thedenverpost--2020-09-30--New RTD new leader pledges to take pay cut in solidarity with employees

The Regional Transportation District ’ s new leader said after her five-year contract won board approval Tuesday that she looked forward to guiding the troubled agency through its significant challenges .
Debra Johnson , set to start work Nov. 9 , is an industry veteran who is wrapping up her role as deputy CEO at Long Beach Transit in Southern California .
Her salary will start at $ 315,000 a year , with annual cost-of-living increases .
She takes over as RTD ’ s first female CEO and general manager at a perilous time for the metro Denver agency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a severe , pandemic-induced drop in ridership and deep budget troubles — likely to require hundreds of layoffs soon — while it also looks to chart out a long-term plan for its future .
“ I am a fervent believer that challenges are coupled with opportunities , and we work cooperatively and collaboratively to identify those opportunities , ” Johnson told the board .
She joined its remote meeting by phone after the 13-1 vote to approve her contract .
She said she planned to seize a chance to show solidarity with employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in addition to potential layoffs , may also face salary cuts next year .
The scope hasn ’ t been decided yet .
“ I will stand with the men and women of this organization and have my salary temporarily adjusted as we navigate the year ahead , ” Johnson said .
Her starting salary is slightly higher than the $ 299,000 final salary for RTD ’ s last CEO , Dave Genova , who retired in January .
Voting no on the contract was Director Natalie Menten , who has protested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported the major terms of Johnson ’ s contract , which the board had attempted to keep confidential before the vote , in a story Saturday .
Besides her salary , Johnson will receive a pension contribution valued at $ 25,650 a year , along with more than six weeks of paid vacation annually .
She also could receive performance-based incentives or pay raises under an evaluation program the board must establish during her first four months on the job .

The Regional Transportation District’s new leader said after her five-year contract won board approval Tuesday that she looked forward to guiding the troubled agency through its significant challenges.
Debra Johnson, set to start work Nov. 9, is an industry veteran who is wrapping up her role as deputy CEO at Long Beach Transit in Southern California. Her salary will start at $315,000 a year, with annual cost-of-living increases.
She takes over as RTD’s first female CEO and general manager at a perilous time for the metro Denver agency. Like most transit providers, RTD faces a severe, pandemic-induced drop in ridership and deep budget troubles — likely to require hundreds of layoffs soon — while it also looks to chart out a long-term plan for its future.
“I am a fervent believer that challenges are coupled with opportunities, and we work cooperatively and collaboratively to identify those opportunities,” Johnson told the board. She joined its remote meeting by phone after the 13-1 vote to approve her contract.
She said she planned to seize a chance to show solidarity with employees on RTD’s management side who, in addition to potential layoffs, may also face salary cuts next year. The scope hasn’t been decided yet.
“I will stand with the men and women of this organization and have my salary temporarily adjusted as we navigate the year ahead,” Johnson said.
Her starting salary is slightly higher than the $299,000 final salary for RTD’s last CEO, Dave Genova, who retired in January. Voting no on the contract was Director Natalie Menten, who has protested high executive salaries.
The Denver Post reported the major terms of Johnson’s contract, which the board had attempted to keep confidential before the vote, in a story Saturday.
Besides her salary, Johnson will receive a pension contribution valued at $25,650 a year, along with more than six weeks of paid vacation annually. She also could receive performance-based incentives or pay raises under an evaluation program the board must establish during her first four months on the job.
Document: Debra Johnson’s executed contract with RTD


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Avalanche enters NHL draft with “best-available” attitude once again. Here’s what Avs have done with

Avalanche enters NHL draft with “best-available” attitude once again. Here’s what Avs have done with it before under GM Joe Sakic

Since Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic took control of the club in 2013 , he and his staff have emphasized selecting the best player available — regardless of position — in the early portions of the NHL draft , and particularly the first round .
This year should be no different , especially because Colorado has a deep and balanced prospect pool and isn ’ t scheduled to choose until the 25th pick when the first round takes place virtually Oct. 6 .
Rounds 2-7 will unfold Oct. 7 , and two days later , free agency begins as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its kind .
The Avs currently have six selections in the upcoming draft , but none in the second round ( traded to San Jose in the three-team deal that sent Andre Burakovsky from Washington to Colorado last summer ) .
They have one pick each in rounds 3-7 .
Sakic has never picked beyond No .
23 , and still might not — he very well could package No .
25 with an existing player and move up .
There is still no definitive date as to when next season will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 draft is concerned , the Avs won ’ t look to immediately improve by taking a 17- or 18-year-old next week .
Under Sakic ’ s leadership , only one player — Nathan MacKinnon in 2013 — has been able to jump immediately from juniors or college hockey to the NHL .
Here ’ s how Sakic and his staff have drafted in the first round , and how those players have panned out : 2013 — MacKinnon , forward , No .
1 overall .
MacKinnon won the 2014 Calder Trophy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a two-time ( 2018 and 2020 ) Hart Trophy runner-up .
His 495 career points are the highest in his draft class .
Chambers ’ take : Defenseman Seth Jones , son of former Nuggets player and assistant coach Popeye Jones , would have been good fit in Colorado but MacKinnon has become arguably the best right-shot center in the world .
2014 — Connor Bleackley , F , No .
23 overall .
Bleackley , 24 , is the only first-round member of his draft class to have not played in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Arizona on Feb. 29 , 2016 , and he has played for eight minor-league teams , including just one at the AHL level last season with the New York Rangers ’ top affiliate .
Chambers ’ take : Definitely a bust pick , but sometimes that happens late in the first round .
2015 — Mikko Rantanen , F , No .
10 overall .
The Avs ’ prized right winger took just one year to become a full-time NHLer and he made $ 12 million in 2019-20 in the first year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million contract .
Rantanen , a 2018-19 All-Star , fell into Sakic ’ s lap in 2015 , surprisingly dropping to No .
10 as the top-rated European skater in his class .
Rantanen ’ s 99 career goals are third-highest in his draft class behind Connor McDavid ( 162 ) and Jack Eichel ( 137 ) , who went No .
1 and No .
2 , respectively .
Chambers ’ take : Rantanen is a high-character guy who probably should have been selected seven spots higher .
2016 — Tyson Jost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The jury is still out on Jost , 22 .
He left the University of North Dakota after his freshman year in 2016-17 to sign with the league-worst Avalanche as its top prospect .
It was a mistake .
He needed more development time .
But Jost , with three seasons and 208 games under his belt , is still young and talented enough to turn his NHL career around .
Chambers ’ take : Jost is hardly the only member of his draft class trying to find his way and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen based on how it rushed him out of college .
2017 — Cale Makar , D , No .
4 overall .
The 2020 Calder Trophy winner was a blessing in disguise at No .
4 , after the Avalanche had the best odds to pick No .
1 in the draft lottery .
If the ’ 17 draft was redone , Makar would probably go No .
1 next to forward Elias Pettersen ( who went fifth to Vancouver ) or defenseman Miro Heiskanen ( third to Dallas ) .
Chambers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generational defenseman .
Getting potentially the best player in the draft at No .
4 was a coup for Sakic .
2018 — Martin Kaut , F , No .
16 overall .
Kaut , 20 , is currently on loan and playing in his native Czech Republic after playing in nine games for the Avalanche as a second-year professional in North America .
He would have played more NHL games if the Avs didn ’ t want to burn the first year of his entry-level contract .
Kaut might step in as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least become a primary callup from the AHL Colorado Eagles .
Chambers ’ take : Too early to tell if Kaut was the right mid-round pick .
2019 — Alex Newhook , F , No .
16 overall .
Newhook , 19 , was named NCAA freshman of the year after producing a team-tying high 19 goals and 42 points for Boston College in the coronavirus-shortened season of 2019-20 .
He impressed the Avs at their 2019 development camp with his scoring and play-making and is ranked No .
13 by The Hockey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play in the NHL .
Chambers ’ take : Newhook probably has a more promising NHL career than Kaut .
He looks and plays like a young Sakic and he could be the Avs ’ best second pick of a draft since Ryan O ’ Reilly was selected 33rd in 2009 ( Matt Duchene went No .
3 ) .
2019 — Bo Byram , D , No .
4 overall .
The first of Colorado ’ s two first-round picks last year is The Hockey News ’ top prospect .
Combined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado has the NHL ’ s top prospects pool .
Bryam was with the Avs for the playoffs in the Edmonton bubble , gaining invaluable experience , and he could join an already innovative puck-moving D-corps with Makar and Sam Girard .
Chambers ’ take : Byram could have a long NHL career with the Avs , or he could be moved to acquire a world-class player playing another position .

