thedenverpost--2020-11-23--Site of Firestone house explosion transformed into commemorative park for victims

The night of their wedding , Mark Martinez sang Eric Clapton ’ s “ Wonderful Tonight ” to his new wife , Erin Martinez .
Now the notes that Erin Martinez heard her husband sing on May 24 , 2003 , are sand-blasted into concrete on the sidewalk at 6312 Twilight Ave. in Firestone , joining a nod to dozens of happy memories the couple had together .
Spread out over a half-acre , the designs are part of Two Hunters Park .
The park opened Nov. 6 to pay tribute to Martinez and Joey Irwin , Erin Martinez ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died April 17 , 2017 , at 6312 Twilight Ave. when an uncapped flowline , operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corp , caused an explosion that destroyed the Martinez ’ s home .
Erin Martinez and one of the couple ’ s two children were also injured in the explosion .
After three months recovering in the hospital , Erin Martinez wanted to do something worthwhile with the space that had been her home since 2015 .
Now , she said , the park will forever share the legacy of Irwin and Mark Martinez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the park is built and done , ” Erin Martinez said .
“ It helps us to feel that Mark and Joey are a little more at peace .
It puts a positive spin on something that was so ugly and tragic.
” Among native grasses and the shade of newly planted trees , numerous details are woven into the park ’ s landscape to honor Irwin and Mark Martinez .
The park ’ s name , Two Hunters Park , comes from one of their favorite hobbies : hunting together .
Erin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hunt .
The pair had a particular affinity for pheasant hunting and fishing together .
Sculpted pheasants can be seen at the park ’ s entrance , and there are also metal fish throughout the park .
Irwin and Mark Martinez each have a side of the park , where people can see mementos to their lives .
In the park ’ s center is an oak tree , where various things that the family did together can be found sand-blasted on the surface .
There ’ s images of camping , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her son , Nathan , often played with his dad .
Erin and Mark Martinez ’ s children , Nathan , 15 , and Jaelynn , 12 , also put their handprints in the concrete .
Dog paw prints adorn the park ’ s sidewalk , paying tribute to the family ’ s two dogs , Carmella and Little Guy , who also died in the explosion .
After coming up with an idea to turn the space into a community park , Erin Martinez approached the town of Firestone with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the town manager , served as the project manager for the park , helping Erin Martinez and her children bring their ideas for the park to life .
Ferrera called it an honor to work with the family to create Two Hunters Park .
“ Erin ’ s vision and dedication to turn the location of a tragic memory into a community space filled with details highlighting the family ’ s memories is a beautiful tribute honoring Mark Martinez and Joey Irwin as members of our community , ” Ferrera said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion was the result of odorless gas leaking from a severed underground pipeline into the home and through French drains and a sump pit in the basement .
The abandoned 1-inch-diameter line was connected to an active well that came within 178 feet of the home , according to prior Times-Call reports .
Mark Martinez and Irwin , both 42 , died while replacing the home ’ s water heater .
They were both licensed plumbers .
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. in May 2017 announced it would be disconnecting 1-inch-diameter return lines from all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of pipeline that was linked to the home explosion .
The oil and gas company also reached a settlement in May 2018 with the family and victims in the explosion , which was not disclosed to the public .
Erin Martinez said she and her children live in Firestone on 17 acres free of oil and gas .
Despite the tragedy , she said her children still wanted to be around their friends and family who live in town .
When Erin Martinez thinks about peoples ’ reactions to the park , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For those who knew Irwin and Mark Martinez , she said she hopes they are able to smile when they remember happy memories with them .
The park also will be a permanent reminder of the calling for oil and gas companies be held accountable for creating safe operations .
“ I really believe that ( the property ) represents a tragic , hard place for a lot of people to go and drive by , ” Erin Martinez said .
“ I ’ m hoping we can rewrite that chapter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented : a loving place where everyone was welcome , lots of laughter and lots of smiles .
I want that to be invoked again , because that ’ s what we shared with Mark and the kids there .
”

The night of their wedding, Mark Martinez sang Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” to his new wife, Erin Martinez.
Now the notes that Erin Martinez heard her husband sing on May 24, 2003, are sand-blasted into concrete on the sidewalk at 6312 Twilight Ave. in Firestone, joining a nod to dozens of happy memories the couple had together. Spread out over a half-acre, the designs are part of Two Hunters Park.
The park opened Nov. 6 to pay tribute to Martinez and Joey Irwin, Erin Martinez’s brother. Both Irwin and Martinez died April 17, 2017, at 6312 Twilight Ave. when an uncapped flowline, operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corp, caused an explosion that destroyed the Martinez’s home. Erin Martinez and one of the couple’s two children were also injured in the explosion.
After three months recovering in the hospital, Erin Martinez wanted to do something worthwhile with the space that had been her home since 2015. Now, she said, the park will forever share the legacy of Irwin and Mark Martinez.
“I’m super-excited that the park is built and done,” Erin Martinez said. “It helps us to feel that Mark and Joey are a little more at peace. It puts a positive spin on something that was so ugly and tragic.”
Among native grasses and the shade of newly planted trees, numerous details are woven into the park’s landscape to honor Irwin and Mark Martinez.
The park’s name, Two Hunters Park, comes from one of their favorite hobbies: hunting together. Erin Martinez said her brother taught her husband to hunt. The pair had a particular affinity for pheasant hunting and fishing together. Sculpted pheasants can be seen at the park’s entrance, and there are also metal fish throughout the park.
Irwin and Mark Martinez each have a side of the park, where people can see mementos to their lives.
In the park’s center is an oak tree, where various things that the family did together can be found sand-blasted on the surface. There’s images of camping, fishing and chess, which Erin Martinez said her son, Nathan, often played with his dad. Erin and Mark Martinez’s children, Nathan, 15, and Jaelynn, 12, also put their handprints in the concrete.
Dog paw prints adorn the park’s sidewalk, paying tribute to the family’s two dogs, Carmella and Little Guy, who also died in the explosion.
After coming up with an idea to turn the space into a community park, Erin Martinez approached the town of Firestone with her plan.
Raelynn Ferrera, assistant to the town manager, served as the project manager for the park, helping Erin Martinez and her children bring their ideas for the park to life. Ferrera called it an honor to work with the family to create Two Hunters Park.
“Erin’s vision and dedication to turn the location of a tragic memory into a community space filled with details highlighting the family’s memories is a beautiful tribute honoring Mark Martinez and Joey Irwin as members of our community,” Ferrera said in an emailed statement.
Fire investigators determined the explosion was the result of odorless gas leaking from a severed underground pipeline into the home and through French drains and a sump pit in the basement. The abandoned 1-inch-diameter line was connected to an active well that came within 178 feet of the home, according to prior Times-Call reports.
Mark Martinez and Irwin, both 42, died while replacing the home’s water heater. They were both licensed plumbers.
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. in May 2017 announced it would be disconnecting 1-inch-diameter return lines from all vertical wells in Colorado, the same type of pipeline that was linked to the home explosion. The oil and gas company also reached a settlement in May 2018 with the family and victims in the explosion, which was not disclosed to the public.
Erin Martinez said she and her children live in Firestone on 17 acres free of oil and gas. Despite the tragedy, she said her children still wanted to be around their friends and family who live in town.
When Erin Martinez thinks about peoples’ reactions to the park, she wants it to bring them joy. For those who knew Irwin and Mark Martinez, she said she hopes they are able to smile when they remember happy memories with them. The park also will be a permanent reminder of the calling for oil and gas companies be held accountable for creating safe operations.
“I really believe that (the property) represents a tragic, hard place for a lot of people to go and drive by,” Erin Martinez said. “I’m hoping we can rewrite that chapter, and it can represent what our home represented: a loving place where everyone was welcome, lots of laughter and lots of smiles. I want that to be invoked again, because that’s what we shared with Mark and the kids there.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-23--The Broncos tallied 6 sacks against the Dolphins. Here’s how they fared when reaching that mark.

No Von Miller ?
No Shelby Harris ?
No problem .
The Broncos ’ orange rush tied its season-high with @ @ @ @ @ en route to a 20-13 win over the Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High @ @ @ @ @ fifth time in three seasons in which Denver ’ s pass-rushers have reached that mark @ @ @ @ @ one common result : The Broncos won .
Yes , the Broncos are on a @ @ @ @ @ have won 10 of their past 11 — when they sack the opposing quarterback at @ @ @ @ @ last loss was on Nov. 27 , 2016 , when they were defeated by the @ @ @ @ @ in overtime .
Here ’ s a look at the Broncos ’ previous 11 games @ @ @ @ @ :

No Von Miller? No Shelby Harris? No problem.
The Broncos’ orange rush tied its season-high with six sacks on Sunday, en route to a 20-13 win over the Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High.
It’s the fifth time in three seasons in which Denver’s pass-rushers have reached that mark. And there’s one common result: The Broncos won.
Yes, the Broncos are on a five-game winning streak — and have won 10 of their past 11 — when they sack the opposing quarterback at least six times. The last loss was on Nov. 27, 2016, when they were defeated by the visiting Chiefs, 30-27, in overtime.
Here’s a look at the Broncos’ previous 11 games with at least six sacks:


thedenverpost--2020-11-23--Broncos Q-and-A: How many things went right on the offense’s explosive carries?

