thedenverpost--2020-05-07--Colorado GOP Chair Ken Buck pressured local official to submit incorrect election results

Colorado Republican Party Chair Ken Buck , a U.S. representative from Windsor , pressured a local party official to submit incorrect election results to set the primary ballot for a state Senate seat , according to an audio recording of a conference call obtained by The Denver Post .
“ You ’ ve got a sitting congressman , a sitting state party chair , who is trying to bully a volunteer — I ’ m a volunteer ; I don ’ t get paid for this — into committing a crime , ” Eli Bremer , the GOP chairman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post on Wednesday , confirming the authenticity of the recording .
“ To say it ’ s damning is an understatement.
” Buck says he was merely asking Bremer to abide by a committee decision .
At issue is the Republican primary for the District 10 seat currently held by Sen. Owen Hill , who ’ s term-limited .
State Rep. Larry Liston and GOP activist David Stiver both ran for it .
To qualify for the November ballot via the caucus and assembly process , a candidate must receive 30 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During a district assembly in March , Liston received 75 % of the vote and Stiver just 24 % , according to documents filed later in Denver District Court .
Stiver complained the election was unfair , and the issue was taken up with the state central committee , which agreed , Buck said in an interview Wednesday .
The central committee consists of nearly 500 members , including elected officials and county officers .
About 200 were on the line during an April 17 conference call in which the group voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seat , even though he failed to receive 30 % of the district ’ s votes .
After the vote , Buck asked Bremer , the District 10 chair , whether he would comply with the committee ’ s decision .
“ Do you understand the order of the executive committee and the central committee that you will submit the paperwork to include Mr. Stiver and Mr. Liston on the ballot , with Mr. Liston receiving the top-line vote ?
” Buck said on the call .
“ Uh , yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has adopted a resolution that requires me to sign a false affidavit to the state , ” Bremer replied .
“ And will you do so ?
” Buck said .
Bremer : “ I will seek legal counsel as I am being asked to sign an affidavit that states Mr. Stiver received 30 % of the vote .
I need to seek legal counsel to find out if I am putting myself in jeopardy of a misdemeanor for doing that .
” Buck : “ And you understand that it is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so ?
” Bremer : “ I will consult with counsel .
Yes , sir , I understand the central committee has ordered me to sign an affidavit stating that a candidate got 30 % who did not .
And I will seek legal counsel and determine if I am legally able to follow that.
” Buck : “ All right , Mr. Bremer , I understand your position ; we will now move on.
” Buck , a lawyer , told The Post on Wednesday that it has been the tradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make such decisions .
“ What I was asking Eli to do was not to commit fraud , I was asking Eli if he understood the decision of the central committee and if he was willing to follow the request of the Republican central committee , ” he said .
“ It wasn ’ t like I was asking him to do something because I have a personal stake in the process.
” The assembly process to select the District 10 candidates , carried out as coronavirus was quickly spreading through the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have two choices , ” he said .
“ We ’ re going to allow an unfair election to stand , or we ’ re going to require the chairman of the Senate district to put the candidate ’ s name on the ballot and let the primary voters decide.
” Bremer never filed the paperwork .
Three days after the phone call , the district ’ s vice chair filed a “ friendly lawsuit , ” Bremer said , to prevent him from doing so .
Bremer told the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by its decision .
District Court Chief Judge Michael Martinez ruled Monday that any certificate of designation filed with the Secretary of State ’ s Office showing Stiver as a candidate would violate state law because he did not receive at least 30 % of the district ’ s votes .
The state Republican Party appealed the case to the Colorado Supreme Court , which declined Tuesday to hear it .
State party spokesman Joe Jackson expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court ’ s decision , predicting it will set a new precedent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with political fights every two years .
But the April 17 conversation struck Colorado politics expert Seth Masket as brazen .
The political science professor at the University of Denver said it ’ s also likely an uncommon occurrence .
“ There are plenty of examples within Colorado and elsewhere of party leaders pressuring subordinates to sort of fudge results or to change their views on things , but it ’ s very rare you see someone directly ordering someone to commit a crime , ” Masket said .
The aftermath is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party , Masket said .
“ But also potentially for Buck as a member of Congress , ” he said .
“ This is something his colleagues probably don ’ t think highly of .
But I can ’ t imagine it ’ s about to flip his district blue or anything like that.
” Joe Webb , former chair of the Jefferson County Republican Party , said he counted the votes for the District 10 race and Buck ’ s comments angered him so badly that he hung up the phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this is very serious , to attest to something as true when he knew it was false , ” Webb said .
“ There ’ s a word for that in the legal jargon ; it ’ s called perjury.
” Buck , a former district attorney , should have known better , Webb said .
The entire ordeal was disheartening and would not have happened if the coronavirus hadn ’ t forced the party ’ s assemblies into a truncated timeline , Webb said .
Bremer said the court rulings were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s actions were a betrayal .
At a minimum , Bremer said , Buck owes him an apology .
“ How in the heck is the Republican Party going to go out and say we ’ re for the rule of law except when it applies to us — we can do whatever we want to ?
” Bremer said .
“ That ’ s not my Republican Party .
”

Colorado Republican Party Chair Ken Buck, a U.S. representative from Windsor, pressured a local party official to submit incorrect election results to set the primary ballot for a state Senate seat, according to an audio recording of a conference call obtained by The Denver Post.
“You’ve got a sitting congressman, a sitting state party chair, who is trying to bully a volunteer — I’m a volunteer; I don’t get paid for this — into committing a crime,” Eli Bremer, the GOP chairman for state Senate District 10, told The Post on Wednesday, confirming the authenticity of the recording. “To say it’s damning is an understatement.”
Buck says he was merely asking Bremer to abide by a committee decision.
At issue is the Republican primary for the District 10 seat currently held by Sen. Owen Hill, who’s term-limited. State Rep. Larry Liston and GOP activist David Stiver both ran for it. To qualify for the November ballot via the caucus and assembly process, a candidate must receive 30% of the vote from Republicans within the district.
During a district assembly in March, Liston received 75% of the vote and Stiver just 24%, according to documents filed later in Denver District Court. Stiver complained the election was unfair, and the issue was taken up with the state central committee, which agreed, Buck said in an interview Wednesday.
The central committee consists of nearly 500 members, including elected officials and county officers. About 200 were on the line during an April 17 conference call in which the group voted to place Stiver on the ballot for the seat, even though he failed to receive 30% of the district’s votes. After the vote, Buck asked Bremer, the District 10 chair, whether he would comply with the committee’s decision.
“Do you understand the order of the executive committee and the central committee that you will submit the paperwork to include Mr. Stiver and Mr. Liston on the ballot, with Mr. Liston receiving the top-line vote?” Buck said on the call.
“Uh, yes, sir, I understand the central committee has adopted a resolution that requires me to sign a false affidavit to the state,” Bremer replied.
“And will you do so?” Buck said.
Bremer: “I will seek legal counsel as I am being asked to sign an affidavit that states Mr. Stiver received 30% of the vote. I need to seek legal counsel to find out if I am putting myself in jeopardy of a misdemeanor for doing that. ”
Buck: “And you understand that it is the order of the central committee that you do so?”
Bremer: “I will consult with counsel. Yes, sir, I understand the central committee has ordered me to sign an affidavit stating that a candidate got 30% who did not. And I will seek legal counsel and determine if I am legally able to follow that.”
Buck: “All right, Mr. Bremer, I understand your position; we will now move on.”
Buck, a lawyer, told The Post on Wednesday that it has been the tradition in both parties for their committees to make such decisions.
“What I was asking Eli to do was not to commit fraud, I was asking Eli if he understood the decision of the central committee and if he was willing to follow the request of the Republican central committee,” he said. “It wasn’t like I was asking him to do something because I have a personal stake in the process.”
The assembly process to select the District 10 candidates, carried out as coronavirus was quickly spreading through the state, was flawed, Buck said.
“We have two choices,” he said. “We’re going to allow an unfair election to stand, or we’re going to require the chairman of the Senate district to put the candidate’s name on the ballot and let the primary voters decide.”
Bremer never filed the paperwork. Three days after the phone call, the district’s vice chair filed a “friendly lawsuit,” Bremer said, to prevent him from doing so. Bremer told the court he had no position and would abide by its decision.
District Court Chief Judge Michael Martinez ruled Monday that any certificate of designation filed with the Secretary of State’s Office showing Stiver as a candidate would violate state law because he did not receive at least 30% of the district’s votes.
The state Republican Party appealed the case to the Colorado Supreme Court, which declined Tuesday to hear it. State party spokesman Joe Jackson expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court’s decision, predicting it will set a new precedent in which the courts will be inundated with political fights every two years.
But the April 17 conversation struck Colorado politics expert Seth Masket as brazen. The political science professor at the University of Denver said it’s also likely an uncommon occurrence.
“There are plenty of examples within Colorado and elsewhere of party leaders pressuring subordinates to sort of fudge results or to change their views on things, but it’s very rare you see someone directly ordering someone to commit a crime,” Masket said.
The aftermath is likely problematic for both Buck and the state Republican Party, Masket said.
“But also potentially for Buck as a member of Congress,” he said. “This is something his colleagues probably don’t think highly of. But I can’t imagine it’s about to flip his district blue or anything like that.”
Joe Webb, former chair of the Jefferson County Republican Party, said he counted the votes for the District 10 race and Buck’s comments angered him so badly that he hung up the phone.
“Eli was being asked, and this is very serious, to attest to something as true when he knew it was false,” Webb said. “There’s a word for that in the legal jargon; it’s called perjury.”
Buck, a former district attorney, should have known better, Webb said.
The entire ordeal was disheartening and would not have happened if the coronavirus hadn’t forced the party’s assemblies into a truncated timeline, Webb said.
Bremer said the court rulings were a vindication for him, and Buck’s actions were a betrayal.
At a minimum, Bremer said, Buck owes him an apology.
“How in the heck is the Republican Party going to go out and say we’re for the rule of law except when it applies to us — we can do whatever we want to?” Bremer said. “That’s not my Republican Party.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-07--Rev. Terrence “Big T” Hughes released from VA hospital after long COVID-19 battle