Since Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic took control of the club in 2013, he and his staff have emphasized selecting the best player available — regardless of position — in the early portions of the NHL draft, and particularly the first round.
This year should be no different, especially because Colorado has a deep and balanced prospect pool and isn’t scheduled to choose until the 25th pick when the first round takes place virtually Oct. 6. Rounds 2-7 will unfold Oct. 7, and two days later, free agency begins as the league forges on with the first offseason of its kind.
The Avs currently have six selections in the upcoming draft, but none in the second round (traded to San Jose in the three-team deal that sent Andre Burakovsky from Washington to Colorado last summer). They have one pick each in rounds 3-7.
Sakic has never picked beyond No. 23, and still might not — he very well could package No. 25 with an existing player and move up.
There is still no definitive date as to when next season will begin, but as far as the 2020 draft is concerned, the Avs won’t look to immediately improve by taking a 17- or 18-year-old next week. Under Sakic’s leadership, only one player — Nathan MacKinnon in 2013 — has been able to jump immediately from juniors or college hockey to the NHL.
Here’s how Sakic and his staff have drafted in the first round, and how those players have panned out:
2013 — MacKinnon, forward, No. 1 overall
MacKinnon won the 2014 Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year and is a two-time (2018 and 2020) Hart Trophy runner-up. His 495 career points are the highest in his draft class.
Chambers’ take: Defenseman Seth Jones, son of former Nuggets player and assistant coach Popeye Jones, would have been good fit in Colorado but MacKinnon has become arguably the best right-shot center in the world.
2014 — Connor Bleackley, F, No. 23 overall
Bleackley, 24, is the only first-round member of his draft class to have not played in the NHL. His rights were traded to Arizona on Feb. 29, 2016, and he has played for eight minor-league teams, including just one at the AHL level last season with the New York Rangers’ top affiliate.
Chambers’ take: Definitely a bust pick, but sometimes that happens late in the first round.
2015 — Mikko Rantanen, F, No. 10 overall
The Avs’ prized right winger took just one year to become a full-time NHLer and he made $12 million in 2019-20 in the first year of a club-high six-year, $55.5 million contract. Rantanen, a 2018-19 All-Star, fell into Sakic’s lap in 2015, surprisingly dropping to No. 10 as the top-rated European skater in his class. Rantanen’s 99 career goals are third-highest in his draft class behind Connor McDavid (162) and Jack Eichel (137), who went No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
Chambers’ take: Rantanen is a high-character guy who probably should have been selected seven spots higher.
2016 — Tyson Jost, F, No. 10 overall
The jury is still out on Jost, 22. He left the University of North Dakota after his freshman year in 2016-17 to sign with the league-worst Avalanche as its top prospect. It was a mistake. He needed more development time. But Jost, with three seasons and 208 games under his belt, is still young and talented enough to turn his NHL career around.
Chambers’ take: Jost is hardly the only member of his draft class trying to find his way and the Avalanche is adamant about helping make that happen based on how it rushed him out of college.
2017 — Cale Makar, D, No. 4 overall
The 2020 Calder Trophy winner was a blessing in disguise at No. 4, after the Avalanche had the best odds to pick No. 1 in the draft lottery. If the ’17 draft was redone, Makar would probably go No. 1 next to forward Elias Pettersen (who went fifth to Vancouver) or defenseman Miro Heiskanen (third to Dallas).
Chambers’ take: Makar is undoubtedly a generational defenseman. Getting potentially the best player in the draft at No. 4 was a coup for Sakic.
2018 — Martin Kaut, F, No. 16 overall
Kaut, 20, is currently on loan and playing in his native Czech Republic after playing in nine games for the Avalanche as a second-year professional in North America. He would have played more NHL games if the Avs didn’t want to burn the first year of his entry-level contract. Kaut might step in as a full-time Avalanche next season or at least become a primary callup from the AHL Colorado Eagles.
Chambers’ take: Too early to tell if Kaut was the right mid-round pick.
2019 — Alex Newhook, F, No. 16 overall
Newhook, 19, was named NCAA freshman of the year after producing a team-tying high 19 goals and 42 points for Boston College in the coronavirus-shortened season of 2019-20. He impressed the Avs at their 2019 development camp with his scoring and play-making and is ranked No. 13 by The Hockey News among all prospects who have yet to play in the NHL.
Chambers’ take: Newhook probably has a more promising NHL career than Kaut. He looks and plays like a young Sakic and he could be the Avs’ best second pick of a draft since Ryan O’Reilly was selected 33rd in 2009 (Matt Duchene went No. 3).
2019 — Bo Byram, D, No. 4 overall
The first of Colorado’s two first-round picks last year is The Hockey News’ top prospect. Combined with Newhook and others, THN says Colorado has the NHL’s top prospects pool. Bryam was with the Avs for the playoffs in the Edmonton bubble, gaining invaluable experience, and he could join an already innovative puck-moving D-corps with Makar and Sam Girard.
Chambers’ take: Byram could have a long NHL career with the Avs, or he could be moved to acquire a world-class player playing another position.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Renewed search for missing Chaffee County woman wraps up with possible leads

