thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Crime dips dramatically in Denver during coronavirus, but some offenses are on the rise

Crime in Denver has dropped by a third as residents have stayed home to combat the spread of the coronavirus , but the shuttering of many businesses has made them an increasingly common target for theft and break-ins .
Denverites reported 4,772 crimes between March 15 and April 12 , the first four weeks when many people were no longer going to work or school .
That ’ s nearly a third less than the average of 7,038 crimes reported during the same four-week period in 2019 and 2018 , Denver police data show .
The decline is fueled primarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of traffic incidents and drug crimes .
But not all crime categories are seeing a decline .
Business burglaries are on the rise , as are car thefts and aggravated assaults .
It ’ s too early to tell whether the coronavirus will have a long-term impact on crime trends in Denver , where the violent crime rate has risen over the past five years .
Several other large cities have seen significant drops in crime during the coronavirus .
The emerging crime trends make sense during a time of economic instability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary Dodge , a criminology professor at the University of Colorado Denver .
Three main factors affect whether and how crime occurs : opportunity , motive and whether someone is there to stop a crime from occurring , Dodge said .
During the coronavirus , some people suffering economically might have more motive to commit property crime to survive , Dodge said .
The stay-at-home orders have also jumbled peoples ’ routines , creating opportunities where there previously weren ’ t .
“ The crime statistics are pretty much what you might expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Last week , two people robbed the Hertz car rental location at Denver International Airport and drove away in two stolen cars .
The week before that , a man was caught on surveillance tape stealing an ATM out of a south Denver bar .
The two incidents are examples of an increase in the number of vehicle thefts and business burglaries in Denver and across the metro area .
Denver crime data shows that 175 business burglaries were reported between March 15 and April 12 .
In that same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city recorded 91 and 84 business burglaries , respectively .
“ Most crimes are crimes of opportunity and because people are sheltering at home , we have a capable guardian , which will keep people away , ” Dodge said .
“ That ’ s just the opposite for businesses .
They ’ re just shuttered down.
” As business burglaries are becoming an increasing concern , Denver police leaders have shifted more staff to night shifts and increased patrols in commercial areas , Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said .
Officers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen times , the chief said .
The Downtown Denver Partnership has increased patrols by its private security guards who walk building perimeters and make sure they are secure .
“ It ’ s definitely quieter , but the presence of private sector security and police departments are definitely known , ” said Beth Moyski , vice president of special districts for the partnership .
Car thefts are also on the rise across the Denver metro area , said Lakewood police Cmdr .
Mike Greenwell , who oversees the Metropolitan Auto Theft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thefts has risen every week from the 268 reported the week of March 15 to the 337 reported last week .
“ An increase isn ’ t necessarily unusual as the weather warms up , but this particular year we jumped pretty significantly from one week to the next , ” he said .
Every day , Pazen gets an update every day on crime trends in Denver , and some of what he ’ s seen recently concerns him .
Aggravated assaults have risen in recent weeks , he said .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the average weekly number of aggravated assaults hovered in the high 50s , Pazen said .
Then the numbers began to rise , to a high of 97 assaults in the week that ended April 11 .
That ’ s above average for this time period .
“ That is obviously trending in the wrong direction , ” the chief said .
Other crimes , like larcenies , robberies and public disorder offenses , have remained relatively steady , police data show .
Denver police have not yet had an influx of domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizations feared , Pazen said .
The number of domestic violence offenses has dropped slightly below average , he said , but the incidents that are occurring are more serious than usual .
Drug and alcohol offenses plunged to a total of 79 in the 2020 period , down from an average of 437 incidents in the same period of the previous two years .
Sexual assaults also dropped by more than half to 33 during the four-week period this year versus an average of 74 incidents in 2019 and 2018 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shelter at home , ” Dodge said of the drop in sexual assaults .
“ Bars are closed .
Restaurants are closed .
We don ’ t have people out at 2 or 3 o ’ clock in the morning.
” The largest shift in crime has been the dramatic decrease in the number of traffic incidents as residents have stayed home .
Denver had 518 traffic incidents during the first four weeks of social distancing , a 70 % decrease from the average of 1,762 incidents in the previous two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite the drop in traffic incidents , Denver police and many other Denver-area law enforcement agencies have noted an increase in speeding on emptier-than-usual roads .
Lakewood police recently caught a motorist driving 149 mph on a road with a 65 mph speed limit .
“ Eighty-four mph over the limit on a roadway in the middle of the day is almost unthinkable , ” the department tweeted .
“ It ’ s dangerous , reckless and an almost guaranteed way to lose your license and your insurance.
” Denver police have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 recession for hints of what they can expect in the long term as Denver weathers the economic downturn caused by coronavirus closures .
“ We ’ re looking for similar types of challenges that we will face , ” Pazen said .

Crime in Denver has dropped by a third as residents have stayed home to combat the spread of the coronavirus, but the shuttering of many businesses has made them an increasingly common target for theft and break-ins.
Denverites reported 4,772 crimes between March 15 and April 12, the first four weeks when many people were no longer going to work or school. That’s nearly a third less than the average of 7,038 crimes reported during the same four-week period in 2019 and 2018, Denver police data show.
The decline is fueled primarily by a significant drop in the number of traffic incidents and drug crimes. But not all crime categories are seeing a decline. Business burglaries are on the rise, as are car thefts and aggravated assaults.
It’s too early to tell whether the coronavirus will have a long-term impact on crime trends in Denver, where the violent crime rate has risen over the past five years. Several other large cities have seen significant drops in crime during the coronavirus.
The emerging crime trends make sense during a time of economic instability, decreased mobility and disrupted routines, said Mary Dodge, a criminology professor at the University of Colorado Denver.
Three main factors affect whether and how crime occurs: opportunity, motive and whether someone is there to stop a crime from occurring, Dodge said. During the coronavirus, some people suffering economically might have more motive to commit property crime to survive, Dodge said. The stay-at-home orders have also jumbled peoples’ routines, creating opportunities where there previously weren’t.
“The crime statistics are pretty much what you might expect during this time period,” Dodge said.
Business burglaries, car thefts rising
Last week, two people robbed the Hertz car rental location at Denver International Airport and drove away in two stolen cars. The week before that, a man was caught on surveillance tape stealing an ATM out of a south Denver bar.
The two incidents are examples of an increase in the number of vehicle thefts and business burglaries in Denver and across the metro area. Denver crime data shows that 175 business burglaries were reported between March 15 and April 12. In that same time period in 2019 and 2018, the city recorded 91 and 84 business burglaries, respectively.
“Most crimes are crimes of opportunity and because people are sheltering at home, we have a capable guardian, which will keep people away,” Dodge said. “That’s just the opposite for businesses. They’re just shuttered down.”
As business burglaries are becoming an increasing concern, Denver police leaders have shifted more staff to night shifts and increased patrols in commercial areas, Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said. Officers have interrupted business burglaries in progress more than a dozen times, the chief said.
The Downtown Denver Partnership has increased patrols by its private security guards who walk building perimeters and make sure they are secure.
“It’s definitely quieter, but the presence of private sector security and police departments are definitely known,” said Beth Moyski, vice president of special districts for the partnership.
Car thefts are also on the rise across the Denver metro area, said Lakewood police Cmdr. Mike Greenwell, who oversees the Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force. The numbers of auto thefts has risen every week from the 268 reported the week of March 15 to the 337 reported last week.
“An increase isn’t necessarily unusual as the weather warms up, but this particular year we jumped pretty significantly from one week to the next,” he said.
What the data show
Every day, Pazen gets an update every day on crime trends in Denver, and some of what he’s seen recently concerns him.
Aggravated assaults have risen in recent weeks, he said. In the first weeks under social distancing, the average weekly number of aggravated assaults hovered in the high 50s, Pazen said. Then the numbers began to rise, to a high of 97 assaults in the week that ended April 11. That’s above average for this time period.
“That is obviously trending in the wrong direction,” the chief said.
Other crimes, like larcenies, robberies and public disorder offenses, have remained relatively steady, police data show. Denver police have not yet had an influx of domestic violence incidents as the department and advocacy organizations feared, Pazen said. The number of domestic violence offenses has dropped slightly below average, he said, but the incidents that are occurring are more serious than usual.
Drug and alcohol offenses plunged to a total of 79 in the 2020 period, down from an average of 437 incidents in the same period of the previous two years. Sexual assaults also dropped by more than half to 33 during the four-week period this year versus an average of 74 incidents in 2019 and 2018.
“That just has to be related to the shelter at home,” Dodge said of the drop in sexual assaults. “Bars are closed. Restaurants are closed. We don’t have people out at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning.”
The largest shift in crime has been the dramatic decrease in the number of traffic incidents as residents have stayed home. Denver had 518 traffic incidents during the first four weeks of social distancing, a 70% decrease from the average of 1,762 incidents in the previous two years. DUI offenses have dropped by half.
Despite the drop in traffic incidents, Denver police and many other Denver-area law enforcement agencies have noted an increase in speeding on emptier-than-usual roads. Lakewood police recently caught a motorist driving 149 mph on a road with a 65 mph speed limit.
“Eighty-four mph over the limit on a roadway in the middle of the day is almost unthinkable,” the department tweeted. “It’s dangerous, reckless and an almost guaranteed way to lose your license and your insurance.”
Denver police have started to analyze crime trends from the 2008 recession for hints of what they can expect in the long term as Denver weathers the economic downturn caused by coronavirus closures.
“We’re looking for similar types of challenges that we will face,” Pazen said.