Question : The Broncos rushed for a season-high 189 yards in Sunday ’ s win over Miami .
What worked on their four longest carries ?
Phillip Lindsay 20 yards ( first quarter , second-and-8 ) : Run to the right .
Center Lloyd Cushenberry pulled and had a downfield block on safety Eric Rowe and tight end Noah Fant had a seal-in block on linebacker Kyle Van Noy .
Melvin Gordon 25 yards ( second quarter , second-and-5 ) : Run to the right .
Left guard Dalton Risner pulled to block Van Noy on the edge .
Fant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one on linebacker Elandon Roberts .
Lindsay 18 yards ( third quarter , second-and-5 ) : Run to the right .
Cushenberry , right guard Graham Glasgow and left tackle Garett Bolles all pulled .
Glasgow picked off blitzing safety Brandon Jones to open the edge .
Cushenberry blocked Van Noy , who eventually made the tackle .
It was the right call ( run to the right ) at the right time ( where the safety was vacating the area by blitzing ) .
Gordon 20-yard touchdown ( third quarter , second-and-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Risner pulled and blocked edge defender Emmanuel Ogbah , tight end Troy Fumagalli took care of Van Noy and receiver Tim Patrick got enough of Rowe to slow him down .
Lindsay 20 yards ( fourth quarter , second-and-1 ) : Run to the right .
Right guard Austin Schlottmann , in the game for Glasgow , kicked out to block Van Noy .
Fant and Patrick made downfield blocks .
Of note , all were on second down and all came with Drew Lock in the shotgun .
Q : How surprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan Fitzpatrick for rookie Tua Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter ?
A : Tagovailoa , on what ended up being his last play , took an awkward hit from outside linebacker Bradley Chubb , who sacked Tagovailoa by hitting him in the hip/quad area , forcing him to fall awkwardly to the turf .
Had Flores said afterward Tagovailoa was nicked up , I would get it .
But Flores said Fitzpatrick gave the Dolphins “ the best chance to win the game.
” Surprising .
Interesting to bench Tagovailoa with a 6-3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My guess is Flores didn ’ t like the things Tagovailoa was missing downfield and/or he was concerned about him taking too much punishment .
Q : Leading 13-10 in the third quarter , Fangio opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Dolphins ’ 14 .
Agree or disagree ?
A : Agree all the way , and I even thought that when Fangio kept the offense on the field instead of having Brandon McManus kick a field goal of around 31 yards .
The first sign the play wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed the Broncos were rushed .
They didn ’ t break the huddle until 10 seconds left on the play clock and didn ’ t snap it until two seconds .
The play call was Gordon straight ahead and he was stopped for no gain by unblocked Roberts .
The Dolphins went three-and-out on the ensuing drive .
Q : What transpired on safety Justin Simmons ’ game-sealing interception with 1:03 remaining ?
• The Broncos tallied 6 sacks against the Dolphins .
Here ’ s how they fared when reaching that mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elway .
Has safety Justin Simmons shown enough to get richly deserved raise after saving Broncos ’ victory against Miami ?
• Drew Lock felt “ determined ” to rally Broncos against Miami , sore rib and all • Broncos rack up six sacks in upset win over Dolphins , sending Tua Tagovailoa to bench A : The Dolphins faced third-and-8 from the Broncos ’ 15 .
On first-and-10 , safety Kareem Jackson broke up a Fitzpatrick pass , and on second down , Fitzpatrick threw two yards to receiver Jakeem Grant .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fifth being inside linebacker Alexander Johnson , who blitzed late when Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed stayed to protect Fitzpatrick .
Simmons started the play at the 1-yard line to the left of Fitzpatrick and he moved toward the middle of the field at the snap .
Receiver DeVante Parker ran a post route ( his left to right ) against cornerback Bryce Callahan .
Simmons read Fitzpatrick ’ s eyes and covered the ground to cut in front of Parker for the interception .
Terrific work .

Question: The Broncos rushed for a season-high 189 yards in Sunday’s win over Miami. What worked on their four longest carries?
Answer: So many things.
Phillip Lindsay 20 yards (first quarter, second-and-8): Run to the right. Center Lloyd Cushenberry pulled and had a downfield block on safety Eric Rowe and tight end Noah Fant had a seal-in block on linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
Melvin Gordon 25 yards (second quarter, second-and-5): Run to the right. Left guard Dalton Risner pulled to block Van Noy on the edge. Fant had another fine seal-in block, this one on linebacker Elandon Roberts.
Lindsay 18 yards (third quarter, second-and-5): Run to the right. Cushenberry, right guard Graham Glasgow and left tackle Garett Bolles all pulled. Glasgow picked off blitzing safety Brandon Jones to open the edge. Cushenberry blocked Van Noy, who eventually made the tackle. It was the right call (run to the right) at the right time (where the safety was vacating the area by blitzing).
Gordon 20-yard touchdown (third quarter, second-and-3): Run to the right. Risner pulled and blocked edge defender Emmanuel Ogbah, tight end Troy Fumagalli took care of Van Noy and receiver Tim Patrick got enough of Rowe to slow him down.
Lindsay 20 yards (fourth quarter, second-and-1): Run to the right. Right guard Austin Schlottmann, in the game for Glasgow, kicked out to block Van Noy. Fant and Patrick made downfield blocks.
Of note, all were on second down and all came with Drew Lock in the shotgun.
Q: How surprising was Miami coach Brian Flores inserting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for rookie Tua Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter?
A: Tagovailoa, on what ended up being his last play, took an awkward hit from outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who sacked Tagovailoa by hitting him in the hip/quad area, forcing him to fall awkwardly to the turf.
Had Flores said afterward Tagovailoa was nicked up, I would get it. But Flores said Fitzpatrick gave the Dolphins “the best chance to win the game.” Surprising.
Interesting to bench Tagovailoa with a 6-3 record and trailing by only a touchdown. My guess is Flores didn’t like the things Tagovailoa was missing downfield and/or he was concerned about him taking too much punishment.
Q: Leading 13-10 in the third quarter, Fangio opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Dolphins’ 14. Agree or disagree?
A: Agree all the way, and I even thought that when Fangio kept the offense on the field instead of having Brandon McManus kick a field goal of around 31 yards.
The first sign the play wasn’t going to work is it seemed the Broncos were rushed. They didn’t break the huddle until 10 seconds left on the play clock and didn’t snap it until two seconds. The play call was Gordon straight ahead and he was stopped for no gain by unblocked Roberts.
The Dolphins went three-and-out on the ensuing drive.
Q: What transpired on safety Justin Simmons’ game-sealing interception with 1:03 remaining?
A: The Dolphins faced third-and-8 from the Broncos’ 15. On first-and-10, safety Kareem Jackson broke up a Fitzpatrick pass, and on second down, Fitzpatrick threw two yards to receiver Jakeem Grant.
The Broncos rushed five players, the fifth being inside linebacker Alexander Johnson, who blitzed late when Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed stayed to protect Fitzpatrick.
Simmons started the play at the 1-yard line to the left of Fitzpatrick and he moved toward the middle of the field at the snap.
Receiver DeVante Parker ran a post route (his left to right) against cornerback Bryce Callahan. Simmons read Fitzpatrick’s eyes and covered the ground to cut in front of Parker for the interception. Terrific work.


thedenverpost--2020-11-23--Ask Amy: Husband seeks a good reason to leave

Dear Amy : My wife and I have been together for 12 years .
We started dating in high school and moved in together during college .
After college she moved back into a hostile home environment of her parents ’ dysfunctional marriage , adultery , alcoholism , constant fighting and blatant lying .
I was on the fence about staying together , but I couldn ’ t leave her to deal with all of that without my emotional support and comfort .
This went on for a few years until her grandfather started buying homes for his grandchildren and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if/when we got married .
I thought this would be a great way to start fresh with a home that was paid for already , and that we could build on our relationship .
I knew it wasn ’ t the best way to start a marriage with the feelings I had about leaving her , but I couldn ’ t resist the urge to remove her from her terrible situation .
Things were good for a while , but as we spent more time together it became apparent that our futures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to start a family , while I ’ m unsure about having children , especially with her .
She has made it clear that if I don ’ t come around , this could be a reason to end the relationship .
Should I tell her the truth of how and why we got to where we are ?
Should I just let the “ not wanting children ” thing be the less hurtful of the two scenarios as the reason to end things ?
Dear Wondering : Even though you maintain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you , you cast yourself as your wife ’ s rescuer from her abusive home life .
However , really it was her grandfather ’ s legacy of a house that seems to have liberated her from that household .
You married her in order to help that along , but surely you saw some benefit , too .
Marriages start — and then fail — for all sorts of reasons .
No matter what you tell your wife as you are leaving , it will only be partly true for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she will assign reasons on her own accord .
Just don ’ t blame her for your choice to leave .
You can tell her , “ It ’ s not you , it ’ s me.
” “ I ’ m conflicted about having children and I know you want them.
” “ I haven ’ t been happy for a long time , and I don ’ t think you are , either.
” “ We started our lives together when we were so young .
We grew up together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apart.
” Just don ’ t tell her , “ I don ’ t believe I ever loved you.
” Dear Amy : My husband just retired under medical disability .
He has had no income for four weeks .
I am working and we have savings and retirement accounts .
I just found out that he contacted our financial adviser to supply documents to borrow against one of our retirement accounts .
I am outraged that he spoke to a third-party and took steps toward this goal without discussing it with me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a preliminary discussion and nothing had been signed , it is a moot point and that I am being unreasonable .
Dear Responsible : You are not being unreasonable .
Your husband ’ s work status has changed .
This is the ideal time for you two to review your finances , including your household income , expenses , savings and retirement accounts .
Even if the accounts he was interested in accessing are in your husband ’ s name alone , his choices now will affect your shared future later .
Obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two to discuss what his thinking is .
Does he have debt that you don ’ t know about ?
Is he hoping to make a large purchase that he hasn ’ t discussed with you ?
A book you two should read together is : “ How to Make Your Money Last — Completely Updated for Planning Today : The Indispensable Retirement Guide Paperback , ” by financial writer Jane Bryant Quinn ( 2020 , Simon & Schuster ) .
Despite its unwieldy title , the advice is practical and manageable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have missed a logical and simple response to “ Anxious Wife , ” whose husband is a dangerous driver due to his speeding and tailgating .
I have experienced the same .
I finally asked myself , ” Why am I subjecting myself to this anxiety ?
I know how to drive.
” The solution is : don ’ t get in the car with him .
She should do the driving .
Dear Less Anxious : Yes !
Any person with that option should definitely take it .