A renewed search for a missing Chaffee County woman , led by the missing woman ’ s brother , turned up several pieces of possible evidence , according to the Chaffee County Sheriff ’ s Office .
The sheriff ’ s office and other team members of the Suzanne Morphew Missing Person Investigative Task Force , including the FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation , will continue to “ follow-up to determine if there is any connection to Suzanne ’ s disappearance , ” according to a news release .
The sheriff ’ s office did not detail the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday and ended Tuesday .
The search , which included volunteers from across the country , was led by Andrew Moorman , of Indiana , who raised more than $ 12,000 on GoFundMe , from 280 donors , to fund the effort .
Law enforcement members over the past few days responded three times to reports of human remains trained dogs “ alerting ” on three separate Chaffee County properties .
None of the properties belong to a Morphew family member , according to the release , and all three of the dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state and federal investigators remain committed to the case , said Sheriff John Spezze .
“ The level of commitment from the entire team from the Chaffee County Sheriff ’ s Office , CBI and FBI investigators is unprecedented and unparalleled , ” Spezze said in the release .
“ While the public may not see all of the effort being put forth in this case , I can assure the community that this investigation continues to move forward.
” Morphew went missing from the Maysville area on May 10 .

A renewed search for a missing Chaffee County woman, led by the missing woman’s brother, turned up several pieces of possible evidence, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office and other team members of the Suzanne Morphew Missing Person Investigative Task Force, including the FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, will continue to “follow-up to determine if there is any connection to Suzanne’s disappearance,” according to a news release. The sheriff’s office did not detail the discoveries.
The latest search effort started Thursday and ended Tuesday. The search, which included volunteers from across the country, was led by Andrew Moorman, of Indiana, who raised more than $12,000 on GoFundMe, from 280 donors, to fund the effort.
Law enforcement members over the past few days responded three times to reports of human remains trained dogs “alerting” on three separate Chaffee County properties. None of the properties belong to a Morphew family member, according to the release, and all three of the dog alerts came up empty.
Local, state and federal investigators remain committed to the case, said Sheriff John Spezze.
“The level of commitment from the entire team from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, CBI and FBI investigators is unprecedented and unparalleled,” Spezze said in the release. “While the public may not see all of the effort being put forth in this case, I can assure the community that this investigation continues to move forward.”
Morphew went missing from the Maysville area on May 10.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Titans have NFL’s 1st COVID-19 outbreak; next game still on

NASHVILLE , Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans won ’ t be back inside their building until Saturday at the earliest because of eight positive tests for the coronavirus , the first outbreak to hit the NFL as it tries to play a full schedule amid the pandemic .
Tennessee is scheduled to host Pittsburgh in a matchup of two of the league ’ s seven remaining undefeated teams on Sunday , and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his team has been “ given a mandate ” to prepare as if the game will be played on time — even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We ’ re going to trust the medical experts , ” Tomlin said .
“ If they deem it safe for us to proceed , we ’ re going to go down there with the intention of playing and playing to win.
” Tennessee suspended in-person activities through Friday after the NFL said three Titans players and five personnel tested positive for the coronavirus .
The NFL had played three weeks without a COVID-19 outbreak .
Now , the Titans will become the first significant in-season test of the league ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspended in-person activities Tuesday following the Titans ’ test results .
The Titans beat the Vikings 31-30 in Minneapolis last weekend .
“ Both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the ( players union ) , including our infectious disease experts , to evaluate close contacts , perform additional testing and monitor developments , ” the league said in a statement .
The Titans placed a pair of key players , defensive captain and lineman DaQuan Jones and long snapper Beau Brinkley , on the reserve/COVID-19 list later Tuesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not received any positive results from their testing after Sunday ’ s game and they followed NFL protocol by closing their facility immediately .
The Minnesota complex will remain closed at least through Wednesday .
Minnesota is scheduled to visit Houston ( 0-3 ) on Sunday .
“ All decisions will be made with health and safety as our primary consideration , ” the NFL said .
“ We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
” If they kick off Sunday , the Titans will have spent three days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only a walk-through Saturday .
The prospect of a team facing a competitive disadvantage because of the virus was not a surprise to Tomlin .
“ Once we left the station and we got all teams into a training camp-like setting , we as a collective , meaning the National Football League , acknowledged that this COVID environment could be challenging to that , ” Tomlin said .
“ So we all proceeded with that understanding.
” Titans coach Mike Vrabel is scheduled to talk to reporters Wednesday morning .
Commissioner Roger Goodell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protocols set up by the league and the players union are being followed .
Those who tested positive will be isolated , monitored and offered medical care , and family members also are offered testing .
Officials and others who worked the game will be tested .
“ This is not unexpected ; as Dr. Sills and others have emphasized , there will be players and staff who will test positive during the season , ” Goodell wrote in the memo obtained by The Associated Press , referencing the NFL ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are exploring in more detail the nature of the close contacts to determine where they occurred ( locker room , flights , etc . )
, and identify any additional learnings that can be shared with all clubs.
” Goodell asked teams to look at what they ’ ve done to limit contact , especially when traveling and within position groups , and to review how they bring in players for tryouts .
He noted the test results affirm the need to follow health and safety protocols “ to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fining coaches and teams when coaches have violated league rules requiring face coverings during games .
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward posted on Twitter that if the game were postponed , players would be compromised in their preparation for the following week .
“ This is wild but this is the world we live in now , ” Heyward wrote .
Titans outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen did not travel with the team to Minneapolis following a virus test result Saturday .
Vrabel said Monday that Bowen was not with the team .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Titans ’ top draft pick out of Georgia , also has been on the reserve/COVID-19 list since Sept. 6 .
The Titans , like other NFL teams , use devices that detect whenever someone is within 6 feet of another device and records how long they are that close together .
That means the league has data on everyone ’ s interactions from inside the team headquarters to the practice field , an airplane , inside a hotel and at a stadium .
That information should help the Titans and the infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at risk .
The closure of Tennessee ’ s facility should also help limit further spread of the virus .
The Titans are due to have about 7,000 fans in Nissan Stadium on Sunday as local restrictions on large gatherings have been eased .
That number is set to expand to about 8,500 on Oct. 11 for a game against Buffalo and up to 10,000 on Oct. 18 , when Houston is scheduled to visit .
AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell in Minneapolis and AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed @ @ @ @

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans won’t be back inside their building until Saturday at the earliest because of eight positive tests for the coronavirus, the first outbreak to hit the NFL as it tries to play a full schedule amid the pandemic.
Tennessee is scheduled to host Pittsburgh in a matchup of two of the league’s seven remaining undefeated teams on Sunday, and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said his team has been “given a mandate” to prepare as if the game will be played on time — even if the Titans are unable to practice.
“We’re going to trust the medical experts,” Tomlin said. “If they deem it safe for us to proceed, we’re going to go down there with the intention of playing and playing to win.”
Tennessee suspended in-person activities through Friday after the NFL said three Titans players and five personnel tested positive for the coronavirus. The NFL had played three weeks without a COVID-19 outbreak. Now, the Titans will become the first significant in-season test of the league’s virus protocols.
The Minnesota Vikings also suspended in-person activities Tuesday following the Titans’ test results. The Titans beat the Vikings 31-30 in Minneapolis last weekend.
“Both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the (players union), including our infectious disease experts, to evaluate close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments,” the league said in a statement.
The Titans placed a pair of key players, defensive captain and lineman DaQuan Jones and long snapper Beau Brinkley, on the reserve/COVID-19 list later Tuesday.
The Vikings released a statement saying they had not received any positive results from their testing after Sunday’s game and they followed NFL protocol by closing their facility immediately. The Minnesota complex will remain closed at least through Wednesday.
Minnesota is scheduled to visit Houston (0-3) on Sunday.
“All decisions will be made with health and safety as our primary consideration,” the NFL said. “We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.”
If they kick off Sunday, the Titans will have spent three days in virtual, video meetings with possibly only a walk-through Saturday. The prospect of a team facing a competitive disadvantage because of the virus was not a surprise to Tomlin.
“Once we left the station and we got all teams into a training camp-like setting, we as a collective, meaning the National Football League, acknowledged that this COVID environment could be challenging to that,” Tomlin said. “So we all proceeded with that understanding.”
Titans coach Mike Vrabel is scheduled to talk to reporters Wednesday morning.
“I just wanna play,” Titans starting left guard Rodger Saffold tweeted.
Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams Tuesday noting the protocols set up by the league and the players union are being followed. Those who tested positive will be isolated, monitored and offered medical care, and family members also are offered testing. Officials and others who worked the game will be tested.
“This is not unexpected; as Dr. Sills and others have emphasized, there will be players and staff who will test positive during the season,” Goodell wrote in the memo obtained by The Associated Press, referencing the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills. “We are exploring in more detail the nature of the close contacts to determine where they occurred (locker room, flights, etc.), and identify any additional learnings that can be shared with all clubs.”
Goodell asked teams to look at what they’ve done to limit contact, especially when traveling and within position groups, and to review how they bring in players for tryouts. He noted the test results affirm the need to follow health and safety protocols “to the fullest extent.”
The NFL has been fining coaches and teams when coaches have violated league rules requiring face coverings during games.
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward posted on Twitter that if the game were postponed, players would be compromised in their preparation for the following week.
“This is wild but this is the world we live in now,” Heyward wrote.
Titans outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen did not travel with the team to Minneapolis following a virus test result Saturday. Vrabel said Monday that Bowen was not with the team.
Rookie offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson, the Titans’ top draft pick out of Georgia, also has been on the reserve/COVID-19 list since Sept. 6.
The Titans, like other NFL teams, use devices that detect whenever someone is within 6 feet of another device and records how long they are that close together. That means the league has data on everyone’s interactions from inside the team headquarters to the practice field, an airplane, inside a hotel and at a stadium.
That information should help the Titans and the infectious disease experts know which players and coaches were at risk. The closure of Tennessee’s facility should also help limit further spread of the virus.
The Titans are due to have about 7,000 fans in Nissan Stadium on Sunday as local restrictions on large gatherings have been eased. That number is set to expand to about 8,500 on Oct. 11 for a game against Buffalo and up to 10,000 on Oct. 18, when Houston is scheduled to visit.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell in Minneapolis and AP Sports Writer Will Graves in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Cory Gardner signals support for Supreme Court nominee Barrett

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner signaled Tuesday that he supports Amy Coney Barrett , President Donald Trump ’ s conservative nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court .
“ I am confident that Judge Barrett is a highly qualified jurist who has thought deeply about the Constitution , the role of precedent in judicial interpretation , and the importance of judges following the law as written rather than legislating from the bench , ” said the senator , who faces a tough re-election in five weeks .
Gardner , a Yuma Republican , met with the judge Tuesday afternoon .
He supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and spoke highly of her in several interviews this week , so his vote in support is widely expected .
“ I voted for Judge Barrett in 2017 .
I would imagine voting for her again , ” Gardner told the Durango Herald on Tuesday .
He added , “ Right now … I plan to vote for her.
” Gardner ’ s decision to support a Supreme Court nominee so close to the election — after declining to consider Democratic nominee Merrick Garland in 2016 because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become a campaign issue in Gardner ’ s race against John Hickenlooper , a former Democratic governor .
“ Well , that didn ’ t take long , ” Hickenlooper said on Twitter of Gardner ’ s support for Barrett .
“ But we always knew Cory Gardner would side with Trump — 100 % .
” “ Donald Trump and Cory Gardner are jamming through a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court as people are already voting , instead of allowing the voters to make our voices heard , ” he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sen. Michael Bennet , a Denver Democrat , voted against Barrett ’ s nomination in 2017 and is expected to do so again this year .
He has said he is opposed to filling the Supreme Court vacancy before the November election .