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Tenants mostly catch up on April rent, but May payments are just around the corner

Apartment renters across the country are making big strides in catching up with the April rent , but landlords and tenant advocates remain apprehensive about what will happen in May , June and beyond .
Nearly nine in 10 households have made a full or partial rent payment on their apartments as of April 19 , according to a survey of 11.5 million units from the National Multifamily Housing Council .
That 89 % figure is up from 84 % on April 12 and only 69 % on April 5 , a rate so low it set off alarm bells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of renters were current by this point in April .
“ We are all pleasantly surprised by the April number .
May is going to be a tougher month , ” acknowledged Robert Hart , president and CEO of TruAmerica Multifamily , during a conference call the NMHC hosted on Wednesday morning .
Given that the majority of shutdowns and job losses didn ’ t kick in until the second half of March , displaced workers had some earnings they could use along with savings .
Many households may find themselves in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes due , especially if they haven ’ t received a stimulus check yet from the IRS .
Landlords and property managers worked hard to get the delinquency rate down , reaching out to tenants and offering payment plans , waiving late fees , and absorbing credit card processing fees .
“ Collections are strong because people are working with residents , ” Hart said , adding about 30 % of tenants at TruAmerica have requested payment plans .
Hart ’ s firm has also opened up its office computers to help tenants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits , unemployed workers and contractors can receive an extra $ 600 week from the federal government .
Unless renewed , those extra payments will go away at the end of July .
And at some point , the backlog of obligations becomes so large that tenants have no way to catch up , even if they can make what they were making before the crisis hit .
That has led social justice and tenant rights groups , like the local Emergency Economic Relief Action for Colorado from Impacts of COVID-19 , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on rent , mortgage and utility payments .
“ This will be a catastrophe unlike anything we have seen , ” warned Annie Martinez , a community activist and president of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association , during a news conference the group hosted Wednesday morning .
“ It is really disheartening that we have three branches of state government that aren ’ t doing anything , ” she said of the lack of a move to temporarily freeze rent and mortgage payments and bar eviction filings and rulings in the courts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating in evictions , advocates said some landlords continue to post demand-of-payment notices .
Some are taking matters into their own hands by changing locks and cutting off utilities , something advocates want to see state and local authorities step in to prevent , said Andrea Chiriboga-Flor , Colorado state director for 9to5 .
Thomas Lockhart , an Aurora resident and member of United for a New Economy , said on the call that he and his wife were already struggling financially before the health crisis began .
Day labor jobs , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer available , and even with rental assistance vouchers the couple struggles .
“ I feel scared and our current financial situation has caused myself and my wife to argue unceasingly , ” he said .
“ We have to choose between eating , medical copays and paying our rent.
” Although the loosening of stay-at-home orders will allow more workers to regain an income , Aurora City Council member Juan Marcano said he is hearing from people concerned about catching the novel coronavirus as the economy reopens , about finding child care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping a roof over their heads .
“ My constituents are very concerned about paying their rents and mortgages come May 1 , ” Marcano said .

Apartment renters across the country are making big strides in catching up with the April rent, but landlords and tenant advocates remain apprehensive about what will happen in May, June and beyond.
Nearly nine in 10 households have made a full or partial rent payment on their apartments as of April 19, according to a survey of 11.5 million units from the National Multifamily Housing Council. That 89% figure is up from 84% on April 12 and only 69% on April 5, a rate so low it set off alarm bells. A year ago, about 93% of renters were current by this point in April.
“We are all pleasantly surprised by the April number. May is going to be a tougher month,” acknowledged Robert Hart, president and CEO of TruAmerica Multifamily, during a conference call the NMHC hosted on Wednesday morning.
Given that the majority of shutdowns and job losses didn’t kick in until the second half of March, displaced workers had some earnings they could use along with savings. Many households may find themselves in a tougher predicament when the May rent comes due, especially if they haven’t received a stimulus check yet from the IRS.
Landlords and property managers worked hard to get the delinquency rate down, reaching out to tenants and offering payment plans, waiving late fees, and absorbing credit card processing fees.
“Collections are strong because people are working with residents,” Hart said, adding about 30% of tenants at TruAmerica have requested payment plans.
Hart’s firm has also opened up its office computers to help tenants apply for unemployment insurance. Besides state benefits, unemployed workers and contractors can receive an extra $600 week from the federal government.
Unless renewed, those extra payments will go away at the end of July. And at some point, the backlog of obligations becomes so large that tenants have no way to catch up, even if they can make what they were making before the crisis hit.
That has led social justice and tenant rights groups, like the local Emergency Economic Relief Action for Colorado from Impacts of COVID-19, to continue their calls for a nationwide pause on rent, mortgage and utility payments.
“This will be a catastrophe unlike anything we have seen,” warned Annie Martinez, a community activist and president of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, during a news conference the group hosted Wednesday morning.
“It is really disheartening that we have three branches of state government that aren’t doing anything,” she said of the lack of a move to temporarily freeze rent and mortgage payments and bar eviction filings and rulings in the courts.
Although law enforcement officers aren’t participating in evictions, advocates said some landlords continue to post demand-of-payment notices. Some are taking matters into their own hands by changing locks and cutting off utilities, something advocates want to see state and local authorities step in to prevent, said Andrea Chiriboga-Flor, Colorado state director for 9to5.
Thomas Lockhart, an Aurora resident and member of United for a New Economy, said on the call that he and his wife were already struggling financially before the health crisis began. Day labor jobs, his main source of income, are no longer available, and even with rental assistance vouchers the couple struggles.
“I feel scared and our current financial situation has caused myself and my wife to argue unceasingly,” he said. “We have to choose between eating, medical copays and paying our rent.”
Although the loosening of stay-at-home orders will allow more workers to regain an income, Aurora City Council member Juan Marcano said he is hearing from people concerned about catching the novel coronavirus as the economy reopens, about finding child care given that schools remained closed and about keeping a roof over their heads.
“My constituents are very concerned about paying their rents and mortgages come May 1,” Marcano said.


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Denver weather: Storm brings chance of rain, thunderstorms through Saturday

There ’ s a chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in Denver over the next three days as a storm system moves over northern Colorado .
On Thursday afternoon , skies will be partly sunny and there ’ s a 50 % chance of showers , according to the National Weather Service .
Winds could gust as high as 33 mph and the high temperature will hit 67 degrees .
On Thursday night , snow is likely in the mountains and rain showers , along with a few thunderstorms , are expected on the Eastern Plains , the weather service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a chance of rain showers with possible afternoon thunderstorms .
Clouds will increase during the day , bringing a 50 % chance of precipitation .
Winds could gust to 22 mph and the high temperature should top out at near 60 degrees .
There ’ s a slight chance for showers between noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday in Denver , according to the NWS forecast .
Skies will be mostly sunny , and the high temperature will be near 64 degrees with a 20 % chance of precipitation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday and into early next week .

There’s a chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in Denver over the next three days as a storm system moves over northern Colorado.
On Thursday afternoon, skies will be partly sunny and there’s a 50% chance of showers, according to the National Weather Service. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph and the high temperature will hit 67 degrees.
On Thursday night, snow is likely in the mountains and rain showers, along with a few thunderstorms, are expected on the Eastern Plains, the weather service said.
On Friday in Denver, there’s a chance of rain showers with possible afternoon thunderstorms. Clouds will increase during the day, bringing a 50% chance of precipitation. Winds could gust to 22 mph and the high temperature should top out at near 60 degrees.
There’s a slight chance for showers between noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday in Denver, according to the NWS forecast. Skies will be mostly sunny, and the high temperature will be near 64 degrees with a 20% chance of precipitation.
Drier and warmer weather conditions are expected on Sunday and into early next week.


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Ask Amy: Mother worries about COVID-19 exposure via son

Dear Amy : I have a 3-year-old son .
His father and I separated when he was a baby , but we have a good co-parenting relationship .
We ’ ve never had any problems with this arrangement .
My son sees his father nearly every day , and this is how we both like it .
The problem is this : I have an immune deficiency and mild asthma .
Worrying about the COVID-19 pandemic , I do not want to leave my young son without a mother .
I ’ m trying to take every precaution against contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand sanitizer , and cleaning anything ( like groceries ) that comes into my house .
My ex has a very robust immune system .
He is not worried about the coronavirus .
He is working and going out for groceries .
He is not using hand sanitizer or cleaning frequently touched surfaces , like his car steering wheel or cellphone .
While he is physically distancing and washing his hands a bit more than usual , I don ’ t feel like this is enough , given my immune-compromised situation .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to have mild symptoms or be asymptomatic .
I ’ m afraid he will catch the virus and give it to my son , who will pass it to me .
I ’ ve tried talking to him about this , but he is not receptive .
I don ’ t know what to do .
What is your advice ?
Dear Worried : Parents are supposed to have the capacity to forgo their immediate impulses for the sake of their children .
The best way to prevent this illness is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your son to have both parents in his life , long into the future – is to avoid exposure .
You and your ex should connect with your son ’ s pediatrician — together , and immediately — ( through video conferencing ) to ask for a physician ’ s advice .
Your boy travels between parents nearly every day .
One obvious idea would be for these visits to be temporarily stopped , or cut down – temporarily , for everyone ’ s safety ( including his , of course ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these visits to even three times a week , this would limit the number of possible exposures between households .
You should also seriously discuss the reality and possibility of one parent ( you or him ) NOT having your son with you , perhaps for the next month , and then negotiating ways to make up the difference after the risk has passed .
The CDC suggests that children over the age of two should wear a cloth face covering when in a “ community setting.
” When your son is delivered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask , he should put on a mask , and be taken directly to the bathroom for some healthy handwashing and to take his temperature .
There are many examples online of cloth masks made for kids , and you could either purchase or make one for him at home .
If you continue visits , don ’ t let him bring toys or books between households .
Dear Amy : This is a minor problem , probably , but one that many people share .
Quite simply , with the COVID-19 stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netflix can only take a person so far .
All of my closets are clean and organized .
Dear Stirred-up : Order a bird feeder and some seed .
Birds are incredibly interesting , calming , and beautiful .
Add a couple of flowering houseplants , and you can bring a little of the outside , inside .
Readers will have more suggestions .
Dear Amy : “ George Wants Pastrami on Rye !
” wrote about one colleague , “ Donald , ” who dominated the office by doing all the sandwich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation is not unusual .
It is “ high school mean girls and boys ” all over again .
It was starting to happen at my own business when I hired a replacement for someone on maternity leave .
I approached the dominating “ Donald ” character very openly in full view of the staff , and let him know that sandwich ordering was a waste of his time .
I informed the entire staff that my assistant would now be responsible for sandwich ordering and orders need to be in by 11:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I offered to pay for lunch one day a week , as long as they went somewhere , added a walk , and didn ’ t all go at once .
This worked .
Hang in there , George .
YOU are a mature human and I would hire you in a minute .
( Donald ’ s review will not look so good . )
Dear Boss : Well done !
I ’ d happily work for you .

