
A Pittsburgh native , Bugel was a two-way star in football at Munhall High School .
In 2005 , he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame ( Western Chapter ) .
Bugel is survived by his wife , Brenda , and daughters Angie and Jennifer .
His daughter Holly Bugel died in 2008 .

Former Washington Redskins assistant coach Joe Bugel, regarded as one of the top offensive line coaches in NFL history, has died. He was 80.
Bugel died on Sunday, according to a statement from the team, which did not disclose a cause of death.
Bugel was the architect of “The Hogs,” the dominant offensive lines that helped lead the team to three Super Bowls under Hall of Fame head coach Joe Gibbs.
Bugel was the team’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1981-82 and became the assistant head coach in 1983, a role he had until 1989 before becoming the head coach of the Phoenix Cardinals.
He returned for a second stint with the team as assistant head coach-offense from 2004-09.
“Joe had an incredible passion for the game of football. He came to work every day with such great excitement and his players had tremendous respect for him. The strength of our coaching staff on both sides of the ball was a key reason we had so much success,” Gibbs said in a statement.
“Bugel was such a big part of that and his impact was felt not only by those Redskins teams, but truly across the entire league. I will miss his friendship and I will always cherish our late-night arguments putting together the game plan each week. Pat and I will be praying for his wife Brenda, his girls and their entire family.”
With players such as Jeff Bostic, Joe Jacoby and Hall of Famer Russ Grimm on the offensive line, Washington won the Super Bowl after the 1982, 1987 and 1991 seasons with three different quarterbacks.
Joe Theismann, the QB for the team’s first Super Bowl title, tweeted: “Joe Bugel was a friend as much as a coach. For those of us who had the privilege to know him we were blessed. He’ll have the best Oline in heaven. RIP Joe.”
Bugel was promoted to assistant head coach in 1983, the year the Redskins scored a then-NFL record 541 points. That team reached the Super Bowl, where it lost to the Los Angeles Raiders.
In his first nine years in Washington, Bugel helped the Redskins have four 1,000-yard rushers, one 4,000-yard passer and nine 1,000-yard receivers.
After his first stint in Washington, Bugel was hired by the Cardinals as head coach in 1990. He led the team for four seasons before joining the Oakland Raiders as assistant head coach/offense from 1995-96 and head coach in 1997. He coached the offensive line for the then-San Diego Chargers from 1998-2001.
After a two-year break from coaching, Bugel returned to the Redskins in 2004 as assistant head coach-offense under Gibbs, although his primary job was to work with the offensive line. He stayed on as offensive line coach in 2008 and retired following the 2009 season.
“I am absolutely devastated by the news of Joe’s passing. Joe was a larger-than-life figure and a true legend of his profession,” owner Dan Snyder said in a statement.
“He exemplified what it meant to be a Redskin with his character and ability to connect with his players along with a work ethic that was unmatched. We shared a special bond and he was a great friend.”
Bugel was born on March 10, 1940. A Pittsburgh native, Bugel was a two-way star in football at Munhall High School.
In 2005, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Western Chapter). Bugel is survived by his wife, Brenda, and daughters Angie and Jennifer. His daughter Holly Bugel died in 2008.


thedenverpost--2020-06-28--Black candidates push race debate into GOP-held districts

COLUMBUS , Ind .
— It was a scene Jeannine Lee Lake never would have imagined when she first ran against Greg Pence , Vice President Mike Pence ’ s brother , for a rural Indiana congressional seat two years ago : an almost entirely white crowd of more than 100 people marching silently in the Pences ’ hometown this month , offering prayers for Black people killed by police and an end to systemic racism .
Leading them was Lake , who is in a rematch against Pence .
She is the only Black woman running for federal office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who lost badly in 2018 and again faces long odds in the deeply conservative district , has spent much of the past few weeks at events such as the one in Columbus on Juneteenth .
In communities across a district that is 93 % white , Lake has talked about seeing her children pulled over by police and “ harassed for no reason.
” She has spoken the names of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor and other Black people killed by police , telling crowds “ we ’ re here to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shape or form is 2018 the same as the 2020 race in regard to the grassroots effort and the galvanization of the movement that is now Black Lives Matter , ” said Lake , 50 .
“ It ’ s just a total shift.
” The reenergized movement against racial inequality has amplified the voices of Black candidates , in some cases pushing the political debate over race into Republican-leaning areas .
Democrats say they ’ ve seen a significant boost in fundraising and other engagement for candidates running on racial justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party flip some Republican-held districts in November .
Polls show unusually broad bipartisan support for some change to the nation ’ s criminal justice system .
But lawmakers in Washington are at an impasse after far-reaching federal legislation passed the Democrat-led House on Thursday over objections from Republicans .
Pence voted no , saying he opposes changes to the qualified immunity system that shields officers from liability .
In Arkansas , Democratic state Sen. Joyce Elliott says she ’ s seeing new momentum in her bid to unseat GOP Rep. French Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black woman elected to Congress .
She began running digital ads shortly after Floyd ’ s death last month .
In them , she spoke about her experience integrating a school in the 1960s where she and other Black students weren ’ t wanted .
It was the kind of fundraising appeal that typically would bring in about $ 1.50 for every $ 1 a congressional campaign spent on the ad buy .
This ad cost Elliott ’ s campaign about $ 2,500 and raised $ 24,000 within one week , said Julia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the digital firm for Elliott ’ s campaign .
Other Black candidates are seeing a similar trend , she said .
“ The environment is different , and that environment has created a boon of support , ” Ager said .
For people who are tired of inaction and want to see more Black people in Congress , “ it seems like a clear place to direct money.
” Elliott , 69 , has also been traveling to Black Lives Matter protests around the district , which includes Little Rock and its suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than a decade .
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic , the kidney donor speaks to crowds from the back of a pickup truck , often to predominantly white audiences .
She tells her story of overcoming adversity , mentioning the people in school who didn ’ t want her or other Black students there .
At one recent event , the crowd gathered in the shadow of a Confederate statue , where the discussion turned to trying to have it removed .
After a lifetime of feeling like she had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Elliott said , “ now it feels like this is a big warm embrace.
” Her campaign has been backed by EMILY ’ s List , which supports women in politics , and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC .
Sen. Kamala Harris , D-Calif. , who is in the running to be the Democratic nominee for vice president , endorsed Elliott ’ s campaign on Saturday .
“ I ’ m feeling now as if a door has opened , ” Elliott said .
“ People can look at someone like me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elliott ?
Isn ’ t she the right person for this moment ?
’ ” In North Carolina , Democrats saw Pat Timmons-Goodson as a strong candidate for a newly redrawn congressional district held by Republican Rep. Richard Hudson even before the discussion over policing and racial inequality was reinvigorated .
Timmons-Goodson was the first Black woman on the Supreme Court of North Carolina and served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights , where she helped write recommendations on policing .
In 2016 , President Barack Obama nominated her to the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and other Republicans .
Timmons-Goodson received national attention during that debate , as the seat on the court was left vacant for years and became part of a national fight over the courts .
But her campaign says support for her candidacy exploded in recent weeks .
Timmons-Goodson reported fewer than 1,000 individual contributions for the first quarter of 2020 .
In the quarter that ends Tuesday , the campaign expects to report some 20,000 contributions .
Lake may have a tougher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s had to order more campaign signs and more than doubled her ranks of campaign volunteers .
Pence ’ s campaign largely ignores her bid .
Other Black activists tell Lake they ’ re considering running for office , too .
Her campaign also is organizing “ Candidates for Change ” events , which will be held in more than half the district ’ s 19 counties and will focus on issues of policing , inequality and systemic racism — conversations that may not have occurred before in some places .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the protests have gone on .
“ I ’ m going to keep on going , as long as they do , ” she said .

