thedenverpost--2020-04-21--“It’s like a doomsday scenario” as oil prices drop below zero for the first time ever

Analysts and industry officials searched for new adjectives Monday to describe the cataclysmic fall of oil prices into sub-zero territory for the first time ever , prompting analysts to predict the idling of wells and bankruptcies .
“ It ’ s unprecedented .
It ’ s like a doomsday scenario , ” said Jack Strauss , with the Daniels School of Business at the University of Denver .
Oil prices have been in free fall since the double whammy of a collapse of demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and the start of a price war in early March by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of oil has grown , leaving producers and processors with fewer places to store the crude that people aren ’ t using .
Because the futures contract for May expires Tuesday , “ the financial markets and physical markets converged , ” said Erika Coombs , of BTU Analytics in Lakewood .
The cost to take delivery of West Texas Intermediate crude , used as a benchmark in oil pricing , fell to negative $ 37.63 a barrel , meaning people holding contracts were likely paying to get rid of the oil they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store .
The contract for oil with delivery in June dropped to $ 22.60 a barrel .
“ What ’ s scary is this could happen all over again , ” Coombs said .
Lynn Granger , executive director of the American Petroleum Institute-Colorado , said although the short-term demand for natural gas and oil are at all-time lows , Monday ’ s negative price was driven by technical reasons , including the fact that traders were liquidating contracts .
“ Demand for natural gas and oil remains strong long-term , as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amounts of energy to recover safely when the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us , ” Granger said .
However , the low price for the June contract shows that investors believe the demand for oil is likely to remain low , Strauss said .
He anticipates that companies will shut off wells and that hundreds of oil and gas companies will go bankrupt .
Rather than keep pumping at such low prices , companies have shut down wells in large oil and gas fields in Texas , North Dakota and Oklahoma , Coombs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t heard of operators doing that in Colorado ’ s Denver-Julesburg Basin , a major oil producer , she expects they will .
Oil prices had been declining before the coronavirus outbreak hit , and transportation and business around the globe began contracting .
Several companies had been scaling back on spending to pay down debt and to free up cash .
Just as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was growing , Russia and Saudi Arabia launched a price war in a battle for market share after negotiations to cut production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut production by about 10 million barrels a day wasn ’ t enough to draw down the supply , Coombs said .
The oil and gas industry has been hit hard , including in Colorado .
Halliburton and Liberty Oilfield Services have laid off workers in Colorado .
Occidental Petroleum , Colorado ’ s No .
1 oil and gas producer , and Noble Energy , the No .
2 producer , recently announced cuts in spending and employees ’ pay and hours .
Denver-based Whiting Petroleum said on April 1 that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , Denver-based Extraction Oil and Gas said it cut its 2020 budget for exploration and production by 42 % to a range of $ 250 million to $ 300 million .
Denver-based Highpoint Resources , which operates exclusively on the northern Front Range , has not shut any of its wells .
Bill Crawford , the company ’ s chief financial officer , said Highpoint has hedged its position in the market , meaning it has contracts locking in the price it receives for future production .
About 95 % of Highpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 58 a barrel for the rest of this year .
Crawford said the situation is extremely challenging , and he believes the rest of the economy will recover sooner than the oil and gas industry .
He said he does not disagree with the dire descriptions of the industry ’ s plight .
“ The rest of the world is going to get better sooner than oil and gas , ” Crawford said .
“ Just how long our runway is compared to everyone else ’ s I don ’ t know .
@

Analysts and industry officials searched for new adjectives Monday to describe the cataclysmic fall of oil prices into sub-zero territory for the first time ever, prompting analysts to predict the idling of wells and bankruptcies.
“It’s unprecedented. It’s like a doomsday scenario,” said Jack Strauss, with the Daniels School of Business at the University of Denver.
Oil prices have been in free fall since the double whammy of a collapse of demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and the start of a price war in early March by Russia and Saudi Arabia. A glut of oil has grown, leaving producers and processors with fewer places to store the crude that people aren’t using.
Because the futures contract for May expires Tuesday, “the financial markets and physical markets converged,” said Erika Coombs, of BTU Analytics in Lakewood.
The cost to take delivery of West Texas Intermediate crude, used as a benchmark in oil pricing, fell to negative $37.63 a barrel, meaning people were likely paying to get rid of the oil they had contracts for but couldn’t take.
The contract for oil with delivery in June dropped to $22.60 a barrel.
“What’s scary is this could happen all over again,” Coombs said.
Lynn Granger, executive director of the American Petroleum Institute-Colorado, said although the short-term demand for natural gas and oil are at all-time lows, Monday’s negative price was driven by technical reasons, including the fact that traders were liquidating contracts.
“Demand for natural gas and oil remains strong long-term, as the U.S. and global economy will need vast amounts of energy to recover safely when the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us,” Granger said.
However, the low price for the June contract shows that investors believe the demand for oil is likely to remain low, Strauss said. He anticipates that companies will shut off wells and that hundreds of oil and gas companies will go bankrupt.
Rather than keep pumping at such low prices, companies have shut down wells in large oil and gas fields in Texas, North Dakota and Oklahoma, Coombs said. While she said she hadn’t heard of operators doing that in Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg Basin, a major oil producer, she expects they will.
Oil prices had been declining before the coronavirus outbreak hit, and transportation and business around the globe began contracting. Several companies had been scaling back on spending to pay down debt and to free up cash.
Just as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was growing, Russia and Saudi Arabia launched a price war in a battle for market share after negotiations to cut production fell apart. Their recent agreement to cut production by about 10 million barrels a day wasn’t enough to draw down the supply, Coombs said.
The oil and gas industry has been hit hard, including in Colorado. Halliburton and Liberty Oilfield Services have laid off workers in Colorado. Occidental Petroleum, Colorado’s No. 1 oil and gas producer, and Noble Energy, the No. 2 producer, recently announced cuts in spending and employees’ pay and hours. Denver-based Whiting Petroleum said on April 1 that it is filing for bankruptcy.
In early April, Denver-based Extraction Oil and Gas said it cut its 2020 budget for exploration and production by 42% to a range of $250 million to $300 million.
Denver-based Highpoint Resources, which operates exclusively on the northern Front Range, has not shut any of its wells. Bill Crawford, the company’s chief financial officer, said Highpoint has hedged its position in the market, meaning it has contracts locking in the price it receives for future production.
About 95% of Highpoint’s production is hedged at $58 a barrel for the rest of this year. Crawford said the situation is extremely challenging, and he believes the rest of the economy will recover sooner than the oil and gas industry. He said he does not disagree with the dire descriptions of the industry’s plight.
“The rest of the world is going to get better sooner than oil and gas,” Crawford said. “Just how long our runway is compared to everyone else’s I don’t know.”


thedenverpost--2020-04-21--Kiszla: John Elway’s riskiest draft choice in 2020 is Drew Lock as right answer at quarterback

Unless quarterback Drew Lock is all that and a bag of chips , John Elway is going to look stupid , no matter how wisely the Broncos choose in the NFL draft .
This team won ’ t make the playoffs in 2020 , unless Lock becomes the consistently trustworthy QB that Joe Flacco and Case Keenum never could be for Denver .
“ By no means has Drew ‘ made it.
’ We believe he ’ s got the potential to do it , and we think he ’ s just going to continue to get better and better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautious optimism Lock can lift the Broncos from four years of frustration .
“ He ’ s still in the learning process , and ( we ) know that he ’ s going to have to get better.
” Lock must reward the faith Elway has placed in him after five promising starts as a rookie , or else Broncos Country will have reason to lose faith this team can ever return to championship contention so long as Elway is picking the quarterback .
Jeff Driskel , whose eight professional starts have resulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backup at quarterback .
Are you kidding me ?
Lock is playing without a safety net and can not slip , because there really is no Plan B .
While sweet anticipation gives every draft its juice , whether Denver is lucky enough to choose between the take-it-to-the-house speed of Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs or the chain-moving reliability of LSU counterpart Justin Jefferson at No .
15 in the first round won ’ t make or break this team .
Yes , the Broncos will surround Lock with all the talent Elway can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you think that alone is the answer , you ’ ve badly missed the point .
In the NFL , it ’ s impossible to hide a QB that can not play , a lesson filed at Dove Valley headquarters under : Lynch , Paxton .
Yes , Elway could make a huge trade up to land Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills or have massive South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw fall in his lap during the opening round , both dream scenarios probably too good to become truth .
But if Lock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that hasn ’ t taken the field for a playoff game since Super Bowl 50 .
“ We decided we ’ re going to build around Drew , ” Elway said .
While Elway tries to reveal nothing more than a toothy grin during his annual pre-draft confab with the media , his no-bull nature often drops a hint or two between the lines of congenial obfuscation .
After more than 35 years of listening to Elway ’ s words and non-verbal cues , here ’ s what the antennae on my tin-foil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drafting from home this year , when COVID-19 has re-shaped everything we do in life , also makes it less probable the Broncos will trade up the board , as deal-making might not be so fast and furious .
“ Maybe people may sit more in their ( draft ) spots than in the past , ” said Elway .
He added that as teams become more comfortable conducting complex negotiations via teleconference , the action might pick up as the draft goes on .
Should we also take that as a hint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Day 2 , in much the same manner Elway got aggressive a year ago in pursuing Lock .
Elway could make a meat-and-potatoes pick at No .
15 , then tap some of the draft capital he has stockpiled to move up in the second round , while targeting a second impact rookie .
And if I interpreted Elway correctly , did he offer one more hint ?
He won ’ t get fooled again , hoping cornerback Bryce Callahan rediscovers health that eluded the expensive free-agent acquisition in 2019 .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready by the time coronavirus allows the Broncos to start training camp , Elway admitted the team won ’ t know “ until he gets out there and runs around , feels comfortable with his foot.
” If Callahan can not be counted on , the Broncos are desperate for reliable pass coverage , more desperate than coach Vic Fangio or Elway would like the rest of the league to know .
It leads me to believe if Florida cornerback C.J .
Henderson remains on the board at No .
15 , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s virtual war room about Henderson ’ s vaunted coverage ability against his iffy reputation as an open-field tackler .
Furthermore , we all know reaching to fill needs early in the draft invites disaster ( see : Bolles , Garett ) .
But Elway might be painted into a corner during the second round , desperate for a cornerback , should the Broncos fill any other position with their opening-round choice .
The bottom line : As Elway enters this draft with two fistfuls of picks , what happens next for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice Elway made last year .
He placed faith in Lock to hold his own against Patrick Mahomes and other elite NFL quarterbacks .
After being so wrong on Lynch , Keenum and Flacco , failure is no longer an option for Elway .