Dear Amy: My wife and I have been together for 12 years. We started dating in high school and moved in together during college.
After college she moved back into a hostile home environment of her parents’ dysfunctional marriage, adultery, alcoholism, constant fighting and blatant lying.
I was on the fence about staying together, but I couldn’t leave her to deal with all of that without my emotional support and comfort.
This went on for a few years until her grandfather started buying homes for his grandchildren and offered one of the homes for us, if/when we got married.
I thought this would be a great way to start fresh with a home that was paid for already, and that we could build on our relationship.
I knew it wasn’t the best way to start a marriage with the feelings I had about leaving her, but I couldn’t resist the urge to remove her from her terrible situation.
Things were good for a while, but as we spent more time together it became apparent that our futures look very different.
Mainly, she wants to start a family, while I’m unsure about having children, especially with her.
She has made it clear that if I don’t come around, this could be a reason to end the relationship.
Should I tell her the truth of how and why we got to where we are? Should I just let the “not wanting children” thing be the less hurtful of the two scenarios as the reason to end things?
— Wondering
Dear Wondering: Even though you maintain that your relationship has not been satisfying for you, you cast yourself as your wife’s rescuer from her abusive home life. However, really it was her grandfather’s legacy of a house that seems to have liberated her from that household. You married her in order to help that along, but surely you saw some benefit, too.
Marriages start — and then fail — for all sorts of reasons. No matter what you tell your wife as you are leaving, it will only be partly true for her because, if she is deeply hurt, she will assign reasons on her own accord. Just don’t blame her for your choice to leave.
You can tell her, “It’s not you, it’s me.” “I’m conflicted about having children and I know you want them.” “I haven’t been happy for a long time, and I don’t think you are, either.” “We started our lives together when we were so young. We grew up together, but now we’ve grown apart.”
Just don’t tell her, “I don’t believe I ever loved you.”
Dear Amy: My husband just retired under medical disability.
He has had no income for four weeks.
I am working and we have savings and retirement accounts.
I just found out that he contacted our financial adviser to supply documents to borrow against one of our retirement accounts.
I am outraged that he spoke to a third-party and took steps toward this goal without discussing it with me.
He states that because it was a preliminary discussion and nothing had been signed, it is a moot point and that I am being unreasonable.
Am I unreasonable?
— Responsible
Dear Responsible: You are not being unreasonable. Your husband’s work status has changed. This is the ideal time for you two to review your finances, including your household income, expenses, savings and retirement accounts. Even if the accounts he was interested in accessing are in your husband’s name alone, his choices now will affect your shared future later.
Obviously, this is an opportunity for you two to discuss what his thinking is. Does he have debt that you don’t know about? Is he hoping to make a large purchase that he hasn’t discussed with you?
A book you two should read together is: “How to Make Your Money Last — Completely Updated for Planning Today: The Indispensable Retirement Guide Paperback,” by financial writer Jane Bryant Quinn (2020, Simon & Schuster). Despite its unwieldy title, the advice is practical and manageable.
Dear Amy: I think all of you have missed a logical and simple response to “Anxious Wife,” whose husband is a dangerous driver due to his speeding and tailgating.
I have experienced the same.
I finally asked myself, ” Why am I subjecting myself to this anxiety? I know how to drive.”
The solution is: don’t get in the car with him. She should do the driving.
— Less Anxious Wife in Ohio
Dear Less Anxious: Yes! Any person with that option should definitely take it.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-11-23--Joe Biden expected to nominate Antony Blinken as secretary of state

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Antony Blinken as secretary of state , according to multiple people familiar with the Biden team ’ s planning .
Blinken , 58 , served as deputy secretary of state and deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration and has close ties with Biden .
If nominated and confirmed , he would be a leading force in the incoming administration ’ s bid to reframe the U.S. relationship with the rest of the world after four years in which President Donald Trump questioned longtime alliances .
In nominating Blinken , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have affected Senate confirmation for two other candidates on his short list to be America ’ s top diplomat : Susan Rice and Sen. Chris Coons .
Rice would have faced significant GOP opposition and likely rejection in the Senate .
She has long been a target of Republicans , including for statements she made after the deadly 2012 attacks on Americans in Benghazi , Libya .
Coons ’ departure from the Senate would have come as other Democratic senators are being considered for administrative posts and the party is hoping to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the result of two runoff elections in Georgia in January .
Biden is likely to name his Cabinet picks in tranches , with groups of nominees focused on a specific top area , like the economy , national security or public health , being announced at once .
Advisers to the president-elect ’ s transition have said they ’ ll make their first Cabinet announcements on Tuesday .
If Biden focuses on national security that day , Michèle Flournoy , a veteran of Pentagon policy jobs , is a top choice to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a longtime adviser to Biden and Hillary Clinton , is also in the mix for a top job , including White House national security adviser .
For his part , Blinken recently participated in a national security briefing with Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and has weighed in publicly on notable foreign policy issues in Egypt and Ethiopia .
Biden ’ s secretary of state would inherit a deeply demoralized and depleted career workforce at the State Department .
Trump ’ s two secretaries of state , Rex Tillerson and Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s attempts to gut the agency , which were thwarted only by congressional intervention .
Although the department escaped massive proposed cuts of more than 30 % in its budget for three consecutive years , it has seen a significant number of departures from its senior and rising mid-level ranks , from which many diplomats have opted to retire or leave the foreign service given limited prospects for advancements under an administration that they believe does not value their expertise .
A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia Law School and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blinken has aligned himself with numerous former senior national security officials who have called for a major reinvestment in American diplomacy and renewed emphasis on global engagement .
“ Democracy is in retreat around the world , and unfortunately it ’ s also in retreat at home because of the president taking a two-by-four to its institutions , its values and its people every day , ” Blinken told The Associated Press in September .
“ Our friends know that Joe Biden knows who they are .
So do our adversaries .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Blinken served on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration before becoming staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when Biden was chair of the panel .
In the early years of the Obama administration , Blinken returned to the NSC and was then-Vice President Biden ’ s national security adviser before he moved to the State Department to serve as deputy to Secretary of State John Kerry .
Biden has pledged to build the most diverse government in modern history , and he and his team often speak about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
He is being watched to see whether he will make history by nominating the first woman to lead the Pentagon , the Treasury Department or the Department of Veterans Affairs , or the first African American at the top of the Defense Department , the Interior Department or the Treasury Department .
Ron Klain , Biden ’ s incoming chief of staff , said Sunday the Trump administration ’ s refusal to clear the way for Biden ’ s team to have access to key information about agencies and federal dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on planning , including the Cabinet selection process .
Trump ’ s General Services Administration has yet to acknowledge that Biden won the election — a determination that would remove those roadblocks .
“ We ’ re not in a position to get background checks on Cabinet nominees .
And so there are definite impacts .
Those impacts escalate every day , ” Klain told ABC ’ s “ This Week.
” Even some Republicans have broken with Trump in recent days and called on him to begin the transition .
Joining the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of North Dakota , Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska .
Former Republican Gov .
Chris Christie of New Jersey , a longtime Trump supporter , told ABC that it was time for the president to stop contesting the outcome and called Trump ’ s legal team seeking to overturn the election a “ national embarrassment.
” Meanwhile , planning was underway for a pandemic-modified inauguration Jan. 20 .
Klain said the Biden team was consulting with Democratic leadership in the House and Senate over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to try to have an inauguration that honors the importance and the symbolic meaning of the moment , but also does not result in the spread of the disease .
That ’ s our goal , ” Klain said .
Associated Press writers Julie Pace in Washington , Alexandra Jaffe in Wilmington , Delaware , and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Antony Blinken as secretary of state, according to multiple people familiar with the Biden team’s planning.
Blinken, 58, served as deputy secretary of state and deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration and has close ties with Biden. If nominated and confirmed, he would be a leading force in the incoming administration’s bid to reframe the U.S. relationship with the rest of the world after four years in which President Donald Trump questioned longtime alliances.
In nominating Blinken, Biden would sidestep potentially thorny issues that could have affected Senate confirmation for two other candidates on his short list to be America’s top diplomat: Susan Rice and Sen. Chris Coons.
Rice would have faced significant GOP opposition and likely rejection in the Senate. She has long been a target of Republicans, including for statements she made after the deadly 2012 attacks on Americans in Benghazi, Libya.
Coons’ departure from the Senate would have come as other Democratic senators are being considered for administrative posts and the party is hoping to win back the Senate. Control hangs on the result of two runoff elections in Georgia in January.
Biden is likely to name his Cabinet picks in tranches, with groups of nominees focused on a specific top area, like the economy, national security or public health, being announced at once. Advisers to the president-elect’s transition have said they’ll make their first Cabinet announcements on Tuesday.
If Biden focuses on national security that day, Michèle Flournoy, a veteran of Pentagon policy jobs, is a top choice to lead the Defense Department. Jake Sullivan, a longtime adviser to Biden and Hillary Clinton, is also in the mix for a top job, including White House national security adviser.
For his part, Blinken recently participated in a national security briefing with Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and has weighed in publicly on notable foreign policy issues in Egypt and Ethiopia.
Biden’s secretary of state would inherit a deeply demoralized and depleted career workforce at the State Department. Trump’s two secretaries of state, Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo, offered weak resistance to the administration’s attempts to gut the agency, which were thwarted only by congressional intervention.
Although the department escaped massive proposed cuts of more than 30% in its budget for three consecutive years, it has seen a significant number of departures from its senior and rising mid-level ranks, from which many diplomats have opted to retire or leave the foreign service given limited prospects for advancements under an administration that they believe does not value their expertise.
A graduate of Harvard University and Columbia Law School and a longtime Democratic foreign policy presence, Blinken has aligned himself with numerous former senior national security officials who have called for a major reinvestment in American diplomacy and renewed emphasis on global engagement.
“Democracy is in retreat around the world, and unfortunately it’s also in retreat at home because of the president taking a two-by-four to its institutions, its values and its people every day,” Blinken told The Associated Press in September. “Our friends know that Joe Biden knows who they are. So do our adversaries. That difference would be felt on day one.”
Blinken served on the National Security Council during the Clinton administration before becoming staff director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when Biden was chair of the panel. In the early years of the Obama administration, Blinken returned to the NSC and was then-Vice President Biden’s national security adviser before he moved to the State Department to serve as deputy to Secretary of State John Kerry.
Biden has pledged to build the most diverse government in modern history, and he and his team often speak about their desire for his administration to reflect America. He is being watched to see whether he will make history by nominating the first woman to lead the Pentagon, the Treasury Department or the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the first African American at the top of the Defense Department, the Interior Department or the Treasury Department.
Ron Klain, Biden’s incoming chief of staff, said Sunday the Trump administration’s refusal to clear the way for Biden’s team to have access to key information about agencies and federal dollars for the transition is taking its toll on planning, including the Cabinet selection process. Trump’s General Services Administration has yet to acknowledge that Biden won the election — a determination that would remove those roadblocks.
“We’re not in a position to get background checks on Cabinet nominees. And so there are definite impacts. Those impacts escalate every day,” Klain told ABC’s “This Week.”
Even some Republicans have broken with Trump in recent days and called on him to begin the transition. Joining the growing list were Sens. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, a longtime Trump supporter, told ABC that it was time for the president to stop contesting the outcome and called Trump’s legal team seeking to overturn the election a “national embarrassment.”
Meanwhile, planning was underway for a pandemic-modified inauguration Jan. 20. Klain said the Biden team was consulting with Democratic leadership in the House and Senate over their plans.
“They’re going to try to have an inauguration that honors the importance and the symbolic meaning of the moment, but also does not result in the spread of the disease. That’s our goal,” Klain said.
Associated Press writers Julie Pace in Washington, Alexandra Jaffe in Wilmington, Delaware, and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-11-23--Letters: How to handle Thornton’s thirst (11/22/20)