Rachel Hughes was thrilled Wednesday at the prospect of touching her husband , Rev .
Terrence “ Big T ” Hughes , when they were briefly united on his release from the hospital where he ’ s battled COVID-19 for almost two months .
“ I was grateful he is alive and I could touch him , I didn ’ t know if I could touch him , but I did , ” Rachel Hughes said Wednesday afternoon .
The couple look forward to celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this July .
Nurses , doctors , frontline health workers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 100 in all — cheered Terrence Hughes , clapping hands , shouting encouraging words and singing , as he was released from the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora .
Lying on a hospital gurney as he left the hospital , Rachel hugged him as he came out the door .
They both cried , Rachel rubbed and patted his chest , they locked eyes , exchanging a loving glance , smiles hidden by the face-covering mask they both wore .
“ I was emotional and kind of nervous , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been so long , ” Rachel said .
Terrence Hughes was admitted to the hospital March 9 and was put on a ventilator a few days later .
He was on and off the ventilator multiple times during his long stay .
Respiratory therapist Valerie Love , who attended to Hughes throughout his VA stay , and who extubated him from the ventilator , bumped elbows with Rachel outside the hospital .
“ It ’ s a miracle , isn ’ t it ?
” Love said .
While Terrence was battling coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill with COVID-19 .
Sick for about two weeks , Rachel was not hospitalized .
She spent long hours thinking , and worrying , about her husband .
“ Every time the phone rang , I was so scared to answer , ” she said in fear of getting bad news .
“ It really taught me the meaning of pushing through .
I had to keep pushing through.
” The reverend is co-pastor at New Covenant Christian Church/Alpha Omega Ministries Disciple of Christ in Denver .
He was a candidate for Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he became ill. Hughes , who has held various church positions over the years , is director of Brother Jeff ’ s Community Health Initiative , where he runs the HIV/AIDS Grass Roots Initiative .
He ’ s a past board chairman of the governor-appointed Colorado Advisory Council on AIDS .
“ I ’ m so grateful to the ICU team , who took care of him , and so grateful to the community , who took care of me , ” Rachel Hughes said .
“ They supported us financially and spiritually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terrence Hughes was transferred Wednesday to the NeuroRestorative medical clinic in Littleton .
It ’ s undetermined how long his stay will be .
He will be quarantined .
When Hughes was put into an ambulance Wednesday , the crowd broke out in song and he smiled as the door closed .
Rachel knows that his room in Littleton will be on the first floor , ground level , and she ’ s looking forward to window visits .
“ I ’ m just grateful he is alive and able to go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rehabilitation , ” Rachel said .
“ Then , the next stage after that is coming home .
”

Rachel Hughes was thrilled Wednesday at the prospect of touching her husband, Rev. Terrence “Big T” Hughes, when they were briefly united on his release from the hospital where he’s battled COVID-19 for almost two months.
“I was grateful he is alive and I could touch him, I didn’t know if I could touch him, but I did,” Rachel Hughes said Wednesday afternoon. The couple look forward to celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this July.
Nurses, doctors, frontline health workers, friends, family and supporters — more than 100 in all — cheered Terrence Hughes, clapping hands, shouting encouraging words and singing, as he was released from the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora.
Lying on a hospital gurney as he left the hospital, Rachel hugged him as he came out the door. They both cried, Rachel rubbed and patted his chest, they locked eyes, exchanging a loving glance, smiles hidden by the face-covering mask they both wore.
“I was emotional and kind of nervous, I was shaky; it’s been so long,” Rachel said.
Terrence Hughes was admitted to the hospital March 9 and was put on a ventilator a few days later. He was on and off the ventilator multiple times during his long stay.
Respiratory therapist Valerie Love, who attended to Hughes throughout his VA stay, and who extubated him from the ventilator, bumped elbows with Rachel outside the hospital. “It’s a miracle, isn’t it?” Love said.
While Terrence was battling coronavirus at the hospital, Rachel too became ill with COVID-19. Sick for about two weeks, Rachel was not hospitalized. She spent long hours thinking, and worrying, about her husband.
“Every time the phone rang, I was so scared to answer,” she said in fear of getting bad news. “It really taught me the meaning of pushing through. I had to keep pushing through.”
The reverend is co-pastor at New Covenant Christian Church/Alpha Omega Ministries Disciple of Christ in Denver. He was a candidate for Colorado House District 7 seat in March when he became ill. Hughes, who has held various church positions over the years, is director of Brother Jeff’s Community Health Initiative, where he runs the HIV/AIDS Grass Roots Initiative. He’s a past board chairman of the governor-appointed Colorado Advisory Council on AIDS.
“I’m so grateful to the ICU team, who took care of him, and so grateful to the community, who took care of me,” Rachel Hughes said. “They supported us financially and spiritually; it is truly a blessing.”
Terrence Hughes was transferred Wednesday to the NeuroRestorative medical clinic in Littleton. It’s undetermined how long his stay will be. He will be quarantined. When Hughes was put into an ambulance Wednesday, the crowd broke out in song and he smiled as the door closed.
Rachel knows that his room in Littleton will be on the first floor, ground level, and she’s looking forward to window visits.
“I’m just grateful he is alive and able to go to the next stage, which is the rehabilitation,” Rachel said. “Then, the next stage after that is coming home.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-07--Feldman: America has no plan for the worst-case scenario on COVID-19