Unless quarterback Drew Lock is all that and a bag of chips, John Elway is going to look stupid, no matter how wisely the Broncos choose in the NFL draft. This team won’t make the playoffs in 2020, unless Lock becomes the consistently trustworthy QB that Joe Flacco and Case Keenum never could be for Denver.
“By no means has Drew ‘made it.’ We believe he’s got the potential to do it, and we think he’s just going to continue to get better and better,” Elway said Monday, expressing cautious optimism Lock can lift the Broncos from four years of frustration. “He’s still in the learning process, and (we) know that he’s going to have to get better.”
Lock must reward the faith Elway has placed in him after five promising starts as a rookie, or else Broncos Country will have reason to lose faith this team can ever return to championship contention so long as Elway is picking the quarterback.
Jeff Driskel, whose eight professional starts have resulted in one victory, is the veteran backup at quarterback. Are you kidding me? Lock is playing without a safety net and cannot slip, because there really is no Plan B.
While sweet anticipation gives every draft its juice, whether Denver is lucky enough to choose between the take-it-to-the-house speed of Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs or the chain-moving reliability of LSU counterpart Justin Jefferson at No. 15 in the first round won’t make or break this team.
Yes, the Broncos will surround Lock with all the talent Elway can find in the draft. But if you think that alone is the answer, you’ve badly missed the point. In the NFL, it’s impossible to hide a QB that cannot play, a lesson filed at Dove Valley headquarters under: Lynch, Paxton.
Yes, Elway could make a huge trade up to land Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills or have massive South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw fall in his lap during the opening round, both dream scenarios probably too good to become truth. But if Lock stinks, so will a Denver team that hasn’t taken the field for a playoff game since Super Bowl 50.
“We decided we’re going to build around Drew,” Elway said.
While Elway tries to reveal nothing more than a toothy grin during his annual pre-draft confab with the media, his no-bull nature often drops a hint or two between the lines of congenial obfuscation.
After more than 35 years of listening to Elway’s words and non-verbal cues, here’s what the antennae on my tin-foil hat detected:
The communication challenges of drafting from home this year, when COVID-19 has re-shaped everything we do in life, also makes it less probable the Broncos will trade up the board, as deal-making might not be so fast and furious.
“Maybe people may sit more in their (draft) spots than in the past,” said Elway. He added that as teams become more comfortable conducting complex negotiations via teleconference, the action might pick up as the draft goes on.
Should we also take that as a hint? Perhaps a trade is more likely on Day 2, in much the same manner Elway got aggressive a year ago in pursuing Lock. Elway could make a meat-and-potatoes pick at No. 15, then tap some of the draft capital he has stockpiled to move up in the second round, while targeting a second impact rookie.
And if I interpreted Elway correctly, did he offer one more hint? He won’t get fooled again, hoping cornerback Bryce Callahan rediscovers health that eluded the expensive free-agent acquisition in 2019. While trying to remain upbeat Callahan will be ready by the time coronavirus allows the Broncos to start training camp, Elway admitted the team won’t know “until he gets out there and runs around, feels comfortable with his foot.”
If Callahan cannot be counted on, the Broncos are desperate for reliable pass coverage, more desperate than coach Vic Fangio or Elway would like the rest of the league to know. It leads me to believe if Florida cornerback C.J. Henderson remains on the board at No. 15, there might be a serious discussion in Denver’s virtual war room about Henderson’s vaunted coverage ability against his iffy reputation as an open-field tackler.
Furthermore, we all know reaching to fill needs early in the draft invites disaster (see: Bolles, Garett). But Elway might be painted into a corner during the second round, desperate for a cornerback, should the Broncos fill any other position with their opening-round choice.
The bottom line: As Elway enters this draft with two fistfuls of picks, what happens next for the Broncos all comes down to the choice Elway made last year. He placed faith in Lock to hold his own against Patrick Mahomes and other elite NFL quarterbacks. After being so wrong on Lynch, Keenum and Flacco, failure is no longer an option for Elway.


thedenverpost--2020-04-21--Aurora man charged with first-degree murder for stabbing death

An Aurora man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 20-year-old woman .
Marcos Gutierrez @ @ @ @ @ Monday in Adams County court , by video appearance , of the charge against him @ @ @ @ @ Judicial District Attorney ’ s Office news release .
On April 11 Aurora police responded @ @ @ @ @ went to an apartment on the 1900 block of Peoria Street where they found Airica @ @ @ @ @ wounds , the release said .
She was taken to University of Colorado Hospital where @ @ @ @ @ Gutierrez has been charged with one count of first-degree murder after deliberation .
A preliminary @ @ @ @ @ 24 in Adams County District Court .

An Aurora man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a 20-year-old woman.
Marcos Gutierrez, 21, was advised Monday in Adams County court, by video appearance, of the charge against him, according to a 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office news release.
On April 11, Aurora police responded to a 911 call and went to an apartment in the 1900 block of Peoria Street where they found Airica May Beaty bleeding from stab wounds, the release said. She was taken to University of Colorado Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
When officers arrived at the apartment, they found Gutierrez naked and covered in blood, lying in a fetal position on the kitchen floor, according to an arrest warrant in the case.
The arrest warrant alleges, based on interviews with two witnesses who were inside the residence at the time of the incident, that the defendant and victim were both under the influence of LSD.
At one point, Gutierrez allegedly loaded a rifle and said that he was going to shoot himself. He was disarmed and a short time later came upon Beaty from behind, reaching around and slitting her throat with a knife. The pair fell to the floor.
“Why did you do that, what did you do,” said Beaty, according to the affidavit.
Gutierrez has been charged with one count of first-degree murder after deliberation. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 24 in Adams County District Court.


thedenverpost--2020-04-20--Lakewood parents charged in death of 2-year-old daughter who died of accidental fentanyl overdose

The parents of a 2-year-old who died of accidental fentanyl overdose will face criminal charges in the girl ’ s death .
Jada ’ Marie Glenn-Turnerdied Feb. 24 in the Lakewood motel where she had been living with her parents and two siblings .
The toddler ’ s parents , Rashad Turner and Denisha Chelyce Woodsking , told police that they sold drugs from the motel room but didn ’ t know how the girl died .
Turner and Woodsking each face a charge of child abuse resulting in death , the First Judicial District Attorney ’ s Office announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. , Feb. 24 to the room at the Crosslands Motel on Kipling Street after Woodsking called 911 to report that she found Jada ’ Marie dead .
Woodsking told police that she woke up early that morning and noticed the toddler was in the same position she had been when the girl went to sleep , according to an arrest affidavit .
That was unusual for Jada ’ Marie , Woodsking said , and she touched her daughter to make sure she was okay .
Jada ’ Marie was stiff and cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turner to wake up before calling 911 .
When police arrived , they found heroin , marijuana , Xanax and Oxycodone in the room ’ s trash can , according to the affidavit .
Turner told detectives that he kept the drugs he sold in a lunchbox on a high shelf so the kids couldn ’ t reach it .
Both parents told investigators that they did not see Jada ’ Marie ingest any drugs and did not know why she died .
Both parents said Jada ’ Marie was a healthy child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girl acted normally the night before her death , they told police .
Family members described her as “ an active 2-year-old who liked to bug her big brother and play with her little sister , ” according to the affidavit .
Woodsking had previously been charged with child abuse for selling drugs while her kids were present , according to the affidavit .
The Jefferson County coroner ’ s office ruled the death an accidental fentanyl overdose .
The toxicology report , completed April 6 , found that the amount of fentanyl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was triple the fatal level , according to the affidavit .
Turner and Woodsking remained Monday in the Jefferson County jail on $ 50,000 bond .
Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 12 .
“ They knowingly and recklessly placed their three children in an unreasonable situation that resulted in Jada ’ Marie ’ s death , ” the affidavit states .
“ They admitted to selling narcotics out of a very small studio size motel room where their three children resided with them.
” The couple ’ s two other young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member .