No one in Larimer County contests Thornton ’ s rights to Poudre River water — but they must convey it through our county without compromising the property rights of Larimer residents .
It ’ s their water , but it ’ s our dirt .
We believe that the best conveyance is the Poudre River .
If they have doubts about the usability of water from some point that is downstream of their current point of diversion , any concerns about water quality are best addressed by negotiations with Larimer County and its communities .
Until Thornton abandons its bullying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward resolving the impasse is assured .
To continue to grow population beyond the “ carrying capacity ” of our water , energy and resources illustrates the height of intellectual arrogance in Colorado , as well as the rest of the United States .
Exponential growth in Denver imitates the growth of a cancer cell .
It , too , continues to grow aberrantly until it kills its host .
Such growth will crush our wilderness , destroy our mountains , stomp on our quality of life and kill our standard of living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24/7 by all residents , endless gridlocked traffic and total ruination of weekend camping or ski trips into the mountains .
Exactly why does any mayor , governor or city council want to bring that upon the citizens of this state ?
Can you give one good reason to bequeath such a miserable future upon future generations ?
And , where do you think it will all end when that last drop of water is squeezed out of the mountains ?
Re : “ It was a drubbing for the GOP ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” Nov. 15 commentaries All you need to know about the difference between the two political parties can be found in their competing reviews of the 2020 election .
Ian Silverii used his column to describe the ideas that got the Democrats over the finish line , while George Brauchler focused on future redistricting to save the day for the Republicans .
George Brauchler correctly noted that the expected “ blue wave ” did not occur .
He celebrated Lauren Boebert ’ s success in winning the U. S. House seat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s win surprised me , she won her contest fair and square and thus has earned the right to serve her constituents .
My concern was his comments about John Hickenlooper ’ s decisive win over Sen. Cory Gardner .
Note that Brauchler contradicts himself : He notes there was no blue wave ; the huge anti-Trump vote did not happen , but Hick beat Gardner by a large margin .
Hickenlooper beat Gardner on his own merit .
Hickenlooper was a successful and popular Denver mayor and Colorado governor and has earned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the topic of Gardner ’ s loss : “ … lost by a large margin to a candidate who … I just can not go there … but you get the point.
” No , Mr. Brauchler , I don ’ t get the point .
What I get is an ignorant and disrespectful attitude .
Pointing ﬁngers in the assault on democracy Why is requesting a review of voting legality in a few states an attack on the 2020 election ?
Didn ’ t Stacey Abrams call for recounts and question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Georgia ?
No foul was called on her by the press .
All the Republican action is legal and if we are concerned about free elections , what is wrong with a few checks that are within the law and will identify any violations in voting .
Let the chips fall where they may .
If everything is found to be legal or minor discrepancies , what a great way to instill confidence in our system .
Perhaps an article for The Post to run would be the one titled “ Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week in The Wall Street Journal .
That article sets a better tone with regard to Joe Biden ’ s “ let ’ s work together ” than The Post article “ The Republican Party is attacking democracy.
” But maybe The Post ’ s intent isn ’ t to bring people together , but rather to convert people to their perception .
Your headline in Perspective made me laugh .
After Trump was elected in 2016 , the Democrats tried to undermine that election by lying for years about Russian collusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we never saw the headline , “ The Democratic Party is attacking democracy , ” during all that time .
Regarding your editorial last Sunday , I particularly liked the sentence : “ Today , the unintended consequence of the Electoral College is to preserve the power of white voting blocs while diluting the voice of more diverse urban centers in America.
” White voting blocs , in this case , include entire states , like Wyoming .
How embarrassing .
The only objection I have to your statement is the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended , why has Congress not revised the number of seats in the House of Representatives for nine decades ?
The last time it came with the 1929 Permanent Apportionment Act , when the Republican-controlled Congress arrived at the 435 seat number using 1910 census data .
The 1920 numbers weren ’ t to their liking because of the shift in population to urban centers following “ The Great Migration ” during and after World War I .
Increasing the number of House seats proportionately to distribution and increases in population would address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for urban voters .
Adding 100-plus seats in the House , per the proposed “ Wyoming Rule , ” would add 100-plus electors to the anemic Electoral College .
If Congress won ’ t do this , the Electoral College has to go .
It is a racist embarrassment .
Aren ’ t we as a nation better than this ?
Colorado approved Proposition 113 as an alternative to the current Electoral College allocation method .
This was presented as the only choice between the status quo ( Option 1 ) and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , there is an Option 3 already in place in Nebraska and Maine that perhaps should have been in the mix .
This alternative assigns two of each state ’ s electoral votes based on the popular vote statewide , similar to the vote for its senators .
The remaining electoral votes are assigned based on the popular vote in each individual congressional district , reflecting the district ’ s unique urban , suburban rural or demographic character .
While this allocation does not follow a national popular vote , it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mix of such characteristics that should have their own democratic voice in an election .
The editorial indirectly recognized this mix .
As this debate continues , can we throw Option 3 into the hopper ?
This method seems to work very well for these two states .
However , it is a compromise .
( What a novel idea . )
How can a venerable publication like The Denver Post , which prides itself as being “ The Voice of the Rocky Mountain Empire ” be so ill-informed and misguided in advocating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential elections ?
The claim that “ Each vote for president in America should count as one vote ” — while itself true — overlooks the fact that a popular vote would essentially negate all citizen votes in this and other regions .
The Electoral College , a stroke of genius by our Founding Fathers , keeps people from all states “ in the game.
” The maps of election results for president for the second straight election show a large majority of the geographical country voting Republican and the vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York voting Democratic .
Our country ’ s “ civil war ” is not just liberal vs. conservative .
It is very much large-city urbanites vs. everyone else .
It ’ s obvious just looking at results on a map : Washington state is liberal — no , it ’ s not , Seattle and other urban areas overpower the rest of the state .
Look at New York State vs. New York City , along with the election maps of Georgia and Texas .
Colorado is not “ blue ” — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes much of the rest of the state irrelevant .
If we want “ fairness ” in our culturally diverse nation , I have a completely different suggestion .
Instead of eliminating the Electoral College , let ’ s require all states to set up an internal Electoral College .
What do you say Grand Junction , Greeley and Cortez ?
Do you want to be relevant in Colorado politics ?
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit @ @ @ @ @

How to handle Thornton’s thirst
Re: “Pipeline rejection by Larimer County could reduce Thornton’s future growth,” Nov. 15 news story
No one in Larimer County contests Thornton’s rights to Poudre River water — but they must convey it through our county without compromising the property rights of Larimer residents. It’s their water, but it’s our dirt. We believe that the best conveyance is the Poudre River. If they have doubts about the usability of water from some point that is downstream of their current point of diversion, any concerns about water quality are best addressed by negotiations with Larimer County and its communities. Until Thornton abandons its bullying litigation, a total lack of progress toward resolving the impasse is assured.
Jim McCauley, Fort Collins
To continue to grow population beyond the “carrying capacity” of our water, energy and resources illustrates the height of intellectual arrogance in Colorado, as well as the rest of the United States.
Exponential growth in Denver imitates the growth of a cancer cell. It, too, continues to grow aberrantly until it kills its host. Such growth will crush our wilderness, destroy our mountains, stomp on our quality of life and kill our standard of living. It will ensure breathing toxic air 24/7 by all residents, endless gridlocked traffic and total ruination of weekend camping or ski trips into the mountains.
Exactly why does any mayor, governor or city council want to bring that upon the citizens of this state? Can you give one good reason to bequeath such a miserable future upon future generations? And, where do you think it will all end when that last drop of water is squeezed out of the mountains?
Frosty Wooldridge, Golden
Election analysis from the columnists
Re: “It was a drubbing for the GOP” and “Blue wave, what blue wave?” Nov. 15 commentaries
All you need to know about the difference between the two political parties can be found in their competing reviews of the 2020 election. Ian Silverii used his column to describe the ideas that got the Democrats over the finish line, while George Brauchler focused on future redistricting to save the day for the Republicans.
Colin Callahan, Denver
George Brauchler correctly noted that the expected “blue wave” did not occur. He celebrated Lauren Boebert’s success in winning the U. S. House seat for Colorado District 3. While Boebert’s win surprised me, she won her contest fair and square and thus has earned the right to serve her constituents. My concern was his comments about John Hickenlooper’s decisive win over Sen. Cory Gardner. Note that Brauchler contradicts himself: He notes there was no blue wave; the huge anti-Trump vote did not happen, but Hick beat Gardner by a large margin. Hickenlooper beat Gardner on his own merit. Hickenlooper was a successful and popular Denver mayor and Colorado governor and has earned Coloradan’s trust. Brauchler stated on the topic of Gardner’s loss: “… lost by a large margin to a candidate who … I just cannot go there … but you get the point.” No, Mr. Brauchler, I don’t get the point. What I get is an ignorant and disrespectful attitude.
Jim Rankin, Highlands Ranch
Pointing ﬁngers in the assault on democracy
Re: “The Republican Party is attacking democracy,” Nov. 15 commentary
Why is requesting a review of voting legality in a few states an attack on the 2020 election? Didn’t Stacey Abrams call for recounts and question votes etc. in her governor run in Georgia? No foul was called on her by the press.
All the Republican action is legal and if we are concerned about free elections, what is wrong with a few checks that are within the law and will identify any violations in voting. Let the chips fall where they may.
If everything is found to be legal or minor discrepancies, what a great way to instill confidence in our system.
Perhaps an article for The Post to run would be the one titled “Let the transition Proceed” by Charles Lipson last week in The Wall Street Journal. That article sets a better tone with regard to Joe Biden’s “let’s work together” than The Post article “The Republican Party is attacking democracy.”
But maybe The Post’s intent isn’t to bring people together, but rather to convert people to their perception.
Kenneth E. Toombs, Highlands Ranch
Your headline in Perspective made me laugh. After Trump was elected in 2016, the Democrats tried to undermine that election by lying for years about Russian collusion and their reasons for impeachment. Funny, we never saw the headline, “The Democratic Party is attacking democracy,” during all that time.
Carol Czaplinski, Golden
Diving into the Electoral College debate
Re: “Abandoning the Electoral College,” Nov. 15 editorial
Regarding your editorial last Sunday, I particularly liked the sentence:
“Today, the unintended consequence of the Electoral College is to preserve the power of white voting blocs while diluting the voice of more diverse urban centers in America.” White voting blocs, in this case, include entire states, like Wyoming. How embarrassing.
The only objection I have to your statement is the word “unintended.” If it is not intended, why has Congress not revised the number of seats in the House of Representatives for nine decades? The last time it came with the 1929 Permanent Apportionment Act, when the Republican-controlled Congress arrived at the 435 seat number using 1910 census data. The 1920 numbers weren’t to their liking because of the shift in population to urban centers following “The Great Migration” during and after World War I.
Increasing the number of House seats proportionately to distribution and increases in population would address the dilution of voting power that exists for urban voters. Adding 100-plus seats in the House, per the proposed “Wyoming Rule,” would add 100-plus electors to the anemic Electoral College. If Congress won’t do this, the Electoral College has to go. It is a racist embarrassment.
Aren’t we as a nation better than this?
Pete Simon, Arvada
Colorado approved Proposition 113 as an alternative to the current Electoral College allocation method. This was presented as the only choice between the status quo (Option 1) and the popular vote (Option 2). However, there is an Option 3 already in place in Nebraska and Maine that perhaps should have been in the mix.
This alternative assigns two of each state’s electoral votes based on the popular vote statewide, similar to the vote for its senators. The remaining electoral votes are assigned based on the popular vote in each individual congressional district, reflecting the district’s unique urban, suburban rural or demographic character. While this allocation does not follow a national popular vote, it does reflect the fact that most states are mix of such characteristics that should have their own democratic voice in an election.
The editorial indirectly recognized this mix. As this debate continues, can we throw Option 3 into the hopper? This method seems to work very well for these two states. However, it is a compromise. (What a novel idea.)
John and Joanne Tobin, Evergreen
How can a venerable publication like The Denver Post, which prides itself as being “The Voice of the Rocky Mountain Empire” be so ill-informed and misguided in advocating for and promoting a popular vote for presidential elections? The claim that “Each vote for president in America should count as one vote” — while itself true — overlooks the fact that a popular vote would essentially negate all citizen votes in this and other regions. The Electoral College, a stroke of genius by our Founding Fathers, keeps people from all states “in the game.”
Curtis E. Burton, Highlands Ranch
The maps of election results for president for the second straight election show a large majority of the geographical country voting Republican and the vast majority of the inner-city populations of cities like New York voting Democratic.
Our country’s “civil war” is not just liberal vs. conservative. It is very much large-city urbanites vs. everyone else. It’s obvious just looking at results on a map: Washington state is liberal — no, it’s not, Seattle and other urban areas overpower the rest of the state. Look at New York State vs. New York City, along with the election maps of Georgia and Texas. Colorado is not “blue” — but the Denver/Boulder corridor is — and that makes much of the rest of the state irrelevant. If we want “fairness” in our culturally diverse nation, I have a completely different suggestion. Instead of eliminating the Electoral College, let’s require all states to set up an internal Electoral College. What do you say Grand Junction, Greeley and Cortez? Do you want to be relevant in Colorado politics?
Mark Harvey, Arvada
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-11-24--Denver City Council approves $1,000 fine for companies violating short-term rental rules

After three fruitless years of negotiating with Airbnb — with no end in sight — Denver officials will now fine short-term rental companies $ 1,000 for each illegal short-term rental transaction , City Council determined Monday .
For years the city ’ s short-term rental market has been peppered with outdated and unlicensed listings .
This can result in fines for unsuspecting property owners who bought properties already listed on short-term rental sites by previous owners who failed to remove the listings .
Denver Department of Excise and License officials have tried negotiating with Airbnb — which controls the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rental market — and other companies , asking them to tie each online listing to a rental license number and expiration date .
The negotiations have yielded no concrete results , other than the frustration of city officials , so the department proposed the fine .
“ If global corporations want to operate in Denver and profit from the hard work of our host community and the features that make Denver a world class city , those global corporations need to shoulder their fair share of the responsibility for compliance , ” Eric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in an email .
Council approved the proposal unanimously on a consent agenda , signaling a lack of controversy surrounding the issue with city officials .
In short , starting Feb. 1 , the rule change will fine booking service providers like Airbnb $ 1,000 for each violation .
“ Denver has been asking the major platforms to prevent bookings at unlicensed short-term rentals since 2017 to help us achieve our compliance goals , but we have not seen any voluntary compliance from these platforms , ” Escudero said .
“ Thus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such booking service providers are accountable if they are profiting from illegal activity.
” The city currently has about 1,985 legal and active short-term rental listings , Escudero said .
But those are only the legal listings .
Because more than 80 % of Denver ’ s listings typically comply with licensing regulations , the total number of properties on rental sites is likely substantially higher .
A representative for Airbnb did not respond to a message seeking comment .
But there is reason to believe Denver ’ s new regulation will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Similar moves by cities like New York City , San Francisco and Santa Monica , Calif. , were met with litigation .
Ultimately , however , the company settled those three lawsuits and agreed to better comply with the cities ’ short-term rental laws .