Dear Amy: I have a 3-year-old son. His father and I separated when he was a baby, but we have a good co-parenting relationship. We’ve never had any problems with this arrangement. My son sees his father nearly every day, and this is how we both like it.
The problem is this: I have an immune deficiency and mild asthma. Worrying about the COVID-19 pandemic, I do not want to leave my young son without a mother.
I’m trying to take every precaution against contracting the virus, including using lots of hand sanitizer, and cleaning anything (like groceries) that comes into my house.
My ex has a very robust immune system. He is not worried about the coronavirus. He is working and going out for groceries. He is not using hand sanitizer or cleaning frequently touched surfaces, like his car steering wheel or cellphone.
While he is physically distancing and washing his hands a bit more than usual, I don’t feel like this is enough, given my immune-compromised situation. If he gets the virus, he is likely to have mild symptoms or be asymptomatic. I’m afraid he will catch the virus and give it to my son, who will pass it to me. I’ve tried talking to him about this, but he is not receptive. I don’t know what to do.
What is your advice?
— Worried Mom
Dear Worried: Parents are supposed to have the capacity to forgo their immediate impulses for the sake of their children. The best way to prevent this illness is to avoid exposure. The best way for your son to have both parents in his life, long into the future – is to avoid exposure. You and your ex should connect with your son’s pediatrician — together, and immediately — (through video conferencing) to ask for a physician’s advice.
Your boy travels between parents nearly every day. One obvious idea would be for these visits to be temporarily stopped, or cut down – temporarily, for everyone’s safety (including his, of course).
If your ex would agree to cut these visits to even three times a week, this would limit the number of possible exposures between households. You should also seriously discuss the reality and possibility of one parent (you or him) NOT having your son with you, perhaps for the next month, and then negotiating ways to make up the difference after the risk has passed.
The CDC suggests that children over the age of two should wear a cloth face covering when in a “community setting.” When your son is delivered to you, you should wear a mask, he should put on a mask, and be taken directly to the bathroom for some healthy handwashing and to take his temperature. There are many examples online of cloth masks made for kids, and you could either purchase or make one for him at home.
If you continue visits, don’t let him bring toys or books between households.
Dear Amy: This is a minor problem, probably, but one that many people share. Quite simply, with the COVID-19 stay-at-home directive, I am going stir-crazy!
Netflix can only take a person so far. All of my closets are clean and organized.
Any suggestions?
— Stirred-up
Dear Stirred-up: Order a bird feeder and some seed. Birds are incredibly interesting, calming, and beautiful. Add a couple of flowering houseplants, and you can bring a little of the outside, inside.
Readers will have more suggestions.
Dear Amy: “George Wants Pastrami on Rye!” wrote about one colleague, “Donald,” who dominated the office by doing all the sandwich ordering, always excluding George.
This situation is not unusual. It is “high school mean girls and boys” all over again.
It was starting to happen at my own business when I hired a replacement for someone on maternity leave.
I approached the dominating “Donald” character very openly in full view of the staff, and let him know that sandwich ordering was a waste of his time.
I informed the entire staff that my assistant would now be responsible for sandwich ordering and orders need to be in by 11:30.
Problem solved — almost.
To break up the clique, I offered to pay for lunch one day a week, as long as they went somewhere, added a walk, and didn’t all go at once. This worked.
Hang in there, George. YOU are a mature human and I would hire you in a minute. (Donald’s review will not look so good.)
— The Boss Sees All
Dear Boss: Well done! I’d happily work for you.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Summer concerts at Hudson Gardens canceled over coronavirus concerns

The 2020 Summer Concert Series at Hudson Gardens & Event Center is the latest event to fall from the entertainment calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The botanical garden and event center , located in Littleton , on Wednesday announced the cancellation of its popular music series in its entirety this coming season .
“ Normally , this would be the time when we would announce the lineup for our upcoming summer concerts , ” said a statement from the organization .
“ However , as the circumstances arising from COVID-19 evolve , this is clearly the socially responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our patrons , artists , concert crew and staff is paramount .
We thank everyone who is continuing to do their part to mitigate this crisis .
The difficult decisions we make today will result in a safer tomorrow.
” The 2019 series talent included Tommy James & The Shondells , America , Howard Jones , Ozark Mountain Daredevils , Seal , Melissa Etheridge and Don Felder .
From humble beginnings , the outdoor concert series has bloomed into hundreds of world-class performances for more than a million fans , the release said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hudson Gardens since 1999 .

The 2020 Summer Concert Series at Hudson Gardens & Event Center is the latest event to fall from the entertainment calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The botanical garden and event center, located in Littleton, on Wednesday announced the cancellation of its popular music series in its entirety this coming season.
“Normally, this would be the time when we would announce the lineup for our upcoming summer concerts,” said a statement from the organization. “However, as the circumstances arising from COVID-19 evolve, this is clearly the socially responsible and appropriate choice. The health of our patrons, artists, concert crew and staff is paramount. We thank everyone who is continuing to do their part to mitigate this crisis. The difficult decisions we make today will result in a safer tomorrow.”
The 2019 series talent included Tommy James & The Shondells, America, Howard Jones, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Seal, Melissa Etheridge and Don Felder.
From humble beginnings, the outdoor concert series has bloomed into hundreds of world-class performances for more than a million fans, the release said. Summer concerts have been presented at Hudson Gardens since 1999.


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Expect college football to take a slow road back

While professional sports leagues can ponder plans to isolate their athletes from the new coronavirus and have them play in unusual , even secluded places , college sports have no such option .
Pro sports leagues can get creative with solutions to save their multibillion-dollar businesses .
College sports will take a slower road back .
“ The most at-risk sport of starting up again , in my opinion , is collegiate athletics , ” said A.J .
Maestas , the CEO of Navigate Research , which consults with professional sports leagues and college conferences .
“ There is less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ultimate mission of the entity they work at , live at .
That fund them.
” The commissioners of the 10 Bowl Subdivision conferences made it clear to Vice President Mike Pence last week : There can not be college sports played if campuses are not open .
If university leaders do not deem it safe for students to return to classrooms and dorms , locker rooms and practice fields will also remain closed .
As big as the business of college sports is it is dwarfed by the business of higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Alabama ’ s budget in fiscal 2018 was $ 1.03 billion .
Its athletic budget in 2018-19 was $ 164 million .
“ You think of all the stakeholders and constituents in the collegiate space and all the missions they ’ re meant to serve in .
This sports thing is like 3 % of their budget , ” Maestas said .
Colleges and universities , for the most part , have been quicker than governments in enacting measures to slow the spread of the virus .
They sent students home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes weeks before widespread bans of large gatherings and stay-at-home orders by governors and mayors .
Even before the NCAA canceled its basketball tournaments and spring sports March 12 , schools were shuttering campuses .
Fast forward to the fall , when the hope is many businesses and routine parts of daily life will be operating again , even if not back to business as usual .
That doesn ’ t mean colleges will be rushing to get students on campus .
If they were first to shut down , they could also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will be university presidents , not the NCAA , making those decisions .
Schools would take a significant financial hit by continuing to operate online only , but balance that against the legal and ethical liability they could face by being the catalyst for reigniting an outbreak .
“ I think they do have to be conservative in how they approach this , ” said attorney Tim Nevius , a former college baseball player and NCAA investigator who now represents and advocates for college athletes .
If , come September , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even then there will be hurdles to clear for football to start .
“ Large gatherings of people are going to be the last thing we check off the box , ” Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine said last week when asked about Ohio State football games .
“ It isn ’ t appropriate for us to play college football without fans .
If that were the case , it would mean there would be major reservations about group gatherings , ” Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips said on the Paul Finebaum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also becoming popular among administrators .
Commissioners and athletic directors have stressed the importance of collaboration across conferences and starting any season at once .
But the public health crisis is not playing out the same everywhere .
Within 24 hours this week the president of the University of Connecticut said he was personally pessimistic about the return of fall sports while the University of Missouri System president Mun Choi said he expects in-person classes to resume this fall .
In professional sports , players are well-paid and unionized .
Essentially , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Players have to sign off on any return-to-play plan , and they might be motivated to take some risk to get paid .
In college sports , the relationship between the players and the schools , administrators and coaches is almost paternal .
“ In framing it that way it restricts athletes ’ rights , ” Nevius said .
“ So it prevents them from being considered employees .
It reduces their economic rights .
It frames things so that the athletes also think that they are in this caretaker environment so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the schools to advance their rights.
” “ But that is not always the case with the big business of college sports , ” Nevius added .
Later this week , the NCAA is scheduled to reveal some details of a plan to begin allowing college athletes to be compensated for use of their names , images and likenesses .
The earliest it would go into effect is 2021-22 .
Yes , college football players with professional aspirations have much to gain by playing .
But not paychecks .
And their scholarships are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ College sports are theoretically intended to exist to enhance that academic experience of its athletes , ” Nevius said .
“ And the NCAA repeatedly says that publicly and in defense of lawsuits as well .
We ’ ve seen over time decisions made that completely contradict that .
This is another test with respect to that philosophy .
”