The parents of a 2-year-old who died of accidental fentanyl overdose will face criminal charges in the girl’s death.
Jada’Marie Glenn-Turnerdied Feb. 24 in the Lakewood motel where she had been living with her parents and two siblings. The toddler’s parents, Rashad Turner and Denisha Chelyce Woodsking, told police that they sold drugs from the motel room but didn’t know how the girl died.
Turner and Woodsking each face a charge of child abuse resulting in death, the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced Monday.
Lakewood police responded about 5:13 a.m., Feb. 24 to the room at the Crosslands Motel on Kipling Street after Woodsking called 911 to report that she found Jada’Marie dead.
Woodsking told police that she woke up early that morning and noticed the toddler was in the same position she had been when the girl went to sleep, according to an arrest affidavit. That was unusual for Jada’Marie, Woodsking said, and she touched her daughter to make sure she was okay.
Jada’Marie was stiff and cold to the touch and Woodsking yelled for Turner to wake up before calling 911. When police arrived, they found heroin, marijuana, Xanax and Oxycodone in the room’s trash can, according to the affidavit.
Turner told detectives that he kept the drugs he sold in a lunchbox on a high shelf so the kids couldn’t reach it. Both parents told investigators that they did not see Jada’Marie ingest any drugs and did not know why she died.
Both parents said Jada’Marie was a healthy child with no known health conditions. The girl acted normally the night before her death, they told police. Family members described her as “an active 2-year-old who liked to bug her big brother and play with her little sister,” according to the affidavit.
Woodsking had previously been charged with child abuse for selling drugs while her kids were present, according to the affidavit.
The Jefferson County coroner’s office ruled the death an accidental fentanyl overdose. The toxicology report, completed April 6, found that the amount of fentanyl in Jada’Marie’s blood was triple the fatal level, according to the affidavit.
Turner and Woodsking remained Monday in the Jefferson County jail on $50,000 bond. Their preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 12.
“They knowingly and recklessly placed their three children in an unreasonable situation that resulted in Jada’Marie’s death,” the affidavit states. “They admitted to selling narcotics out of a very small studio size motel room where their three children resided with them.”
The couple’s two other young children have been placed with a family member.


thedenverpost--2020-04-20--Colorado surpasses 10,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and records 449 deaths

At least 10,106 people have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Colorado and 449 people have died after contracting the virus , according to data released Monday by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
About 1,880 patients have been hospitalized with COVID-19 , the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus , and the state has recorded 113 outbreaks at nursing and health care facilities .
At least 47,466 people have been tested , although that number does not include all negative results .
The data released Monday by the state health agency reflects cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health officials believe the true number of infected people in Colorado is several times higher than the cases confirmed through testing , and estimate that between 65,000 and 75,000 people have been infected by the virus in the state .
The case tally comes as Gov .
Jared Polis prepares to lift the state ’ s stay-at-home order on April 26 as previously scheduled .
He ’ s said any reopening of the state would need to happen slowly and in phases in order to prevent a second wave of infections .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state capitol building to urge Polis to lift the stay-at-home order , which they said was too strict .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

At least 10,106 people have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Colorado and 449 people have died after contracting the virus, according to data released Monday by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
About 1,880 patients have been hospitalized with COVID-19, the highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and the state has recorded 113 outbreaks at nursing and health care facilities. At least 47,466 people have been tested, although that number does not include all negative results.
The data released Monday by the state health agency reflects cases reported to the state through Sunday. Health officials believe the true number of infected people in Colorado is several times higher than the cases confirmed through testing, and estimate that between 65,000 and 75,000 people have been infected by the virus in the state.
The case tally comes as Gov. Jared Polis prepares to lift the state’s stay-at-home order on April 26 as previously scheduled. He’s said any reopening of the state would need to happen slowly and in phases in order to prevent a second wave of infections.
On Sunday, several hundred protesters gathered at the state capitol building to urge Polis to lift the stay-at-home order, which they said was too strict.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-04-20--Colorado to shift from stay-at-home to “safer at home” as some businesses can begin reopening next w

Colorado to shift from stay-at-home to “safer at home” as some businesses can begin reopening next week

The first stage of Colorado ’ s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic is ending , but the second phase will be far from a return to normal life , Gov .
Jared Polis said Monday as he laid out expectations for how the state will reopen after his stay-at-home order expires Sunday .
Coloradans will need to shift from staying at home to being “ safer at home , ” Polis said , outlining how the state ’ s order will morph into strong recommendations for residents with restrictions on the businesses that are able to slowly reopen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects retailers will have the option to reopen with curbside pickup beginning April 27 , and then will be able to reopen to limited numbers of in-store customers on May 1 , as long as they have social-distancing policies in place .
Companies likely can reopen offices with 50 % of their workforces the following Monday , on May 4 , the governor said , although he added that telecommuting should be maximized as much as possible , particularly with older employees .
Personal service providers and elective medical providers , including hair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will be able to reopen with some precautions on April 27 , such as hair stylists wearing masks .
One-on-one real estate showings — though not open houses — and child care can restart then , too , Polis said .
Restaurants and bars will stay closed initially but might be allowed to open in mid-May , Polis said .
Schools will not reopen immediately .
The state ’ s guidance will be finalized this week and written details will be released before the stay-at-home order is lifted .
Stricter local orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statewide guidance , including Denver ’ s own stay-at-home order , which doesn ’ t expire until April 30 .
Mayor Michael Hancock also has said that his order closing Denver ’ s bars and restaurants to dine-in service will be extended past its current May 11 expiration — which could put the city ’ s eateries on a different reopening timetable than those in neighboring municipalities .
On the other hand , some counties may be able to relax restrictions earlier , the governor said , depending on their needs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for example , has applied to ease restrictions before the statewide order expires Sunday .
Polis said he looks forward to traveling to the high country later this week to grant that request .
But Polis also warned the state ’ s full reopening will be a long , painstaking process .
“ It is a marathon , not a sprint , ” he said .
“ We are going to have to live with coronavirus for a while.
” Colorado residents need to continue to reduce their social contacts for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Polis said .
While the stay-at-home order successfully created about 75 % to 80 % social distancing in Colorado , the state will need to maintain about 65 % social distancing in the coming months to avoid overwhelming the health care system with new COVID-19 cases .
Colorado has 10,106 lab-confirmed cases of the new virus and has seen at least 449 deaths , but public health officials estimate anywhere from 65,000 to 75,000 people may have been infected .
If those estimates are close to correct , that would mean a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s population has had the virus — not enough to create widespread “ herd immunity.
” Jonathan Samet , dean of the Colorado School of Public Health , said in a conference call with reporters Monday that the state needs to be able to assure the public that hospitals will have enough beds to care for everyone in need , and to protect vulnerable populations like older people .
The models of possible infections and deaths that Colorado health officials are consulting suggest that to do that , the state will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while tracing infected people ’ s close contacts and getting widespread compliance with wearing masks in public for months to come .
“ Social distancing alone will not work , ” he said .
None of the models come close to a scenario where COVID-19 stops spreading in Colorado .
Jill Hunsaker Ryan , executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment , said during the call that the goal is to find a “ sustainable ” level of distancing that doesn ’ t result in intensive care units being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our North Star is that the number of people needing an ICU bed is lower than the number of beds available , ” she said .
As restrictions begin to loosen in Colorado , public officials will monitor if the number of cases seems to be rising too fast , Hunsaker Ryan said .
If that happens , the state could impose more restrictions again , she said .
Samet estimated that if social distancing decreases significantly , even to 45 % from the 75 % the state has achieved now , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in June .
None of the state ’ s models anticipate loosening the rules enough to accommodate the legion of outdoor enthusiasts Colorado typically sees every summer , though Samet was willing to entertain the idea of allowing visitors from areas with lower transmission levels .
Some areas of the state will be able to open to fuller degrees than others , Polis said , depending on the virus ’ s reach .
Local public health agencies will be working to tailor their local strategies , he said .
“ That flexibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Older people and those with underlying health conditions should be prepared to keep practicing social distancing in May at about the same level as they did in April , Polis said .
Testing and contact tracing will be a key part of the plan to reopen — and stopping additional outbreaks — and the state is undertaking “ enormous efforts ” to scale up the state ’ s ability to test and trace , Polis said .
The state is increasing coronavirus testing at long-term care facilities this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites opening up Sunday at facilities in El Paso , Adams and Broomfield counties .
Three hundred tests will be provided this week at Pikes Peak Center , Elms Haven Center and Broomfield Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center .
Yet the supply chain for testing components remains “ unpredictable , ” Hunsaker-Ryan said , so the state can ’ t quickly identify infected people and tell them and their contacts to isolate themselves .
There ’ s also a shortage of epidemiologists to interview infected people and track those they could have exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this , ” she said .
“ The disease transmission is still too high for this to be our main strategy.
” Polis acknowledged that testing alone will not stop the pandemic , and that social distancing must continue in the state even without a direct order .
“ Now it enters the time of individual responsibility and choices , ” he said .
“ And I trust the people of Colorado to make good choices.
” Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