After three fruitless years of negotiating with Airbnb — with no end in sight — Denver officials will now fine short-term rental companies $1,000 for each illegal short-term rental transaction, City Council determined Monday.
For years the city’s short-term rental market has been peppered with outdated and unlicensed listings. This can result in fines for unsuspecting property owners who bought properties already listed on short-term rental sites by previous owners who failed to remove the listings.
Denver Department of Excise and License officials have tried negotiating with Airbnb — which controls the vast majority of the city’s short-term rental market — and other companies, asking them to tie each online listing to a rental license number and expiration date. The negotiations have yielded no concrete results, other than the frustration of city officials, so the department proposed the fine.
“If global corporations want to operate in Denver and profit from the hard work of our host community and the features that make Denver a world class city, those global corporations need to shoulder their fair share of the responsibility for compliance,” Eric Escudero, excise and license spokesman, said in an email.
Council approved the proposal unanimously on a consent agenda, signaling a lack of controversy surrounding the issue with city officials.
In short, starting Feb. 1, the rule change will fine booking service providers like Airbnb $1,000 for each violation.
“Denver has been asking the major platforms to prevent bookings at unlicensed short-term rentals since 2017 to help us achieve our compliance goals, but we have not seen any voluntary compliance from these platforms,” Escudero said. “Thus, the law is necessary to ensure such booking service providers are accountable if they are profiting from illegal activity.”
The city currently has about 1,985 legal and active short-term rental listings, Escudero said.
But those are only the legal listings. Because more than 80% of Denver’s listings typically comply with licensing regulations, the total number of properties on rental sites is likely substantially higher.
A representative for Airbnb did not respond to a message seeking comment.
But there is reason to believe Denver’s new regulation will not be well received by the company. Similar moves by cities like New York City, San Francisco and Santa Monica, Calif., were met with litigation. Ultimately, however, the company settled those three lawsuits and agreed to better comply with the cities’ short-term rental laws.


thedenverpost--2020-11-24--Winter weather will impact Denver area COVID-19 testing sites on Tuesday

Eleven state-managed and community-partnered COVID-19 testing sites will be closed or delayed on Tuesday by wintry weather , according to @ @ @ @ @ Health and Environment .
• Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church , 9444 Eagle @ @ @ @ @ with delayed testing Tuesday , starting at 10 a.m. , are : COVIDCheck Colorado will @ @ @ @ @ to anyone with appointments before 10 a.m. at any of these sites to assist in @ @ @ @ @ CDPHE news release .
Rain followed by snow is expected overnight in the metro area @ @ @ @ @ and southwest of Denver .
Roads could be slippery and hazardous , with winter driving @ @ @ @ @ according to the National Weather Service .
Two to 5 inches of snow is possible @ @ @ @ @ Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

Eleven state-managed and community-partnered COVID-19 testing sites will be closed or delayed on Tuesday by wintry weather, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The sites closed are:
Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, 9444 Eagle Cliff Road, Conifer
Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Ave. Frontage Road, Golden
Sites with delayed testing Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m., are:
All City Stadium, 1495 S. Race St., Denver
Aurora Public Schools Professional Learning Center, 15771 E. First Ave.
Cherry Creek High School, 4700 S. Yosemite St., Greenwood Village
Colorado School of Mines, 1922 Jones Road, Golden
Echo Park, 11901 Newlin Gulch Blvd., Parker
Instructional Sport Facility, 5416 S. Riviera Way, Aurora
Mountain Range High School, 12500 Huron St., Westminster
North High School, 3125 Eliot St., Denver
St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center, 33 Quail Road, Longmont
COVIDCheck Colorado will send individual messages and links to anyone with appointments before 10 a.m. at any of these sites to assist in rescheduling, according to a CDPHE news release.
Rain followed by snow is expected overnight in the metro area, especially along the foothills and southwest of Denver. Roads could be slippery and hazardous, with winter driving conditions, Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Two to 5 inches of snow is possible in the metro area.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-11-24--Colorado COVID-19 cases may be leveling off. Will trend survive Thanksgiving?

Colorado saw its first glimmer of light last week after nearly two months of dark COVID-19 news , but what happens next depends on what we all do now .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 32,791 new cases of COVID-19 last week , which was about 200 more than the week before .
It was the smallest week-over-week increase since the start of October — akin to a wildfire that is still growing , but no longer consuming thousands of additional acres each day .
Hospitalizations continued to increase , though at a slower pace than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1,597 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 , and 114 were being treated for COVID-like symptoms and awaiting test results .
Statewide , 80 % of beds in intensive-care units were in use , as were 81 % of beds for general hospital care .
That was a slight improvement over the same time last week .
The trajectory of deaths wasn ’ t as clear because of delayed reporting .
The death toll had risen for five weeks as of Nov. 15 , hitting levels not seen since early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reverses will depend on what people do over the next few days , said Dr. Jon Samet , dean of the Colorado School of Public Health .
New restrictions on counties that are up to Level Red on the state ’ s COVID dial should begin reducing transmission by early next week , but any effects from public policy could be drowned out if people gather for Thanksgiving and spread the virus there , he said .
“ We think what ’ s really critical is what we ’ ll see in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t know what people are going to do on Thanksgiving.
” The Denver area moved into Level Red , which closes indoor dining and forbids gatherings between households , on Friday .
El Paso County joined the list on Monday , bringing the total to 22 counties in red .
The Colorado School of Public Health reported Friday that one in every 49 Coloradans could be contagious .
That means the odds that someone in any given group could spread the virus are higher than they ’ ve been since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more slowly than they have in recent weeks , so the report estimated Colorado wouldn ’ t reach capacity in intensive-care units until mid-January , if current trends continue .
Denver-area hospitals have reported that while they still have beds , they ’ re struggling with staffing and can ’ t care for many more patients .
The state has set up a staffing center where hospitals , nursing homes and other health care providers can request help , but it ’ s not clear how many potential workers are available .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an executive order allowing the state health department to order hospitals with capacity to accept patients from those without .
Most hospitals statewide are participating in a voluntary transfer program .
“ The executive order ensures that we have the tools we need to use every single hospital bed in the state if we have a surge in severe cases , ” a statement from the health department said .
Promising results from multiple vaccines show that restrictions won ’ t last forever , Samet said , but continuing to follow them now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus will cause until then .
Colorado is participating in an exercise to test if states are ready to distribute the vaccine , but few details are available about it .
“ We all have to hang in a little longer , ” he said .
“ I hope everyone ’ s at a large gathering next Thanksgiving .
”

Colorado saw its first glimmer of light last week after nearly two months of dark COVID-19 news, but what happens next depends on what we all do now.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 32,791 new cases of COVID-19 last week, which was about 200 more than the week before. It was the smallest week-over-week increase since the start of October — akin to a wildfire that is still growing, but no longer consuming thousands of additional acres each day.
Hospitalizations continued to increase, though at a slower pace than in recent weeks. As of Monday, 1,597 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 114 were being treated for COVID-like symptoms and awaiting test results.
Statewide, 80% of beds in intensive-care units were in use, as were 81% of beds for general hospital care. That was a slight improvement over the same time last week.
The trajectory of deaths wasn’t as clear because of delayed reporting. The death toll had risen for five weeks as of Nov. 15, hitting levels not seen since early May.
Whether the progress continues or reverses will depend on what people do over the next few days, said Dr. Jon Samet, dean of the Colorado School of Public Health. New restrictions on counties that are up to Level Red on the state’s COVID dial should begin reducing transmission by early next week, but any effects from public policy could be drowned out if people gather for Thanksgiving and spread the virus there, he said.
“We think what’s really critical is what we’ll see in a week,” he said. “We don’t know what people are going to do on Thanksgiving.”
The Denver area moved into Level Red, which closes indoor dining and forbids gatherings between households, on Friday. El Paso County joined the list on Monday, bringing the total to 22 counties in red.
The Colorado School of Public Health reported Friday that one in every 49 Coloradans could be contagious. That means the odds that someone in any given group could spread the virus are higher than they’ve been since the pandemic began.
Hospitalizations are rising more slowly than they have in recent weeks, so the report estimated Colorado wouldn’t reach capacity in intensive-care units until mid-January, if current trends continue.
Denver-area hospitals have reported that while they still have beds, they’re struggling with staffing and can’t care for many more patients. The state has set up a staffing center where hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers can request help, but it’s not clear how many potential workers are available.
On Monday, Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order allowing the state health department to order hospitals with capacity to accept patients from those without. Most hospitals statewide are participating in a voluntary transfer program.
“The executive order ensures that we have the tools we need to use every single hospital bed in the state if we have a surge in severe cases,” a statement from the health department said.
Promising results from multiple vaccines show that restrictions won’t last forever, Samet said, but continuing to follow them now will reduce the amount of pain the virus will cause until then. Colorado is participating in an exercise to test if states are ready to distribute the vaccine, but few details are available about it.
“We all have to hang in a little longer,” he said. “I hope everyone’s at a large gathering next Thanksgiving.”
Jessica Seaman contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-11-24--52-year-old charged in Grand County with shooting death of fellow hunter

A 52-year-old hunter has been charged in the shooting death of a fellow hunter , who was a member of @ @ @ @ @ Harry Watkins was charged last week with a single county of criminally negligent homicide , @ @ @ @ @ according to the 14th Judicial District Attorney ’ s Office .
Watkins is charged with @ @ @ @ @ Simon Howell , 26 , of West Virginia .
The men were hunting elk in @ @ @ @ @ County when the incident happened .
“ The rules of hunting safety exist to keep @ @ @ @ @ from happening , ” said Grand County District Attorney Matt Karzen in a Monday news @ @ @ @ @ lack of discipline is all it takes for someone to be killed.
” Watkins is @ @ @ @ @ for an advisement hearing on Dec. 22 .