In the midst of the constant up-and-down of coronavirus news , both from science and the markets , it ’ s easy to lose sight of the scariest scenario of them all : the one where there ’ s no magic bullet .
In this entirely plausible situation , there would be no effective Covid-19 vaccine or transformative therapy ; the combination of testing and contact tracing wouldn ’ t successfully suppress the outbreak ; and herd immunity would come , if at all , only after millions of deaths around the world .
Even raising this possibility is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outcome is terrible doesn ’ t make it impossible .
Since the end of February , I ’ ve conducted some 20 interviews with epidemiologists and virologists like Marc Lipsitch , Angela Rasmussen , and Carl Bergstrom ; economists like Paul Romer , Stefanie Stantcheva and Larry Summers ; and leaders at top hospitals and experts on government agencies whose names you may not know , but whose life ’ s work is preparing for moments like this one .
Despite getting expert answers to dozens of my questions , the one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get an answer for is this : Who , exactly , is planning for the nightmare scenario in which we never get a vaccine or a breakthrough treatment ?
Ideally , it would be the federal government ’ s executive branch , with its resources and bird ’ s-eye view of the problem .
But the president , running for reelection , has every reason to insist on ( unrealistic ) optimism .
In fact , the administration actually discussed disbanding its coronavirus task force .
The CDC and other public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; but they ’ re busy ( rightly ) warning the public not to throw up our hands and let the virus spread unchecked .
It ’ s not really a job for scientists — they are ( understandably ) devoting all their energy to searching for treatments and vaccines .
Governors only have the authority to plan for their individual state .
And the Fed is tasked with trying to save jobs and markets , not modeling the end of the economy as we know it .
I ’ m not one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely demands considering every confluence of events that could occur with reasonable probability .
If in fact there is no agency or department planning for the worst-case scenario , that is a major governance failure .
The fact that some 90 vaccines are being explored , with some clinical trials , is exciting and uplifting .
It ’ s better than 80 vaccines or 40 or five or none .
The sheer number tends to make us think that one or several will succeed .
But the sum of many very low probability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high probability that one will succeed .
There has never been a successful mRNA vaccine , like those being tested by Moderna and others , brought to market after approval .
Ditto for a viral vector vaccine like the one the Oxford University group is pursuing .
And traditional vaccines classically take many years to get to patients .
We ’ ve heard so many times that a vaccine will not be available for 18 months that we may have started to confuse that message for the very different idea that after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available .
Transformative therapies are similarly very far from guaranteed .
In a preliminary study , Remdesivir lowered mortality in hospitalized Covid-19 patients from 11.6 % to 8 % .
That ’ s statistically meaningful and could save lives .
But even if broadly replicated , it won ’ t mean a fundamental change in how we accept the risks of contracting the disease .
And when was the last time you heard the word hydrochloroquine ?
The combination of testing and contact tracing is being heralded as a mechanism for reopening the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality that testing on a massive scale is not available now and is unlikely to be anytime soon .
Manual contact tracing is only as good as the response rate and the willingness and capacity of contacting people to self-isolate .
Digital contact tracing is new and raises challenging ethical questions , including around privacy .
It , too , will work only if very large numbers of those who come into contact with infected people self-isolate .
Then there ’ s the little-discussed question of whether testing plus contact tracing can actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has achieved community spread on a massive scale like the novel coronavirus .
The combination is classically applicable in situations where there are handful of cases and the disease has not yet spread widely ; that was the situation in South Korea where it seems to have been highly effective .
The technique is also said to have proven effective in the 2014 Ebola outbreak .
But the epidemiologistsI have spoken to about the novel coronavirus have not been able to provide a truly comparable case where testing and contact tracing reined in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a huge geographical area .
Usually , when all other scenarios have been discussed , the topic turns to herd immunity .
But as Bergstrom has been arguing for weeks , in practice that likely means a huge percentage of the population being exposed to the virus .
Depending on the true case fatality rate , that could mean many millions of deaths around the world .
It ’ s time to start thinking about how we should react to this horrible scenario .
It isn ’ t defeatism to ask what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the war we ’ re fighting .
It ’ s realism .
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and a professor of law at Harvard University .
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 .

In the midst of the constant up-and-down of coronavirus news, both from science and the markets, it’s easy to lose sight of the scariest scenario of them all: the one where there’s no magic bullet. In this entirely plausible situation, there would be no effective Covid-19 vaccine or transformative therapy; the combination of testing and contact tracing wouldn’t successfully suppress the outbreak; and herd immunity would come, if at all, only after millions of deaths around the world.
Even raising this possibility is a big downer. But the fact that an outcome is terrible doesn’t make it impossible.
Since the end of February, I’ve conducted some 20 interviews with epidemiologists and virologists like Marc Lipsitch, Angela Rasmussen, and Carl Bergstrom; economists like Paul Romer, Stefanie Stantcheva and Larry Summers; and leaders at top hospitals and experts on government agencies whose names you may not know, but whose life’s work is preparing for moments like this one. Despite getting expert answers to dozens of my questions, the one question I haven’t been able to get an answer for is this: Who, exactly, is planning for the nightmare scenario in which we never get a vaccine or a breakthrough treatment?
Ideally, it would be the federal government’s executive branch, with its resources and bird’s-eye view of the problem. But the president, running for reelection, has every reason to insist on (unrealistic) optimism. In fact, the administration actually discussed disbanding its coronavirus task force.
The CDC and other public health agencies might be a good second option; but they’re busy (rightly) warning the public not to throw up our hands and let the virus spread unchecked. It’s not really a job for scientists — they are (understandably) devoting all their energy to searching for treatments and vaccines. Governors only have the authority to plan for their individual state. And the Fed is tasked with trying to save jobs and markets, not modeling the end of the economy as we know it.
I’m not one who enjoys doomsday scenarios. Yet realism absolutely demands considering every confluence of events that could occur with reasonable probability. If in fact there is no agency or department planning for the worst-case scenario, that is a major governance failure.
The fact that some 90 vaccines are being explored, with some clinical trials, is exciting and uplifting. It’s better than 80 vaccines or 40 or five or none. The sheer number tends to make us think that one or several will succeed. But the sum of many very low probability events doesn’t necessarily translate into a high probability that one will succeed.
There has never been a successful mRNA vaccine, like those being tested by Moderna and others, brought to market after approval. Ditto for a viral vector vaccine like the one the Oxford University group is pursuing. And traditional vaccines classically take many years to get to patients.
We’ve heard so many times that a vaccine will not be available for 18 months that we may have started to confuse that message for the very different idea that after 18 months, a vaccine will be available.
Transformative therapies are similarly very far from guaranteed. In a preliminary study, Remdesivir lowered mortality in hospitalized Covid-19 patients from 11.6 % to 8%. That’s statistically meaningful and could save lives. But even if broadly replicated, it won’t mean a fundamental change in how we accept the risks of contracting the disease. And when was the last time you heard the word hydrochloroquine?
The combination of testing and contact tracing is being heralded as a mechanism for reopening the economy. The challenges here include the reality that testing on a massive scale is not available now and is unlikely to be anytime soon. Manual contact tracing is only as good as the response rate and the willingness and capacity of contacting people to self-isolate. Digital contact tracing is new and raises challenging ethical questions, including around privacy. It, too, will work only if very large numbers of those who come into contact with infected people self-isolate.
Then there’s the little-discussed question of whether testing plus contact tracing can actually be used to suppress a disease that has achieved community spread on a massive scale like the novel coronavirus. The combination is classically applicable in situations where there are handful of cases and the disease has not yet spread widely; that was the situation in South Korea where it seems to have been highly effective. The technique is also said to have proven effective in the 2014 Ebola outbreak. But the epidemiologistsI have spoken to about the novel coronavirus have not been able to provide a truly comparable case where testing and contact tracing reined in a disease that was this diffused across a huge geographical area.
Usually, when all other scenarios have been discussed, the topic turns to herd immunity. But as Bergstrom has been arguing for weeks, in practice that likely means a huge percentage of the population being exposed to the virus. Depending on the true case fatality rate, that could mean many millions of deaths around the world.
It’s time to start thinking about how we should react to this horrible scenario. It isn’t defeatism to ask what the world will look like if we lose the war we’re fighting. It’s realism.
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and a professor of law at Harvard University.
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--2020-05-06--Frontier Airlines and the coronavirus pandemic: $39 empty seats for sale, federal loans and route su

Frontier Airlines and the coronavirus pandemic: $39 empty seats for sale, federal loans and route suspensions

Frontier Airlines has done anything but idle at the gate as the coronavirus pandemic has decimated America ’ s appetite for air travel .
The Denver-based carrier , known for its low fares , bag fees and animal photos on the tails of its aircraft , has made a flurry of moves in hopes of enticing as many people as possible to board its planes amid the health crisis .
Some , like the airline ’ s decision to slash all fares by 90 % for a limited time in mid-March , which overwhelmed its customer service systems , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Frontier launched perhaps its most ambitious initiative of the crisis yet .
Starting at $ 39 , passengers flying between Friday and Aug. 31 will have the option to buy an empty middle seat , something the airline is calling the “ more room ” seat assignment .
When coupled with the policy to mandate all flyers wear face coverings aboard Frontier aircraft starting Friday , “ more room ” allows Frontier to offer the “ highest levels of passenger well-being and comfort , ” according to a news release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of feedback from customers that say ‘ OK , I get it , I see that I ’ m safe but I ’ d just like a little more peace of mind , ’ so we have offered this product , this guaranteed middle seat open , ” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said .
Biffle pointed to Frontier ’ s aircraft cleaning efforts — regularly fogging the interior of planes with a disinfectant mist that “ kills the virus on contact , ” and a mandatory health and safety survey that passengers must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the airline is doing all it can to ensure passenger safety .
In two weeks , the airline plans to start checking the temperatures of everyone boarding planes .
There has been plenty of criticism of the “ more room ” initiative with some on social media referring to it as a cash grab playing on people ’ s fears of the deadly COVID-19 virus .
Biffle said that his airline and others already are letting people fan out on flights for free when there is space available .
Frontier also was looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company may keep it beyond Aug. 31 if the demand is there .
“ We offer the lowest total prices in the United States .
Period .
So we are not profiteering off customers at all , ” Biffle said .
“ We don ’ t know how much real demand there is for this .
And it ’ s a little like a belt and suspenders , because , again , we believe you are safe on Frontier without this.
” “ I think it ’ s a very innovative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Boyd Group International , an Evergreen-based aviation consulting and forecasting business , said .
“ That turns an empty butt space into 39 bucks .
Hey , can ’ t beat that.
” “ If airlines can ’ t eventually sell the middle seat , we ’ re not going to have an airport transportation system , ” Boyd said .
Frontier isn ’ t just relying on new sales policies to stay solvent .
It has been approved for $ 200 million in federal payroll support — a $ 170 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — about half of which is it has already received , Biffle said .
The company is also working on the details of a $ 498 million loan funded through the CARES Act , according to a spokeswoman .
The bailout money comes as the airline has sought to stop serving 33 markets through June 10 .
The route suspension requests were born out a lack of demand , Biffle said .
In an April 25 order previously covered by the Denver Business Journal , the U.S. Department of Transportation granted Frontier ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boston , Charlotte , North Carolina and Providence , Rhode Island .
The local airport authority for Bloomington , Illinois also granted Frontier permission to stop flying there for a limited time .
Boyd is of the mind that Frontier should have been granted all of its route suspension requests even if the markets didn ’ t have other carriers to serve them .
“ It is outrageous and demonstrably stupid of the DOT to require an airplane to fly when that airplane is empty , ” he said .
Biffle is bullish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic recedes .
The company won ’ t see the 15 % increase in passenger traffic and revenue it was projecting at the beginning of the year , but he is hopeful 2020 could be flat in spite of the crisis .
He noted that the airline went from carrying 80,000 passengers a day down to 3,000 in recent months , but over the last few days , he has seen that number creep back up to 10,000 .
Passenger throughput at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints around the country has ticked up gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tuesday ’ s numbers were down almost 94 % compared to May 5 , 2019 .
“ It ’ s not going to be long before airplanes are full again , ” Biffle said .
“ Our plan is to have our entire fleet back in the air in July and all of our destinations should be served.
” Boyd , the consultant , sees Frontier recovery coming a lot quicker than that of larger legacy carriers such as United Airlines or Delta , thanks to its point-to-point business model and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mississippi , .
“ I can ’ t go to Las Vegas .
It ’ s closed , but if I could , I would bet on Frontier , ” he said .