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner signaled Tuesday that he supports Amy Coney Barrett, President Donald Trump’s conservative nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I am confident that Judge Barrett is a highly qualified jurist who has thought deeply about the Constitution, the role of precedent in judicial interpretation, and the importance of judges following the law as written rather than legislating from the bench,” said the senator, who faces a tough re-election in five weeks.
Gardner, a Yuma Republican, met with the judge Tuesday afternoon. He supported her nomination to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and spoke highly of her in several interviews this week, so his vote in support is widely expected.
“I voted for Judge Barrett in 2017. I would imagine voting for her again,” Gardner told the Durango Herald on Tuesday. He added, “Right now … I plan to vote for her.”
Gardner’s decision to support a Supreme Court nominee so close to the election — after declining to consider Democratic nominee Merrick Garland in 2016 because it was an election year — has become a campaign issue in Gardner’s race against John Hickenlooper, a former Democratic governor.
“Well, that didn’t take long,” Hickenlooper said on Twitter of Gardner’s support for Barrett. “But we always knew Cory Gardner would side with Trump — 100%.”
“Donald Trump and Cory Gardner are jamming through a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court as people are already voting, instead of allowing the voters to make our voices heard,” he added in a statement sent by his campaign.
Sen. Michael Bennet, a Denver Democrat, voted against Barrett’s nomination in 2017 and is expected to do so again this year. He has said he is opposed to filling the Supreme Court vacancy before the November election.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Guest commentary: Republican senators may be hypocritical but the Barrett nomination is their call

The United States Supreme Court is the bedrock of our system .
It exists as an important check on raw political authority — legislative and executive .
However , the Court is not a political institution .
Justices serve for life , and they are largely insulated from the partisan world .
Despite this wise design , politicians in both parties have repeatedly sought to politicize the federal judiciary .
These efforts are misguided and should be resisted .
That said , I am not naïve .
While the Supreme Court is apolitical , it exists among its co-equal branches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When the Court is required to interact with its sister branches , it is sometimes a bizarre dance .
Consider how uncomfortable the justices look at the State of the Union .
Never is this interaction more awkward than when a Supreme Court vacancy arises .
Yes , the nomination and confirmation process is rife with political overtones , but it is also a process to be revered and celebrated .
Unfortunately , both parties have fumbled this ball .
When Justice Scalia died , the leaders of my party should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yes , President Obama had a right to nominate a justice .
However , the Senate was not required to approve his choice .
As Speaker Pelosi has reminded us , these are two co-equal branches of government .
In 2016 , Leader Mitch McConnell ( and the country ) would have been better served had McConnell simply ( and correctly ) said : “ The president can nominate whoever he wants .
We will not be , nor does the Constitution require , that we be a rubber stamp .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants in this process.
” Judge Merrick Garland was entitled to more respect than he received .
But , he was not entitled to a seat on the Supreme Court simply because there was a vacancy and because he was the president ’ s choice .
This played out in a political process , exactly as our founders intended .
It wasn ’ t wrong .
The people do not elect Supreme Court justices .
The Republicans were wrong to advance this argument in 2016 , and the Democrats are equally wrong to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats held the White House and had the majority in the Senate today , I am convinced a new justice would be swiftly nominated and confirmed to fill the Ginsburg vacancy .
I would not fault them for it .
Stripping away the hyperbole , the least political thing we can do is to hold a hearing on Judge Barrett ’ s nomination and have a floor vote before the election .
On the other hand , the most political options are to leave the seat open pending the outcome of an election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst , wait and confirm the appointment during a lame duck session after the election .
The appointee would be known as the “ lame duck justice.
” Her legitimacy would forever be called into question .
The Supreme Court deserves better .
And the American people deserve better .
Anyone who knows me understands that I am not taking this position for partisan reasons .
I ’ m not a Trump fan , and I abhor his personal conduct .
But , he is the President , and the Constitution says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justices to fill vacancies .
Like his predecessors , President Trump is obligated to submit a nomination .
The Constitution also gives the Senate the power of advice and consent .
Senators have every legal right to withhold their consent as they did in 2016 .
Logically , they also have the authority to give consent .
It is fair to call Senate Republicans hypocritical for holding a vote on Judge Barrett ’ s nomination .
But both parties have engaged in double speak on judicial appointments .
Remember , it was Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should discharge its duty , regardless of proximity to a presidential election .
For that matter , Democrats and former Sen. Harry Reid most likely wish they hadn ’ t chosen to filibuster the Bush judicial nominees or abolish the filibuster rule for Obama appointees .
In hindsight , politicians always seem short-sighted .
Political arguments of hypocrisy should not carry the day .
We should be guided by facts and law .
As members of the majority , Leader McConnell , Sen. Cory Gardner and their colleagues have earned the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 gave them this authority .
Of course , on November 3 , the voters could hand Senate control to Democrats .
That ’ s the beauty of elections .
They have consequences .
Neither political party has the high road here .
But , for the good of the country and for the integrity and independence of the Supreme Court , the tit for tat and political gamesmanship must end .
Judge Barrett is an accomplished , well-qualified nominee .
It ’ s the Senate ’ s call .
They should proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor vote prior to the election .
Cole Wist is an attorney and former Republican state representative from Arapahoe County .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