A 52-year-old hunter has been charged in the shooting death of a fellow hunter, who was a member of his own hunting party.
Harry Watkins was charged last week with a single county of criminally negligent homicide, a Class 5 felony, according to the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Watkins is charged with the Nov. 9 death of Simon Howell, 26, of West Virginia. The men were hunting elk in rugged terrain of western Grand County when the incident happened.
“The rules of hunting safety exist to keep this exact kind of tragedy from happening,” said Grand County District Attorney Matt Karzen in a Monday news release. “Complacency and lack of discipline is all it takes for someone to be killed.”
Watkins is scheduled to be in court for an advisement hearing on Dec. 22.


thedenverpost--2020-11-24--DU hockey: No. 5 Pioneers set to begin “pod” season against nation’s best

The University of Denver hockey season begins next week with the Pioneers confident in pursuit of adding a ninth national championship to their exceedingly large trophy case .
It won ’ t take long to find out if the No .
5 Pioneers are legit .
Their opening schedule is stacked .
“ No doubt , it ’ s tough , ” DU coach David Carle said .
“ We ’ re grateful and excited for the opportunity to get into it .
Having meaningful games right away is awesome.
” The NCAA hockey season , slated to start in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally returns in a “ pod ” format in Omaha where DU and fellow National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams will converge to each play 10 games apiece over the first three weeks of December .
On Dec. 2 , DU opens the season against No .
3 Minnesota Duluth ( the defending NCAA champions ) .
Two days later , the Pioneers face No .
1 North Dakota .
“ Everyone is eager to play and everyone is extremely excited , ” said senior DU forward Kohen Olischefski , the Pioneers ’ captain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to be a challenge .
This format is something we haven ’ t seen before with a lot of games in a short period of time .
Our conditioning and our fitness are our biggest point of emphasis right now.
” The Pioneers also know the entire season — which includes home-and-away games against regional foes starting in January — might be on thin ice .
A DU player tested positive for COVID-19 about two-and-a-half weeks ago , Carle said , which required seven additional players to “ get shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Pioneers are now back at full strength .
“ That ’ s been our one major hiccup , ” Carle said .
“ Our team has been doing a great job , but obviously , sometimes it doesn ’ t matter how great of a job ( you ’ re doing ) .
With a contagious virus , it still might get you .
I give our guys a lot of credit .
We ’ ve done the right things away from the rink to make sure we are on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olischefski : “ It ’ s just been a lot of laying low , making sacrifices and decisions that are for the better of the team .
We ’ re just trying to stay safe and healthy right now .
Obviously , positive tests put a big wrench into things.
” The Pioneers have reason to be confident .
DU returns 63 % of its goal-scoring from a year ago and four defensemen with at least 25 games played .
Add in a trio of instant-impact graduate transfers — D Bo Hanson ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Alaska Fairbanks ) and G Corbin Kaczperski ( Yale ) — and the Pioneers believe they have the talent and depth to compete with anyone .
“ The pace at which we do things has been the most impressive , ” Carle said .
“ We need that with the style of play we like .
We need all four lines to be able to do it .
I like our depth at all three positions .
We ’ re a confident bunch .
”

The University of Denver hockey season begins next week with the Pioneers confident in pursuit of adding a ninth national championship to their exceedingly large trophy case.
It won’t take long to find out if the No. 5 Pioneers are legit. Their opening schedule is stacked.
“No doubt, it’s tough,” DU coach David Carle said. “We’re grateful and excited for the opportunity to get into it. Having meaningful games right away is awesome.”
The NCAA hockey season, slated to start in early October before the coronavirus pandemic, finally returns in a “pod” format in Omaha where DU and fellow National Collegiate Hockey Conference teams will converge to each play 10 games apiece over the first three weeks of December.
On Dec. 2, DU opens the season against No. 3 Minnesota Duluth (the defending NCAA champions). Two days later, the Pioneers face No. 1 North Dakota.
“Everyone is eager to play and everyone is extremely excited,” said senior DU forward Kohen Olischefski, the Pioneers’ captain this season. “We know it’s going to be a challenge. This format is something we haven’t seen before with a lot of games in a short period of time. Our conditioning and our fitness are our biggest point of emphasis right now.”
The Pioneers also know the entire season — which includes home-and-away games against regional foes starting in January — might be on thin ice. A DU player tested positive for COVID-19 about two-and-a-half weeks ago, Carle said, which required seven additional players to “get shut down for a temporary amount of time.”
The Pioneers are now back at full strength.
“That’s been our one major hiccup,” Carle said. “Our team has been doing a great job, but obviously, sometimes it doesn’t matter how great of a job (you’re doing). With a contagious virus, it still might get you. I give our guys a lot of credit. We’ve done the right things away from the rink to make sure we are on the ice as much as possible.”
Added Olischefski: “It’s just been a lot of laying low, making sacrifices and decisions that are for the better of the team. We’re just trying to stay safe and healthy right now. Obviously, positive tests put a big wrench into things.”
The Pioneers have reason to be confident. DU returns 63% of its goal-scoring from a year ago and four defensemen with at least 25 games played. Add in a trio of instant-impact graduate transfers — D Bo Hanson (St. Lawrence), F Steven Jandric (Alaska Fairbanks) and G Corbin Kaczperski (Yale) — and the Pioneers believe they have the talent and depth to compete with anyone.
“The pace at which we do things has been the most impressive,” Carle said. “We need that with the style of play we like. We need all four lines to be able to do it. I like our depth at all three positions. We’re a confident bunch.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-24--Feds agree to help Biden transition after more Trump defeats

LANSING , Mich. — After weeks of delay , the federal government acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden was the “ apparent winner ” of the Nov. 3 election on Monday and cleared the way for cooperation on a transition of power .
The move came after President Donald Trump suffered yet more legal and procedural defeats in his futile effort to overturn the election with baseless claims of fraud .
Trump ’ s effort to stave off the inevitable — formal recognition of his defeat — is facing increasingly stiff resistance from the courts and fellow Republicans with just three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to certify Biden ’ s victory .
Time and again , Trump ’ s challenges and baseless allegations of widespread conspiracy and fraud have been met with rejection as states move forward with confirming their results .
In Michigan , the Board of State Canvassers , which has two Republicans and two Democrats , confirmed the state results on a 3-0 vote with one GOP abstention .
Trump and his allies had hoped to block the vote to allow time for an audit of ballots in Wayne County , where Trump has claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fraud .
Biden crushed the president by more than 330,000 votes there .
Under Michigan law , Biden claims all 16 electoral votes .
Biden won the state by 2.8 percentage points — a larger margin than in other states where Trump is contesting the results like Georgia , Arizona , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania .
“ The board ’ s duty today is very clear , ” said Aaron Van Langevelde , the Republican vice chair .
“ We have a duty to certify this election based on these returns .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had expressed hope that state lawmakers could intervene in selecting Republican electors in states that do not certify .
That longshot and legally dubious bid is no longer possible in Michigan .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement after the vote that it was “ time to put this election behind us.
” “ President-elect Biden won the State of Michigan by more than 154,000 votes , and he will be our next president on January 20th.
” The Trump legal team dismissed the certification as “ simply a procedural step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mary Ellen Gurewitz , an attorney for the state Democratic Party , told the canvassers that attacks on the election results were “ part of a racist campaign , directed by soon-to-be former President Trump , to disparage the cities in this country with large Black populations , including Detroit , Philadelphia and Milwaukee.
” Trump has tried to defy the results of the election through the courts .
Having no luck there , he moved on to trying to personally influence local lawmakers to ignore the popular vote and appoint Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans into the streets in protest , election law experts have said .
Two local GOP canvassers who certified Wayne County results last week unsuccessfully tried to reverse course after being called by Trump .
Trump met with top Michigan GOP legislators at the White House on Friday and tweeted over the weekend : “ We will show massive and unprecedented fraud !
” Trump was facing setbacks in other battleground states as well .
In Pennsylvania , a conservative Republican judge shot down the Trump campaign ’ s biggest legal effort with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would disenfranchise 7 million voters with no evidence to back the campaign ’ s claims and an inept legal argument at best .
But Trump ’ s lawyers still hope to block the state ’ s certification , quickly appealing to the 3rd U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia .
The court ordered lawyers to file a brief Monday but did not agree to hear oral arguments .
The campaign , in its filings , asked for urgent consideration so it could challenge the state election results before they are certified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will seek to decertify them , the filings said .
Trump ’ s team insisted it did not want to invalidate all of the 6.8 million ballots cast in the state .
Instead , the lawyers said they were taking aim at seven Democratic-leaning counties where they take issue with how mail-in ballots were handled .
“ Appellants seek to exclude the defective mail ballots which overwhelming favored Biden , which may turn the result of the election , ” they said in a filing Monday .
Biden won Pennsylvania by more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change a single vote .
Pennsylvania county election boards were voting on Monday , the state deadline , on whether to certify local election results to the Department of State .
The boards in two populous counties divided along party lines , with majority Democrats in both places voting to certify .
After all counties have sent certified results to Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar , she must then tabulate , compute and canvass votes for all races .
The law requires her to perform that task quickly but does not set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recount in the state ’ s two largest liberal counties moved into its fourth day at a slow pace , with election officials in Milwaukee County complaining that Trump observers were hanging up the process with frequent challenges .
Trump ’ s hope of reversing Biden ’ s victory there depends on disqualifying thousands of absentee ballots — including the in-person absentee ballot cast by one of Trump ’ s own campaign attorneys in Dane County .
Associated Press Writers Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia , Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg , Pa. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flesher in Traverse City , Mich. contributed to this report .