While professional sports leagues can ponder plans to isolate their athletes from the new coronavirus and have them play in unusual, even secluded places, college sports have no such option.
Pro sports leagues can get creative with solutions to save their multibillion-dollar businesses. College sports will take a slower road back.
“The most at-risk sport of starting up again, in my opinion, is collegiate athletics,” said A.J. Maestas, the CEO of Navigate Research, which consults with professional sports leagues and college conferences. “There is less of an incentive and less alignment with the ultimate mission of the entity they work at, live at. That fund them.”
The commissioners of the 10 Bowl Subdivision conferences made it clear to Vice President Mike Pence last week: There cannot be college sports played if campuses are not open. If university leaders do not deem it safe for students to return to classrooms and dorms, locker rooms and practice fields will also remain closed.
As big as the business of college sports is it is dwarfed by the business of higher education. For example: The University of Alabama’s budget in fiscal 2018 was $1.03 billion. Its athletic budget in 2018-19 was $164 million.
“You think of all the stakeholders and constituents in the collegiate space and all the missions they’re meant to serve in. This sports thing is like 3% of their budget,” Maestas said.
Colleges and universities, for the most part, have been quicker than governments in enacting measures to slow the spread of the virus. They sent students home, extended spring breaks and shifted to online classes weeks before widespread bans of large gatherings and stay-at-home orders by governors and mayors.
Even before the NCAA canceled its basketball tournaments and spring sports March 12, schools were shuttering campuses.
Fast forward to the fall, when the hope is many businesses and routine parts of daily life will be operating again, even if not back to business as usual. That doesn’t mean colleges will be rushing to get students on campus. If they were first to shut down, they could also be among the last to reopen and it will be university presidents, not the NCAA, making those decisions.
Schools would take a significant financial hit by continuing to operate online only, but balance that against the legal and ethical liability they could face by being the catalyst for reigniting an outbreak.
“I think they do have to be conservative in how they approach this,” said attorney Tim Nevius, a former college baseball player and NCAA investigator who now represents and advocates for college athletes.
If, come September, the students are physically going back to school, even then there will be hurdles to clear for football to start.
“Large gatherings of people are going to be the last thing we check off the box,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said last week when asked about Ohio State football games.
So play without fans?
“It isn’t appropriate for us to play college football without fans. If that were the case, it would mean there would be major reservations about group gatherings,” Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips said on the Paul Finebaum Show, echoing a sentiment that is also becoming popular among administrators.
Commissioners and athletic directors have stressed the importance of collaboration across conferences and starting any season at once. But the public health crisis is not playing out the same everywhere. Within 24 hours this week the president of the University of Connecticut said he was personally pessimistic about the return of fall sports while the University of Missouri System president Mun Choi said he expects in-person classes to resume this fall.
In professional sports, players are well-paid and unionized. Essentially, they are business partners with the leagues. Players have to sign off on any return-to-play plan, and they might be motivated to take some risk to get paid.
In college sports, the relationship between the players and the schools, administrators and coaches is almost paternal.
“In framing it that way it restricts athletes’ rights,” Nevius said. “So it prevents them from being considered employees. It reduces their economic rights. It frames things so that the athletes also think that they are in this caretaker environment so they have to rely upon the coaches and the schools to advance their rights.”
“But that is not always the case with the big business of college sports,” Nevius added.
Later this week, the NCAA is scheduled to reveal some details of a plan to begin allowing college athletes to be compensated for use of their names, images and likenesses. The earliest it would go into effect is 2021-22.
Yes, college football players with professional aspirations have much to gain by playing. But not paychecks. And their scholarships are good whether they play or not.
“College sports are theoretically intended to exist to enhance that academic experience of its athletes,” Nevius said. “And the NCAA repeatedly says that publicly and in defense of lawsuits as well. We’ve seen over time decisions made that completely contradict that. This is another test with respect to that philosophy.”


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--92-year-old Vin Scully hospitalized after fall at home

LOS ANGELES — Retired Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has been hospitalized after falling at his Los Angeles-area home @ @ @ @ @ 92-year-old fell Tuesday and was taken to the hospital for observation .
Scully is resting @ @ @ @ @ be released soon .
“ I won ’ t be doing anymore head-first sliding , @ @ @ @ @ quote posted on the team ’ s Twitter account .
“ I never liked it.
@ @ @ @ @ 2016 season , ending a career in which he called Dodgers games for 67 years @ @ @ @ @ when the team was located in Brooklyn .
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall @ @ @ @ @ received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 .

LOS ANGELES — Retired Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully has been hospitalized after falling at his Los Angeles-area home.
The team says the 92-year-old fell Tuesday and was taken to the hospital for observation. Scully is resting comfortably and is expected to be released soon.
“I won’t be doing anymore head-first sliding,” he said in a quote posted on the team’s Twitter account. “I never liked it.”
Scully retired after the 2016 season, ending a career in which he called Dodgers games for 67 years. He began in 1950 when the team was located in Brooklyn. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--55 inmates in Denver’s jails have tested positive for the coronavirus; 14 have been released

Fifty-five inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 in Denver ’ s two jails , though some have recovered and more than a dozen have been released .
As of Thursday afternoon , 52 of the cases have been at the Downtown Detention Center on Colfax Avenue and three have been at the county jail on Smith Road , Laura Swartz , a spokeswoman with the city ’ s Joint Information Center , said .
Thirty-two more inmates at the downtown jail are in isolation for showing some symptoms connected to COVID-19 and are being offered a test .
The Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than all of the senior living facilities tracked by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as centers of COVID-19 outbreaks .
Public health experts have warned that the coronavirus will spread quickly inside jails and prisons due to the inherent difficulties of practicing social distancing inside such facilities .
A request to interview Denver Sheriff Department leadership about COVID-19 in the jails was denied .
Here ’ s how the status of the 55 inmates breaks down : • 38 inmates who have tested positive remain in custody at either the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inmates have been released since testing positive .
• Two inmates at the downtown jail have recovered since testing positive and remain in custody .
The sheriff department ’ s website still says that no inmate has tested positive for COVID-19 , though department leaders announced March 30 that the first inmate had tested positive .
The Denver Sheriff Department is working with inmates to make sure they have a safe place to go before they are released , Swartz said in an email .
The department is screening every inmate at intake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have respiratory symptoms , like shortness of breath or a cough .
Staff have been given personal protective equipment and masks are being given to inmates , Swartz said .
Staff have access to hand sanitizer and bleach wipes .
Inmates do not have access to hand sanitizer “ due to the amount of alcohol that is required to kill the COVID-19 virus , ” Swartz wrote , but do have access to soap and water to wash their hands .
The intake area is being cleaned four times a day and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day , after each meal .
Jail staff , prosecutors , judges and defense attorneys have worked to decrease the number of people at the Downtown Detention Center and data shows significant reductions have been made .
Attorneys for one Denver Downtown Detention Center inmate filed legal action last month alleging the sheriff department was not adequately protecting inmates and that people with symptoms were mixing with non-symptomatic people .
Less than three weeks later , the inmate tested positive for COVID-19 , his attorney , Jason Flores-Williams , said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sheriff deputies have tested positive because it refuses to break down the numbers by public safety agency .
Seventy-seven employees of the Public Safety Department have tested positive and 36 of those employees had recovered , according to the Joint Information Center .
The Public Safety Department includes sheriff ’ s deputies , police , firefighters , and 911 operators , among others .
But at least 20 deputies have self-reported positive diagnoses to their union , Mike Britton , vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Denver Sheriff Department Lodge 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the sheriff department , but remains in union leadership .
“ Everybody is just freaking out , ” he said .
“ You ’ re fighting something you can ’ t see.
” Deputies are having to reuse the personal protective gear because there isn ’ t enough , Britton said .
“ They ’ re taking wipes and wiping them down so they can reuse them , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a bleak situation over there.
” The union is hoping to buy 4,000 pieces of protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia .
“ This is far from over , ” Britton said .