Frontier Airlines’ latest effort to drum up extra business during the coronavirus pandemic never got off the ground.
The Denver-based budget carrier Wednesday night pulled the plug on its “more room” sales offer, where a passenger could buy an empty middle seat on flights for $39 and up. The deal was heavily criticized, including by Congressional leaders.
In a letter addressed to U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Tennesee and Jesus G. ‘Chuy” Garcia, D-Illinois, and U.S. Senator Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said his airline would rescind the more room pricing policy that was set to take effect on Frontier flights starting Friday. The letter was apparently in response to correspondence from the leaders earlier in the day.
Biffle has been making the media rounds to promote the new program this week, including speaking with a Denver Post reporter on Tuesday.
“We recognize the concerns raised that we are profiting from safety and this was never our intent. We simply wanted to provide our customers with an option for more space,” Biffle wrote. “We will leave the seats blocked which were associated with this product and honor purchases made by all customers who bought the product up until now.”
Frontier has been selling seats for the “more room” initiative since Monday. It was supposed to be available to passengers flying between Friday and Aug. 31 at least. When coupled with the airline’s policy mandating all flyers wear face coverings aboard Frontier aircraft starting Friday, it was part of the airline’s plan to offer “highest levels of passenger well-being and comfort,” according to a news release announcing the program.
“We continue to see a lot of feedback from customers that say ‘OK, I get it, I see that I’m safe but I’d just like a little more peace of mind,’ so we have offered this product, this guaranteed middle seat open,” Biffle told The Denver Post on Tuesday.
The “more room” initiative drew immediate criticism on social media this week with some referring to it as a cash grab playing on people’s fears of the deadly COVID-19 virus. It was a view point apparently shared by Cohen, Garcia and Markey.
Biffle on Tuesday said that his airline and others already are letting people fan out on flights for free when there is space available and rejected the idea that “more room” was a move the airline was making to cash in our fear. Frontier also was looking into this policy before the pandemic hit, he said.
“We offer the lowest total prices in the United States. Period. So we are not profiteering off customers at all,” Biffle said. “We don’t know how much real demand there is for this. And it’s a little like a belt and suspenders, because, again, we believe you are safe on Frontier without this.”
Biffle pointed to Frontier’s aircraft cleaning efforts — regularly fogging the interior of planes with a disinfectant mist that “kills the virus on contact,” and a mandatory health and safety survey that passengers must fill out before flying — as evidence the airline is doing all it can to ensure passenger safety. In two weeks, the airline plans to start checking the temperatures of everyone boarding planes.
Prior to bowing to Congressional criticism, Frontier was also approved for a bundle of federal bailout money. The airline has been approved for $200 million in federal payroll support — a $170 million grant and $30 million in loans — about half of which is it has already received, Biffle said. The company is also working on the details of a $498 million loan funded through the CARES Act, according to a spokeswoman.
The funding comes as the airline has sought to stop serving 33 markets through June 10. The route suspension requests were born out a lack of demand, Biffle said.
In an April 25 order previously covered by the Denver Business Journal, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted Frontier’s request to stop serving Detroit, Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina and Providence, Rhode Island. The local airport authority for Bloomington, Illinois also granted Frontier permission to stop flying there for a limited time.
Michael Boyd, president of Boyd Group International, an Evergreen-based aviation consulting and forecasting business, said he is of the mind that Frontier should have been granted all of its route suspension requests even if the markets didn’t have other carriers to serve them.
“It is outrageous and demonstrably stupid of the DOT to require an airplane to fly when that airplane is empty,” he said.
Biffle on Tuesday was bullish on Frontier’s prospects if the pandemic recedes. The company won’t see the 15% increase in passenger traffic and revenue it was projecting at the beginning of the year, but he is hopeful 2020 could be flat in spite of the crisis. He noted that the airline went from carrying 80,000 passengers a day down to 3,000 in recent months, but over the last few days, he has seen that number creep back up to 10,000.
Passenger throughput at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints around the country has ticked up gradually after cratering in early April. Still, Tuesday’s numbers were down almost 94% compared to May 5, 2019.
“It’s not going to be long before airplanes are full again,” Biffle said. “Our plan is to have our entire fleet back in the air in July and all of our destinations should be served.”
Boyd, the consultant, sees Frontier recovery coming a lot quicker than that of larger legacy carriers such as United Airlines or Delta, thanks to its point-to-point business model and its willingness to fly to places like Jackson, Mississippi, .
“I can’t go to Las Vegas. It’s closed, but if I could, I would bet on Frontier,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-05-06--Coronavirus outbreaks reported at 5 Denver-area jails; nursing home death toll rises to 531

Five jails in the Denver area have confirmed outbreaks of the new coronavirus as of Wednesday , with more than 100 confirmed infections and one death linked to Colorado correctional facilities .
The largest outbreak of the five was in the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center in downtown Denver , with 84 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases among inmates and one in a staff member .
Even so , it was only the seventh-largest outbreak in the state , behind the JBS meat-packing plant in Greeley , the Sterling Correctional Center and four senior care facilities .
Smaller outbreaks affecting 10 or fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center , the Arapahoe Community Treatment Center , the Douglas County Jail and the Jefferson County Detention Facility .
Altogether , they reported 22 confirmed or probable cases among inmates and four among staff .
State health officials also reported an outbreak at the Denver Rescue Mission ’ s shelter at the National Western Center , with 17 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases among staff .
Colorado reported 166 outbreaks around the state as of Wednesday , including 87 in nursing facilities , 35 in assisted-living facilities , 13 related to food manufacturing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of 4,935 cases and 560 deaths were linked to COVID-19 outbreaks : about a quarter of all cases and three-fifths of all deaths in Colorado .
The majority of the outbreaks were in facilities linked to long-term care , like nursing homes , assisted living facilities and group homes .
Those facilities accounted for 3,669 cases and 531 deaths : one-fifth of all cases and more than half of deaths .
Greeley had the unfortunate distinction of having two nursing facilities , a meat-packing plant and a jail on the list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with a combined 535 cases and 41 deaths from those four outbreaks .
While some of the largest outbreaks are in prisons or food-processing plants , the deadliest are in nursing facilities .
At least 10 residents have died in 17 Colorado long-term care facilities .
Cherry Creek Nursing Center , Centennial Health Care Center and Fairacres Manor were near the top of the list of outbreaks with the most deaths , as were : One bright spot was that the state reported eight outbreaks were resolved .