LANSING, Mich. — After weeks of delay, the federal government acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden was the “apparent winner” of the Nov. 3 election on Monday and cleared the way for cooperation on a transition of power. The move came after President Donald Trump suffered yet more legal and procedural defeats in his futile effort to overturn the election with baseless claims of fraud.
Trump’s effort to stave off the inevitable — formal recognition of his defeat — is facing increasingly stiff resistance from the courts and fellow Republicans with just three weeks to go until the Electoral College meets to certify Biden’s victory.
Time and again, Trump’s challenges and baseless allegations of widespread conspiracy and fraud have been met with rejection as states move forward with confirming their results.
In Michigan, the Board of State Canvassers, which has two Republicans and two Democrats, confirmed the state results on a 3-0 vote with one GOP abstention. Trump and his allies had hoped to block the vote to allow time for an audit of ballots in Wayne County, where Trump has claimed without evidence that he was the victim of fraud. Biden crushed the president by more than 330,000 votes there.
Under Michigan law, Biden claims all 16 electoral votes. Biden won the state by 2.8 percentage points — a larger margin than in other states where Trump is contesting the results like Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
“The board’s duty today is very clear,” said Aaron Van Langevelde, the Republican vice chair. “We have a duty to certify this election based on these returns. That is very clear.”
Some Trump allies had expressed hope that state lawmakers could intervene in selecting Republican electors in states that do not certify. That longshot and legally dubious bid is no longer possible in Michigan.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement after the vote that it was “time to put this election behind us.”
“President-elect Biden won the State of Michigan by more than 154,000 votes, and he will be our next president on January 20th.”
The Trump legal team dismissed the certification as “simply a procedural step” and insisted it would fight on.
Mary Ellen Gurewitz, an attorney for the state Democratic Party, told the canvassers that attacks on the election results were “part of a racist campaign, directed by soon-to-be former President Trump, to disparage the cities in this country with large Black populations, including Detroit, Philadelphia and Milwaukee.”
Trump has tried to defy the results of the election through the courts. Having no luck there, he moved on to trying to personally influence local lawmakers to ignore the popular vote and appoint Republican electors, a strategy that would send Americans into the streets in protest, election law experts have said. Two local GOP canvassers who certified Wayne County results last week unsuccessfully tried to reverse course after being called by Trump.
Trump met with top Michigan GOP legislators at the White House on Friday and tweeted over the weekend: “We will show massive and unprecedented fraud!”
Trump was facing setbacks in other battleground states as well.
In Pennsylvania, a conservative Republican judge shot down the Trump campaign’s biggest legal effort with a scathing ruling that asked why he would disenfranchise 7 million voters with no evidence to back the campaign’s claims and an inept legal argument at best.
But Trump’s lawyers still hope to block the state’s certification, quickly appealing to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. The court ordered lawyers to file a brief Monday but did not agree to hear oral arguments.
The campaign, in its filings, asked for urgent consideration so it could challenge the state election results before they are certified next month. If not, they will seek to decertify them, the filings said.
Trump’s team insisted it did not want to invalidate all of the 6.8 million ballots cast in the state. Instead, the lawyers said they were taking aim at seven Democratic-leaning counties where they take issue with how mail-in ballots were handled.
“Appellants seek to exclude the defective mail ballots which overwhelming favored Biden, which may turn the result of the election,” they said in a filing Monday.
Biden won Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes. Other litigation has failed to change a single vote.
Pennsylvania county election boards were voting on Monday, the state deadline, on whether to certify local election results to the Department of State. The boards in two populous counties divided along party lines, with majority Democrats in both places voting to certify.
After all counties have sent certified results to Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, she must then tabulate, compute and canvass votes for all races. The law requires her to perform that task quickly but does not set a specific deadline.
In Wisconsin, a recount in the state’s two largest liberal counties moved into its fourth day at a slow pace, with election officials in Milwaukee County complaining that Trump observers were hanging up the process with frequent challenges. Trump’s hope of reversing Biden’s victory there depends on disqualifying thousands of absentee ballots — including the in-person absentee ballot cast by one of Trump’s own campaign attorneys in Dane County.
Associated Press Writers Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia, Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pa., Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta and John Flesher in Traverse City, Mich. contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-11-24--Colorado Republicans in Congress remain mum on Trump’s refusal to concede

Colorado Republicans in Congress remained mum Monday about whether President Donald Trump should concede the presidential election to Joe Biden , a day after the state ’ s most recent Republican governor called on the Republican president to do so .
In the nearly three weeks since Biden defeated Trump , none of the state ’ s four congressional Republicans have acknowledged Trump ’ s defeat or signaled support for his wild claims of widespread election fraud .
On Monday , spokespeople for the four declined to comment when asked if Trump should concede .
On Sunday , former Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lead Colorado in the past 45 years , wrote on Facebook that the election is over .
Contrary to Trump ’ s claims of election fraud , Owens said , America ’ s election systems performed “ remarkably well ” considering this year ’ s pandemic and record-high turnout .
“ For the good of the country and our democracy , President Trump needs to respect the will of the voters , accede to the wishes of the electorate , and help prepare the way for the 46th President of the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ And — no matter our own personal political views — we should , as Americans , do the same.
” The former governor , who was in office from 1999 to 2007 , told of how he prepared two speeches for election night in 1998 , one in case of victory and another written in preparation for defeat .
He won by 8,297 votes , less than one percentage point .
“ It turned out I had the good fortune to give the former ( speech ) but I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided — to give the latter , ” Owens said , calling on Trump to now do the same .
During an interview with the ultra-conservative One America News Network on Friday , Rep. Ken Buck , a Windsor Republican who chairs the Colorado GOP , spoke of a hypothetical Biden administration without conceding the Democrat has won .
Late last week , he told the Colorado Sun he is awaiting results of the Trump campaign ’ s lawsuits but doesn ’ t have knowledge of widespread fraud .
When asked Monday whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Buck spokeswoman pointed to a statement he made last week about Trump ’ s right to litigate his allegations of election fraud in court until Dec. 14 , when the Electoral College meets to certify the results of the presidential election .
The president ’ s campaign has lost repeatedly in court and failed to present evidence to back up accusations of massive , widespread fraud and a stolen election .
As a result , some Republicans in Congress have called for the president to concede .
The four from Colorado have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yuma Republican who conceded his own loss Nov. 3 , did not respond to a request for comment sent to his spokeswoman .
Last week , Gardner complained when a Capitol Hill reporter asked if Biden is the president-elect .
“ You ’ re going to play gotcha questions with me ?
You guys , just come on .
I ’ m not going to play your gotcha questions .
I ’ m not going to play your games .
I ’ m tired of it , ” Gardner said then .
Spokespersons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican , and Rep. Doug Lamborn , R-Colorado Springs , also did not respond to emailed questions .
Congresswoman-elect Lauren Boebert , a Rifle Republican who upset Tipton in the primary , has echoed the president ’ s claims of fraud in recent weeks .
On Saturday , she said on Twitter that “ President Trump still has time to turn this around and get the real results out.
” “ This is no time to be demoralized or give up , ” she told fellow Trump supporters on the social media site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our freedom…and we are in a battle for it once again .
Remember , we will win !
”

Colorado Republicans in Congress remained mum Monday about whether President Donald Trump should concede the presidential election to Joe Biden, a day after the state’s most recent Republican governor called on the Republican president to do so.
In the nearly three weeks since Biden defeated Trump, none of the state’s four congressional Republicans have acknowledged Trump’s defeat or signaled support for his wild claims of widespread election fraud. On Monday, spokespeople for the four declined to comment when asked if Trump should concede.
On Sunday, former Gov. Bill Owens, the only Republican to lead Colorado in the past 45 years, wrote on Facebook that the election is over. Contrary to Trump’s claims of election fraud, Owens said, America’s election systems performed “remarkably well” considering this year’s pandemic and record-high turnout.
“For the good of the country and our democracy, President Trump needs to respect the will of the voters, accede to the wishes of the electorate, and help prepare the way for the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden,” he wrote. “And — no matter our own personal political views — we should, as Americans, do the same.”
The former governor, who was in office from 1999 to 2007, told of how he prepared two speeches for election night in 1998, one in case of victory and another written in preparation for defeat. He won by 8,297 votes, less than one percentage point.
“It turned out I had the good fortune to give the former (speech) but I was fully prepared — had the voters so decided — to give the latter,” Owens said, calling on Trump to now do the same.
During an interview with the ultra-conservative One America News Network on Friday, Rep. Ken Buck, a Windsor Republican who chairs the Colorado GOP, spoke of a hypothetical Biden administration without conceding the Democrat has won. Late last week, he told the Colorado Sun he is awaiting results of the Trump campaign’s lawsuits but doesn’t have knowledge of widespread fraud.
When asked Monday whether Buck believes the president should concede, a Buck spokeswoman pointed to a statement he made last week about Trump’s right to litigate his allegations of election fraud in court until Dec. 14, when the Electoral College meets to certify the results of the presidential election.
The president’s campaign has lost repeatedly in court and failed to present evidence to back up accusations of massive, widespread fraud and a stolen election. As a result, some Republicans in Congress have called for the president to concede. The four from Colorado have not.
Sen. Cory Gardner, a Yuma Republican who conceded his own loss Nov. 3, did not respond to a request for comment sent to his spokeswoman. Last week, Gardner complained when a Capitol Hill reporter asked if Biden is the president-elect.
“You’re going to play gotcha questions with me? You guys, just come on. I’m not going to play your gotcha questions. I’m not going to play your games. I’m tired of it,” Gardner said then.
Spokespersons for Rep. Scott Tipton, a Cortez Republican, and Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, also did not respond to emailed questions.
Congresswoman-elect Lauren Boebert, a Rifle Republican who upset Tipton in the primary, has echoed the president’s claims of fraud in recent weeks. On Saturday, she said on Twitter that “President Trump still has time to turn this around and get the real results out.”
“This is no time to be demoralized or give up,” she told fellow Trump supporters on the social media site Thursday. “Our founders fought relentlessly for our freedom…and we are in a battle for it once again. Remember, we will win!”