The United States Supreme Court is the bedrock of our system. It exists as an important check on raw political authority — legislative and executive. However, the Court is not a political institution. Justices serve for life, and they are largely insulated from the partisan world. Despite this wise design, politicians in both parties have repeatedly sought to politicize the federal judiciary. These efforts are misguided and should be resisted.
That said, I am not naïve. While the Supreme Court is apolitical, it exists among its co-equal branches of government that are quite intentionally political. When the Court is required to interact with its sister branches, it is sometimes a bizarre dance. Consider how uncomfortable the justices look at the State of the Union. Never is this interaction more awkward than when a Supreme Court vacancy arises. Yes, the nomination and confirmation process is rife with political overtones, but it is also a process to be revered and celebrated. Unfortunately, both parties have fumbled this ball.
When Justice Scalia died, the leaders of my party should have been more straightforward with the American people. Yes, President Obama had a right to nominate a justice. However, the Senate was not required to approve his choice. As Speaker Pelosi has reminded us, these are two co-equal branches of government. In 2016, Leader Mitch McConnell (and the country) would have been better served had McConnell simply (and correctly) said: “The president can nominate whoever he wants. We will not be, nor does the Constitution require, that we be a rubber stamp. We will discharge our duty and be equal participants in this process.”
Judge Merrick Garland was entitled to more respect than he received. But, he was not entitled to a seat on the Supreme Court simply because there was a vacancy and because he was the president’s choice. This played out in a political process, exactly as our founders intended. It wasn’t wrong. The people do not elect Supreme Court justices. The Republicans were wrong to advance this argument in 2016, and the Democrats are equally wrong to make that argument now. If the Democrats held the White House and had the majority in the Senate today, I am convinced a new justice would be swiftly nominated and confirmed to fill the Ginsburg vacancy.
I would not fault them for it.
Stripping away the hyperbole, the least political thing we can do is to hold a hearing on Judge Barrett’s nomination and have a floor vote before the election. On the other hand, the most political options are to leave the seat open pending the outcome of an election or, and this one is arguably the worst, wait and confirm the appointment during a lame duck session after the election. The appointee would be known as the “lame duck justice.” Her legitimacy would forever be called into question. The Supreme Court deserves better. And the American people deserve better.
Anyone who knows me understands that I am not taking this position for partisan reasons. I’m not a Trump fan, and I abhor his personal conduct. But, he is the President, and the Constitution says he “shall nominate” judges and justices to fill vacancies. Like his predecessors, President Trump is obligated to submit a nomination.
The Constitution also gives the Senate the power of advice and consent. Senators have every legal right to withhold their consent as they did in 2016. Logically, they also have the authority to give consent. It is fair to call Senate Republicans hypocritical for holding a vote on Judge Barrett’s nomination. But both parties have engaged in double speak on judicial appointments. Remember, it was Democrats in 2016 who were saying the Senate should discharge its duty, regardless of proximity to a presidential election. For that matter, Democrats and former Sen. Harry Reid most likely wish they hadn’t chosen to filibuster the Bush judicial nominees or abolish the filibuster rule for Obama appointees. In hindsight, politicians always seem short-sighted.
Political arguments of hypocrisy should not carry the day. We should be guided by facts and law. As members of the majority, Leader McConnell, Sen. Cory Gardner and their colleagues have earned the right to make this decision. The voters in 2018 gave them this authority. Of course, on November 3, the voters could hand Senate control to Democrats. That’s the beauty of elections. They have consequences.
Neither political party has the high road here. But, for the good of the country and for the integrity and independence of the Supreme Court, the tit for tat and political gamesmanship must end. Judge Barrett is an accomplished, well-qualified nominee. It’s the Senate’s call. They should proceed to consider the nomination and hold a floor vote prior to the election.
Cole Wist is an attorney and former Republican state representative from Arapahoe County.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-09-29--New COVID-19 cases trending downward at CU Boulder, though county reports increases across all other

New COVID-19 cases trending downward at CU Boulder, though county reports increases across all other age groups

New cases of COVID-19 among University of Colorado Boulder students are trending downward following a surge that led county health officials to take drastic measures last week to curtail the virus ’ spread .
Yet amidst that good news , Boulder County Public Health warned Tuesday that coronavirus infections now are increasing across all other age groups in the county — something already being seen statewide .
“ This downward trend in the 18-22-year-old age group is a good indication that the strategies we ’ ve implemented are starting to work , ” said Jeff Zayach , the health agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in novel coronavirus infections tied to the CU Boulder campus has helped fuel a rise in Colorado ’ s statewide numbers , and last week led university leaders to move classes online for at least two weeks and public health officials to enact strict measures including barring young people from gathering in groups .
CU officials , though , credit an earlier intervention — the recommended self-quarantine of all students living in Boulder announced Sept. 15 — with fueling the current downward trend , said Matt McQueen , a professor and epidemiologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university ’ s COVID-19 response .
“ The adherence among students to public health guidelines combined with the additional measures announced last week should continue to make an impact on the recent decrease in cases , ” McQueen said .
“ The progress is encouraging , but we need this trend to continue .
We will need to have everyone strengthen their commitment to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 .
We are expanding our capacity for our testing program and will continue our strong focus on contact tracing , education and enforcement.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a peak in positive cases with near or above 100 a day between Sept. 16 and 21 , but those numbers dropped through the rest of last week , with as few as 21 or 22 people testing positive on some days .
Thirty-two people tested positive Monday .
The campus ’ s testing sites have confirmed a total of 1,051 cases since classes began in August .
Chana Goussetis , Boulder County Public Health spokeswoman , said the agency is “ delighted to see the reduction in new cases in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CU , did not suggest what might be behind the decrease .
“ We don ’ t have any information that would tell us definitively why there has been this reduction , ” she said .
“ We will need to wait to see if the trend continues , if it is an anomaly , or if it is a reflection of fewer people deciding to get tested .
We ended the day yesterday with 49 new cases ( countywide ) so we are still a long way from where we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boulder County residents have tested positive or were considered probable for COVID-19 .
Health officials previously have noted that nearly 80 % of COVID-19 in Boulder County are tied to CU .
Boulder County has been in the red zone on the state ’ s new COVID-19 dial for the last two weeks , with more than 350 cases per 100,000 residents .
The county ’ s positivity rate is in the yellow zone , between 5 % and 10 % .
Having cases in the red zone can result in new stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boulder County Public Health is expected to submit a plan to deal with these increases to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Wednesday .
The two agencies then will meet Thursday to determine whether additional measures need to be taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 .
“ The increase in new cases across all age groups , in addition to the outbreak among residents aged 18-22 years , can affect the extent to which businesses in the county can be open , ” Boulder County Public Health officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limits for businesses within Boulder County , including whether certain businesses may remain open , are based on the number of new cases , the positivity percentage , and hospitalization rates.
” More than a week ago , two-thirds of the Boulder campus ’ s on-campus isolation space was in use .
The university created more isolation space — partly by forcing nearly 200 students to move to different dorms — and as of Monday , 27 % of the campus ’ s enlarged pool of isolation space was in use .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Environment declared the Boulder campus the largest COVID-19 outbreak in the state .