Shelly Bradbury, Saja Hindi, Meg Wingerter

The first stage of Colorado’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic is ending, but the second phase will be far from a return to normal life, Gov. Jared Polis said Monday as he laid out expectations for how the state will reopen after his stay-at-home order expires Sunday.
Coloradans will need to shift from staying at home to being “safer at home,” Polis said, outlining how the state’s order will morph into strong recommendations for residents with restrictions on the businesses that are able to slowly reopen in the coming weeks.
Polis said he expects retailers will have the option to reopen with curbside pickup beginning April 27, and then will be able to reopen to limited numbers of in-store customers on May 1, as long as they have social-distancing policies in place.
Companies likely can reopen offices with 50% of their workforces the following Monday, on May 4, the governor said, although he added that telecommuting should be maximized as much as possible, particularly with older employees.
Personal service providers and elective medical providers, including hair salons, dental offices and tattoo shops, will be able to reopen with some precautions on May 1, such as hair stylists wearing masks. One-on-one real estate showings — though not open houses — and child care can restart then, too, Polis said.
Restaurants and bars will stay closed initially but might be allowed to open in mid-May, Polis said. Schools will not reopen immediately. The state’s guidance will be finalized this week and written details will be released before the stay-at-home order is lifted.
Stricter local orders, however, will continue to supersede the statewide guidance, including Denver’s own stay-at-home order, which doesn’t expire until April 30. Mayor Michael Hancock also has said that his order closing Denver’s bars and restaurants to dine-in service will be extended past its current May 11 expiration — which could put the city’s eateries on a different reopening timetable than those in neighboring municipalities.
On the other hand, some counties may be able to relax restrictions earlier, the governor said, depending on their needs and local health department decisions. Eagle County, for example, has applied to ease restrictions before the statewide order expires Sunday. Polis said he looks forward to traveling to the high country later this week to grant that request.
But Polis also warned the state’s full reopening will be a long, painstaking process.
“It is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “We are going to have to live with coronavirus for a while.”
Colorado residents need to continue to reduce their social contacts for months to come even after the order lifts, Polis said. While the stay-at-home order successfully created about 75% to 80% social distancing in Colorado, the state will need to maintain about 65% social distancing in the coming months to avoid overwhelming the health care system with new COVID-19 cases.
Colorado has 10,106 lab-confirmed cases of the new virus and has seen at least 449 deaths, but public health officials estimate anywhere from 65,000 to 75,000 people may have been infected. If those estimates are close to correct, that would mean a little more than 1% of the state’s population has had the virus — not enough to create widespread “herd immunity.”
Masks, contact tracing and social distancing
Jonathan Samet, dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, said in a conference call with reporters Monday that the state needs to be able to assure the public that hospitals will have enough beds to care for everyone in need, and to protect vulnerable populations like older people.
The models of possible infections and deaths that Colorado health officials are consulting suggest that to do that, the state will have to maintain some social distancing, while tracing infected people’s close contacts and getting widespread compliance with wearing masks in public for months to come.
“Social distancing alone will not work,” he said.
None of the models come close to a scenario where COVID-19 stops spreading in Colorado. Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said during the call that the goal is to find a “sustainable” level of distancing that doesn’t result in intensive care units being overwhelmed with seriously ill people.
“Our North Star is that the number of people needing an ICU bed is lower than the number of beds available,” she said.
As restrictions begin to loosen in Colorado, public officials will monitor if the number of cases seems to be rising too fast, Hunsaker Ryan said. If that happens, the state could impose more restrictions again, she said.
Samet estimated that if social distancing decreases significantly, even to 45% from the 75% the state has achieved now, there likely would be a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in June.
None of the state’s models anticipate loosening the rules enough to accommodate the legion of outdoor enthusiasts Colorado typically sees every summer, though Samet was willing to entertain the idea of allowing visitors from areas with lower transmission levels.
Some areas of the state will be able to open to fuller degrees than others, Polis said, depending on the virus’s reach. Local public health agencies will be working to tailor their local strategies, he said.
“That flexibility is going to be very important,” he said.
Older people and those with underlying health conditions should be prepared to keep practicing social distancing in May at about the same level as they did in April, Polis said.
“Make good choices”
Testing and contact tracing will be a key part of the plan to reopen — and stopping additional outbreaks — and the state is undertaking “enormous efforts” to scale up the state’s ability to test and trace, Polis said.
The state is increasing coronavirus testing at long-term care facilities this week across the Front Range, with new sites opening up Sunday at facilities in El Paso, Adams and Broomfield counties. Three hundred tests will be provided this week at Pikes Peak Center, Elms Haven Center and Broomfield Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Yet the supply chain for testing components remains “unpredictable,” Hunsaker-Ryan said, so the state can’t quickly identify infected people and tell them and their contacts to isolate themselves. There’s also a shortage of epidemiologists to interview infected people and track those they could have exposed.
“We simply were not built for this,” she said. “The disease transmission is still too high for this to be our main strategy.”
Polis acknowledged that testing alone will not stop the pandemic, and that social distancing must continue in the state even without a direct order.
“Now it enters the time of individual responsibility and choices,” he said. “And I trust the people of Colorado to make good choices.”
Updated 6 p.m. April 24, 2020 Following clarification from the governor’s office, this story has been updated to report that personal service providers and elective medical providers, such as tattoo shops or dental offices, can begin reopening May 1.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-04-20--Christian McCaffrey embracing new role as face of Panthers franchise

CHARLOTTE , N.C. — With the Panthers in the midst of a roster overhaul , Christian McCaffrey could have forced his way out of Carolina in hopes of finding a team better prepared to challenge for a Super Bowl title .
But the All-Pro running back said that notion never crossed his mind .
Instead , he signed a four-year , $ 64 million contract extension last week that makes him the NFL ’ s highest-paid running back and the face of the Panthers franchise now that quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly are gone .
“ I never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never occurred to me , ” McCaffrey said during a video conference call Monday .
“ I want to be in Carolina for my whole career .
… I bought a place in Charlotte .
I love the Carolinas more than anything in the world .
It is somewhere I would like to call home forever.
” McCaffrey , who turns 24 in June , will be playing for a new coach in Matt Rhule , catching passes from a different quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and running behind a revamped offensive line in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The changes don ’ t seem to bother him .
“ There is change that goes on in the NFL all of the time , ” McCaffrey said .
“ You look around the league and see what ’ s happening .
You look at some of the great players of all time and the teams they have gone to .
You can stay close friends with people and build great relationships but if you stay attached it ’ s tough , because it a revolving door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He earned the contract extension after becoming only the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a single season .
McCaffrey is the first player in league history to eclipse 2,500 yards in both categories in his first three seasons .
The elusive playmaker already has scored 29 touchdowns .
The Panthers are counting on McCaffrey to be the “ centerpiece of the offense , ” according to Rhule .
“ To hear that from coach means a lot , ” McCaffrey said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the front office has faith in me and I really appreciate that.
” “ It shows that I am on a team whose owners and front office believe in me the way that I believe in myself , ” McCaffrey said .
McCaffrey said he ’ s been impressed with new offensive coordinator Joe Brady , who helped LSU win a national championship last season behind likely No .
1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow .
He said Brady has a “ unique mind ” for designing an offense .
McCaffrey got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better on Monday as the Panthers began their virtual offseason program with a series of video conference meetings between players and coaches .
• Broncos/NFL Draft : Hits , misses with 15th overall pick since 2000 • Kiszla vs. O ’ Halloran : Would John Elway be dumb to draft for need in first round ?
• Jaguars looking to trade RB Leonard Fournette , AP source says McCaffrey attended the meetings from his parents ’ home in Colorado , where he is waiting out the coronavirus pandemic with his family and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passes from his younger brother Luke , a quarterback at Nebraska .
He loaded up on weights after the virus hit and has a football field nearby where he can train .
He wants do everything he can to make sure Carolina ’ s rebuilding process is a quick one despite an uncertain offseason .
“ We can ’ t make excuses for ourselves because we are talking over a camera , ” McCaffrey said .
Asked about the possibility of the NFL playing games this season in empty stadiums , McCaffrey said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have to do , then that ’ s what we have to do .
”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With the Panthers in the midst of a roster overhaul, Christian McCaffrey could have forced his way out of Carolina in hopes of finding a team better prepared to challenge for a Super Bowl title.
But the All-Pro running back said that notion never crossed his mind.
Instead, he signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension last week that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid running back and the face of the Panthers franchise now that quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly are gone.
“I never focused on signing somewhere else — it never occurred to me,” McCaffrey said during a video conference call Monday. “I want to be in Carolina for my whole career. … I bought a place in Charlotte. I love the Carolinas more than anything in the world. It is somewhere I would like to call home forever.”
McCaffrey, who turns 24 in June, will be playing for a new coach in Matt Rhule, catching passes from a different quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and running behind a revamped offensive line in 2020, if the season proceeds as scheduled amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The changes don’t seem to bother him.
“There is change that goes on in the NFL all of the time,” McCaffrey said. “You look around the league and see what’s happening. You look at some of the great players of all time and the teams they have gone to. You can stay close friends with people and build great relationships but if you stay attached it’s tough, because it a revolving door. It’s such a business.”
He earned the contract extension after becoming only the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a single season.
McCaffrey is the first player in league history to eclipse 2,500 yards in both categories in his first three seasons. The elusive playmaker already has scored 29 touchdowns.
The Panthers are counting on McCaffrey to be the “centerpiece of the offense,” according to Rhule.
“To hear that from coach means a lot,” McCaffrey said. “It shows that he has faith in me and the front office has faith in me and I really appreciate that.”
The money helps too.
“It shows that I am on a team whose owners and front office believe in me the way that I believe in myself,” McCaffrey said.
McCaffrey said he’s been impressed with new offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who helped LSU win a national championship last season behind likely No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow.
He said Brady has a “unique mind” for designing an offense.
McCaffrey got to know Rhule and Brady a little better on Monday as the Panthers began their virtual offseason program with a series of video conference meetings between players and coaches.
McCaffrey attended the meetings from his parents’ home in Colorado, where he is waiting out the coronavirus pandemic with his family and his girlfriend. He’s been catching passes from his younger brother Luke, a quarterback at Nebraska. He loaded up on weights after the virus hit and has a football field nearby where he can train.
He wants do everything he can to make sure Carolina’s rebuilding process is a quick one despite an uncertain offseason.
“We can’t make excuses for ourselves because we are talking over a camera,” McCaffrey said.
Asked about the possibility of the NFL playing games this season in empty stadiums, McCaffrey said, “If that’s what we have to do, then that’s what we have to do.”


thedenverpost--2020-04-20--Broncos/NFL Draft: Hits, misses with 15th overall pick since 2000