Fifty-five inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 in Denver’s two jails, though some have recovered and more than a dozen have been released.
As of Thursday afternoon, 52 of the cases have been at the Downtown Detention Center on Colfax Avenue and three have been at the county jail on Smith Road, Laura Swartz, a spokeswoman with the city’s Joint Information Center, said. Thirty-two more inmates at the downtown jail are in isolation for showing some symptoms connected to COVID-19 and are being offered a test.
The Denver jails have a higher number of cases than all of the senior living facilities tracked by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment as centers of COVID-19 outbreaks. Public health experts have warned that the coronavirus will spread quickly inside jails and prisons due to the inherent difficulties of practicing social distancing inside such facilities.
A request to interview Denver Sheriff Department leadership about COVID-19 in the jails was denied.
Here’s how the status of the 55 inmates breaks down:
38 inmates who have tested positive remain in custody at either the county or downtown jails.
15 inmates have been released since testing positive.
Two inmates at the downtown jail have recovered since testing positive and remain in custody.
The sheriff department’s website still says that no inmate has tested positive for COVID-19, though department leaders announced March 30 that the first inmate had tested positive.
The Denver Sheriff Department is working with inmates to make sure they have a safe place to go before they are released, Swartz said in an email. The department is screening every inmate at intake by taking their temperature and asking whether they have respiratory symptoms, like shortness of breath or a cough.
Staff have been given personal protective equipment and masks are being given to inmates, Swartz said. Staff have access to hand sanitizer and bleach wipes. Inmates do not have access to hand sanitizer “due to the amount of alcohol that is required to kill the COVID-19 virus,” Swartz wrote, but do have access to soap and water to wash their hands.
The intake area is being cleaned four times a day and housing areas are being cleaned three times a day, after each meal. Jail staff, prosecutors, judges and defense attorneys have worked to decrease the number of people at the Downtown Detention Center and data shows significant reductions have been made.
Attorneys for one Denver Downtown Detention Center inmate filed legal action last month alleging the sheriff department was not adequately protecting inmates and that people with symptoms were mixing with non-symptomatic people. Less than three weeks later, the inmate tested positive for COVID-19, his attorney, Jason Flores-Williams, said.
The city will not say how many Denver sheriff deputies have tested positive because it refuses to break down the numbers by public safety agency. Seventy-seven employees of the Public Safety Department have tested positive and 36 of those employees had recovered, according to the Joint Information Center. The Public Safety Department includes sheriff’s deputies, police, firefighters, and 911 operators, among others.
But at least 20 deputies have self-reported positive diagnoses to their union, Mike Britton, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police Denver Sheriff Department Lodge 27, said. Britton no longer works at the sheriff department, but remains in union leadership.
“Everybody is just freaking out,” he said. “You’re fighting something you can’t see.”
Deputies are having to reuse the personal protective gear because there isn’t enough, Britton said.
“They’re taking wipes and wiping them down so they can reuse them,” he said. “It’s a bleak situation over there.”
The union is hoping to buy 4,000 pieces of protective gear for deputies from a company in Virginia.
“This is far from over,” Britton said.


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--NFL draft 2020 analysis: A look at the first-round selections

A look at instant reactions from The Denver Post staff on the first-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft .
The Bengals spent millions in free agency to rebuild their defense and going with Burrow first overall gives them a new face of their offense .
— Ryan O ’ Halloran The Redskins keep it simple and select arguably the best overall player in the draft .
Young had 27 sacks in his final two college seasons .
— Ryan O ’ Halloran • Joe Burrow drafted by Cincinnati Bengals with No .
1 pick in NFL draft • WATCH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on ESPN with video about hope • Joe Burrow to join exclusive NFL company if LSU QB is top pick in NFL draft Nobody was willing to pay the required price to move up to the Lions ’ spot so they go with Okudah , who started only one year for the Buckeyes , but was first-team All-America .
— Ryan O ’ Halloran The Giants had their choice of offensive tackles and obviously preferred Thomas ’ left tackle experience ( 26 games ) instead of Jedrick Wills or Tristan Wirfs .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tua after all and they didn ’ t even need to tank .
If his hip and ankles hold up , he can be elite .
And that ’ s a gigantic , “ If … ” — Ryan O ’ Halloran As it turns out , the Chargers didn ’ t need to move up to get Hebert , who started 42 games for the Ducks .
He may watch veteran Tyrod Taylor to begin the season .
— Ryan O ’ Halloran New Panthers coach Matt Rhule goes for the big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can anchor a team ’ s rush defense instead of the ultra-versatile Isaiah Simmons .
— Ryan O ’ Halloran Is he a safety ?
Or a cornerback ?
Or a linebacker ?
It will be up to Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to find ways to best use Simmons , who had 107 tackles last year .
— Ryan O ’ Halloran

A look at instant reactions from The Denver Post staff on the first-round picks in the 2020 NFL draft.
No. 1. Cincinnati: QB Joe Burrow, LSU.
The Bengals spent millions in free agency to rebuild their defense and going with Burrow first overall gives them a new face of their offense.
No. 2. Washington: DL Chase Young, Ohio State.
The Redskins keep it simple and select arguably the best overall player in the draft. Young had 27 sacks in his final two college seasons.
No. 3. Detroit: CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State.
Nobody was willing to pay the required price to move up to the Lions’ spot so they go with Okudah, who started only one year for the Buckeyes, but was first-team All-America.
No. 4. N.Y. Giants: OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia.
The Giants had their choice of offensive tackles and obviously preferred Thomas’ left tackle experience (26 games) instead of Jedrick Wills or Tristan Wirfs.
No. 5. Miami: QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama.
The Dolphins get Tua after all and they didn’t even need to tank. If his hip and ankles hold up, he can be elite. And that’s a gigantic, “If …”
No. 6. L.A. Chargers: QB Justin Hebert, Oregon.
As it turns out, the Chargers didn’t need to move up to get Hebert, who started 42 games for the Ducks. He may watch veteran Tyrod Taylor to begin the season.
No. 7. Carolina: DT Derrick Brown, Auburn.
New Panthers coach Matt Rhule goes for the big man (Brown is 6-foot-5/326 pounds) who can anchor a team’s rush defense instead of the ultra-versatile Isaiah Simmons.
No. 8. Arizona: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson.
Is he a safety? Or a cornerback? Or a linebacker? It will be up to Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to find ways to best use Simmons, who had 107 tackles last year.
No. 9. Jacksonville: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida.
The Jaguars traded cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey to the Rams last October and A.J. Bouye to the Broncos last month so this was a need. Henderson had no interceptions in 2019.
No. 10. Cleveland: OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama.
The Browns were connected through the draft process with Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton partly because Wills wasn’t expected to be available. He can play left tackle opposite recent free agent signing Jack Conklin on the right side. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 11. N.Y. Jets: OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville.
The Jets need receiver help, but opted to wait on that so they could add Becton, who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds. He started 21 games at left tackle and 12 at right tackle in college. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 12. Las Vegas: WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama.
The first receiver off the board is also the fastest. Ruggs ran the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds at the combine. He had 24 touchdown catches in 41 games for the Crimson Tide. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 13. Tampa Bay (from San Francisco): OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa.
Our first trade of the night. The 49ers, who entered without second-, third- or fourth-round picks, moves down one spot and the Buccaneers get an athletic player who could be a tackle or a guard in the NFL. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 14. San Francisco (from Tampa Bay): DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina.
The 49ers opted to add a replacement for DeForest Buckner instead of one for receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Kinlaw was first-team All-America last year despite making only 35 tackles. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 15. Denver: WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama
The Broncos need to score more points, period, so general manager John Elway wasted little time adding Jeudy to a young skill-position core that is led by receiver Courtland Sutton and tight end Noah Fant. Quarterback Drew Lock should be happy. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 16. Atlanta: CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson
The Falcons could not pass on Terrell’s complete body of work, which included six interceptions in 44 career games (30 starts) over three seasons with the Tigers. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 17. Dallas: WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma
The Cowboys get perhaps the most versatile pass catcher in the draft in Lamb, a 6-foot-2 and 198-pound Oklahoma product who is a true home run threat. — Matt Schubert
No. 18. Miami: OT Austin Jackson, USC
Well, so much for the Broncos making a play into the late 20s for Jackson, who won’t turn 21 until August. He started 25 games at left tackle for the Trojans. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 19. Las Vegas: CB Damon Arnette, Ohio State.
OK, this is a surprise considering most forecasters pegged Arnette as a Day 2 pick. But the Raiders will have him play opposite 2019 second-round pick Trayvon Mullen. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 20. Jacksonville: OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU.
Listed at 254 pounds, Chaisson could be a base-down linebacker and a sub-package weak-side defensive end. Chaisson played in only 26 college games (92 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks). — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 21. Philadelphia: WR Jalen Reagor, TCU.
The Eagles needed receiver help big-time and they go with Reagor instead of LSU’s Justin Jefferson. Reagor had 1,061 yards receiving in 2018, but only 611 as a junior. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 22. Minnesota: WR Justin Jefferson, LSU.
A terrific pick by the Vikings, who traded Stefon Diggs to Buffalo last month and needed a replacement to join Adam Thielen. Jefferson led FBS last year with 111 catches. — Ryan O’Halloran
No. 23. L.A. Chargers: LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma.
The Chargers traded back into the first round with New England to acquire the draft’s best inside linebacker. Murray would have been a great fit for the Broncos. Instead, he’ll face them twice a year in the AFC West.
No. 24. New Orleans: C Cesar Ruiz, Michigan.
The first center off the board goes to the Saints. Ruiz, who got the nod over LSU’s Lloyd Cushenberry, started 26 games at center for the Wolverines.
No. 25. San Francisco: WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State.
The 49ers move from 31 to 25 in a trade with Minnesota. A starter for only year, he caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns.
No. 26. Green Bay: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State.
Fifteen years after the Packers drafted Aaron Rodgers 24th overall, they trade up with Miami to select his heir apparent. Love’s interception total increased from six in 2018 to 17 last year.
No. 27. Seattle: LB Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech.
The surprise is the Seahawks didn’t trade down like normal, but that speaks to their regard for Brooks, who had 367 tackles in 47 games for the Red Raiders.
No. 28. Baltimore: LB Patrick Queen, LSU.
Having already added veteran defensive lineman Derek Wolfe and Calais Campbell, the Ravens should feel confident they added an ascending player in Queen. He wasn’t a regular starter until early in 2019, but finished with 85 tackles.
No. 29. Tennessee: OT Isaiah Wilson, Georgia.
The sixth offensive tackle selected, Wilson entered the draft after his redshirt sophomore year. He started 24 games at right tackle for the Bulldogs. He will replace Jack Conklin, who signed with Cleveland.
No. 30. Miami: CB Noah Igbinoghene, Auburn.
The Dolphins’ busy night wrapped up with Igbinoghene, who will join big-money free agent cornerback Byron Jones. He had only one interception in 40 college games.
No. 31. Minnesota: CB Jeff Gladney, TCU.
The Vikings’ second first-round pick addresses a need after they moved on from veterans Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander in free agency. Gladney had 30 pass break-ups and five interceptions his final two years at TCU.
No. 32. Kansas City: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU.
The first and only running back drafted in the first round. Listed at 5-foot-7 and 207 pounds, he had 1,414 yards rushing (16 touchdowns) and 55 catches (for 453 yards) last year.