New cases of COVID-19 among University of Colorado Boulder students are trending downward following a surge that led county health officials to take drastic measures last week to curtail the virus’ spread.
Yet amidst that good news, Boulder County Public Health warned Tuesday that coronavirus infections now are increasing across all other age groups in the county — something already being seen statewide.
“This downward trend in the 18-22-year-old age group is a good indication that the strategies we’ve implemented are starting to work,” said Jeff Zayach, the health agency’s executive director.
The rapid increase in novel coronavirus infections tied to the CU Boulder campus has helped fuel a rise in Colorado’s statewide numbers, and last week led university leaders to move classes online for at least two weeks and public health officials to enact strict measures including barring young people from gathering in groups.
CU officials, though, credit an earlier intervention — the recommended self-quarantine of all students living in Boulder announced Sept. 15 — with fueling the current downward trend, said Matt McQueen, a professor and epidemiologist who’s been part of the university’s COVID-19 response.
“The adherence among students to public health guidelines combined with the additional measures announced last week should continue to make an impact on the recent decrease in cases,” McQueen said. “The progress is encouraging, but we need this trend to continue. We will need to have everyone strengthen their commitment to slowing down the spread of COVID-19. We are expanding our capacity for our testing program and will continue our strong focus on contact tracing, education and enforcement.”
CU’s on-campus testing reported a peak in positive cases with near or above 100 a day between Sept. 16 and 21, but those numbers dropped through the rest of last week, with as few as 21 or 22 people testing positive on some days. Thirty-two people tested positive Monday.
The campus’s testing sites have confirmed a total of 1,051 cases since classes began in August.
Chana Goussetis, Boulder County Public Health spokeswoman, said the agency is “delighted to see the reduction in new cases in the past few days,” but, unlike CU, did not suggest what might be behind the decrease.
“We don’t have any information that would tell us definitively why there has been this reduction,” she said. “We will need to wait to see if the trend continues, if it is an anomaly, or if it is a reflection of fewer people deciding to get tested. We ended the day yesterday with 49 new cases (countywide) so we are still a long way from where we need to be.”
As of Monday, 4,440 Boulder County residents have tested positive or were considered probable for COVID-19. Health officials previously have noted that nearly 80% of COVID-19 in Boulder County are tied to CU.
Boulder County has been in the red zone on the state’s new COVID-19 dial for the last two weeks, with more than 350 cases per 100,000 residents. The county’s positivity rate is in the yellow zone, between 5% and 10%. Having cases in the red zone can result in new stay-at-home orders, state officials have said.
Boulder County Public Health is expected to submit a plan to deal with these increases to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Wednesday. The two agencies then will meet Thursday to determine whether additional measures need to be taken to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“The increase in new cases across all age groups, in addition to the outbreak among residents aged 18-22 years, can affect the extent to which businesses in the county can be open,” Boulder County Public Health officials said in a news release. “Occupancy limits for businesses within Boulder County, including whether certain businesses may remain open, are based on the number of new cases, the positivity percentage, and hospitalization rates.”
More than a week ago, two-thirds of the Boulder campus’s on-campus isolation space was in use. The university created more isolation space — partly by forcing nearly 200 students to move to different dorms — and as of Monday, 27% of the campus’s enlarged pool of isolation space was in use.
Last week, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment declared the Boulder campus the largest COVID-19 outbreak in the state.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--6 takeaways from the first presidential debate between Trump, Biden