COLUMBUS, Ind. — It was a scene Jeannine Lee Lake never would have imagined when she first ran against Greg Pence, Vice President Mike Pence’s brother, for a rural Indiana congressional seat two years ago: an almost entirely white crowd of more than 100 people marching silently in the Pences’ hometown this month, offering prayers for Black people killed by police and an end to systemic racism.
Leading them was Lake, who is in a rematch against Pence. She is the only Black woman running for federal office in Indiana this fall.
The Democrat, who lost badly in 2018 and again faces long odds in the deeply conservative district, has spent much of the past few weeks at events such as the one in Columbus on Juneteenth. In communities across a district that is 93% white, Lake has talked about seeing her children pulled over by police and “harassed for no reason.” She has spoken the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people killed by police, telling crowds “we’re here to call for change.”
“In no way, shape or form is 2018 the same as the 2020 race in regard to the grassroots effort and the galvanization of the movement that is now Black Lives Matter,” said Lake, 50. “It’s just a total shift.”
The reenergized movement against racial inequality has amplified the voices of Black candidates, in some cases pushing the political debate over race into Republican-leaning areas. Democrats say they’ve seen a significant boost in fundraising and other engagement for candidates running on racial justice issues, and believe it could help the party flip some Republican-held districts in November.
Polls show unusually broad bipartisan support for some change to the nation’s criminal justice system. But lawmakers in Washington are at an impasse after far-reaching federal legislation passed the Democrat-led House on Thursday over objections from Republicans. Pence voted no, saying he opposes changes to the qualified immunity system that shields officers from liability.
In Arkansas, Democratic state Sen. Joyce Elliott says she’s seeing new momentum in her bid to unseat GOP Rep. French Hill and become the state’s first Black woman elected to Congress. She began running digital ads shortly after Floyd’s death last month. In them, she spoke about her experience integrating a school in the 1960s where she and other Black students weren’t wanted.
It was the kind of fundraising appeal that typically would bring in about $1.50 for every $1 a congressional campaign spent on the ad buy. This ad cost Elliott’s campaign about $2,500 and raised $24,000 within one week, said Julia Ager, president of Sapphire Strategies, the digital firm for Elliott’s campaign. Other Black candidates are seeing a similar trend, she said.
“The environment is different, and that environment has created a boon of support,” Ager said. For people who are tired of inaction and want to see more Black people in Congress, “it seems like a clear place to direct money.”
Elliott, 69, has also been traveling to Black Lives Matter protests around the district, which includes Little Rock and its suburbs and has been represented by a Republican for more than a decade. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the kidney donor speaks to crowds from the back of a pickup truck, often to predominantly white audiences. She tells her story of overcoming adversity, mentioning the people in school who didn’t want her or other Black students there. At one recent event, the crowd gathered in the shadow of a Confederate statue, where the discussion turned to trying to have it removed.
After a lifetime of feeling like she had to “push, push, push,” Elliott said, “now it feels like this is a big warm embrace.”
Her campaign has been backed by EMILY’s List, which supports women in politics, and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., who is in the running to be the Democratic nominee for vice president, endorsed Elliott’s campaign on Saturday.
“I’m feeling now as if a door has opened,” Elliott said. “People can look at someone like me and say, ‘Why not Joyce Elliott? Isn’t she the right person for this moment?’”
In North Carolina, Democrats saw Pat Timmons-Goodson as a strong candidate for a newly redrawn congressional district held by Republican Rep. Richard Hudson even before the discussion over policing and racial inequality was reinvigorated.
Timmons-Goodson was the first Black woman on the Supreme Court of North Carolina and served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where she helped write recommendations on policing. In 2016, President Barack Obama nominated her to the federal court, though the nomination was among those blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and other Republicans.
Timmons-Goodson received national attention during that debate, as the seat on the court was left vacant for years and became part of a national fight over the courts. But her campaign says support for her candidacy exploded in recent weeks. Timmons-Goodson reported fewer than 1,000 individual contributions for the first quarter of 2020. In the quarter that ends Tuesday, the campaign expects to report some 20,000 contributions.
Lake may have a tougher fight ahead in Indiana, but she’s had to order more campaign signs and more than doubled her ranks of campaign volunteers. Pence’s campaign largely ignores her bid.
Other Black activists tell Lake they’re considering running for office, too. Her campaign also is organizing “Candidates for Change” events, which will be held in more than half the district’s 19 counties and will focus on issues of policing, inequality and systemic racism — conversations that may not have occurred before in some places. Even as the pandemic has canceled much campaigning, the protests have gone on.
“I’m going to keep on going, as long as they do,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-06-28--William Sherman a leader on CU Buffs’ line

Looking at the list of offensive linemen at Colorado this season gets William Sherman excited .
“ Since I ’ ve been here in 2017 , this is probably the most talented and the most depth that we ’ ve had on the O-line , ” said Sherman , a junior tackle .
“ I ’ m excited for guys to compete , because there ’ s going to be a lot of competition and it ’ s going to make us a lot better.
” Offensive line improvement has been an ongoing pursuit at CU for several years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Buffs taking a step forward this year .
Sherman , a 6-foot-4 , 310-pound junior from Allen , Texas , is one of two returning full-time starters to the line , along with left guard Kary Kutsch .
Colby Pursell , who started five games at right guard , also returns .
Pursell is likely to move back to center , where he started all 12 games in 2018 .
Sherman has been CU ’ s top-graded lineman each of the past two seasons – and he ’ s done it while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2018 , earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention from the coaches .
A year ago , then-line coach Chris Kapilovic moved Sherman to right tackle to make room for graduate transfer Arlington Hambright .
“ Coach Kapilovic and I had a talk about bettering the team with me moving to right and Arlington playing left , ” Sherman said .
The move worked , as both started all 12 games .
Hambright had a solid season and wound up getting drafted in the seventh round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sherman was once again the Buffs ’ highest-graded lineman .
This summer , Sherman received recognition from Athlon magazine as a preseason All-Pac-12 second-team choice , and he is eager to get back to the left side of the line , where he can protect the blindside of whoever plays quarterback for the Buffs .
“ Once Arlington graduated , I was going to move back to left , so I ’ m excited to do that and show some versatility , being able to play right and left , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and with drills and whatnot going on , I ’ m starting to get back in the groove playing at left tackle and it feels really good.
” There are some adjustments Sherman has to make in moving back to the left , but he doesn ’ t mind .
Whatever helps the team is good with Sherman .
“ Really my goal right now is there being no difference at all – just be smooth at right , smooth at left and maybe even be able to play guard if I need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just being as versatile as possible .
“ There definitely are some differences , just getting in the right stance , taking a smooth pass set .
I ’ m trying to just be fluid at both.
” The biggest adjustment for Sherman and the rest of the group is getting used to a third line coach in three years ( along with a third head coach in that time ) .
First-year head coach Karl Dorrell hired Mitch Rodrigue to mentor the Buffs ’ linemen , but he was hired just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cancellation of spring practices .
“ It was pretty difficult at first , ” Sherman said .
“ We haven ’ t really gotten to get on the field with him .
So that ’ s something I ’ m really looking forward to .
In Zoom meetings , he ’ s old school .
He ’ s very smart , he loves a physical O-line , so I ’ m very excited to work with him.
” Sherman is also excited about his teammates .
Kutsch , a former junior college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left guard last year and never let it go .
He comes in as the lone senior on the line .
Pursell moved to guard last year to make room for senior Tim Lynott Jr. , but then had an injury-plagued season .
Fully healthy , Pursell could be one of the top centers in the Pac-12 .
Guard Casey Roddick made two starts and played 309 snaps last season as a redshirt freshman .
Tackle Frank Fillip made two starts as a true freshman in 2018 and took a much-needed redshirt year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Pac-12 play .
Both will compete for starting spots .
Sophomore Kanan Ray , who originally signed with UCLA out of high school , was listed No .
1 at right guard on CU ’ s pencil depth chart earlier this month .
Junior Chance Lytle and redshirt freshmen Austin Johnson and Valentin Senn could compete for playing time , as well .
“ I ’ m excited to see who ’ s going to take the right tackle spot , who ’ s going to take the right guard spot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see ) who the best five are going to be because I know it ’ s going to be a great five when we come out there .
”

Looking at the list of offensive linemen at Colorado this season gets William Sherman excited.
“Since I’ve been here in 2017, this is probably the most talented and the most depth that we’ve had on the O-line,” said Sherman, a junior tackle. “I’m excited for guys to compete, because there’s going to be a lot of competition and it’s going to make us a lot better.”
Offensive line improvement has been an ongoing pursuit at CU for several years and Sherman will play a key role in the Buffs taking a step forward this year.
Sherman, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound junior from Allen, Texas, is one of two returning full-time starters to the line, along with left guard Kary Kutsch. Colby Pursell, who started five games at right guard, also returns. Pursell is likely to move back to center, where he started all 12 games in 2018.
Sherman has been CU’s top-graded lineman each of the past two seasons – and he’s done it while playing two different positions. He started nine games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2018, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention from the coaches.
A year ago, then-line coach Chris Kapilovic moved Sherman to right tackle to make room for graduate transfer Arlington Hambright.
“Coach Kapilovic and I had a talk about bettering the team with me moving to right and Arlington playing left,” Sherman said.
The move worked, as both started all 12 games. Hambright had a solid season and wound up getting drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Bears in April. Sherman was once again the Buffs’ highest-graded lineman.
This summer, Sherman received recognition from Athlon magazine as a preseason All-Pac-12 second-team choice, and he is eager to get back to the left side of the line, where he can protect the blindside of whoever plays quarterback for the Buffs.
“Once Arlington graduated, I was going to move back to left, so I’m excited to do that and show some versatility, being able to play right and left,” he said. “I’m really excited and with drills and whatnot going on, I’m starting to get back in the groove playing at left tackle and it feels really good.”
There are some adjustments Sherman has to make in moving back to the left, but he doesn’t mind. Whatever helps the team is good with Sherman.
“Really my goal right now is there being no difference at all – just be smooth at right, smooth at left and maybe even be able to play guard if I need to,” he said. “Just being as versatile as possible.
“There definitely are some differences, just getting in the right stance, taking a smooth pass set. I’m trying to just be fluid at both.”
The biggest adjustment for Sherman and the rest of the group is getting used to a third line coach in three years (along with a third head coach in that time). First-year head coach Karl Dorrell hired Mitch Rodrigue to mentor the Buffs’ linemen, but he was hired just a few days before the COVID-19 pandemic caused a cancellation of spring practices.
“It was pretty difficult at first,” Sherman said. “We haven’t really gotten to get on the field with him. So that’s something I’m really looking forward to. In Zoom meetings, he’s old school. He’s very smart, he loves a physical O-line, so I’m very excited to work with him.”
Sherman is also excited about his teammates.
Kutsch, a former junior college transfer, won the starting job at left guard last year and never let it go. He comes in as the lone senior on the line. Pursell moved to guard last year to make room for senior Tim Lynott Jr., but then had an injury-plagued season. Fully healthy, Pursell could be one of the top centers in the Pac-12.
Guard Casey Roddick made two starts and played 309 snaps last season as a redshirt freshman. Tackle Frank Fillip made two starts as a true freshman in 2018 and took a much-needed redshirt year in 2019 to get his body ready for Pac-12 play. Both will compete for starting spots.
Sophomore Kanan Ray, who originally signed with UCLA out of high school, was listed No. 1 at right guard on CU’s pencil depth chart earlier this month. Junior Chance Lytle and redshirt freshmen Austin Johnson and Valentin Senn could compete for playing time, as well.
“I’m excited to see who’s going to take the right tackle spot, who’s going to take the right guard spot,” Sherman said. “(Excited to see) who the best five are going to be because I know it’s going to be a great five when we come out there.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-28--World hits 500,000 confirmed deaths amid fears of worst to come