Five jails in the Denver area have confirmed outbreaks of the new coronavirus as of Wednesday, with more than 100 confirmed infections and one death linked to Colorado correctional facilities.
The largest outbreak of the five was in the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center in downtown Denver, with 84 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases among inmates and one in a staff member.
Even so, it was only the seventh-largest outbreak in the state, behind the JBS meat-packing plant in Greeley, the Sterling Correctional Center and four senior care facilities.
Smaller outbreaks affecting 10 or fewer people were reported at the Adams Transitional Center, the Arapahoe Community Treatment Center, the Douglas County Jail and the Jefferson County Detention Facility. Altogether, they reported 22 confirmed or probable cases among inmates and four among staff.
State health officials also reported an outbreak at the Denver Rescue Mission’s shelter at the National Western Complex, with 17 confirmed and probable coronavirus cases among staff.
Colorado reported 166 outbreaks around the state as of Wednesday, including 87 in nursing facilities, 35 in assisted-living facilities, 13 related to food manufacturing and nine in correctional facilities.
A total of 4,935 cases and 560 deaths were linked to COVID-19 outbreaks: about a quarter of all cases and three-fifths of all deaths in Colorado.
The majority of the outbreaks were in facilities linked to long-term care, like nursing homes, assisted living facilities and group homes. Those facilities accounted for 3,669 cases and 531 deaths: one-fifth of all cases and more than half of deaths.
The largest outbreaks were:
JBS meat-packing plant, Greeley: 280 cases, 7 deaths
Sterling Correctional Facility: 277 cases, 1 death
Cherry Creek Nursing Center, Aurora: 124 cases, 30 deaths
Centennial Healthcare Center, Greeley: 88 cases, 20 deaths
Fairacres Manor, Greeley: 86 cases, 14 deaths
Orchard Park Health Care Center, Centennial: 86 cases, 4 deaths
Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center, Denver: 85 cases, 0 deaths
Leprino Foods, Fort Morgan: 83 cases, 0 deaths
Intervention Community Corrections Services, Greeley: 81 cases, 0 deaths
Jewell Care Center of Denver: 75 cases, 7 deaths
Greeley had the unfortunate distinction of having two nursing facilities, a meat-packing plant and a jail on the list of the state’s 10 largest outbreaks, with a combined 535 cases and 41 deaths from those four outbreaks.
While some of the largest outbreaks are in prisons or food-processing plants, the deadliest are in nursing facilities.
At least 10 residents have died in 17 Colorado long-term care facilities. Cherry Creek Nursing Center, Centennial Health Care Center and Fairacres Manor were near the top of the list of outbreaks with the most deaths, as were:
Julia Temple Healthcare Center, Englewood: 61 cases, 14 deaths
Holly Heights, Denver: 51 cases, 14 deaths
Amberwood Court Rehabilitation and Care Community, Denver: 42 cases, 14 deaths
Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center, Brush: 64 cases, 12 deaths
Laurel Manor, Colorado Springs: 64 cases, 12 deaths
Columbine Manor Care Center, Salida: 58 cases, 12 deaths
One bright spot was that the state reported eight outbreaks were resolved.


thedenverpost--2020-05-07--And the winner of our greatest Colorado athlete of all-time tournament bracket is …

After weeks of voting and tens of thousands of ballots cast , you , our readers , have determined who is the greatest athlete in Colorado history .
In a championship battle between John Elway and Joe Sakic , the long-time Avalanche captain edged out the legendary Broncos quarterback , receiving 52.83 % of the votes to earn the victory .
Sakic was the Avs ’ captain from the day they moved from Quebec in 1995 to the day he retired in 2009 .
Over his 13 years in Colorado , he tallied 391 goals , 624 assists for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His 1,691 career points is ninth-most in NHL history .
He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy — the MVP of the playoffs — in 1996 after leading Colorado to a Stanley Cup title in their first year in Denver .
It was the first major professional championship in state history .
Sakic and the Avalanche won another Stanley Cup in 2001 .
Plus one time he scored a goal against the Blackhawks and then beat up Doug Gilmour .
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette , tell a friend it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our daily sports roundup .
If you have any questions or suggestions , hit me up on Twitter @ joenguyen or by email .
A special offer for Sports Omelette readers !
Subscribe to The Denver Post ’ s sports coverage for just 99¢ for the first month and only $ 6.99/month thereafter .
Cancel anytime .
+ Broncos Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Ryan O ’ Halloran here .
+ Nuggets Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Mike Singer here .
+ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the team ?
Ask Mike Chambers here .
+ Rockies Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Patrick Saunders here .

After weeks of voting and tens of thousands of ballots cast, you, our readers, have determined who is the greatest athlete in Colorado history.
In a championship battle between John Elway and Joe Sakic, the long-time Avalanche captain edged out the legendary Broncos quarterback, receiving 52.83% of the votes to earn the victory.
Sakic was the Avs’ captain from the day they moved from Quebec in 1995 to the day he retired in 2009. Over his 13 years in Colorado, he tallied 391 goals, 624 assists for a total of 1,015 points in 870 games. His 1,691 career points is ninth-most in NHL history.
He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy — the MVP of the playoffs — in 1996 after leading Colorado to a Stanley Cup title in their first year in Denver. It was the first major professional championship in state history. Sakic and the Avalanche won another Stanley Cup in 2001.
Plus one time he scored a goal against the Blackhawks and then beat up Doug Gilmour.
— Joe Nguyen and Jeff Bailey, The Denver Post
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette, tell a friend it’s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup. If you have any questions or suggestions, hit me up on Twitter @joenguyen or by email.
A special offer for Sports Omelette readers! Subscribe to The Denver Post’s sports coverage for just 99¢ for the first month and only $6.99/month thereafter. Cancel anytime.
Ask The Experts
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Ryan O’Halloran here.
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Singer here.
+ Avs Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Chambers here.
+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Patrick Saunders here.


thedenverpost--2020-05-07--How Kendrick Castillo’s family is coping with his loss, advocating for change one year after the STE

How Kendrick Castillo’s family is coping with his loss, advocating for change one year after the STEM School shooting