The Broncos are scheduled to have the 15th overall pick in the first round of Thursday ’ s NFL draft .
What has been the hit/miss rate from the No .
15 spot ?
Here are five of each since 2000 : 1 .
Mike Pouncey , C , Miami ( 2011 ) : A year after his twin brother , Maurkice , was the 16th overall pick by Pittsburgh to play center , the Dolphins drafted Mike .
In nine years , seven for Miami and the last two for the Chargers , Mike Pouncey has started all 114 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been named to four Pro Bowls .
2 .
Albert Haynesworth , DT , Tennessee ( 2002 ) : Before Haynesworth was a free-agent bust in Washington and flamed out in short stints with New England and Tampa Bay , he played seven years for the Titans .
In 90 games , he had 24 sacks and 272 tackles .
In 2007-08 , he was named All-Pro , which coincided with the final two years of his contract .
3 .
Jason Pierre-Paul , DE , N.Y. Giants ( 2010 ) : In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had 58 1/2 sacks in 111 games and was named to two Pro Bowls .
He was on the Giants ’ Super Bowl team as a rookie .
His best years were 2011 ( 16 1/2 sacks ) and 2014 ( 12 1/2 sacks ) .
Pierre-Paul has played the last two seasons for Tampa Bay .
4 .
Lawrence Timmons , OLB , Pittsburgh ( 2007 ) : Timmons was a consistently productive player for Pittsburgh even though he was named to only one Pro Bowl .
He appeared in 158 games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , posting totals of 983 tackles and 35 1/2 sacks .
Timmons completed his career in 2017 with Miami .
5 .
Derrick Johnson , OLB , Kansas City ( 2005 ) : Not much of a pass rusher ( 27 1/2 sacks in 182 games for the Chiefs ) , but Johnson had 1,154 tackles ( five 100-tackle seasons ) and had 14 interceptions and 22 forced fumbles .
He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection .
1 .
Jerome McDougle , DE , Philadelphia ( 2003 ) : McDougle ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocks .
He played in eight , 11 and 14 games during his three years with Philadelphia ( three sacks ) .
As a rookie , he had ankle , knee and hip injuries .
In 2004 , he was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat and later sprained his knee .
He missed all of 2005 after being shot during an armed robbery at his house .
In 2006 , he fractured two ribs in training camp .
And in 2007 , he sustained a season-ending triceps tear in the preseason .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Louis ( 2006 ) : The Rams moved down four spots in a trade with the Broncos ( which drafted quarterback Jay Cutler ) and Hill had a promising start .
He started 10 games and had three interceptions in 2006 .
He finished with 40 games played and 121 tackles .
3 .
Corey Coleman , WR , Cleveland ( 2016 ) : Injuries contributed to Coleman appearing in only 19 games for the Browns over two years , catching 56 passes .
He sustained a broken hand in 2016-17 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a journeyman , Coleman has been with Buffalo , New England and the New York Giants .
4 .
Michael Clayton , WR , Tampa Bay ( 2004 ) : Based on his rookie year , Clayton was not a bust .
Clayton had 80 catches for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns in ’ 04 .
He would never again eclipse 38 catches , 484 yards or one touchdown .
He earned a second contract from the Buccaneers but was cut one year into a five-year deal .
5 .
Rod Gardner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not a bust , but not a real hit , either .
Gardner had 71 catches for 1,006 yards and eight touchdowns as a second-year player , but not much after that .
He played for Carolina , Green Bay and Kansas City after playing out his Redskins rookie deal .

The Broncos are scheduled to have the 15th overall pick in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft. What has been the hit/miss rate from the No. 15 spot? Here are five of each since 2000:
Five hits
1. Mike Pouncey, C, Miami (2011): A year after his twin brother, Maurkice, was the 16th overall pick by Pittsburgh to play center, the Dolphins drafted Mike. In nine years, seven for Miami and the last two for the Chargers, Mike Pouncey has started all 114 of his team’s games and been named to four Pro Bowls.
2. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee (2002): Before Haynesworth was a free-agent bust in Washington and flamed out in short stints with New England and Tampa Bay, he played seven years for the Titans. In 90 games, he had 24 sacks and 272 tackles. In 2007-08, he was named All-Pro, which coincided with the final two years of his contract.
3. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, N.Y. Giants (2010): In eight years for the Giants, Pierre-Paul had 58 1/2 sacks in 111 games and was named to two Pro Bowls. He was on the Giants’ Super Bowl team as a rookie. His best years were 2011 (16 1/2 sacks) and 2014 (12 1/2 sacks). Pierre-Paul has played the last two seasons for Tampa Bay.
4. Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Pittsburgh (2007): Timmons was a consistently productive player for Pittsburgh even though he was named to only one Pro Bowl. He appeared in 158 games (126 starts) for the Steelers, posting totals of 983 tackles and 35 1/2 sacks. Timmons completed his career in 2017 with Miami.
5. Derrick Johnson, OLB, Kansas City (2005): Not much of a pass rusher (27 1/2 sacks in 182 games for the Chiefs), but Johnson had 1,154 tackles (five 100-tackle seasons) and had 14 interceptions and 22 forced fumbles. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.
Five misses
1. Jerome McDougle, DE, Philadelphia (2003): McDougle’s career could never get out of the blocks. He played in eight, 11 and 14 games during his three years with Philadelphia (three sacks). As a rookie, he had ankle, knee and hip injuries. In 2004, he was diagnosed with an irregular heart beat and later sprained his knee. He missed all of 2005 after being shot during an armed robbery at his house. In 2006, he fractured two ribs in training camp. And in 2007, he sustained a season-ending triceps tear in the preseason.
2. Tye Hill, CB, St. Louis (2006): The Rams moved down four spots in a trade with the Broncos (which drafted quarterback Jay Cutler) and Hill had a promising start. He started 10 games and had three interceptions in 2006. He finished with 40 games played and 121 tackles.
3. Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland (2016): Injuries contributed to Coleman appearing in only 19 games for the Browns over two years, catching 56 passes. He sustained a broken hand in 2016-17, missing a combined 17 games. Now a journeyman, Coleman has been with Buffalo, New England and the New York Giants.
4. Michael Clayton, WR, Tampa Bay (2004): Based on his rookie year, Clayton was not a bust. Clayton had 80 catches for 1,193 yards and seven touchdowns in ’04. He would never again eclipse 38 catches, 484 yards or one touchdown. He earned a second contract from the Buccaneers but was cut one year into a five-year deal.
5. Rod Gardner, WR, Washington (2001): Not a bust, but not a real hit, either. Gardner had 71 catches for 1,006 yards and eight touchdowns as a second-year player, but not much after that. He played for Carolina, Green Bay and Kansas City after playing out his Redskins rookie deal.


thedenverpost--2020-04-20--Nuggets exit interview: Jerami Grant’s versatility may make him top priority this offseason

EDITOR ’ S NOTE : One of a series of Nuggets player evaluations for the 2019-20 regular season , which would have concluded April 14 .
Evaluations done so far : Jamal Murray , Gary Harris , Will Barton , Paul Millsap , Nikola Jokic , Michael Porter Jr. Perhaps Jerami Grant ’ s greatest strength is his ability to adapt .
In the 2018-19 season , Grant was a part of an Oklahoma City squad that preferred leaving teams in the dust .
Spearheaded by Russell Westbrook , who plays with the energy of three Red Bulls coursing through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace in the league .
Grant enjoyed a breakout season , with career-highs across the board , though he was probably , at best , the Thunder ’ s fourth option on the floor .
Then , amid the Thunder ’ s fire sale last offseason , the Nuggets nabbed him for a first-round pick .
Grant was a player the Nuggets had long coveted and now he was theirs , potentially a long-term solution at power forward .
Only now , he ’ d be coming off the bench behind Paul Millsap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NBA .
Despite the potential pitfalls , Grant proved a seamless fit in the locker room and was excited to be in a place where he could immediately compete .
At media day , he referred to the Thunder as a “ sinking ship.
” “ I couldn ’ t really ask for a better situation than I ’ m in right now , ” he said then .
It was his defensive versatility — the ability to guard 2-4 — that initially caught coach Michael Malone ’ s eye .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month and a half , he was nothing like the stretch four who had drained a career-high 39 % from 3-point range the season before .
His inconsistencies may have been related to a Nuggets bench unit that lacked cohesion .
In December , everything gelled .
His 3-point shot began to fall — twice he buried five 3-pointers in a game — and his defense was a deciding factor in multiple games .
At Phoenix , with the Nuggets having already stormed back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s game-winning shot attempt to seal a victory .
Two weeks later , he was on the court guarding Luka Doncic during a game-saving defensive stop in Dallas .
Earlier in the game , Grant had blocked Doncic twice during the same sequence .
Grant proved time and again how invaluable a defensive asset he could be .
If Malone needed a stop , Grant was a piece of the switch-everything lineup , along with Torrey Craig , Gary Harris and Will Barton .
When Millsap ’ s knee acted up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a starter .
He put together his most productive month of the season , averaging 13.6 points on 46 % shooting and 4.4 rebounds in over 30 minutes per game .
His play offered a preview of what the Nuggets would look like if Grant was the starting power forward .
That ’ s a distinct possibility because of Millsap ’ s impending free agency .
Grant has a $ 9.3 million player option for next season .
The loss of revenue from the coronavirus could make him rethink the decision , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opts out in search of a larger contract .
Given his strong audition this season and the Nuggets ’ clear need at the four , it ’ s a safe bet they will make bringing him back a priority .
“ It ’ s definitely all situational , ” Grant told The Post in March , “ but I ’ m definitely comfortable here.
” *Opposing scout ’ s take : “ Great fit next to ( Nikola ) Jokic due to his shooting , length and athleticism .
Has played the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but capable of playing as a smaller 5 and something we might see in Denver ’ s future .
Has worked hard to develop into a reliable floor spacer .
Has to continue to make shots because he ’ s limited otherwise .
Versatile defender .
Can play up , down and switch .
Rebounding has never been a strength , but can protect the rim as a shot-blocker.
” * Scouts from opposing teams requested anonymity so they could share their unvarnished opinion of players .