ROME — The world surpassed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday — 500,000 confirmed deaths , 10 million confirmed cases — and hit another high mark for daily new infections as governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come .
“ COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks , ” said Gov .
Greg Abbott , who allowed businesses to start reopening in early May but on Friday shut down bars and limited restaurant dining amid a spike in cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopenings of bars in seven counties , including Los Angeles .
He ordered them to close immediately and urged eight other counties to issue local health orders mandating the same .
South Africa ’ s health minister warned that the country ’ s current surge of cases is expected to rapidly increase in the coming weeks and push hospitals to the limit .
Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said the current rise in infections has come from people who “ moved back into the workplace .
It was therefore inevitable that there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities into places of congregation such as mines , factories , taxis and buses.
” New clusters of cases at a Swiss nightclub and in the central English city of Leicester showed that the virus was still circulating widely in Europe , though not with the rapidly growing infection rate seen in parts of the U.S. , Latin America and India .
Poland and France , meanwhile , attempted a step toward normalcy as the held elections that had been delayed by the virus .
Wearing mandatory masks , social distancing in lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting registers , French voters cast ballots in a second round of municipal elections .
Poles also wore masks and used hand sanitizer , and some in virus-hit areas were told to mail in their ballots to avoid further contagion .
“ I didn ’ t go and vote the first time around because I am elderly and I got scared , ” said Fanny Barouh as she voted in a Paris school .
In Texas , Abbott appeared with Vice President Mike Pence , who cut campaign events from upcoming visits to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in those states .
Pence praised Abbott for both his decision to reopen the state , and to roll back the reopening plans .
“ You flattened the curve here in Texas … but about two weeks ago something changed , ” Pence said .
Pence urged people to wear masks when unable to practice social distancing .
He and Abbott wore face masks as they entered and left the room , taking them off while speaking to reporters .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar , meanwhile , defended the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worn a mask in public , saying he doesn ’ t have to follow his own administration ’ s guidance because as a leader of the free world he ’ s tested regularly and is in “ very different circumstances than the rest of us.
” Addressing spikes in reported coronavirus cases in some states , Azar said on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press ” that people “ have to take ownership ” of their own behaviors by social distancing and wearing masks if possible .
A reported tally Sunday from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll from the coronavirus pandemic had reached 500,108 .
About 1 in 4 of those deaths – more than 125,000 – have been reported in the U.S .
The country with the next highest death toll is Brazil , with more than 57,000 , or about 1 in 9 .
The true death toll from the virus , which first emerged in China late last year , is widely believed to be significantly higher .
Experts say that especially early on , many victims died of COVID-19 without being tested for it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases have been reported globally .
About a quarter of them have been reported in the U.S .
The World Health Organization announced another daily record in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the world – topping over 189,000 in a single 24-hour period .
The tally eclipses the previous record a week earlier at over 183,000 cases , showing case counts continue to progress worldwide .
Overall the U.S. still has far and away the most total cases .
At more than 2,450,000 – roughly twice that of Brazil .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ much higher .
New York , once the nation ’ s pandemic epicenter , is now “ on the exact opposite end , ” Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said in an interview with “ Meet the Press.
” The state reported five new virus deaths Saturday , its lowest reported daily death toll since March 15 .
During the state ’ s peak pandemic in April , nearly 800 people were dying every day .
New York still leads the nation in COVID-19 deaths with nearly 25,000 .
In the state of Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continue to increase .
But in Hawaii , the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing .
Britain ’ s government , meanwhile , is considering whether a local lockdown is needed for the central English city of Leicester amid reports about a spike in COVID-19 among its Asian community .
It would be Britain ’ s first local lockdown .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks , ” Home Secretary Priti Patel told the BBC on Sunday .
Polish voters were casting ballots , in person and by mail , for a presidential election that was supposed to have taken place in May but was chaotically postponed amid the pandemic .
President Andrzej Duda , a 48-year-old conservative backed by the nationalist ruling Law and Justice party , is running against 10 other candidates as he seeks a second five-year term .
Iwona Goge , 79 , was encouraged to see so many people voting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Poland is terribly divided and people are getting discouraged , ” she said .
French voters were choosing mayors and municipal councilors in Paris and 5,000 towns and cities in a second round of municipal elections held under strict hygiene rules .
Key battlegrounds include Paris , where the next mayor will preside over the 2024 Summer Olympics .
Italy was honoring its dead later Sunday with an evening Requiem concert in hard-hit Bergamo province .
The ceremony in the onetime epicenter of the European outbreak came a day after Italy registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in nearly four months : eight .
European leaders were taking no chances in tamping down new clusters .
German authorities renewed a lockdown in a western region of about 500,000 people after about 1,300 slaughterhouse workers tested positive .
Swiss authorities ordered 300 people into quarantine after a “ superspreader ” outbreak of coronavirus at a Zurich nightclub .
Africa ’ s confirmed cases of COVID-19 continued to climb to a new high of more than 371,000 , including 9,484 deaths , according to figures released Sunday by the African Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

ROME — The world surpassed two sobering coronavirus milestones Sunday — 500,000 confirmed deaths, 10 million confirmed cases — and hit another high mark for daily new infections as governments that attempted reopenings continued to backtrack and warn that worse news could be yet to come.
“COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, who allowed businesses to start reopening in early May but on Friday shut down bars and limited restaurant dining amid a spike in cases.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom rolled back reopenings of bars in seven counties, including Los Angeles. He ordered them to close immediately and urged eight other counties to issue local health orders mandating the same.
South Africa’s health minister warned that the country’s current surge of cases is expected to rapidly increase in the coming weeks and push hospitals to the limit. Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said the current rise in infections has come from people who “moved back into the workplace. It was therefore inevitable that there would be cluster outbreaks as infections spilled over from communities into places of congregation such as mines, factories, taxis and buses.”
New clusters of cases at a Swiss nightclub and in the central English city of Leicester showed that the virus was still circulating widely in Europe, though not with the rapidly growing infection rate seen in parts of the U.S., Latin America and India.
Poland and France, meanwhile, attempted a step toward normalcy as the held elections that had been delayed by the virus.
Wearing mandatory masks, social distancing in lines and carrying their own pens to sign voting registers, French voters cast ballots in a second round of municipal elections. Poles also wore masks and used hand sanitizer, and some in virus-hit areas were told to mail in their ballots to avoid further contagion.
“I didn’t go and vote the first time around because I am elderly and I got scared,” said Fanny Barouh as she voted in a Paris school.
In Texas, Abbott appeared with Vice President Mike Pence, who cut campaign events from upcoming visits to Florida and Arizona because of rising virus cases in those states.
Pence praised Abbott for both his decision to reopen the state, and to roll back the reopening plans.
“You flattened the curve here in Texas … but about two weeks ago something changed,” Pence said.
Pence urged people to wear masks when unable to practice social distancing. He and Abbott wore face masks as they entered and left the room, taking them off while speaking to reporters.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, meanwhile, defended the fact that President Donald Trump has rarely worn a mask in public, saying he doesn’t have to follow his own administration’s guidance because as a leader of the free world he’s tested regularly and is in “very different circumstances than the rest of us.”
Addressing spikes in reported coronavirus cases in some states, Azar said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that people “have to take ownership” of their own behaviors by social distancing and wearing masks if possible.
A reported tally Sunday from Johns Hopkins University researchers said the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic had reached 500,108.
About 1 in 4 of those deaths – more than 125,000 – have been reported in the U.S. The country with the next highest death toll is Brazil, with more than 57,000, or about 1 in 9.
The true death toll from the virus, which first emerged in China late last year, is widely believed to be significantly higher. Experts say that especially early on, many victims died of COVID-19 without being tested for it.
To date, more than 10 million confirmed cases have been reported globally. About a quarter of them have been reported in the U.S.
The World Health Organization announced another daily record in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the world – topping over 189,000 in a single 24-hour period. The tally eclipses the previous record a week earlier at over 183,000 cases, showing case counts continue to progress worldwide.
Overall the U.S. still has far and away the most total cases. At more than 2,450,000 – roughly twice that of Brazil. The number of actual cases worldwide is much higher.
New York, once the nation’s pandemic epicenter, is now “on the exact opposite end,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in an interview with “Meet the Press.”
The state reported five new virus deaths Saturday, its lowest reported daily death toll since March 15. During the state’s peak pandemic in April, nearly 800 people were dying every day. New York still leads the nation in COVID-19 deaths with nearly 25,000.
In the state of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee put a hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continue to increase. But in Hawaii, the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing.
Britain’s government, meanwhile, is considering whether a local lockdown is needed for the central English city of Leicester amid reports about a spike in COVID-19 among its Asian community. It would be Britain’s first local lockdown.
“We have seen flare-ups across the country in recent weeks,” Home Secretary Priti Patel told the BBC on Sunday.
Polish voters were casting ballots, in person and by mail, for a presidential election that was supposed to have taken place in May but was chaotically postponed amid the pandemic. President Andrzej Duda, a 48-year-old conservative backed by the nationalist ruling Law and Justice party, is running against 10 other candidates as he seeks a second five-year term.
Iwona Goge, 79, was encouraged to see so many people voting in Warsaw.
“It’s bad. Poland is terribly divided and people are getting discouraged,” she said.
French voters were choosing mayors and municipal councilors in Paris and 5,000 towns and cities in a second round of municipal elections held under strict hygiene rules. Key battlegrounds include Paris, where the next mayor will preside over the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Italy was honoring its dead later Sunday with an evening Requiem concert in hard-hit Bergamo province. The ceremony in the onetime epicenter of the European outbreak came a day after Italy registered the lowest daily tally of COVID-19 deaths in nearly four months: eight.
European leaders were taking no chances in tamping down new clusters. German authorities renewed a lockdown in a western region of about 500,000 people after about 1,300 slaughterhouse workers tested positive. Swiss authorities ordered 300 people into quarantine after a “superspreader” outbreak of coronavirus at a Zurich nightclub.
Africa’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 continued to climb to a new high of more than 371,000, including 9,484 deaths, according to figures released Sunday by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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thedenverpost--2020-06-28--Dustin Poirier wins decision over Dan Hooker in UFC thriller