Every day , John and Maria Castillo drive to the Seven Stones Botanical Gardens Cemetery in Littleton to be with their only child , Kendrick .
Maria can not kiss her son anymore , so she kisses his smiling , bespectacled prom picture perched atop his grave .
John Castillo plants a kiss on the grave stone , which is adorned with all of Kendrick ’ s favorite things : a Chick-fil-A cow , a miniature Jeep , a can of Coke .
It is their daily routine ever since their son , an 18-year-old high school senior , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his seat in English class to take down an armed classmate .
The Castillos sometimes bring over Adirondack chairs , a cooler of water , some fresh Columbine flowers .
Some summer nights , they ’ ll sit with Kendrick for hours , the sun setting over the towering Rocky Mountains .
The cemetery workers know the Castillos , who often are the last visitors to leave , and they will lock up after the parents feel it ’ s time to go home .
In the winter , with the snow deep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maria clear a patch in front of his grave before they say goodnight to their son .
“ When we ’ re there , we feel good , ” John Castillo said .
“ I can ’ t imagine not doing it .
Our love is that great for our son.
” On May 7 , 2019 , two teenage students barged into the STEM School Highlands Ranch with pistols and a rifle .
On that day , Kendrick Castillo did not listen when his armed classmates told everyone not to move .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparing the lives of other students but sacrificing his own .
That day , the Castillos became part of a group that former Columbine High School principal Frank DeAngelis calls the “ club no one wants to be a member of.
” Since their son died , the Castillos have advocated for new legislation in the Capitol .
They ’ ve sat in courtroom pews and on witness stands .
They ’ ve appeared in newspapers and on TV and radio , making sure Kendrick ’ s heroism was not in vain .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s friends , celebrating their accomplishments and worrying about them like they are their own children .
But in keeping Kendrick ’ s memory alive , in advocating for change , in figuring out how to cope with their new normal , the Castillos are still trying to find their way .
“ That big wall of fog that athletes come into from the tunnel ?
We ’ re at the back end of that , ” John Castillo said .
“ Everything is very clear : Kendrick ’ s death is real.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ come around so I know they ’ re okay ” His parents haven ’ t touched anything in his childhood bedroom , leaving it exactly the way Kendrick had it when he went to school for the last time .
Their living room transformed into a memorial for their son — pictures and artwork sent from the Red Cross , U. S. Marines and strangers from around the world .
The Castillos keep Kendrick ’ s beloved Jeep topped off with gas at all times , and they tell their son ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive to the mountains or take a trip to Red Rocks , just grab the keys .
Throughout the past year , a close group of Kendrick ’ s friends visited often .
When they return home from college , their first stop was Kendrick ’ s grave or the Castillo ’ s house .
John Castillo likes to hear updates from his son ’ s friends or their parents , listing off their accomplishments with pride : One made the All-American swim team ; another is in the Air Force Academy ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colombia .
“ It means a lot to me , ” John Castillo said .
“ It ’ s important they come around so I know they ’ re okay .
I know their bond with Kendrick , and I worry about them .
I know how I ’ m dealing with it , but some of these kids are thousands of miles away in college .
I hope they ’ re gon na be okay.
” These were all good kids , Castillo said .
“ I don ’ t know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen.
” Although he ’ s still grasping to understand why the shooting happened , John Castillo has dedicated himself to stopping future school shootings .
The journey , he ’ s discovered , is a lonely path — especially in Democratic-controlled Colorado .
Many parents and students who have become vocal in the wake of school shootings around the United States have advocated for stricter gun regulation and have battled the National Rifle Association .
Teens from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland , Florida — where 17 students were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — have become household names as they brought the national conversation on gun violence to the forefront .
“ I think people would prefer I would follow the scenarios taken in places like Parkland , ” Castillo said .
“ Following along with Moms Demand Action and other gun control groups… but I don ’ t feel that way.
” Castillo in January testified at the Colorado Capitol in favor of a bill allowing more people to be armed in schools , arguing that this could have prevented shootings like the one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died in committee .
He has also spoken out about the need for tougher sentences for juveniles , including the 16-year-old STEM shooter .
The teen pleaded guilty to murder and other charges and faces 40 years to life with the possibility of parole .
“ It ’ s really not justice , ” Castillo said .
“ It ’ s a slap in the face.
” Parents in other communities affected by school shootings have been reluctant to jump on board with his ideas , Castillo said .
“ I stand alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m kind of an outlier when it comes to this .
It ’ s not very popular , and it is hard .
They ’ ll smile because they feel my pain , but they won ’ t rally behind me because it ’ s not where they want to go.
” While one shooter has pleaded guilty , the 18-year-old charged in connection with the May 7 attack still faces a trial , which has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Castillo supported the death penalty for him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose not to pursue it .
Through hours of court proceedings , Brauchler has seen the Castillo family seated in their customary positions behind the prosecutors ’ table .
They never miss a hearing .
“ These court proceedings are the last formal business of their son ’ s life , ” Brauchler said .
“ When this process ends , the attention fades away and all the support systems are not at the same level .
The solitude , the loneliness , the permanence really starts to take root and sink in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after our part of the process is over.
” As they deal with the devastating loss , the Castillos have leaned on a host of people from different walks of life , including faith leaders , politicians , media and families from Santa Fe High School in Texas , where in May 2018 eight students and two teachers were fatally shot and 13 others were wounded .
But cobbling together a fulfilling life has been immensely painful .
John Castillo does the talking in public , Maria standing quietly by his side .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maria Castillo who testified in a court hearing for the 16-year-old shooter , explaining through intermittent gasps and sobs how her life will never be the same .
“ I don ’ t want to eat .
I don ’ t want to sleep .
I don ’ t want to work , ” she told the judge .
“ I wish I could trade places with him.
” Neither has returned to work .
John spent 31 years at the Marriott International as a chief engineer , while Maria was a chef @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castillo says he ’ s thought about what it would be like to return to his old job , where he supervised building maintenance , IT work and hotel renovations .
“ It was a fun environment , ” he said .
“ To be in hospitality , you have to have that personality to be exuberant .
I don ’ t know what that looks like now.
” His emotions , he said , are all over the place .
He sometimes doesn ’ t recognize the person he ’ s become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying , and I don ’ t have that piece of fear , ” Castillo said .
“ It has been ripped away from me .
I don ’ t care what people think , whether it ’ s high level politicians or whoever .
The devastation of murder has removed that .
It ’ s troublesome to me , because that ’ s not who I am .
I ’ m a different person now.
” For the first anniversary of Kendrick ’ s death , the Castillos had planned a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state Capitol , but the pandemic has changed all that .
Instead , a small group of Kendrick ’ s friends will meet them at the cemetery for a prayer service and bagpipes .
John Castillo will say a few words .
The family will not be taking part in any STEM School remembrance , John Castillo said , adding that they have not felt supported by school officials .
The couple is planning on selling their home in Denver so they can live closer to the cemetery , Castillo said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , John Castillo still is going to make the daily drive to the foothills to see his son .
“ That ’ s what we have to do , ” he said .
“ That ’ s rest of our lives .
Everything has been taken from us .
”

Every day, John and Maria Castillo drive to the Seven Stones Botanical Gardens Cemetery in Littleton to be with their only child, Kendrick.
Maria cannot kiss her son anymore, so she kisses his smiling, bespectacled prom picture perched atop his grave. John Castillo plants a kiss on the grave stone, which is adorned with all of Kendrick’s favorite things: a Chick-fil-A cow, a miniature Jeep, a can of Coke. It is their daily routine ever since their son, an 18-year-old high school senior, was killed last May when he leapt from his seat in English class to take down an armed classmate.
The Castillos sometimes bring over Adirondack chairs, a cooler of water, some fresh Columbine flowers. Some summer nights, they’ll sit with Kendrick for hours, the sun setting over the towering Rocky Mountains. The cemetery workers know the Castillos, who often are the last visitors to leave, and they will lock up after the parents feel it’s time to go home.
In the winter, with the snow deep and the wind howling, John and Maria clear a patch in front of his grave before they say goodnight to their son.
“When we’re there, we feel good,” John Castillo said. “I can’t imagine not doing it. Our love is that great for our son.”
On May 7, 2019, two teenage students barged into the STEM School Highlands Ranch with pistols and a rifle. On that day, Kendrick Castillo did not listen when his armed classmates told everyone not to move. Instead, he charged them, likely sparing the lives of other students but sacrificing his own.
That day, the Castillos became part of a group that former Columbine High School principal Frank DeAngelis calls the “club no one wants to be a member of.”
Since their son died, the Castillos have advocated for new legislation in the Capitol. They’ve sat in courtroom pews and on witness stands. They’ve appeared in newspapers and on TV and radio, making sure Kendrick’s heroism was not in vain. They have taken in their son’s friends, celebrating their accomplishments and worrying about them like they are their own children.
But in keeping Kendrick’s memory alive, in advocating for change, in figuring out how to cope with their new normal, the Castillos are still trying to find their way.
“That big wall of fog that athletes come into from the tunnel? We’re at the back end of that,” John Castillo said. “Everything is very clear: Kendrick’s death is real.”
Castillo paused.
“Man, the pain is unbelievable.”
“It’s important they come around so I know they’re okay”
Kendrick’s memory fills the Castillo home.
His parents haven’t touched anything in his childhood bedroom, leaving it exactly the way Kendrick had it when he went to school for the last time.
Their living room transformed into a memorial for their son — pictures and artwork sent from the Red Cross, U.S. Marines and strangers from around the world.
The Castillos keep Kendrick’s beloved Jeep topped off with gas at all times, and they tell their son’s friends that if they ever want to drive to the mountains or take a trip to Red Rocks, just grab the keys.
Throughout the past year, a close group of Kendrick’s friends visited often. When they return home from college, their first stop was Kendrick’s grave or the Castillo’s house.
John Castillo likes to hear updates from his son’s friends or their parents, listing off their accomplishments with pride: One made the All-American swim team; another is in the Air Force Academy; a third is doing mission work in Colombia.
“It means a lot to me,” John Castillo said. “It’s important they come around so I know they’re okay. I know their bond with Kendrick, and I worry about them. I know how I’m dealing with it, but some of these kids are thousands of miles away in college. I hope they’re gonna be okay.”
These were all good kids, Castillo said.
“I don’t know what went wrong that this even had to happen.”
Advocating on an island
Although he’s still grasping to understand why the shooting happened, John Castillo has dedicated himself to stopping future school shootings. The journey, he’s discovered, is a lonely path — especially in Democratic-controlled Colorado.
Many parents and students who have become vocal in the wake of school shootings around the United States have advocated for stricter gun regulation and have battled the National Rifle Association.
Teens from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida — where 17 students were killed and 17 injured in February 2018 — have become household names as they brought the national conversation on gun violence to the forefront.
“I think people would prefer I would follow the scenarios taken in places like Parkland,” Castillo said. “Following along with Moms Demand Action and other gun control groups… but I don’t feel that way.”
Castillo in January testified at the Colorado Capitol in favor of a bill allowing more people to be armed in schools, arguing that this could have prevented shootings like the one that killed his son. The Republican-backed legislation died in committee.
He has also spoken out about the need for tougher sentences for juveniles, including the 16-year-old STEM shooter. The teen pleaded guilty to murder and other charges and faces 40 years to life with the possibility of parole.
“It’s really not justice,” Castillo said. “It’s a slap in the face.”
Parents in other communities affected by school shootings have been reluctant to jump on board with his ideas, Castillo said.
“I stand alone,” he said. “I’m kind of an outlier when it comes to this. It’s not very popular, and it is hard. They’ll smile because they feel my pain, but they won’t rally behind me because it’s not where they want to go.”
While one shooter has pleaded guilty, the 18-year-old charged in connection with the May 7 attack still faces a trial, which has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Castillo supported the death penalty for him, but 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler chose not to pursue it.
Coping with loss and commemorating Kendrick
Through hours of court proceedings, Brauchler has seen the Castillo family seated in their customary positions behind the prosecutors’ table. They never miss a hearing.
“These court proceedings are the last formal business of their son’s life,” Brauchler said. “When this process ends, the attention fades away and all the support systems are not at the same level. The solitude, the loneliness, the permanence really starts to take root and sink in. I always worry about the victims after our part of the process is over.”
As they deal with the devastating loss, the Castillos have leaned on a host of people from different walks of life, including faith leaders, politicians, media and families from Santa Fe High School in Texas, where in May 2018 eight students and two teachers were fatally shot and 13 others were wounded.
But cobbling together a fulfilling life has been immensely painful. John Castillo does the talking in public, Maria standing quietly by his side. In November, though, it was Maria Castillo who testified in a court hearing for the 16-year-old shooter, explaining through intermittent gasps and sobs how her life will never be the same.
“I don’t want to eat. I don’t want to sleep. I don’t want to work,” she told the judge. “I wish I could trade places with him.”
“She’s just a wreck,” John Castillo said.
Neither has returned to work. John spent 31 years at the Marriott International as a chief engineer, while Maria was a chef at the Ritz Carlton hotel.
John Castillo says he’s thought about what it would be like to return to his old job, where he supervised building maintenance, IT work and hotel renovations.
“It was a fun environment,” he said. “To be in hospitality, you have to have that personality to be exuberant. I don’t know what that looks like now.”
His emotions, he said, are all over the place. He sometimes doesn’t recognize the person he’s become.
“I see COVID and people dying, and I don’t have that piece of fear,” Castillo said. “It has been ripped away from me. I don’t care what people think, whether it’s high level politicians or whoever. The devastation of murder has removed that. It’s troublesome to me, because that’s not who I am. I’m a different person now.”
For the first anniversary of Kendrick’s death, the Castillos had planned a large rally and vigil on the steps of the state Capitol, but the pandemic has changed all that. Instead, a small group of Kendrick’s friends will meet them at the cemetery for a prayer service and bagpipes. John Castillo will say a few words.
The family will not be taking part in any STEM School remembrance, John Castillo said, adding that they have not felt supported by school officials.
The couple is planning on selling their home in Denver so they can live closer to the cemetery, Castillo said. If and when he goes back to work, John Castillo still is going to make the daily drive to the foothills to see his son.
“That’s what we have to do,” he said. “That’s the rest of our lives. Everything has been taken from us.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-07--PHOTOS: STEM School Highlands Ranch community still mourning, one year later