EDITOR’S NOTE: One of a series of Nuggets player evaluations for the 2019-20 regular season, which would have concluded April 14. Evaluations done so far: Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr.
Perhaps Jerami Grant’s greatest strength is his ability to adapt.
In the 2018-19 season, Grant was a part of an Oklahoma City squad that preferred leaving teams in the dust. Spearheaded by Russell Westbrook, who plays with the energy of three Red Bulls coursing through him, the Thunder owned the sixth-fastest pace in the league. Grant enjoyed a breakout season, with career-highs across the board, though he was probably, at best, the Thunder’s fourth option on the floor. Then, amid the Thunder’s fire sale last offseason, the Nuggets nabbed him for a first-round pick.
Grant was a player the Nuggets had long coveted and now he was theirs, potentially a long-term solution at power forward. Only now, he’d be coming off the bench behind Paul Millsap and playing for the second-slowest team in the NBA.
Despite the potential pitfalls, Grant proved a seamless fit in the locker room and was excited to be in a place where he could immediately compete. At media day, he referred to the Thunder as a “sinking ship.”
“I couldn’t really ask for a better situation than I’m in right now,” he said then.
It was his defensive versatility — the ability to guard 2-4 — that initially caught coach Michael Malone’s eye. But his shooting struggled. Over the first month and a half, he was nothing like the stretch four who had drained a career-high 39% from 3-point range the season before. His inconsistencies may have been related to a Nuggets bench unit that lacked cohesion.
In December, everything gelled. His 3-point shot began to fall — twice he buried five 3-pointers in a game — and his defense was a deciding factor in multiple games.
At Phoenix, with the Nuggets having already stormed back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Grant got a paw on Devin Booker’s game-winning shot attempt to seal a victory. Two weeks later, he was on the court guarding Luka Doncic during a game-saving defensive stop in Dallas. Earlier in the game, Grant had blocked Doncic twice during the same sequence.
Grant proved time and again how invaluable a defensive asset he could be. If Malone needed a stop, Grant was a piece of the switch-everything lineup, along with Torrey Craig, Gary Harris and Will Barton.
When Millsap’s knee acted up in January, Grant filled in seamlessly as a starter. He put together his most productive month of the season, averaging 13.6 points on 46% shooting and 4.4 rebounds in over 30 minutes per game. His play offered a preview of what the Nuggets would look like if Grant was the starting power forward.
That’s a distinct possibility because of Millsap’s impending free agency. Grant has a $9.3 million player option for next season. The loss of revenue from the coronavirus could make him rethink the decision, but it’s more than likely he opts out in search of a larger contract. Given his strong audition this season and the Nuggets’ clear need at the four, it’s a safe bet they will make bringing him back a priority.
“It’s definitely all situational,” Grant told The Post in March, “but I’m definitely comfortable here.”
Grant file
Contract status: Final year of three-year, $27 million deal; $9.3 million player option for 2020-21
Stats: 11.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.2 apg
Needs to improve: Rebounding
*Opposing scout’s take: “Great fit next to (Nikola) Jokic due to his shooting, length and athleticism. Has played the majority of his minutes at the 4, but capable of playing as a smaller 5 and something we might see in Denver’s future. Has worked hard to develop into a reliable floor spacer. Has to continue to make shots because he’s limited otherwise. Versatile defender. Can play up, down and switch. Rebounding has never been a strength, but can protect the rim as a shot-blocker.”
* Scouts from opposing teams requested anonymity so they could share their unvarnished opinion of players.


thedenverpost--2020-04-20--Denning: Texas, like OPEC, can’t turn back time for oil

The Texas Railroad Commission has been petitioned to go back in time .
The commission just held a marathon hearing on whether it ought to do something it hasn ’ t done in almost 50 years : organize curbs on the state ’ s oil output .
I say “ organize ” because cuts are happening anyway ; there ’ s simply no choice when the COVID-19 crisis has wiped out maybe a third of global oil demand .
Several companies , including large frackers such as Pioneer Natural Resources Co. , have called on the commission to “ pro-ration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A recurring theme was “ waste.
” The person who raised it most often , outgoing commissioner Ryan Sitton , even parodied himself repeating the word in a video clip doing the rounds on social media .
Clearly , this isn ’ t your grandfather ’ s oil market — a point reinforced by James Mann , attorney for the Texas Pipeline Association and formerly a commission employee in the 1970s .
He observed that the folks familiar with the data-intensive work of apportioning quotas for thousands upon thousands of wells across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so to speak : They ’ re all dead now .
Everybody that knew how to do the arithmetic is gone .
When I spoke with Mann the day after the hearing , he recounted other ways in which the world has changed .
“ Waste , ” for example , meant actual waste when it was first used to justify pro-rationing .
In the early 1930s , a swarm of wildcatters drawn by the gushing East Texas field sought to out-pump their neighbors , regardless of what the market could absorb .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Midland .
Back then , though , “ oil was coming out the ground with no place for it to go ; they were putting it in dirt pits and leaky wooden tanks , ” as Mann says .
A lot of oil soaked into the ground or evaporated — waste in its very worst sense .
That can ’ t happen today provided regulators do their job .
If oil is running out of places to go , then futures prices will tell you ahead of time and wells will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going first .
Rather than a physical issue , “ waste ” today is a euphemism for lost money .
As James Teague , co-CEO of Enterprise Products Partners LP , put it bluntly : “ I think I ’ d define waste as inefficient producers continuing to produce at a time like this.
” Speaking of which , much concern was expressed about the fate of smaller producers , in particular .
There are over 2,900 producers that account for less than 10 % of Texas ’ output , according to Matt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This implies that , at best , they produce almost 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in aggregate but just a few hundred each on average .
The vast majority of wells in Texas are dribblers rather than gushers : Bernstein Research estimates that when oil is at $ 25 , a typical marginal well needs to produce 12 barrels a day just to break even , before counting any natural gas .
Two-thirds of Texas ’ wells produce less than 10 barrels a day equivalent , including gas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below $ 0 on Monday afternoon , with producers paying $ 37 for May delivery of their product .
And low prices are only one problem ; several small producers complained about getting shut out of pipelines , tanks and refineries altogether as those businesses prioritize bigger companies .
The inescapable truth is that scale economies are vital in this business .
Even before COVID-19 hit , the economic case for sinking money , water , labor and power into lifting maybe just one truckload of oil every other day from a backyard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bowing to that reality is anathema .
Advocates argue shutting down these wells even temporarily could leave them unable to start up again , wasting the remaining oil and gas .
But this presupposes the remainder has positive economic value , an increasingly dubious proposition in an oil market barreling toward peak demand .
Factoring in the cost of decommissioning these wells only reinforces this math but , ironically , avoiding that cost also reinforces the desire to cling on .
Pro-rationing would reinforce this further , especially if smaller producers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wells subsidizing higher-cost ones .
Any number of factors may explain why there is such concern to preserve this part of the industry .
Immediate impacts such as unpaid bills and layoffs often loom larger than considerations of long-term viability .
Moreover , sheer numbers matter more than scale when it comes to one thing : Barrels don ’ t vote , people do .
Zooming out , the state ’ s pro-rationing debate is a fractal , with the pattern repeating .
Most obviously , OPEC+ tries to do the same thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas used to .
By holding cheaper barrels off the market , countries such as Saudi Arabia leave room for higher-cost ones , raising the price overall .
OPEC+ does this for similar reasons .
Like the small producers in Texas , countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia have economic models that simply wouldn ’ t work too well if oil was priced like a regular commodity .
Oil ’ s centrality to development over the past century made it indispensable , and demand both ubiquitous and inelastic .
Combine that with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the result is an edifice of political and economic structures built on the back of this miracle substance .
The oil “ market ” is just different .
But it is becoming less different .
That ’ s the underlying reason for the commission ’ s virtual gathering this week .
COVID-19 is like a fever dream of all the pressures that were bearing down on oil already .
The last time Texas was pro-rationing , in the early 1970s , the conventional wisdom on resources and their fast-approaching exhaustion was captured in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Such ideas supported both OPEC ’ s power and the notion it was better to ration oil supply and conserve resources — even under those Texas backyards — in the expectation prices would only rise in the future .
Today , we know we won ’ t run out of oil .
Mann makes the excellent point that the sheer “ capability of oil production ” holds prices down today rather than physical barrels being poured into bathtubs for want of a buyer .
Capital markets have run out of patience with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of high and often inefficient growth .
There ’ s simply no economic justification for having thousands of operators with all their associated overhead .
Meanwhile , the planet is running out of capacity to absorb oil ’ s emissions .
Demand for oil remains high , but is no longer as inelastic as it was .
That trend will intensify .
It is striking that this enormous , vital market is now dominated by a shale industry that couldn ’ t pay a decent return even before COVID-19 showed up , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , living off their foreign exchange reserves .
These are the edifices built for a different time of dependable demand and managed supply .
We are transitioning , painfully and chaotically , to a market with more competition , both between producers fighting for market share ( and geopolitical influence ) and between oil itself and encroaching rival energy sources .
The edifices aren ’ t built for that and must reconfigure or fall .
Like oil itself , the Texas Railroad Commission simply can not deliver all that is being asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy , mining and commodities .
He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journal ’ s Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times ’ Lex column .
He was also an investment banker .
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 .