LAS VEGAS — Dustin Poirier won a thrilling unanimous decision over Dan Hooker on Saturday night , surviving a brutal second round and persevering to finish a well-rounded performance in the main event at the UFC ’ s corporate gym .
Mike Perry also ended his two-fight skid with a one-sided unanimous decision over Mickey Gall in the penultimate fight of the UFC ’ s fifth consecutive fan-free event in its hometown .
The main event was a barn-burner from the opening round , with both lightweights trading wicked strikes and displaying minimal regard for defense .
The second round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighter badly hurting the other while throwing punches and knees at full power .
The fight went to the ground in the fourth round , and Poirier attempted several submissions before Hooker escaped .
Poirier appeared to have more energy left for the fifth round , and he won on all three cards : 48-47 , 48-47 and 48-46 .
“ It was a tough one , ” Poirier said .
“ Dan came to fight .
He ’ s a tough guy .
He ’ s on the rise .
He really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me .
I trusted in my team , in my skill and my work ethic.
” Poirier ( 26-6 ) capped his long rise by beating Max Holloway in April 2019 for the interim lightweight title .
He lost the belt to unbeaten champion Khabib Nurmagomedov last September , and a leg injury subsequently kept him out of the cage for the longest stretch of his career .
He was back in fine form against Hooker ( 20-9 ) , the tough kickboxing star from New Zealand who had won seven of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had lost five of his last seven fights , and his wild mixed martial arts career took another swerve in recent months when he split with his wife , separated from his coaches and decided that his girlfriend , Latory Gonzalez , would be the only person in his corner at this fight .
Gonzalez doesn ’ t have an extensive combat sports background , and her corner work largely consisted of placing an ice bag on Perry ’ s neck between rounds and saying : “ You ’ re doing great , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills and an impressive ground game to earn just his second win since July 2018 .
“ Every time we get in there , it ’ s all up to me , ” said Perry , who plans to get new coaches before his next bout .
“ I trained for this .
I ’ m a professional.
” The show was the last of five weekend events at the UFC Apex gym on the promotion ’ s corporate campus .
The UFC has staged eight fan-free events amid the coronavirus pandemic since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UFC will take next week off before resuming competition on July 12 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with UFC 251 , a stacked pay-per-view show with three title fights .
The promotion will hold four shows over 14 days at the so-called “ Fight Island ” before returning stateside .
This latest Vegas show was stacked with impressive finishes and unusual results .
Heavyweight Maurice Greene stopped his two-fight skid with an unorthodox submission of Gian Villante , who was on top of Greene and apparently in control when Greene wrapped an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 9-4 ) didn ’ t have a traditional chokehold around Villante ’ s neck , an exhausted Villante was unable to move and tapped out with 1:16 left in the fight .
Japanese welterweight Takashi Sato produced one of the most impressive stoppages of the night , beating late replacement opponent Jason Witt with a flurry of strikes in just 48 seconds .
Julian Erosa , another late replacement opponent , won his fight on five days ’ notice by forcing Sean Woodson to tap out with a choke midway through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UFC roster last year after three straight losses , but seized his last-minute chance to return .
A string of five consecutive finishes began with the second fight of the night .
Kay Hansen , a 20-year-old strawweight making her UFC debut , beat Jinh Yu Frey in the third round with an armbar finish reminiscent of her hero , Ronda Rousey .

LAS VEGAS — Dustin Poirier won a thrilling unanimous decision over Dan Hooker on Saturday night, surviving a brutal second round and persevering to finish a well-rounded performance in the main event at the UFC’s corporate gym.
Mike Perry also ended his two-fight skid with a one-sided unanimous decision over Mickey Gall in the penultimate fight of the UFC’s fifth consecutive fan-free event in its hometown.
The main event was a barn-burner from the opening round, with both lightweights trading wicked strikes and displaying minimal regard for defense. The second round was a particular spectacle, with each fighter badly hurting the other while throwing punches and knees at full power.
The fight went to the ground in the fourth round, and Poirier attempted several submissions before Hooker escaped. Poirier appeared to have more energy left for the fifth round, and he won on all three cards: 48-47, 48-47 and 48-46.
“It was a tough one,” Poirier said. “Dan came to fight. He’s a tough guy. He’s on the rise. He really thought he was going to get past me. I trusted in my team, in my skill and my work ethic.”
Poirier (26-6) capped his long rise by beating Max Holloway in April 2019 for the interim lightweight title. He lost the belt to unbeaten champion Khabib Nurmagomedov last September, and a leg injury subsequently kept him out of the cage for the longest stretch of his career.
He was back in fine form against Hooker (20-9), the tough kickboxing star from New Zealand who had won seven of his last eight bouts since 2016.
Perry had lost five of his last seven fights, and his wild mixed martial arts career took another swerve in recent months when he split with his wife, separated from his coaches and decided that his girlfriend, Latory Gonzalez, would be the only person in his corner at this fight.
Gonzalez doesn’t have an extensive combat sports background, and her corner work largely consisted of placing an ice bag on Perry’s neck between rounds and saying: “You’re doing great, baby.” Perry used his superior striking skills and an impressive ground game to earn just his second win since July 2018.
“Every time we get in there, it’s all up to me,” said Perry, who plans to get new coaches before his next bout. “I trained for this. I’m a professional.”
The show was the last of five weekend events at the UFC Apex gym on the promotion’s corporate campus. The UFC has staged eight fan-free events amid the coronavirus pandemic since returning from an eight-week break.
The UFC will take next week off before resuming competition on July 12 at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi with UFC 251, a stacked pay-per-view show with three title fights. The promotion will hold four shows over 14 days at the so-called “Fight Island” before returning stateside.
This latest Vegas show was stacked with impressive finishes and unusual results.
Heavyweight Maurice Greene stopped his two-fight skid with an unorthodox submission of Gian Villante, who was on top of Greene and apparently in control when Greene wrapped an arm around his head. Although Greene (9-4) didn’t have a traditional chokehold around Villante’s neck, an exhausted Villante was unable to move and tapped out with 1:16 left in the fight.
Japanese welterweight Takashi Sato produced one of the most impressive stoppages of the night, beating late replacement opponent Jason Witt with a flurry of strikes in just 48 seconds.
Julian Erosa, another late replacement opponent, won his fight on five days’ notice by forcing Sean Woodson to tap out with a choke midway through the third round. Erosa was dropped from the UFC roster last year after three straight losses, but seized his last-minute chance to return.
A string of five consecutive finishes began with the second fight of the night. Kay Hansen, a 20-year-old strawweight making her UFC debut, beat Jinh Yu Frey in the third round with an armbar finish reminiscent of her hero, Ronda Rousey.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


thedenverpost--2020-06-29--Sweeps of homeless camps in Denver, elsewhere run counter to COVID-19 guidance and pile on health ri