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--Joe Burrow drafted by Cincinnati Bengals with No. 1 pick in NFL draft

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow ’ s next challenge is daunting : return to his home state and resurrect the woebegone Bengals .
Cincinnati took the Heisman Trophy winner first overall in the NFL draft Thursday night , a move expected by everyone , including Burrow .
The national title winner at LSU has spent weeks fielding questions about going to a franchise synonymous with futility .
Burrow developed his quarterback skills in southeastern Ohio , leading his prep team to the playoffs .
A failed stint at Ohio State became a launching point to a national title and Heisman Trophy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he wore a white shirt with the outline of Ohio and the 740 area code for southeast Ohio .
He also held a black Bengals cap , waiting for the pick to become official .
He moves to a team that went 2-14 last season under first-year coach Zac Taylor , losing a club-record 11 games in a row .
Cincinnati has lost 21 of its last 24 games .
That ’ s what the Heisman winner is up against now .
Not that it ’ s all up to Burrow , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s about ownership .
The Bengals have been through a dizzying list of coaches , coordinators and quarterbacks during one of the worst stretches in the league ’ s 100-year history .
They ’ ve had only seven winning seasons in the last 29 years , a stunningly bad result in a league built upon parity .
They haven ’ t won a playoff game since the 1990 season , the fifth-longest streak of postseason futility .
The Bengals have had 18 different starting quarterbacks over that span , including Heisman Trophy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded a trade rather than stay with the franchise .
Burrow ’ s career bloomed in Athens , Ohio , where his father , Jim , was an assistant coach at Ohio University , taking his high school team to the playoffs .
He couldn ’ t win the starting job at Ohio State and transferred to LSU , where he had one of the best seasons by a quarterback in college history .
Burrow threw a record 60 touchdown passes as the Tigers rolled to the national title .

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow’s next challenge is daunting: return to his home state and resurrect the woebegone Bengals.
Cincinnati took the Heisman Trophy winner first overall in the NFL draft Thursday night, a move expected by everyone, including Burrow. The national title winner at LSU has spent weeks fielding questions about going to a franchise synonymous with futility.
Burrow developed his quarterback skills in southeastern Ohio, leading his prep team to the playoffs. A failed stint at Ohio State became a launching point to a national title and Heisman Trophy at LSU.
For the draft Thursday, he wore a white shirt with the outline of Ohio and the 740 area code for southeast Ohio. He also held a black Bengals cap, waiting for the pick to become official.
He moves to a team that went 2-14 last season under first-year coach Zac Taylor, losing a club-record 11 games in a row. Cincinnati has lost 21 of its last 24 games.
That’s what the Heisman winner is up against now.
Not that it’s all up to Burrow, of course. In Cincinnati, it’s about ownership. The Bengals have been through a dizzying list of coaches, coordinators and quarterbacks during one of the worst stretches in the league’s 100-year history.
They’ve had only seven winning seasons in the last 29 years, a stunningly bad result in a league built upon parity. They haven’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season, the fifth-longest streak of postseason futility.
The Bengals have had 18 different starting quarterbacks over that span, including Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer in 2003 who eventually demanded a trade rather than stay with the franchise.
Burrow’s career bloomed in Athens, Ohio, where his father, Jim, was an assistant coach at Ohio University, taking his high school team to the playoffs. He couldn’t win the starting job at Ohio State and transferred to LSU, where he had one of the best seasons by a quarterback in college history. Burrow threw a record 60 touchdown passes as the Tigers rolled to the national title.


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--Denver’s stay-at-home order will be extended to May 8 even as state’s mandate is about to expire

Mayor Michael Hancock will extend Denver ’ s stay-at-home order to May 8 , even as much of the rest of the state will begin to see a relaxation next week of similar restrictions that had been designed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Other parts of the metro area are expected to follow Hancock ’ s lead .
Hancock first issued his order March 23 and later extended it to April 30 , but without additional guidance from Gov .
Jared Polis ’ s office on how to enforce less-stringent guidelines , the city needs additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more Denverites can safely leave their homes , spokeswoman Theresa Marchetta said .
Polis announced this week that the statewide stay-at-home order will expire Sunday , with Colorado shifting to a second response phase he dubbed “ safer at home ” — which will begin with some business activities being allowed to resume Monday and additional relaxing of restrictions into May .
However , the specifics behind that shift have not been communicated sufficiently to Denver officials , who need time to figure out how police , code enforcement and more can safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The governor is expected to offer more detail in a new executive order on Sunday .
“ We want to align with the state but we don ’ t have the language from the state , so once we do get it we ’ ll need time , ” Marchetta said .
“ We can ’ t just get it on the 26th and flip a switch.
” Hancock will formally announce his decision — which was first reported by Denverite — on Friday morning .
Residents and businesses simply need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase , Hancock said Thursday evening on Twitter .
“ Extending our stay-at-home order will give us more time to do the things necessary for our community to re-open safely & in stages , ” he wrote .
In addition , in the coming weeks and months , testing will be an increasingly important factor to help ensure the relaxed orders aren ’ t exposing more and more residents to the coronavirus , officials have said .
And currently not as many people in Denver are being tested as public health officials would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Monday that he ’ d like to see as many as 1,000 tests conducted a day in Denver , if not more , and those numbers are currently somewhere in the hundreds .
Other public health departments and officials in the metropolitan area will follow suit by extending their stay-at-home orders as well , Marchetta said .
The Tri-County Health Department said in a news release that its officials — who represent Adams , Arapahoe and Douglas counties — also are considering a similar extension and will make a decision by Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will be reviewing the need to extend the stay-at-home order for two weeks until May 8th for specific locations that are still experiencing high numbers of people sick with COVID-19 , ” the news release said .
For weeks , local and national public officials have heard the increasing cries to reopen the state .
Hundreds flocked to the Colorado Capitol on Sunday to protest the stay-at-home orders , with some arguing the economic damage caused by the closures is far worse than the illnesses and deaths caused by the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed and suspected cases of the virus and 552 reported deaths , according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
Officials have taken care to phrase the relaxation of the the state ’ s stay-at-home order as a slight change rather than a sudden one .
Even though the order is being lifted soon , most people should still remain at home to curb additional transmission of the virus , Polis has said .
In a best-case scenario , Denver ’ s restrictions could be lifted over the next two-to-four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city is trending toward a longer haul than that .
And even when restrictions are more fully relaxed , social distancing measures likely will remain in place much longer , Hancock and others have said .

Mayor Michael Hancock will extend Denver’s stay-at-home order to May 8, even as much of the rest of the state will begin to see a relaxation next week of similar restrictions that had been designed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Other parts of the metro area are expected to follow Hancock’s lead.
Hancock first issued his order March 23 and later extended it to April 30, but without additional guidance from Gov. Jared Polis’s office on how to enforce less-stringent guidelines, the city needs additional time to figure out how more and more Denverites can safely leave their homes, spokeswoman Theresa Marchetta said.
Polis announced this week that the statewide stay-at-home order will expire Sunday, with Colorado shifting to a second response phase he dubbed “safer at home” — which will begin with some business activities being allowed to resume Monday and additional relaxing of restrictions into May.
However, the specifics behind that shift have not been communicated sufficiently to Denver officials, who need time to figure out how police, code enforcement and more can safely and appropriately enact the change, Marchetta said. The governor is expected to offer more detail in a new executive order on Sunday.
“We want to align with the state but we don’t have the language from the state, so once we do get it we’ll need time,” Marchetta said. “We can’t just get it on the 26th and flip a switch.”
Hancock will formally announce his decision — which was first reported by Denverite — on Friday morning.
Residents and businesses simply need additional time to prepare for the next phase, Hancock said Thursday evening on Twitter.
I know many are anxious about what next week will look like given @GovofCO's phased relaxation of the state stay at home order on Monday. After careful consideration, in consultation w/ metro mayors & public health guidance, I've decided to extend our local order. — Michael B. Hancock (@MayorHancock) April 24, 2020
“Extending our stay-at-home order will give us more time to do the things necessary for our community to re-open safely & in stages,” he wrote.
In addition, in the coming weeks and months, testing will be an increasingly important factor to help ensure the relaxed orders aren’t exposing more and more residents to the coronavirus, officials have said.
And currently not as many people in Denver are being tested as public health officials would like.
Public Health Director Bob McDonald said Monday that he’d like to see as many as 1,000 tests conducted a day in Denver, if not more, and those numbers are currently somewhere in the hundreds.
Other public health departments and officials in the metropolitan area will follow suit by extending their stay-at-home orders as well, Marchetta said.
The Tri-County Health Department said in a news release that its officials — who represent Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties — also are considering a similar extension and will make a decision by Sunday.
“We are studying current trends and will be reviewing the need to extend the stay-at-home order for two weeks until May 8th for specific locations that are still experiencing high numbers of people sick with COVID-19,” the news release said.
For weeks, local and national public officials have heard the increasing cries to reopen the state. Hundreds flocked to the Colorado Capitol on Sunday to protest the stay-at-home orders, with some arguing the economic damage caused by the closures is far worse than the illnesses and deaths caused by the virus.
As of Thursday, Colorado had 11,262 confirmed and suspected cases of the virus and 552 reported deaths, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Officials have taken care to phrase the relaxation of the the state’s stay-at-home order as a slight change rather than a sudden one. Even though the order is being lifted soon, most people should still remain at home to curb additional transmission of the virus, Polis has said.
In a best-case scenario, Denver’s restrictions could be lifted over the next two-to-four months, however officials have said the city is trending toward a longer haul than that.
And even when restrictions are more fully relaxed, social distancing measures likely will remain in place much longer, Hancock and others have said.