It ’ s been one year since two teenage students barged into STEM School Highlands Ranch with guns , killing @ @ @ @ @ others .
For the second year in a row , the STEM School Highlands Ranch @ @ @ @ @ year amid disruption and uncertainty .
Plans for community service and vigils have been traded @ @ @ @ @ a digital collection of acts of kindness as the community remembers from afar during a @ @ @ @ @ year , the Castillos , who lost their son Kendrick in the May 7 , @ @ @ @ @ their son ’ s grave every day while also attending court hearings , advocating for @ @ @ @ @ shootings and appearing on TV , radio and in newspapers to make sure their son @ @ @ @ @ in vain .

It’s been one year since two teenage students barged into STEM School Highlands Ranch with guns, killing one student and injured eight others.
For the second year in a row, the STEM School Highlands Ranch community is ending its school year amid disruption and uncertainty. Plans for community service and vigils have been traded for Zoom therapy sessions and a digital collection of acts of kindness as the community remembers from afar during a pandemic.
Over the past year, the Castillos, who lost their son Kendrick in the May 7, 2019, shooting, visit their son’s grave every day while also attending court hearings, advocating for legislation to prevent future school shootings and appearing on TV, radio and in newspapers to make sure their son’s heroism was not in vain.


thedenverpost--2020-05-07--Colorado’s coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths peaked in April, but health officials warn “we co

Colorado’s coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths peaked in April, but health officials warn “we could go backwards”

Hospitalizations and deaths in Colorado from the new coronavirus hit their highest level so far in the first two weeks of April , but experts predict more COVID-19 cases — and even a possible “ secondary surge ” — as social distancing restrictions start to relax .
In the two months since COVID-19 first was confirmed in Colorado , the state recorded its highest number of coronavirus deaths in a single day on April 9 , when 35 people succumbed to the virus , according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
The trajectory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally has moved downward since then , with new deaths in the single digits each day since April 30 — though it ’ s possible some haven ’ t yet shown up in state records because of lags in reporting .
“ I am encouraged by the death data , ” said Katie Colburn , an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Colorado ’ s Anschutz Medical Campus who has been involved in modeling the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I think there ’ s a positive trend.
” Hospitalizations appear to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peak on April 14 and bouncing around at a relatively high level for one to two more weeks before starting to trend downward .
On the top day for hospitalizations , 888 people were receiving care for COVID-19 around the state .
As of Wednesday , 636 people were .
The pattern of small dips and increases could have reflected localized outbreaks at a nursing home or a business , Colburn said .
There is a trend of fewer people being admitted to the hospital in recent days , but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects hitting a plateau or a sustained decrease , she said .
The top day for new cases , based on estimates of symptom onset , was April 17 , with 498 people saying they started to feel sick that day .
On the last day with full data , April 24 , about 334 people reported symptoms .
Cases from the next two weeks are uncertain , because of delays in reporting , and the number of cases hasn ’ t followed any clear pattern .
The case data can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s capacity for testing has changed over the course of the pandemic , Colburn said .
In the beginning , only people who were sick enough to be hospitalized were tested , but now a broader group can be swabbed , she said .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment described the current level of cases as a “ plateau ” rather than a steep drop-off .
“ We are still at the beginning of the epidemic , and as we open up a bit and relax some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in cases , ” the department said in a statement .
“ We all need to work together to continue to follow strategies such as continuing social distancing , wearing non-medical masks and protecting our most vulnerable to help slow the spread of the virus .
Based on our decisions , we could go backwards or go forward.
” Projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington show deaths and new infections falling almost to zero in Colorado by the beginning of August , but their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing .
It projects people in Colorado would be interacting about as much as they did on March 22 — one day before Gov .
Jared Polis ’ order that all bars , restaurants and non-essential services cease operations took effect .
Colorado has increased its hospital capacity enough to handle a “ secondary small spike ” as people begin moving around more , Colburn said .
It ’ s clear that cases will increase , but by how much isn ’ t certain , because no one knows how people will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer , she said .
“ Transmission is not gone and the likelihood of a secondary surge is high , ” she said .

Hospitalizations and deaths in Colorado from the new coronavirus hit their highest level so far in the first two weeks of April, but experts predict more COVID-19 cases — and even a possible “secondary surge” — as social distancing restrictions start to relax.
In the two months since COVID-19 first was confirmed in Colorado, the state recorded its highest number of coronavirus deaths in a single day on April 9, when 35 people succumbed to the virus, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The trajectory of new deaths has been bumpy, but generally has moved downward since then, with new deaths in the single digits each day since April 30 — though it’s possible some haven’t yet shown up in state records because of lags in reporting.
“I am encouraged by the death data,” said Katie Colborn, an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus who has been involved in modeling the coronavirus pandemic. “I think there’s a positive trend.”
Hospitalizations appear to have a similar trajectory, hitting their peak on April 14 and bouncing around at a relatively high level for one to two more weeks before starting to trend downward. On the top day for hospitalizations, 888 people were receiving care for COVID-19 around the state. As of Wednesday, 636 people were.
The pattern of small dips and increases could have reflected localized outbreaks at a nursing home or a business, Colborn said. There is a trend of fewer people being admitted to the hospital in recent days, but it’s too early to be sure if that reflects hitting a plateau or a sustained decrease, she said.
The top day for new cases, based on estimates of symptom onset, was April 17, with 498 people saying they started to feel sick that day. On the last day with full data, April 24, about 334 people reported symptoms. Cases from the next two weeks are uncertain, because of delays in reporting, and the number of cases hasn’t followed any clear pattern.
The case data can’t be taken at face value, because the state’s capacity for testing has changed over the course of the pandemic, Colborn said. In the beginning, only people who were sick enough to be hospitalized were tested, but now a broader group can be swabbed, she said.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment described the current level of cases as a “plateau” rather than a steep drop-off.
“We are still at the beginning of the epidemic, and as we open up a bit and relax some restrictions we do expect to see some increase in cases,” the department said in a statement. “We all need to work together to continue to follow strategies such as continuing social distancing, wearing non-medical masks and protecting our most vulnerable to help slow the spread of the virus. Based on our decisions, we could go backwards or go forward.”
Projections from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington show deaths and new infections falling almost to zero in Colorado by the beginning of August, but their model assumes a high level of continued social distancing. It projects people in Colorado would be interacting about as much as they did on March 22 — one day before Gov. Jared Polis’ order that all bars, restaurants and non-essential services cease operations took effect.
Colorado has increased its hospital capacity enough to handle a “secondary small spike” as people begin moving around more, Colborn said. It’s clear that cases will increase, but by how much isn’t certain, because no one knows how people will behave or how much protection masks will offer, she said.
“Transmission is not gone and the likelihood of a secondary surge is high,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-05-07--He was shot trying to stop an armed classmate during the STEM School shooting. Now, Josh Jones is fo

He was shot trying to stop an armed classmate during the STEM School shooting. Now, Josh Jones is focused on helping others.