Sweeps of homeless camps in Denver, elsewhere run counter to COVID-19 guidance and pile on health risks

Melody Lewis lives like a nomad in the heart of downtown Denver .
Poking her head out of her green tent on a recent June day , the 57-year-old pointed a few blocks away to the place where city crews picked up her tent from a sidewalk median earlier this spring and replaced it with landscaping rocks , fencing and signs warning trespassers to keep out .
Lewis then moved just a quarter-mile to a new cracked sidewalk , with new neighbors and potentially , homeless advocates fear , new sources of exposure to the coronavirus .
“ Where else @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis asked .
“ What else are we going to do ?
” Several cities across the U.S. are bucking recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by continuing sweeps of homeless encampments , risking further spread of the virus at a time when health officials seek to gain an upper hand on the pandemic .
Such struggles involving COVID-19 highlight the nation ’ s ongoing problem with housing .
And they showcase the challenge public health officials face : Controlling the spread of the coronavirus also risks increasing the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hepatitis A , that thrive amid the trash-and-feces strewn sidewalks that can be found in some encampments .
In Denver , Lewis and hundreds of others were displaced in late April and early May from sprawling , blocks-long encampments , as part of what city officials say is an ongoing effort to periodically clean city streets and keep infectious diseases down .
Most homeless campers moved their belongings just a few blocks , where their tents now line more than a quarter-mile of sidewalks .
An hour south , in Colorado Springs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing to follow CDC guidance to prevent COVID-19 among the city ’ s homeless population , but also that it has continued enforcing camping bans at certain times on public property , ticketing homeless people who are camping if they refuse to relocate .
Those in the camps have said a bulldozer cleared at least one site .
And in St. Louis , the city ’ s health department ordered the removal of camps near City Hall , prompting an outcry from homeless advocates .
In all , at least a dozen cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removals — which goes against CDC guidelines amid the pandemic , according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty .
As some communities continue to reopen , and as downtown businesses welcome back employees and customers , some homeless advocates fear such sweeps will only worsen .
“ There ’ s no strategy , ” said Jacob Wessley , director of outreach and engagement for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless .
“ That is our concern : When they do sweep this area , where are [ those without homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denver , one such cleanup in early May netted 9,500 pounds of trash and more than 50 hypodermic needles , according to Nancy Kuhn , spokesperson for the city ’ s transportation and infrastructure department .
“ Denver has a responsibility to address unsafe , unhealthy , and unsanitary conditions impacting our community , ” Kuhn said in an email .
Some cities said the pace of such sweeps has dropped dramatically during the pandemic .
Seattle officials conducted four such sweeps from mid-March to early June — each due to “ extreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesperson for Seattle ’ s human services department .
That compares with 303 such camp removals in the final three months of 2019 .
Honolulu created a dedicated area for people to camp and “ quarantine ” for about two weeks before moving into shelters , in case they had COVID-19 .
But some homeless campers who did not move had their camps dismantled , causing them to disperse through the community .
The goal was to limit the spread of the virus , while encouraging campers to move indoors , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s Office of Housing .
Even so , many homeless advocates say the CDC ’ s guidance is clear , and such efforts don ’ t pass muster .
If individual housing units aren ’ t available , the CDC says , homeless campers should be allowed to remain in place during the pandemic .
Tents should be at least 12 feet apart , and camps of more than 10 people should be provided hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer .
“ Clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the CDC guidance said .
“ This increases the potential for infectious disease spread.
” Already the disease has infected some people who lack permanent housing .
In Colorado , for example , at least 483 homeless people have tested positive for COVID-19 , state officials reported June 14 .
Nearly 80 % lived in Denver .
Infection rates in the camps , however , are unclear .
None of the 50 homeless campers in downtown Denver who agreed to coronavirus testing in early June were positive , according to the Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different survey a month earlier indicated nearly a quarter of the 52 people tested at a nearby homeless service center were infected with the virus , despite showing no symptoms .
In downtown Denver encampments , dozens of tents stand packed together , often less than a foot apart along sidewalks .
Hardly anyone wears masks , and many in the tent community said the virus is low on their list of concerns .
Several hand-washing stations accompany portable toilets in the area , each provided by a local advocacy group .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For some homeless campers , the situation is preferable to staying in a shelter .
Avoiding those cramped confines and the accompanying risk of illness is “ common sense , ” said Erin Lorraine , 19 , who has been homeless off and on for seven years .
One sweep led her to move closer to the South Platte River on the west side of downtown .
“ These are our homes , ” Lorraine said .
“ We ’ re not hurting nobody.
” Not all homeless campers see Denver ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they were told by Denver officials that they could return after city crews sprayed down the sidewalk .
“ As long as they keep it to where we ’ re getting cleaned , not swept , it ’ s all right , ” said David Scott , 53 .
But some of those displaced by previous sweeps say that trust has been broken .
Melody Lewis was away from her tent during a recent cleanup and returned to find that city crews had confiscated many of her belongings , including at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoes .
She refused to go to a shelter , partly because of the threat of illness .
As Lewis relates her story , an old sign hanging from a lamppost a few feet away is a reminder of a previous camp cleanup .
“ We try to ignore it , ” Lewis said of such warnings .
“ Our stuff and our minds are never secure.
” To limit the spread of the coronavirus , some nonprofits and cities — including St. Louis and other places conducting sweeps — have gotten creative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID symptoms and helping some particularly at-risk people move into paid motel rooms .
Recent sweeps also have renewed a conversation in Denver about whether to create sanctioned encampment sites — areas where people can pitch tents and live in socially distanced communities with a city ’ s blessing .
Elsewhere , such regulated camps lend homeless people stability , while increasing the odds that caseworkers can find their clients when housing becomes available , said Tom Luehrs , executive director of the St. Francis Center , a homeless services organization in Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created a few such encampments , with a total capacity of roughly 200 people .
“ Some people have been out on the streets for years , ” Luehrs said .
“ And that ’ s where they feel best about living , because maybe we haven ’ t given them better options as a community.
” Colleen Echohawk , co-chair of Seattle ’ s Continuum of Care , a coalition of agencies and nonprofits working to address homelessness , said she empathizes with city officials who are having to juggle competing public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest areas to face an outbreak of hepatitis A in its homeless community .
But Echohawk questions whether more could be done to limit the impact of sweeps .
“ What ’ s frustrating about this is that you move them , and then they just moved into other encampments , and then took with them their COVID-19 , and they took with them their hepatitis A , ” Echohawk said .
“ It ’ s a real dilemma.
” Kaiser Health News is a national health policy news service .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .

By Jakob Rodgers, Kaiser Health News
Melody Lewis lives like a nomad in the heart of downtown Denver.
Poking her head out of her green tent on a recent June day, the 57-year-old pointed a few blocks away to the place where city crews picked up her tent from a sidewalk median earlier this spring and replaced it with landscaping rocks, fencing and signs warning trespassers to keep out.
Lewis then moved just a quarter-mile to a new cracked sidewalk, with new neighbors and potentially, homeless advocates fear, new sources of exposure to the coronavirus.
“Where else are we going to go?” Lewis asked. “What else are we going to do?”
Several cities across the U.S. are bucking recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by continuing sweeps of homeless encampments, risking further spread of the virus at a time when health officials seek to gain an upper hand on the pandemic.
Such struggles involving COVID-19 highlight the nation’s ongoing problem with housing. And they showcase the challenge public health officials face: Controlling the spread of the coronavirus also risks increasing the spread of other infectious diseases, such as hepatitis A, that thrive amid the trash-and-feces strewn sidewalks that can be found in some encampments.
In Denver, Lewis and hundreds of others were displaced in late April and early May from sprawling, blocks-long encampments, as part of what city officials say is an ongoing effort to periodically clean city streets and keep infectious diseases down. Most homeless campers moved their belongings just a few blocks, where their tents now line more than a quarter-mile of sidewalks.
An hour south, in Colorado Springs, the police department said that it is continuing to follow CDC guidance to prevent COVID-19 among the city’s homeless population, but also that it has continued enforcing camping bans at certain times on public property, ticketing homeless people who are camping if they refuse to relocate. Those in the camps have said a bulldozer cleared at least one site.
And in St. Louis, the city’s health department ordered the removal of camps near City Hall, prompting an outcry from homeless advocates.
In all, at least a dozen cities in recent months have continued such camp removals — which goes against CDC guidelines amid the pandemic, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.
As some communities continue to reopen, and as downtown businesses welcome back employees and customers, some homeless advocates fear such sweeps will only worsen.
“There’s no strategy,” said Jacob Wessley, director of outreach and engagement for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. “That is our concern: When they do sweep this area, where are [those without homes] going to go?”
In Denver, one such cleanup in early May netted 9,500 pounds of trash and more than 50 hypodermic needles, according to Nancy Kuhn, spokesperson for the city’s transportation and infrastructure department.
“Denver has a responsibility to address unsafe, unhealthy, and unsanitary conditions impacting our community,” Kuhn said in an email.
Some cities said the pace of such sweeps has dropped dramatically during the pandemic.
Seattle officials conducted four such sweeps from mid-March to early June — each due to “extreme circumstances,” said Kevin Mundt, a spokesperson for Seattle’s human services department. That compares with 303 such camp removals in the final three months of 2019.
Honolulu created a dedicated area for people to camp and “quarantine” for about two weeks before moving into shelters, in case they had COVID-19. But some homeless campers who did not move had their camps dismantled, causing them to disperse through the community.
The goal was to limit the spread of the virus, while encouraging campers to move indoors, said Marc Alexander, executive director of the city’s Office of Housing.
Even so, many homeless advocates say the CDC’s guidance is clear, and such efforts don’t pass muster. If individual housing units aren’t available, the CDC says, homeless campers should be allowed to remain in place during the pandemic. Tents should be at least 12 feet apart, and camps of more than 10 people should be provided hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer.
“Clearing encampments can cause people to disperse throughout the community and break connections with service providers,” the CDC guidance said. “This increases the potential for infectious disease spread.”
Already the disease has infected some people who lack permanent housing. In Colorado, for example, at least 483 homeless people have tested positive for COVID-19, state officials reported June 14. Nearly 80% lived in Denver.
Infection rates in the camps, however, are unclear. None of the 50 homeless campers in downtown Denver who agreed to coronavirus testing in early June were positive, according to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. But a different survey a month earlier indicated nearly a quarter of the 52 people tested at a nearby homeless service center were infected with the virus, despite showing no symptoms.
In downtown Denver encampments, dozens of tents stand packed together, often less than a foot apart along sidewalks. Hardly anyone wears masks, and many in the tent community said the virus is low on their list of concerns.
Several hand-washing stations accompany portable toilets in the area, each provided by a local advocacy group. But they don’t always have water.
For some homeless campers, the situation is preferable to staying in a shelter.
Avoiding those cramped confines and the accompanying risk of illness is “common sense,” said Erin Lorraine, 19, who has been homeless off and on for seven years. One sweep led her to move closer to the South Platte River on the west side of downtown.
“These are our homes,” Lorraine said. “We’re not hurting nobody.”
Not all homeless campers see Denver’s cleanups as so nefarious. Many said they were told by Denver officials that they could return after city crews sprayed down the sidewalk.
“As long as they keep it to where we’re getting cleaned, not swept, it’s all right,” said David Scott, 53.
But some of those displaced by previous sweeps say that trust has been broken.
Melody Lewis was away from her tent during a recent cleanup and returned to find that city crews had confiscated many of her belongings, including at least one tent, a bike and some shoes. She refused to go to a shelter, partly because of the threat of illness. As Lewis relates her story, an old sign hanging from a lamppost a few feet away is a reminder of a previous camp cleanup.
“We try to ignore it,” Lewis said of such warnings. “Our stuff and our minds are never secure.”
To limit the spread of the coronavirus, some nonprofits and cities — including St. Louis and other places conducting sweeps — have gotten creative, opening isolation shelters for people experiencing COVID symptoms and helping some particularly at-risk people move into paid motel rooms.
Recent sweeps also have renewed a conversation in Denver about whether to create sanctioned encampment sites — areas where people can pitch tents and live in socially distanced communities with a city’s blessing.
Elsewhere, such regulated camps lend homeless people stability, while increasing the odds that caseworkers can find their clients when housing becomes available, said Tom Luehrs, executive director of the St. Francis Center, a homeless services organization in Denver.
Already, San Francisco has temporarily created a few such encampments, with a total capacity of roughly 200 people.
“Some people have been out on the streets for years,” Luehrs said. “And that’s where they feel best about living, because maybe we haven’t given them better options as a community.”
Colleen Echohawk, co-chair of Seattle’s Continuum of Care, a coalition of agencies and nonprofits working to address homelessness, said she empathizes with city officials who are having to juggle competing public health threats. Seattle is among the latest areas to face an outbreak of hepatitis A in its homeless community.
But Echohawk questions whether more could be done to limit the impact of sweeps.
“What’s frustrating about this is that you move them, and then they just moved into other encampments, and then took with them their COVID-19, and they took with them their hepatitis A,” Echohawk said. “It’s a real dilemma.”
Kaiser Health News is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.


thedenverpost--2020-06-29--Dave Logan, optimistic there will be football this fall, talks defending champion Cherry Creek and h

Dave Logan, optimistic there will be football this fall, talks defending champion Cherry Creek and hope surrounding Broncos

As the NBA , MLB and NHL attempt to navigate the complex logistics of a return-to-play amid the coronavirus pandemic , time remains on football ’ s side .
To that end , Cherry Creek coach and Broncos play-by-play broadcaster Dave Logan remains cautiously optimistic that he ’ ll be working as regularly scheduled on Fridays and Sundays this fall .
“ I definitely feel like we ’ re going to have football , ” Logan said .
“ The state has been smart about how it has started the re-opening process… It certainly bears watching what ’ s going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these professional sports , and seeing how they navigate through the ( health and safety ) logistics .
But the reality is , for the football season , we ’ ve got two-plus months to prepare and also sit back and evaluate ( the feasibility ) on a daily basis.
” At the prep level , CHSAA ’ s Resocialization Task Force ’ s June 4 report classified football as “ higher risk , ” and the association stated at that point it was not able to move forward with moderate or high-risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rhonda Blanford-Green tweeted that CHSAA would “ begin constructing safety and implementation guidelines to resume ‘ ALL ’ athletics and activities including football beginning this fall.
” Now , amid concerns about a resurgence of coronavirus , CHSAA ’ s latest update vowed to proceed “ with guidelines and standards for resuming fall sports on their scheduled start dates ” with health and safety concerns at the forefront .
During the summer , limitations on team workouts have been mandated at the district level after spring football was canceled across the state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bruins are in their second week of voluntary workouts — sans the use of footballs and the weight room .
So , it ’ s essentially conditioning and team building for the defending Class 5A state champions , while remaining six feet apart .
“ The whole idea of putting players into a position where they can play fast and don ’ t have to think a lot — that ’ s going to be a challenge this year given where we are and a lot of of the ( interaction ) rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ As we work our way through this process — and obviously there are plenty of distractions — the reality is , the teams that handle these distractions and do the best job of focusing on the process no matter what that process is… those teams are going to have a leg up to start the season.
” The 65-year-old Logan knows his Bruins need to be one of those teams as they continue to prepare for the 2020 opener against Doherty on Aug. 28 at Stutler Bowl , should the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hard enough to win a state championship , but then to repeat , that ’ s a whole other thing , ” said Logan , who has won eight titles overall , including three straight at Mullen from 2008-10 .
“ You ’ ve got to get your team to understand that while we appreciate last year , it ’ s in the rear-view mirror , and last year ’ s not going to help us at all in terms of what this season might look like .
And we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year.
” This fall will be Logan ’ s 28th year as a head coach in Colorado , and ninth at Cherry Creek .
It will be his 31st year calling Broncos games , and the 850 KOA mainstay believes the high hopes Denver fans hold heading into the season are warranted .
“ I liked what I saw from Drew Lock in a small sample size , and what they did with the draft was smart , ” Logan said .
“ They ’ ve realized now that the game has changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to beat is Kansas City .
If you look at the weapons the Chiefs have — and of course they have a great young quarterback ( in Patrick Mahomes ) — they surrounded him in a really smart way .
“ Now , just because you ’ ve got a bunch of guys who are fast , that doesn ’ t ensure your offense is going to look like the Chiefs .
But it gives Drew that many more weapons… It forces the defensive coordinator to decide who that guy is you want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sutton ?
Is it Jerry Jeudy ?
Is it Noah Fant ?
The Broncos have many more weapons , at least on paper , than they ’ ve had the last few years .
”