thedenverpost--2020-04-24--WATCH: Peyton Manning opens 2020 NFL draft on ESPN with video about hope

The 2020 NFL draft on Thursday opened with a video featuring a narration from former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning on @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
“ This may look like separation , but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ s sacrifice and service to the greater good .
It ’ s a sign that @ @ @ @ @ re fighting as one , ” Manning says .
“ No better reason than that @ @ @ @ @ something we sports fans know all about .
”

Tonight, a little bit of normal returns. A little bit of hope. For the players. For the football family. For all of us ❤ Welcome to the 2020 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/K1HUm0BqUw — ESPN (@espn) April 24, 2020
The 2020 NFL draft on Thursday opened with a video featuring a narration from former Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning on the message of hope amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“This may look like separation, but it’s actually solidarity. It’s sacrifice and service to the greater good. It’s a sign that through isolation that we’re fighting as one,” Manning says. “No better reason than that for hope. Hope is something we sports fans know all about.”


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Broncos waive punters Colby Wadman, Trevor Daniel

The expected departures of Broncos punters Colby Wadman and Trevor Daniel became official Thursday when the team placed both players @ @ @ @ @ signed veteran Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin to a three-year , $ 7.05 million contract @ @ @ @ @ and Daniel expendable .
Martin agreed to terms on March 24 and his average salary @ @ @ @ @ 15th among punters .
He was 12th last year in net average ( 41.8 yards @ @ @ @ @ least 45 attempts .
The Broncos signed Wadman in October 2018 to replace Marquette King @ @ @ @ @ he punted 143 times for averages of 44.5 ( gross ) and 38.7 ( net @ @ @ @ @ , Wadman ’ s net average of 39.4 yards was tied for 27th .
Daniel @ @ @ @ @ two days after the 2019 season concluded .

The expected departures of Broncos punters Colby Wadman and Trevor Daniel became official Thursday when the team placed both players on waivers.
The Broncos signed veteran Detroit Lions punter Sam Martin to a three-year, $7.05 million contract last month to make Wadman and Daniel expendable. Martin agreed to terms on March 24 and his average salary of $2.35 million ranks 15th among punters. He was 12th last year in net average (41.8 yards) among those with at least 45 attempts.
The Broncos signed Wadman in October 2018 to replace Marquette King. In 28 games, he punted 143 times for averages of 44.5 (gross) and 38.7 (net) yards. Last year, Wadman’s net average of 39.4 yards was tied for 27th.
Daniel was signed by the Broncos two days after the 2019 season concluded.


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Ken Buck again votes nay as U.S. House passes new coronavirus aid package

Donning masks and voting in small groups to avoid close contact , most members of Colorado ’ s congressional delegation voted Thursday to approve a nearly half-trillion-dollar bill in response to the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn .
The bill was approved in the U.S. House by a vote of 388-5 , with one “ present ” vote .
Within the Colorado delegation , all four Democrats voted in favor , along with two Republicans .
Rep. Ken Buck was the lone Coloradan to vote nay on the bill .
Buck , a Windsor Republican , has voted against every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high costs .
During a KOA radio interview before the vote Thursday , he warned of extremely dire consequences if the nation careens off a fiscal cliff .
“ When we are no longer fiscally sound — when we can ’ t expect multi-national corporations or foreign countries to buy our debt — the death toll at that point will be much , much larger than any death toll that was predicted as a result of this pandemic , ” said Buck , who is also chair of the Colorado Republican Party .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourth major coronavirus response bill to pass Congress since March .
It includes more than $ 300 billion to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program , which allows struggling businesses to keep employees on payroll .
The bill also sets aside $ 60 billion for small business loans and grants , $ 75 billion for hospitals and about $ 25 billion for COVID-19 testing .
“ While some small businesses in our community were able to access the Paycheck Protection Program , many more were shut out , ” said Rep. Diana DeGette , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear : Large corporations never should have been allowed to receive funds meant for small businesses .
We must ensure this new round of funding goes to those businesses most in need.
” “ To be clear , this interim package does not go nearly far enough in my view , and Congress must do more — now , ” said Rep. Joe Neguse , D-Lafayette .
“ As we continue negotiations on doing precisely that , this interim package will ensure our small businesses can continue to access emergency grants and loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care for individuals with COVID-19.
” The bill was unanimously passed by the Senate on Tuesday .
Republicans criticized Democrats for delaying the vote by adding more money to the bill .
Democrats say they improved it by adding funds for testing and aid to hospitals .
The House also voted Thursday to create a new subcommittee to investigate the federal government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The bipartisan panel , led by Rep. Jim Clyburn , a South Carolina Democrat , will have subpoena power and broad jurisdiction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong .
That vote was 212-182 with all Colorado Democrats in favor and all Colorado Republicans opposed .
Democrats believe the panel is necessary to better understand the government ’ s response .
Republicans believe it is superfluous and will be used to dig up dirt on the president before the election in November .
“ The select committee on the COVID-19 response is yet another political hit job on President Donald Trump , ” said Rep. Doug Lamborn , R-Colorado Springs , noting Clyburn is a supporter of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee @ @ @

Donning masks and voting in small groups to avoid close contact, most members of Colorado’s congressional delegation voted Thursday to approve a nearly half-trillion-dollar bill in response to the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn.
The bill was approved in the U.S. House by a vote of 388-5, with one “present” vote. Within the Colorado delegation, all four Democrats voted in favor, along with two Republicans. Rep. Ken Buck was the lone Coloradan to vote nay on the bill.
Buck, a Windsor Republican, has voted against every major coronavirus response bill, citing their high costs. During a KOA radio interview before the vote Thursday, he warned of extremely dire consequences if the nation careens off a fiscal cliff.
“When we are no longer fiscally sound — when we can’t expect multi-national corporations or foreign countries to buy our debt — the death toll at that point will be much, much larger than any death toll that was predicted as a result of this pandemic,” said Buck, who is also chair of the Colorado Republican Party.
The $484 billion legislation is the fourth major coronavirus response bill to pass Congress since March. It includes more than $300 billion to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, which allows struggling businesses to keep employees on payroll. The bill also sets aside $60 billion for small business loans and grants, $75 billion for hospitals and about $25 billion for COVID-19 testing.
“While some small businesses in our community were able to access the Paycheck Protection Program, many more were shut out,” said Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver. “Let’s be clear: Large corporations never should have been allowed to receive funds meant for small businesses. We must ensure this new round of funding goes to those businesses most in need.”
“To be clear, this interim package does not go nearly far enough in my view, and Congress must do more — now,” said Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Lafayette. “As we continue negotiations on doing precisely that, this interim package will ensure our small businesses can continue to access emergency grants and loans and that our hospitals can continue to care for individuals with COVID-19.”
The bill was unanimously passed by the Senate on Tuesday. Republicans criticized Democrats for delaying the vote by adding more money to the bill. Democrats say they improved it by adding funds for testing and aid to hospitals.
The House also voted Thursday to create a new subcommittee to investigate the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The bipartisan panel, led by Rep. Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, will have subpoena power and broad jurisdiction to investigate what went right and what went wrong.
That vote was 212-182 with all Colorado Democrats in favor and all Colorado Republicans opposed. Democrats believe the panel is necessary to better understand the government’s response. Republicans believe it is superfluous and will be used to dig up dirt on the president before the election in November.
“The select committee on the COVID-19 response is yet another political hit job on President Donald Trump,” said Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, noting Clyburn is a supporter of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Colorado reports 552 coronavirus deaths as older and “probable” cases are added to fatality totals