Josh Jones sometimes reaches down to feel the scars on his legs , the skin still slightly numb to his touch .
It ’ s the physical reminder of when Jones , then a high school senior , was shot twice in his English class on May 7 , 2019 , after leaping from his desk to disarm a classmate threatening to open fire .
Jones says he doesn ’ t think about the shooting inside the STEM School Highlands Ranch all that often .
But when he runs his fingers over those scars , he ’ s reminded of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s still here , that he can run and jump and walk through northern Colombia , preaching the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .
“ I ’ ve really come to the conclusion that , as terrible as it was , it ’ s helped my life , ” Jones said .
“ It has helped me realize what I wanted to do and how much I want to help people.
” It ’ s been one year since two teenage students attempted to shoot up Jones ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo was killed as he tackled a shooter , saving his classmates .
One year since Jones and his friend Brendan Bialy joined Castillo to take down the shooter .
One year since Jones called his mother as he held down a gunman , telling her that he was bleeding , but otherwise okay .
Faith and a newfound sense of purpose have helped Jones cope over the past year , even as he ponders — without answers — why he and his friends have had to deal with this tragedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to know what it feels like .
Faith , service and reflecting on the day that changed his life As many of his friends from the STEM School went to college last fall , Jones flew to Colombia for a church mission .
Many Latter-day Saints , when they reach 18 , participate in two-year missionary programs around the world .
For Jones , that meant walking the streets of Monteria , a city of roughly 500,000 people near Colombia ’ s northern coast , preaching , conducting services and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the mission , the new coronavirus pandemic forced Jones to come home , but he hopes to soon return to finish his service .
The shooting crystalized his desire to help others , Jones said .
After his mission , he plans to go through EMT training and eventually pursue a career as a registered nurse or physician ’ s assistance .
The religious beliefs instilled in him through the church have helped Jones try to make sense of the shooting .
“ The faith I have in the Church of Jesus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to really overcome some of the challenges of being shot at and having that type of security taken away , ” he said .
Josh Lewis was Jones ’ s church supervisor last May and remembers rushing to the teen ’ s house after he heard the news .
“ I ’ m about to break down in tears , and Josh is like , ‘ I ’ ll get counseling .
I ’ ll understand this a big deal and I know something horrible happened , ' ” Lewis said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult , and this incredible young man is handling it better than I was at that moment , certainly.
” The way Jones reacted in the wake of the school shooting just proved what Lewis already knew : That Jones was mature beyond his years , level-headed and driven .
“ He utilized his own inner strength , ” Lewis said .
“ Being able to cope with this tragedy , to be able to help others , to be stronger , more determined and focused.
” “ Normal is very different now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jones kept in touch with his high school friends , mostly through email .
They wrote about their plans , catching each other up on new routines .
They rarely discussed the shooting .
“ We don ’ t dwell on the past , ” Jones said .
“ We ’ re just moving forward .
We know when we need to think about it and when to talk about it .
Those times are few and far between .
Just continuing to encourage each other to move on.
” John and Maria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been following Jones ’ s journey from Colorado , receiving pictures and updates on his travels .
They have been eager to hear about the various endeavors of their son ’ s friends , reveling in their successes .
“ I often say to my wife , ‘ Kendrick would be so proud of his friends and what they ’ re doing , ' ” John Castillo said .
The 19-year-old hasn ’ t followed the criminal cases of the two classmates charged with in connection with the shooting , aside from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s confident the two teens — one who has already pleaded guilty , the other awaiting trial — will go to prison .
Despite Jones vocalizing all the positives that have come from the shooting , he acknowledged that “ normal is very different now that I ’ ve been shot at .
Because of this event , normal is relative .
Normal is no longer the same as it was before.
” At 19 , Jones struggles for answers on why school shootings happen and how to stop more .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will never forgot Kendrick Castillo .
On the days when the shooting creeps into his thoughts , he focuses on his friend .
“ Without Kendrick ’ s sacrifice , I may not be here , ” Jones said .
“ My life would have been very different without him .
”

Josh Jones sometimes reaches down to feel the scars on his legs, the skin still slightly numb to his touch.
It’s the physical reminder of when Jones, then a high school senior, was shot twice in his English class on May 7, 2019, after leaping from his desk to disarm a classmate threatening to open fire.
Jones says he doesn’t think about the shooting inside the STEM School Highlands Ranch all that often. But when he runs his fingers over those scars, he’s reminded of how blessed he is that he’s still here, that he can run and jump and walk through northern Colombia, preaching the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I’ve really come to the conclusion that, as terrible as it was, it’s helped my life,” Jones said. “It has helped me realize what I wanted to do and how much I want to help people.”
It’s been one year since two teenage students attempted to shoot up Jones’s English class. One year since 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo was killed as he tackled a shooter, saving his classmates. One year since Jones and his friend Brendan Bialy joined Castillo to take down the shooter. One year since Jones called his mother as he held down a gunman, telling her that he was bleeding, but otherwise okay.
Faith and a newfound sense of purpose have helped Jones cope over the past year, even as he ponders — without answers — why he and his friends have had to deal with this tragedy at their age and how others don’t have to know what it feels like.
Faith, service and reflecting on the day that changed his life
As many of his friends from the STEM School went to college last fall, Jones flew to Colombia for a church mission. Many Latter-day Saints, when they reach 18, participate in two-year missionary programs around the world.
For Jones, that meant walking the streets of Monteria, a city of roughly 500,000 people near Colombia’s northern coast, preaching, conducting services and working with the locals. Four months into the mission, the new coronavirus pandemic forced Jones to come home, but he hopes to soon return to finish his service.
The shooting crystalized his desire to help others, Jones said. After his mission, he plans to go through EMT training and eventually pursue a career as a registered nurse or physician’s assistant.
The religious beliefs instilled in him through the church have helped Jones try to make sense of the shooting.
“The faith I have in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has allowed me to really overcome some of the challenges of being shot at and having that type of security taken away,” he said.
Josh Lewis was Jones’s church supervisor last May and remembers rushing to the teen’s house after he heard the news.
“I’m about to break down in tears, and Josh is like, ‘I’ll get counseling. I’ll understand this a big deal and I know something horrible happened,'” Lewis said. “Here I am supposed to be the adult, and this incredible young man is handling it better than I was at that moment, certainly.”
The way Jones reacted in the wake of the school shooting just proved what Lewis already knew: That Jones was mature beyond his years, level-headed and driven.
“He utilized his own inner strength,” Lewis said. “Being able to cope with this tragedy, to be able to help others, to be stronger, more determined and focused.”
“Normal is very different now”
When he was in Colombia, Jones kept in touch with his high school friends, mostly through email. They wrote about their plans, catching each other up on new routines. They rarely discussed the shooting.
“We don’t dwell on the past,” Jones said. “We’re just moving forward. We know when we need to think about it and when to talk about it. Those times are few and far between. Just continuing to encourage each other to move on.”
John and Maria Castillo, Kendrick’s parents, have been following Jones’s journey from Colorado, receiving pictures and updates on his travels. They have been eager to hear about the various endeavors of their son’s friends, reveling in their successes.
“I often say to my wife, ‘Kendrick would be so proud of his friends and what they’re doing,'” John Castillo said.
The 19-year-old hasn’t followed the criminal cases of the two classmates charged with in connection with the shooting, aside from occasional updates from his parents. He’s confident the two teens — one who has already pleaded guilty, the other awaiting trial — will go to prison.
Despite Jones vocalizing all the positives that have come from the shooting, he acknowledged that “normal is very different now that I’ve been shot at. Because of this event, normal is relative. Normal is no longer the same as it was before.”
At 19, Jones struggles for answers on why school shootings happen and how to stop more. One thing he knows for sure — he will never forgot Kendrick Castillo.
On the days when the shooting creeps into his thoughts, he focuses on his friend.
“Without Kendrick’s sacrifice, I may not be here,” Jones said. “My life would have been very different without him.”