As the NBA, MLB and NHL attempt to navigate the complex logistics of a return-to-play amid the coronavirus pandemic, time remains on football’s side.
To that end, Cherry Creek coach and Broncos play-by-play broadcaster Dave Logan remains cautiously optimistic that he’ll be working as regularly scheduled on Fridays and Sundays this fall.
“I definitely feel like we’re going to have football,” Logan said. “The state has been smart about how it has started the re-opening process… It certainly bears watching what’s going on with the start of some of these professional sports, and seeing how they navigate through the (health and safety) logistics. But the reality is, for the football season, we’ve got two-plus months to prepare and also sit back and evaluate (the feasibility) on a daily basis.”
At the prep level, CHSAA’s Resocialization Task Force’s June 4 report classified football as “higher risk,” and the association stated at that point it was not able to move forward with moderate or high-risk sports. Two days later, commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green tweeted that CHSAA would “begin constructing safety and implementation guidelines to resume ‘ALL’ athletics and activities including football beginning this fall.”
Now, amid concerns about a resurgence of coronavirus, CHSAA’s latest update vowed to proceed “with guidelines and standards for resuming fall sports on their scheduled start dates” with health and safety concerns at the forefront.
During the summer, limitations on team workouts have been mandated at the district level after spring football was canceled across the state. At Cherry Creek, Logan’s Bruins just got done with their second week of voluntary workouts — sans the use of footballs and the weight room. So, it’s essentially conditioning and team building for the defending Class 5A state champions, while remaining six feet apart.
“The whole idea of putting players into a position where they can play fast and don’t have to think a lot — that’s going to be a challenge this year given where we are and a lot of of the (interaction) rules that are in place,” Logan said. “As we work our way through this process — and obviously there are plenty of distractions — the reality is, the teams that handle these distractions and do the best job of focusing on the process no matter what that process is… those teams are going to have a leg up to start the season.”
The 65-year-old Logan knows his Bruins need to be one of those teams as they continue to prepare for the 2020 opener against Doherty on Aug. 28 at Stutler Bowl, should the season begin on time.
“It’s hard enough to win a state championship, but then to repeat, that’s a whole other thing,” said Logan, who has won eight titles overall, including three straight at Mullen from 2008-10. “You’ve got to get your team to understand that while we appreciate last year, it’s in the rear-view mirror, and last year’s not going to help us at all in terms of what this season might look like. And we have a bigger bullseye on our back this year.”
This fall will be Logan’s 28th year as a head coach in Colorado, and ninth at Cherry Creek. It will be his 31st year calling Broncos games, and the 850 KOA mainstay believes the high hopes Denver fans hold heading into the season are warranted.
“I liked what I saw from Drew Lock in a small sample size, and what they did with the draft was smart,” Logan said. “They’ve realized now that the game has changed and the team they’ve got to beat is Kansas City. If you look at the weapons the Chiefs have — and of course they have a great young quarterback (in Patrick Mahomes) — they surrounded him in a really smart way.
“Now, just because you’ve got a bunch of guys who are fast, that doesn’t ensure your offense is going to look like the Chiefs. But it gives Drew that many more weapons… It forces the defensive coordinator to decide who that guy is you want to take away. Is it Courtland Sutton? Is it Jerry Jeudy? Is it Noah Fant? The Broncos have many more weapons, at least on paper, than they’ve had the last few years.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-29--Denver charter schools received $16 million in federal coronavirus aid for small businesses

Denver charter schools received a total of $ 16 million in federal coronavirus relief funds meant to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic , according to a memo prepared by Denver Public Schools staff at the request of a school board member .
Charter school critics nationally have balked at charters receiving federal Paycheck Protection Program funding , which is not available to traditional public schools .
But Denver charter leaders have committed to reckoning with any inequity created by the funding — a move the memo identifies as unique to Denver .
Leaders said that could mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other federal coronavirus relief funds earmarked for Denver schools , leaving more money for district-run schools .
All Denver schools — charter and district-run alike — are facing shrinking budgets next school year .
Colorado schools get a large portion of their funding from the state , and lawmakers cut next year ’ s education budget after COVID caused state tax revenue to plummet .
Denver charter leaders say the federal paycheck protection funding helped soften the fiscal blow .
Many Denver charters serve high numbers of students from low-income families and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic .
Read the full story from our partners at chalkbeat.org .
Chalkbeat Colorado is a nonprofit news organization covering education issues .
For more , visit co.chalkbeat.org .

Denver charter schools received a total of $16 million in federal coronavirus relief funds meant to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic, according to a memo prepared by Denver Public Schools staff at the request of a school board member.
Charter school critics nationally have balked at charters receiving federal Paycheck Protection Program funding, which is not available to traditional public schools.
But Denver charter leaders have committed to reckoning with any inequity created by the funding — a move the memo identifies as unique to Denver. Leaders said that could mean charters taking less than their share of other federal coronavirus relief funds earmarked for Denver schools, leaving more money for district-run schools.
All Denver schools — charter and district-run alike — are facing shrinking budgets next school year. Colorado schools get a large portion of their funding from the state, and lawmakers cut next year’s education budget after COVID caused state tax revenue to plummet.
Denver charter leaders say the federal paycheck protection funding helped soften the fiscal blow. Many Denver charters serve high numbers of students from low-income families and other groups whom the district has prioritized reaching during the pandemic.
Read the full story from our partners at chalkbeat.org.
Chalkbeat Colorado is a nonprofit news organization covering education issues. For more, visit co.chalkbeat.org.


thedenverpost--2020-06-29--Denver weather: Metro area slated for hot and sunny forecast on Monday

Break out those sunglasses , it ’ s going to be a hot one .
Temperatures will approach 95 degrees @ @ @ @ @ Monday with sunny skies in the forecast , according to the National Weather Service .
@ @ @ @ @ will drop to 60 degrees .
Things will cool off Tuesday with mostly sunny skies @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s a 40 % of thunderstorms and showers in the afternoon .
@ @ @ @ @ with a low of 51 .
Moving forward , sunny and hot weather looks to @ @ @ @ @ .

Break out those sunglasses, it’s going to be a hot one.
Temperatures will approach 95 degrees in the Denver metro area Monday with sunny skies in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.
In the evening, temperatures will drop to 60 degrees.
Things will cool off Tuesday with mostly sunny skies and a high of 81. There’s a 40% of thunderstorms and showers in the afternoon. Tuesday evening will cool off with a low of 51.
Moving forward, sunny and hot weather looks to continue on Wednesday and Thursday.


thedenverpost--2020-06-29--Broncos player among top 10 safeties in NFL, according to CBS Sports

CBS Sports unveiled its lists of top 10 players at a number of different NFL positions last week and a member of the Broncos made one of the lists .
And it wasn ’ t Von Miller .
Justin Simmons was ranked No .
6 among safeties .
“ The 26-year-old is a former third-round pick that has played far above his pay grade since entering the league in 2016 , which is why the Broncos franchise tagged him for 2020 as they attempt to hash out terms on a long-term deal , ” CBS Sports ’ Patrik Walker writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a game since 2017 and delivered 11 interceptions in his career , and his 17 pass break ups in 2019 is inhuman for a guy who sees more than his fair share of snaps as a box safety .
Cap this all off with an allowed completion rate of only 52.8 percent in 2019 — a vast improvement over the 71.1 percent from a year prior — and it ’ s not hard to see where Simmons ’ career is headed.
” Simmons set career highs in 2019 with interceptions ( 40 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. , who signed with the Chargers in the offseason , was ranked No .
9 among cornerbacks .
“ As he readies to suit up at SoFi Stadium , he does so with a seriously large chip on his shoulder , looking to prove wrong those who think he ’ s somehow taken a step back entering his 10th season , ” Walker writes .
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette , tell a friend it ’ s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestions , hit me up on Twitter @ joenguyen or by email .
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CBS Sports unveiled its lists of top 10 players at a number of different NFL positions last week and a member of the Broncos made one of the lists. And it wasn’t Von Miller.
Justin Simmons was ranked No. 6 among safeties.
“The 26-year-old is a former third-round pick that has played far above his pay grade since entering the league in 2016, which is why the Broncos franchise tagged him for 2020 as they attempt to hash out terms on a long-term deal,” CBS Sports’ Patrik Walker writes. “He’s not missed a game since 2017 and delivered 11 interceptions in his career, and his 17 pass break ups in 2019 is inhuman for a guy who sees more than his fair share of snaps as a box safety. Cap this all off with an allowed completion rate of only 52.8 percent in 2019 — a vast improvement over the 71.1 percent from a year prior — and it’s not hard to see where Simmons’ career is headed.”
Simmons set career highs in 2019 with interceptions (40) and pass deflections (15).
Cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who signed with the Chargers in the offseason, was ranked No. 9 among cornerbacks.
“As he readies to suit up at SoFi Stadium, he does so with a seriously large chip on his shoulder, looking to prove wrong those who think he’s somehow taken a step back entering his 10th season,” Walker writes.
— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette, tell a friend it’s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup. If you have any questions or suggestions, hit me up on Twitter @joenguyen or by email.
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thedenverpost--2020-06-29--Colorado nonprofits struggle to stay afloat as pandemic captures funders’ attention, dollars