The Texas Railroad Commission has been petitioned to go back in time.
The commission just held a marathon hearing on whether it ought to do something it hasn’t done in almost 50 years: organize curbs on the state’s oil output. I say “organize” because cuts are happening anyway; there’s simply no choice when the COVID-19 crisis has wiped out maybe a third of global oil demand. Several companies, including large frackers such as Pioneer Natural Resources Co., have called on the commission to “pro-ration” production to support oil prices.
A recurring theme was “waste.” The person who raised it most often, outgoing commissioner Ryan Sitton, even parodied himself repeating the word in a video clip doing the rounds on social media.
Clearly, this isn’t your grandfather’s oil market — a point reinforced by James Mann, attorney for the Texas Pipeline Association and formerly a commission employee in the 1970s. He observed that the folks familiar with the data-intensive work of apportioning quotas for thousands upon thousands of wells across the state were no longer contractually employed, so to speak:
They’re all dead now. Everybody that knew how to do the arithmetic is gone.
When I spoke with Mann the day after the hearing, he recounted other ways in which the world has changed. “Waste,” for example, meant actual waste when it was first used to justify pro-rationing. In the early 1930s, a swarm of wildcatters drawn by the gushing East Texas field sought to out-pump their neighbors, regardless of what the market could absorb. Plus ça change, as they say in Midland. Back then, though, “oil was coming out the ground with no place for it to go; they were putting it in dirt pits and leaky wooden tanks,” as Mann says. A lot of oil soaked into the ground or evaporated — waste in its very worst sense.
That can’t happen today provided regulators do their job. If oil is running out of places to go, then futures prices will tell you ahead of time and wells will get shut in, with the weakest usually going first. Rather than a physical issue, “waste” today is a euphemism for lost money. As James Teague, co-CEO of Enterprise Products Partners LP, put it bluntly: “I think I’d define waste as inefficient producers continuing to produce at a time like this.”
Speaking of which, much concern was expressed about the fate of smaller producers, in particular. There are over 2,900 producers that account for less than 10% of Texas’ output, according to Matt Gallagher, CEO of Parsley Energy Inc. This implies that, at best, they produce almost 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in aggregate but just a few hundred each on average. The vast majority of wells in Texas are dribblers rather than gushers:
Bernstein Research estimates that when oil is at $25, a typical marginal well needs to produce 12 barrels a day just to break even, before counting any natural gas. Two-thirds of Texas’ wells produce less than 10 barrels a day equivalent, including gas, and benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude crashed below $0 on Monday afternoon, with producers paying $37 for May delivery of their product. And low prices are only one problem; several small producers complained about getting shut out of pipelines, tanks and refineries altogether as those businesses prioritize bigger companies.
The inescapable truth is that scale economies are vital in this business. Even before COVID-19 hit, the economic case for sinking money, water, labor and power into lifting maybe just one truckload of oil every other day from a backyard was hardly compelling.
Yet the idea of bowing to that reality is anathema. Advocates argue shutting down these wells even temporarily could leave them unable to start up again, wasting the remaining oil and gas. But this presupposes the remainder has positive economic value, an increasingly dubious proposition in an oil market barreling toward peak demand. Factoring in the cost of decommissioning these wells only reinforces this math but, ironically, avoiding that cost also reinforces the desire to cling on.
Pro-rationing would reinforce this further, especially if smaller producers were made exempt. It would mean more-efficient wells subsidizing higher-cost ones. Any number of factors may explain why there is such concern to preserve this part of the industry. Immediate impacts such as unpaid bills and layoffs often loom larger than considerations of long-term viability. Moreover, sheer numbers matter more than scale when it comes to one thing: Barrels don’t vote, people do.
Zooming out, the state’s pro-rationing debate is a fractal, with the pattern repeating. Most obviously, OPEC+ tries to do the same thing at the global level, just as Texas used to. By holding cheaper barrels off the market, countries such as Saudi Arabia leave room for higher-cost ones, raising the price overall. OPEC+ does this for similar reasons. Like the small producers in Texas, countries such as Saudi Arabia and Russia have economic models that simply wouldn’t work too well if oil was priced like a regular commodity.
Oil’s centrality to development over the past century made it indispensable, and demand both ubiquitous and inelastic. Combine that with the geographic concentration of resources, and the result is an edifice of political and economic structures built on the back of this miracle substance. The oil “market” is just different.
But it is becoming less different. That’s the underlying reason for the commission’s virtual gathering this week. COVID-19 is like a fever dream of all the pressures that were bearing down on oil already. The last time Texas was pro-rationing, in the early 1970s, the conventional wisdom on resources and their fast-approaching exhaustion was captured in reports like “The Limits to Growth.” Such ideas supported both OPEC’s power and the notion it was better to ration oil supply and conserve resources — even under those Texas backyards — in the expectation prices would only rise in the future.
Today, we know we won’t run out of oil. Mann makes the excellent point that the sheer “capability of oil production” holds prices down today rather than physical barrels being poured into bathtubs for want of a buyer. Capital markets have run out of patience with the industry’s current business model of high and often inefficient growth. There’s simply no economic justification for having thousands of operators with all their associated overhead. Meanwhile, the planet is running out of capacity to absorb oil’s emissions. Demand for oil remains high, but is no longer as inelastic as it was. That trend will intensify.
It is striking that this enormous, vital market is now dominated by a shale industry that couldn’t pay a decent return even before COVID-19 showed up, and two sclerotic petro-states, Saudi Arabia and Russia, living off their foreign exchange reserves. These are the edifices built for a different time of dependable demand and managed supply.
We are transitioning, painfully and chaotically, to a market with more competition, both between producers fighting for market share (and geopolitical influence) and between oil itself and encroaching rival energy sources. The edifices aren’t built for that and must reconfigure or fall. Like oil itself, the Texas Railroad Commission simply cannot deliver all that is being asked of it.
Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy, mining and commodities. He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journal’s Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times’ Lex column. He was also an investment banker.
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--2020-04-21--Coronavirus in Colorado, April 21: A look at the latest updates on COVID-19

Many Coloradans are anxious for the statewide stay-at-home order to expire on April 26 .
On Monday , Gov .
Jared Polis gave us the first glimpse at what reopening the state ’ s economy will look like .
He detailed a phased plan that includes some businesses being allowed to reopen on the end of this month with social distancing measures in place while restaurants , bars and schools remain closed longer .
The approach aims to switch the state ’ s mindset from stay-at-home to “ safer at home.
” On Monday , the latest coronavirus case count @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 positive COVID-19 cases .
Remember , all Coloradans have been asked to wear non-medical masks when outside their homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Want to know how to make one ?
There ’ s plenty of ideas floating around in our coronavirus-focused Facebook group .
We are also looking to hear from you .
Tell us what the coronavirus outbreak looks like for you and submit your story here .
Throughout the day , we will share the latest coverage from Denver Post journalists on the coronavirus outbreak on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind The Denver Post relies on support from its readers to provide this in-depth coverage of the coronavirus outbreak , so please consider buying a subscription if you haven ’ t already .
Here are the updates from April 20 .
• Coronavirus timeline : An in-depth look at COVID-19 in Colorado • Colorado coronavirus map : Where are cases being reported ?
• Colorado unemployment FAQ : How to apply , details about missing PINs and more • Do I have the coronavirus ?
Here ’ s what to do if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know now : Updates to your coronavirus questions , a month after COVID-19 was confirmed in Colorado • How social distancing works and what it means for you • Colorado receives 15,000 unemployment claims from self-employed workers on first day accepting applications Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Many Coloradans are anxious for the statewide stay-at-home order to expire on April 26. On Monday, Gov. Jared Polis gave us the first glimpse at what reopening the state’s economy will look like.
He detailed a phased plan that includes some businesses being allowed to reopen on the end of this month with social distancing measures in place while restaurants, bars and schools remain closed longer.
The approach aims to switch the state’s mindset from stay-at-home to “safer at home.”
On Tuesday, the latest coronavirus case count stood at 486 confirmed deaths with over 10,000 positive COVID-19 cases.
Remember, all Coloradans have been asked to wear non-medical masks when outside their homes to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Want to know how to make one? There’s plenty of ideas floating around in our coronavirus-focused Facebook group.
We are also looking to hear from you. Tell us what the coronavirus outbreak looks like for you and submit your story here.
Throughout the day, we will share the latest coverage from Denver Post journalists on the coronavirus outbreak on this page. Also, bear in mind The Denver Post relies on support from its readers to provide this in-depth coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, so please consider buying a subscription if you haven’t already.
Here are the updates from April 20.
Resources
The numbers
What’s new today
Nation and world
Live blog
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-04-21--Colorado college students bring class-action lawsuit against universities refusing to refund fees