Colorado reported at least 552 deaths from the new coronavirus Thursday as officials worked to add older cases to the state ’ s total .
The state for the first time also included in that daily total 25 deaths that have been deemed “ probable ” for COVID-19 .
These include people who did not have a lab-confirmed positive test result , but their death certificate lists the cause of death as “ COVID-19 ” or equivalent , the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in news release .
There have been 2,237 people hospitalized since the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month , but only 873 people were in Colorado hospitals with symptoms of the illness as of Wednesday afternoon , state data shows .
At least 77 people since Tuesday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care , like a rehabilitation facility .
More than 11,200 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19 , the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus — though health officials have said between 65,000 and 75,000 have likely had the disease .
Health officials also confirmed 130 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , long-term care facilities , factories and jails — seven more than the previous day .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Thursday that COVID-19 fatalities will be higher this week as officials tally previously unreported deaths .
Deaths related to the new coronavirus are expected to jump by 130 this week as officials review death certificate data for unreported cases , health officials said , noting that these deaths did not all occur this past week , but were only just now entered into the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new chart to its COVID-19 website that tallies deaths by date of death , rather than when they were reported to the state .
The results will lag by several days , officials said , but will give a better indication in the long-term about when Colorado ’ s deaths actually occurred .
The most recent data shows three deaths occurred Wednesday .
The state health department announces new totals daily of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases based on what ’ s reported up from Colorado ’ s counties ; though the deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a particular day , they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state .
The 552 deaths announced Wednesday were 44 higher than the total reported Monday .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Colorado reported at least 552 deaths from the new coronavirus Thursday as officials worked to add older cases to the state’s total.
The state for the first time also included in that daily total 25 deaths that have been deemed “probable” for COVID-19. These include people who did not have a lab-confirmed positive test result, but their death certificate lists the cause of death as “COVID-19” or equivalent, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in news release.
There have been 2,237 people hospitalized since the outbreak was first confirmed in the state last month, but only 873 people were in Colorado hospitals with symptoms of the illness as of Wednesday afternoon, state data shows. At least 77 people since Tuesday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care, like a rehabilitation facility.
More than 11,200 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus — though health officials have said between 65,000 and 75,000 have likely had the disease.
Health officials also confirmed 130 outbreaks at contained facilities such as nursing homes, long-term care facilities, factories and jails — seven more than the previous day.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced Thursday that COVID-19 fatalities will be higher this week as officials tally previously unreported deaths. Deaths related to the new coronavirus are expected to jump by 130 this week as officials review death certificate data for unreported cases, health officials said, noting that these deaths did not all occur this past week, but were only just now entered into the state’s database.
The state also added a new chart to its COVID-19 website that tallies deaths by date of death, rather than when they were reported to the state. The results will lag by several days, officials said, but will give a better indication in the long-term about when Colorado’s deaths actually occurred. The most recent data shows three deaths occurred Wednesday.
The state health department announces new totals daily of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases based on what’s reported up from Colorado’s counties; though the deaths and positive test results may be announced on a particular day, they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state.
The 552 deaths announced Wednesday were 44 higher than the total reported Monday.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-04-23--Colorado’s expanded unemployment benefits system rejects a fifth of applicants

Colorado ’ s unemployment insurance system struggled this week as the state launched a new platform for self-employed workers , while also paying out $ 600 a week in additional benefits the federal government offered under the CARE Act .
“ We did see a lot of confusion among claimants , ” Cher Haavind , a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment , said Thursday on a conference call .
The state received about 51,000 applications for unemployment benefits since Monday on its new platform .
But about 10,000 , or one in five , were rejected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for employed workers .
“ This was not a state decision , but built into the federal legislation , ” Haavind said .
To avoid double-dipping , the federal rules require anyone who earned $ 2,500 in wages reported on a W-2 over the last 18 months to apply through the regular system until those benefits were exhausted .
Part of the difficulty facing the state is that it doesn ’ t have a firm grip on how many self-employed workers are out there and didn ’ t expect so many people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graim , a freelance cinematographer in Denver , said he followed CDLE advice he received earlier and waited to apply for unemployment benefits when the new platform for independent workers went up on Monday .
He estimates that 95 % of his income is tied to contract work , which has stopped due to the pandemic , and thought that would provide the highest level of income replacement .
He was surprised when his application was rejected .
“ I made $ 2,600 on W2 ’ s last year and the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I will be getting paid unemployment benefits based on a $ 2,600 a year salary .
This will most likely give me the minimum of unemployment payment possible without my 1099 income included , ” he said in an email .
What has made the whole process difficult , he said , is that it has been almost impossible to talk to a live person at CDLE .
To address the crush of calls it is receiving , the CDLE set up a dedicated call center with 80 people through a third-party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
But because the center was new , there were issues to work through on matching communications systems and making sure outside staff were providing the right information .
As the CDLE was launching the new platform , it was also trying to distribute the additional $ 600 a week that the federal government is providing to unemployed workers , known as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA , going back to the end of March .
A money transfer request for the week ending April 4 went out on Sunday , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 11 going out on Monday , and a request for the week ending April 18 going out on Tuesday .
“ That file was the largest single we have ever had to transmit to a bank in the history of the program , ” Haavind said of the $ 70 million request for disbursements sent out on Sunday night .
Normally , payments go out in 72 hours once the clearing bank receives the batch file from CDLE .
People receiving benefits , many of them anxious for the additional funds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were told as much .
By Thursday morning , the money still hadn ’ t landed in bank accounts .
“ The underlying benefit system is not having any challenges in presenting the payments , ” said Jeff Fitzgerald , the state ’ s unemployment insurance director .
The bottleneck appears to be in the banking system , given the large volume of money being moved .
The deposits should land Friday , although there were reports that banks were pushing some out on Thursday afternoon .
Those receiving unemployment benefits can choose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speed up payment , Haavind said .
Banks must issue and mail out debit cards , which can add several days to receiving payment .
Self-employed workers who have their claim approved will automatically default to a debit card payment .
But 24-hours after an account is set up , they can go back in and switch to direct deposit .
There ’ s another issue that is brewing for workers who are receiving benefits that exceed what they made in regular pay .
As more small businesses receive funds under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are calling workers back .
If 75 % of the amount borrowed is used for payroll expenses over the next eight weeks , the loan becomes forgivable .
But employers are starting to report that some workers , who can make more collecting unemployment benefits , are declining to come back .
That is considered a job refusal and could put benefits at risk .
“ If you are on unemployment , you need to be available and actively seeking work , ” Haavind said .
“ We are working on educating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consequences of that.
” Things get more complicated if an employee refuses to return to work because they are fearful of exposure to the novel coronavirus .
The state is trying to work out rules about when an exemption might be offered , Haavind said .

Colorado’s unemployment insurance system struggled this week as the state launched a new platform for self-employed workers, while also paying out $600 a week in additional benefits the federal government offered under the CARE Act.
“We did see a lot of confusion among claimants,” Cher Haavind, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, said Thursday on a conference call.
The state received about 51,000 applications for unemployment benefits since Monday on its new platform. But about 10,000, or one in five, were rejected and sent to file on the system for employed workers.
“This was not a state decision, but built into the federal legislation,” Haavind said. To avoid double-dipping, the federal rules require anyone who earned $2,500 in wages reported on a W-2 over the last 18 months to apply through the regular system until those benefits were exhausted.
Part of the difficulty facing the state is that it doesn’t have a firm grip on how many self-employed workers are out there and didn’t expect so many people to derive income from multiple sources.
Tyler Graim, a freelance cinematographer in Denver, said he followed CDLE advice he received earlier and waited to apply for unemployment benefits when the new platform for independent workers went up on Monday.
He estimates that 95% of his income is tied to contract work, which has stopped due to the pandemic, and thought that would provide the highest level of income replacement. He was surprised when his application was rejected.
“I made $2,600 on W2’s last year and the rest of my income on 1099’s, so I will be getting paid unemployment benefits based on a $2,600 a year salary. This will most likely give me the minimum of unemployment payment possible without my 1099 income included,” he said in an email.
What has made the whole process difficult, he said, is that it has been almost impossible to talk to a live person at CDLE. To address the crush of calls it is receiving, the CDLE set up a dedicated call center with 80 people through a third-party provider to handle calls just from self-employed workers.
But because the center was new, there were issues to work through on matching communications systems and making sure outside staff were providing the right information.
As the CDLE was launching the new platform, it was also trying to distribute the additional $600 a week that the federal government is providing to unemployed workers, known as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA, going back to the end of March.
A money transfer request for the week ending April 4 went out on Sunday, with a payment request for the week of April 11 going out on Monday, and a request for the week ending April 18 going out on Tuesday.
“That file was the largest single we have ever had to transmit to a bank in the history of the program,” Haavind said of the $70 million request for disbursements sent out on Sunday night.
Normally, payments go out in 72 hours once the clearing bank receives the batch file from CDLE. People receiving benefits, many of them anxious for the additional funds to arrive so they could pay bills, were told as much. By Thursday morning, the money still hadn’t landed in bank accounts.
“The underlying benefit system is not having any challenges in presenting the payments,” said Jeff Fitzgerald, the state’s unemployment insurance director. The bottleneck appears to be in the banking system, given the large volume of money being moved. The deposits should land Friday, although there were reports that banks were pushing some out on Thursday afternoon.
Those receiving unemployment benefits can choose direct deposit over the debit card option to speed up payment, Haavind said. Banks must issue and mail out debit cards, which can add several days to receiving payment.
Self-employed workers who have their claim approved will automatically default to a debit card payment. But 24-hours after an account is set up, they can go back in and switch to direct deposit.
There’s another issue that is brewing for workers who are receiving benefits that exceed what they made in regular pay. As more small businesses receive funds under the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, they are calling workers back.
If 75% of the amount borrowed is used for payroll expenses over the next eight weeks, the loan becomes forgivable. But employers are starting to report that some workers, who can make more collecting unemployment benefits, are declining to come back. That is considered a job refusal and could put benefits at risk.
“If you are on unemployment, you need to be available and actively seeking work,” Haavind said. “We are working on educating our claimant community who may not understand the consequences of that.”
Things get more complicated if an employee refuses to return to work because they are fearful of exposure to the novel coronavirus. The state is trying to work out rules about when an exemption might be offered, Haavind said.