This was the year that Shalelia Dillard wanted to hire more staffers to expand her program that supports students of color taking advanced classes .
Heather Korth planned to focus more on fundraising for a nonprofit that helps families who ’ ve lost their homes in fires .
Now , Dillard ’ s SCD Enrichment Program and Our Front Porch , founded by Korth and Maggie Babyak , are struggling like other nonprofits across Colorado to stay afloat as the immediate needs caused by the coronavirus pandemic have captured the public ’ s attention and donations .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of grants .
Pretty much every funding source has changed the focus to COVID-19 , ” Korth said .
She and Dillard said they understand the urgency of addressing the pandemic .
But Korth said organizations like hers are wrestling with ongoing needs and demands that in some cases are aggravated by the crisis .
“ Everyone ’ s focused on COVID , as they should be , ” Korth said , “ but other things are happening on a daily basis that we don ’ t talk about.
” The picture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nonprofits should become more clear as the year goes on , said Renny Fagan , president and CEO of the Colorado Nonprofit Association .
Nonprofits are experiencing the same problems other businesses are , he added .
If they provided in-person services and couldn ’ t shift to online , such as arts and theater programs , they ’ re losing money .
Organizations that rely on big events to boost their income have had to cancel or postpone them or try to go virtual .
Those that depend on volunteers might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid exposure to the virus .
COVID-19 relief funds generally went to organizations serving people immediately affected by the pandemic , Fagan said .
“ Now , those funds and communities are turning toward , ‘ Well , what about the other nonprofits that are still very important to the fabric of our community ’ s life . '
” Although the overwhelming majority of Colorado ’ s approximately 23,000 nonprofits are fairly small — with annual budgets under $ 500,000 — their economic contributions are big , according to a 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 billion to the state ’ s economy in 2017 , measured by gross regional product , employed nearly 190,000 people and accounted for 5.6 % of the state ’ s economy based on direct spending .
“ While Coloradans have been very generous in giving to these COVID relief funds , there ’ s a lot of uncertainty for individual families , ” Fagan said .
“ One important message , though , is that everyone can help their community by getting involved with a nonprofit , either by volunteering or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningful.
” Since starting GroundFloor Media 20 years ago in Boulder , Laura Love has participated on boards or worked with nonprofits .
She created the Get Grounded Foundation in 2015 to provide grants to groups focused on at-risk youths , childhood hunger and child abuse and neglect .
“ I didn ’ t know anyone in Colorado and when I moved here and started this business ; it was really the nonprofit organizations that allowed me to get involved in this community .
So , it ’ s been a passion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Love said .
As the pandemic has battered businesses and upended people ’ s lives , Love and her staff have worried about the fate of nonprofits , especially smaller ones that aren ’ t as well-known , aren ’ t necessarily on the front lines of dealing with the coronavirus and so might not have access to pandemic-related aid .
GroundFloor Media set up a page on its website to highlight three to four organizations each week and put out the word on its social media channels .
The website gives information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs .
“ Within two weeks after the state-issued shelter-in-place order , we developed the Doing My Part Colorado page to get the word out , ” Love said .
“ We sent it out to all of our nonprofit partners and all of our corporate partners.
” And the foundation started hearing from people across the state .
Organizations have asked for blood donations , contributions to small food banks , diapers , money to feed and shoe horses used for therapy and volunteers .
The foundation has started a podcast called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business and civic leaders .
The foundation promoted a summer program offered by SCD Enrichment Program , which works with Denver schools to provide support and mentoring to middle and high school students of color who are taking advanced classes .
Dillard , the founder and a graduate of Denver ’ s South High School , said the program has received funding to pay students ’ way for the summer program .
Dillard started the SCD Enrichment in 2018 after 11 years in teaching .
The school-based programs grew out of interviews with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own experiences .
“ I was a gifted student from first grade on and I was typically one of the only people of color in my classes , ” Dillard said .
“ I needed support .
The misconception is that gifted students can teach themselves anything and they don ’ t need assistance.
” The organization offers ethnic studies , mentoring by college students and leadership training .
Dillard has offered some online programs since the coronavirus broke out , but the closing of the five schools she works with meant the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She received a disaster loan and money through a campaign launched by an organization that promotes education leaders .
“ There is funding coming in .
It ’ s just not as much as school contracts would be .
It ’ s a thousand dollars here , $ 2,000 there , ” Dillard said .
“ We ’ re really pinching our pennies to try to still provide services for our students and just keep afloat financially.
” Korth said Our Front Porch has seen a recent increase in new donors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Get Grounded Foundation .
“ It all helps .
There are so many great organizations out there and getting the word out is the hardest part because it costs money , ” Korth said .
Korth , an architect , and her co-founder , Babyak , a licensed clinical social worker , started working in 2014 with families who lost their homes in fires .
Both have extensive experience in disaster response work and saw a need for long-term help for people who have lost everything in fires .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day in the Denver metro area that leave people homeless .
They obviously don ’ t get the publicity that a wide-scale disaster would get , ” Korth said .
The nonprofit hasn ’ t received any of the grants it recently sought to help provide assistance to families , which includes temporary housing .
It is in the middle of an initiative to raise $ 40,000 through $ 20 donations .
“ We ’ ve been super fortunate to have some really great individual donors who kept us afloat the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be our year to really delve into fundraising , ” Korth said .

This was the year that Shalelia Dillard wanted to hire more staffers to expand her program that supports students of color taking advanced classes. Heather Korth planned to focus more on fundraising for a nonprofit that helps families who’ve lost their homes in fires.
Now, Dillard’s SCD Enrichment Program and Our Front Porch, founded by Korth and Maggie Babyak, are struggling like other nonprofits across Colorado to stay afloat as the immediate needs caused by the coronavirus pandemic have captured the public’s attention and donations.
“We’ve tried to apply for a lot of grants. Pretty much every funding source has changed the focus to COVID-19,” Korth said.
She and Dillard said they understand the urgency of addressing the pandemic. But Korth said organizations like hers are wrestling with ongoing needs and demands that in some cases are aggravated by the crisis.
“Everyone’s focused on COVID, as they should be,” Korth said, “but other things are happening on a daily basis that we don’t talk about.”
The picture of the economic toll on Colorado’s nonprofits should become more clear as the year goes on, said Renny Fagan, president and CEO of the Colorado Nonprofit Association. Nonprofits are experiencing the same problems other businesses are, he added. If they provided in-person services and couldn’t shift to online, such as arts and theater programs, they’re losing money.
Organizations that rely on big events to boost their income have had to cancel or postpone them or try to go virtual. Those that depend on volunteers might be short handed as people have stayed home to avoid exposure to the virus.
COVID-19 relief funds generally went to organizations serving people immediately affected by the pandemic, Fagan said. “Now, those funds and communities are turning toward, ‘Well, what about the other nonprofits that are still very important to the fabric of our community’s life.'”
Although the overwhelming majority of Colorado’s approximately 23,000 nonprofits are fairly small — with annual budgets under $500,000 — their economic contributions are big, according to a 2017 report. The organizations added more than $20 billion to the state’s economy in 2017, measured by gross regional product, employed nearly 190,000 people and accounted for 5.6% of the state’s economy based on direct spending.
“While Coloradans have been very generous in giving to these COVID relief funds, there’s a lot of uncertainty for individual families,” Fagan said. “One important message, though, is that everyone can help their community by getting involved with a nonprofit, either by volunteering or through donations. Any amount is really meaningful.”
Since starting GroundFloor Media 20 years ago in Boulder, Laura Love has participated on boards or worked with nonprofits. She created the Get Grounded Foundation in 2015 to provide grants to groups focused on at-risk youths, childhood hunger and child abuse and neglect.
“I didn’t know anyone in Colorado and when I moved here and started this business; it was really the nonprofit organizations that allowed me to get involved in this community. So, it’s been a passion of ours to support the community,” Love said.
As the pandemic has battered businesses and upended people’s lives, Love and her staff have worried about the fate of nonprofits, especially smaller ones that aren’t as well-known, aren’t necessarily on the front lines of dealing with the coronavirus and so might not have access to pandemic-related aid. GroundFloor Media set up a page on its website to highlight three to four organizations each week and put out the word on its social media channels. The website gives information about the groups and their most pressing needs.
“Within two weeks after the state-issued shelter-in-place order, we developed the Doing My Part Colorado page to get the word out,” Love said. “We sent it out to all of our nonprofit partners and all of our corporate partners.”
And the foundation started hearing from people across the state. Organizations have asked for blood donations, contributions to small food banks, diapers, money to feed and shoe horses used for therapy and volunteers. The foundation has started a podcast called “Good & Grounded” with local business and civic leaders.
The foundation promoted a summer program offered by SCD Enrichment Program, which works with Denver schools to provide support and mentoring to middle and high school students of color who are taking advanced classes. Dillard, the founder and a graduate of Denver’s South High School, said the program has received funding to pay students’ way for the summer program.
Dillard started the SCD Enrichment in 2018 after 11 years in teaching. The school-based programs grew out of interviews with students and some of Dillard’s own experiences.
“I was a gifted student from first grade on and I was typically one of the only people of color in my classes,” Dillard said. “I needed support. The misconception is that gifted students can teach themselves anything and they don’t need assistance.”
The organization offers ethnic studies, mentoring by college students and leadership training. Dillard has offered some online programs since the coronavirus broke out, but the closing of the five schools she works with meant the canceling of workshops and other revenue-raising activities. She received a disaster loan and money through a campaign launched by an organization that promotes education leaders.
“There is funding coming in. It’s just not as much as school contracts would be. It’s a thousand dollars here, $2,000 there,” Dillard said. “We’re really pinching our pennies to try to still provide services for our students and just keep afloat financially.”
Korth said Our Front Porch has seen a recent increase in new donors, which might be due to being featured by the Get Grounded Foundation.
“It all helps. There are so many great organizations out there and getting the word out is the hardest part because it costs money,” Korth said.
Korth, an architect, and her co-founder, Babyak, a licensed clinical social worker, started working in 2014 with families who lost their homes in fires. Both have extensive experience in disaster response work and saw a need for long-term help for people who have lost everything in fires.
“There’s an average of two fires a day in the Denver metro area that leave people homeless. They obviously don’t get the publicity that a wide-scale disaster would get,” Korth said.
The nonprofit hasn’t received any of the grants it recently sought to help provide assistance to families, which includes temporary housing. It is in the middle of an initiative to raise $40,000 through $20 donations.
“We’ve been super fortunate to have some really great individual donors who kept us afloat the last couple of years. This was going to be our year to really delve into fundraising,” Korth said.