Colorado students are suing their universities , arguing they are due refunds for student fees that cover services they can no longer receive due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down most recognizable aspects of campus life .
Two class action lawsuits filed against University of Colorado ’ s Board of Regents and Colorado State University ’ s Board of Governors this weekend said students pay fees separate from tuition that enable access to events and services such as the student recreation center , bus passes , athletic events and arts performances .
“ A lot of this just is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place , ” said Igor Raykin , a local attorney representing the students .
“ That ’ s not a problem .
Nobody has an issue with the fact that they ’ re shutting down the campus right now…The issue is if they pay for a lot of things they can ’ t access , they should be getting their money back for those things just like any business would do.
” Ken McConnellogue , CU spokesman , said courses continue to be delivered remotely .
Regarding fees , McConnellogue said students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fees paid for including a 24/7 nurse hotline , virtual fitness classes and counseling .
“ Additionally , student fees cover debt service on some facilities , which students voted to approve , ” McConnellogue said .
“ Fees also pay salaries and benefits for staff who provide ongoing maintenance , and whose work will help ensure readiness to reopen at the appropriate time.
” CSU declined to comment on pending litigation , but university spokesman Mike Hooker pointed toward a March statement issued by CSU Provost Rick Miranda .
Miranda said fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which are still available virtually like the library system , mental health services , student legal services and career advising .
Miles Levin , a 21-year-old CU Boulder student , who is one of Raykin ’ s clients , paid more than $ 650 in fees when enrolling in the spring 2020 semester , the lawsuit said .
“ It ’ s not about me being some selfish college kid who has all the expenses paid for , ” said Levin , who expects to pay $ 80,000 worth of student loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am taking out a large chunk of change to further myself for a college degree , so I think it ’ s only fair that I can see some of that money come back to me and be utilized in an effective way since it ’ s not being used for that expected cost and benefit.
” Many of Colorado ’ s colleges and universities began an abrupt switch to online education in March .
CU and CSU , among other institutions , kept their dorms open to serve the students with nowhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bustling with activity , like recreation centers , were no longer open for business .
In the past month , CU took a $ 44 million hit refunding impacted students ’ housing and dining costs and paying hourly and student employees throughout the crisis .
CSU paid out $ 19 in rebates for student housing and dining amid the pandemic .
Levin acknowledged that the situation was not ideal for anyone , but said the fee refund was an issue of fairness to students .
“ Students aren ’ t getting the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrolled this semester , ” Levin said .
“ It ’ s unfair for students to be charged those fees that they ’ re not receiving the benefit of anymore .
”

Colorado students are suing their universities, arguing they are due refunds for student fees that cover services they can no longer receive due to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down most recognizable aspects of campus life.
Two class action lawsuits filed against University of Colorado’s Board of Regents and Colorado State University’s Board of Governors this weekend said students pay fees separate from tuition that enable access to events and services such as the student recreation center, bus passes, athletic events and arts performances.
“A lot of this just is not accessible right now while the lockdown is in place,” said Igor Raykin, a local attorney representing the students. “That’s not a problem. Nobody has an issue with the fact that they’re shutting down the campus right now…The issue is if they pay for a lot of things they can’t access, they should be getting their money back for those things just like any business would do.”
Ken McConnellogue, CU spokesman, said courses continue to be delivered remotely. Regarding fees, McConnellogue said students still reap the benefits of services their fees paid for including a 24/7 nurse hotline, virtual fitness classes and counseling.
“Additionally, student fees cover debt service on some facilities, which students voted to approve,” McConnellogue said. “Fees also pay salaries and benefits for staff who provide ongoing maintenance, and whose work will help ensure readiness to reopen at the appropriate time.”
CSU declined to comment on pending litigation, but university spokesman Mike Hooker pointed toward a March statement issued by CSU Provost Rick Miranda. Miranda said fees fund a package of services, some of which are still available virtually like the library system, mental health services, student legal services and career advising.
Miles Levin, a 21-year-old CU Boulder student, who is one of Raykin’s clients, paid more than $650 in fees when enrolling in the spring 2020 semester, the lawsuit said.
“It’s not about me being some selfish college kid who has all the expenses paid for,” said Levin, who expects to pay $80,000 worth of student loans for his college education. “I am taking out a large chunk of change to further myself for a college degree, so I think it’s only fair that I can see some of that money come back to me and be utilized in an effective way since it’s not being used for that expected cost and benefit.”
Many of Colorado’s colleges and universities began an abrupt switch to online education in March. CU and CSU, among other institutions, kept their dorms open to serve the students with nowhere else to go, but spaces normally bustling with activity, like recreation centers, were no longer open for business.
In the past month, CU took a $44 million hit refunding impacted students’ housing and dining costs and paying hourly and student employees throughout the crisis. CSU paid out $19 million in rebates for student housing and dining amid the pandemic.
Levin acknowledged that the situation was not ideal for anyone, but said the fee refund was an issue of fairness to students.
“Students aren’t getting the same services that they have paid for while enrolled this semester,” Levin said. “It’s unfair for students to be charged those fees that they’re not receiving the benefit of anymore.”


thedenverpost--2020-04-21--Broncos game spreads for the 2020 NFL season

The Broncos finished the 2019 season with a 7-9 record .
And if one oddsmaker is to be believed , Denver should be right about at that mark in 2020 .
The Broncos are favored in just five games this upcoming season and are a pick ’ em in two others , according to BetOnline.ag .
Denver ’ s best matchup is a home game against the Miami Dolphins , in which it ’ s a five-point favorite .
On the opposite side of the coin , the Broncos are an 11½-point underdog to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at how they match up with their 2020 opponents , ranked from most favorable matchup to worst ( Denver ’ s spread in parentheses ) : 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
+ Avs Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Mike Chambers here .
+ Rockies Mailbag : Have a question about the team ?
Ask Patrick Saunders here .
Broncos Mailbag : If receiver is bypassed in round 1 of NFL draft , who are some possibilities in round 2 ?
Well , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ automatically mean they will grow into a great executive or coach .
To use a worn-out cliché , Elway ’ s record is what his record is — an AFC title in 2013 , a Super Bowl title in ’ 15 … and the current state of four consecutive years out of the playoffs .
It ’ s understandable there are some segments of the Broncos ’ fan base who want Elway out in general and Elway replaced by Manning in particular .
Read more… Kiszla vs. O ’ Halloran : Would John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in first round ?
In the first round , Mark Kiszla wants the best player available , with the most Pro Bowl potential , regardless of position , every single time .
Is that the right approach ?
Read more… Nuggets exit interview : Jerami Grant ’ s versatility may make him top priority this offseason Grant was a player the Nuggets had long coveted and now he was theirs , potentially a long-term solution at power forward .
Only now , he ’ d be coming off the bench behind Paul Millsap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NBA .
Read more… Armed with 10 picks , including five in the first three rounds , Broncos general manager John Elway is in position to fill holes in the starting lineup and add depth at other positions during this week ’ s NFL draft .
Read more… + Kiszla : John Elway ’ s riskiest draft choice in 2020 is Drew Lock as right answer at quarterback + International red tape could be magnified for new CU Buffs recruit Tristan da Silva + Christian McCaffrey embracing new role as face of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs , could new models emerge ?
+ Jaguars looking to trade RB Leonard Fournette , AP source says .
If you see something that ’ s cause for question or have a comment , thought or suggestion , email me at dboniface @ denverpost.com or tweet me @ danielboniface .

The Broncos finished the 2019 season with a 7-9 record. And if one oddsmaker is to be believed, Denver should be right about at that mark in 2020.
The Broncos are favored in just five games this upcoming season and are a pick ’em in two others, according to BetOnline.ag. Denver’s best matchup is a home game against the Miami Dolphins, in which it’s a five-point favorite. On the opposite side of the coin, the Broncos are an 11½-point underdog to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Here’s a look at how they match up with their 2020 opponents, ranked from most favorable matchup to worst (Denver’s spread in parentheses):
Favored
Miami Dolphins (-5)
Las Vegas Raiders (-3½)
Los Angeles Chargers (-2½)
at Carolina Panthers (-1½)
Tennessee Titans (-1)
Pick ’em
Buffalo Bills
at New York Jets
Underdogs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1)
at Atlanta Falcons (+2½)
at Los Angeles Chargers (+2½)
New Orleans Saints (+3)
at Las Vegas Raiders (+3½)
at New England Patriots (+5)
Kansas City Chiefs (+5½)
at Pittsburgh Steelers (+5½)
at Kansas City Chiefs (+11½)
— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette, tell a friend it’s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup. If you have any questions or suggestions, hit me up on Twitter @joenguyen or by email.
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.
Must-Read
Well, being a great player doesn’t automatically mean they will grow into a great executive or coach. To use a worn-out cliché, Elway’s record is what his record is — an AFC title in 2013, a Super Bowl title in ’15 … and the current state of four consecutive years out of the playoffs. It’s understandable there are some segments of the Broncos’ fan base who want Elway out in general and Elway replaced by Manning in particular. Read more…
In the first round, Mark Kiszla wants the best player available, with the most Pro Bowl potential, regardless of position, every single time. Is that the right approach? Read more…
Grant was a player the Nuggets had long coveted and now he was theirs, potentially a long-term solution at power forward. Only now, he’d be coming off the bench behind Paul Millsap and playing for the second-slowest team in the NBA. Read more…
Armed with 10 picks, including five in the first three rounds, Broncos general manager John Elway is in position to fill holes in the starting lineup and add depth at other positions during this week’s NFL draft. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ Kiszla: John Elway’s riskiest draft choice in 2020 is Drew Lock as right answer at quarterback
+ International red tape could be magnified for new CU Buffs recruit Tristan da Silva
+ Christian McCaffrey embracing new role as face of Panthers franchise
+ Denver to re-open city golf courses starting Wednesday with social distancing policies enforced.
+ If colleges cut sports programs, could new models emerge?
+ Documentary series proves fortunate for five NFL draft prospects.
+ B.J. Armstrong offers perspective on “The Last Dance.”
+ Jaguars looking to trade RB Leonard Fournette, AP source says.
Get in Touch
If you see something that’s cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me @danielboniface.