WASHINGTON — After more than a year of circling each other , Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden met on the debate stage Tuesday night in Ohio .
The 74-year-old president and the 77-year-old former vice president are similar in age , and they share a mutual dislike .
But they differ starkly in style and substance .
All of that was evident from the outset on the Cleveland stage .
Here are key takeaways from the first of three scheduled presidential debates before Election Day on Nov. 3 .
AND IN THIS CORNER Trump is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pugilistic approach on stage left his Democratic opponent fighting to complete a sentence .
Trailing in public and private polling , Trump advisers have pushed him to reframe the election away from a referendum on his presidency to a choice between him and Biden .
Trump , instead , commandeered the debate , trying to trip up Biden by interrupting and insulting him .
In the process , Trump made the debate more about himself .
“ There ’ s nothing smart about you , ” Trump said of Biden .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” While Trump played into his reputation as a bully , it may have been effective at breaking up the worst of Biden ’ s attacks — simply by talking over them .
Trump aides believed before the debate that Biden would be unable to withstand the withering offensive in style and substance from Trump , but Biden came with a few retorts of his own , calling Trump a “ clown ” and mocking Trump ’ s style by asking , “ Will you shut up , man ?
” Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his frontal assault .
Whether undecided voters , who watched the debate to try to learn about the two candidates , were impressed is another matter .
Moderator Chris Wallace was none too amused , delivering a pointed reproach to Trump for his interruptions .
“ Frankly , you ’ ve been doing more interrupting , ” Wallace said , appealing to Trump to let his opponent speak .
Trump is fond of superlatives , but in the case of the debate there is little doubt that it was the most acrimonious since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has wanted the election to be about anything but the coronavirus pandemic , but he couldn ’ t outrun reality on the debate stage .
“ It is what it is because you are who you are , ” Biden told the president , echoing Trump ’ s own words and referring to his months of downplaying COVID-19 while he said privately he understood how deadly it is .
But Trump didn ’ t take it quietly .
He proceeded to blitz Biden with a mix of self-defense and counter-offensives .
The 200,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have been “ millions , ” Trump said .
A rocky economy ?
Biden would ’ ve been worse .
Biden wouldn ’ t have manufactured enough masks or ventilators .
The kicker : “ There will be a vaccine very soon.
” Biden fell back on his bottom line : “ A lot of people died , and a lot more are going to unless he gets a lot smarter.
” For voters still undecided about who ’ d better handle the pandemic , the exchange may not have offered anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politician who helped put millions of Black Americans in prison with the 1994 crime law .
Biden called Trump “ the racist ” in the Oval Office .
For a nation confronting a summer of racial unrest — and centuries of injustice — the debate was the latest cultural flashpoint .
Biden was quiet as Trump blitzed him as a tool of the “ radical left ” and a weak figure who opposes “ law and order.
” He pressed Biden repeatedly to name any police union that ’ s endorsed him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ defund the police.
” Biden didn ’ t capitalize when Trump refused to condemn armed militias and insisted , against the guidance of his own FBI director : “ This is not a right-wing problem .
This is a left-wing problem.
” “ Proud Boys , stand back and stand by , ” Trump said when prompted on the far-right group .
“ But I ’ ll tell you what , somebody ’ s got to do something about antifa and the left.
” The former vice president tried to push back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made his arguments , including the misrepresentations .
Biden regained some footing mocking the president ’ s warnings about suburbs , saying , “ He wouldn ’ t know a suburb unless he took a wrong turn.
” And perhaps revealing the thinking about allowing Trump the rhetorical upper hand , Biden said , “ All these dog whistles and racism doesn ’ t work anymore.
” Trump defended his decision to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court just weeks before Election Day , saying “ elections have consequences.
” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the justice , ” but said the “ American people have a right to have a say in who the Supreme Court nominee is.
” But rather than litigate Republicans ’ 2016 blocking of Merrick Garland to the high court , Biden quickly pivoted to the issues that will potentially come before the court : health care and abortion .
It ’ s an effort by the Democrat to refocus the all-but-certain confirmation fight for Trump ’ s third justice to the Supreme Court into an assault on Trump and his record .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sixth justice on the nine-member court to be appointed by a Republican , would endanger the Affordable Care Act and tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions , and would imperil legalized abortion .
It was a reframing of the political debate to terms far more favorable to the Democrat , and one Trump played into .
Trump said of the conservative Barrett , “ You don ’ t know her view on Roe vs. Wade ” and he defended his efforts to try to chip away at the popular Obama-era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press Democrats to use the court confirmation fight as a rallying cry against Trump , and the debate discussion largely played out on his turf .
Debate moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News tried mightily to hold his ground Tuesday after saying beforehand that it was not his job to fact-check the candidates , especially Trump , in real time .
But Wallace struggled to stop Trump from interrupting and at times seemed to lose control of the debate .
“ Mr .
President , as the moderator , we are going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Wallace said .
Soon after : “ I ’ m the moderator , and I ’ d like you to let me ask my question.
” Minutes later : “ I have to give you roughly equal time .
Please let the vice president talk.
” And when Wallace noted that Trump hasn ’ t come up with his health care plan in nearly four years , Trump turned the question back on Wallace .
“ First of all , I ’ m debating you and not him .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprised.
” Wallace had said he wanted to be “ invisible.
” Well , that was impossible .
As expected , Trump found a way to bring up Hunter Biden , the former vice president ’ s son , and recycle allegations about the younger Biden ’ s international business practices .
Biden called Trump ’ s litany “ discredited ” and fired back , “ I mean , his family we can talk about all night.
” But Biden sidestepped any of the specifics of Trump ’ s international business dealings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is not about my family or his family , ” Biden said as Trump tried to talk over him .
“ This is about your family.
” In a later exchange , Trump interrupted Biden when he was talking about his late son , Beau Biden , who died of cancer in 2015 after having served in Iraq .
“ I don ’ t know Beau , I know Hunter , ” Trump said .

WASHINGTON — After more than a year of circling each other, Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden met on the debate stage Tuesday night in Ohio.
The 74-year-old president and the 77-year-old former vice president are similar in age, and they share a mutual dislike. But they differ starkly in style and substance. All of that was evident from the outset on the Cleveland stage.
Here are key takeaways from the first of three scheduled presidential debates before Election Day on Nov. 3.
AND IN THIS CORNER
Trump is no stranger to going on offense, but his pugilistic approach on stage left his Democratic opponent fighting to complete a sentence.
Trailing in public and private polling, Trump advisers have pushed him to reframe the election away from a referendum on his presidency to a choice between him and Biden. Trump, instead, commandeered the debate, trying to trip up Biden by interrupting and insulting him. In the process, Trump made the debate more about himself.
“There’s nothing smart about you,” Trump said of Biden. “47 years you’ve done nothing.”
While Trump played into his reputation as a bully, it may have been effective at breaking up the worst of Biden’s attacks — simply by talking over them.
Trump aides believed before the debate that Biden would be unable to withstand the withering offensive in style and substance from Trump, but Biden came with a few retorts of his own, calling Trump a “clown” and mocking Trump’s style by asking, “Will you shut up, man?”
Trump’s supporters may have been cheered by his frontal assault. Whether undecided voters, who watched the debate to try to learn about the two candidates, were impressed is another matter.
Moderator Chris Wallace was none too amused, delivering a pointed reproach to Trump for his interruptions. “Frankly, you’ve been doing more interrupting,” Wallace said, appealing to Trump to let his opponent speak.
Trump is fond of superlatives, but in the case of the debate there is little doubt that it was the most acrimonious since the forums have been televised.
TRUMP CAN’T ESCAPE THE VIRUS
Trump has wanted the election to be about anything but the coronavirus pandemic, but he couldn’t outrun reality on the debate stage.
“It is what it is because you are who you are,” Biden told the president, echoing Trump’s own words and referring to his months of downplaying COVID-19 while he said privately he understood how deadly it is.
But Trump didn’t take it quietly. He proceeded to blitz Biden with a mix of self-defense and counter-offensives. The 200,000 dead? Biden’s death toll would have been “millions,” Trump said. A rocky economy? Biden would’ve been worse. Biden wouldn’t have manufactured enough masks or ventilators.
The kicker: “There will be a vaccine very soon.”
Biden fell back on his bottom line: “A lot of people died, and a lot more are going to unless he gets a lot smarter.”
For voters still undecided about who’d better handle the pandemic, the exchange may not have offered anything new.
RACIAL RECKONING
Trump said Biden was the politician who helped put millions of Black Americans in prison with the 1994 crime law. Biden called Trump “the racist” in the Oval Office.
For a nation confronting a summer of racial unrest — and centuries of injustice — the debate was the latest cultural flashpoint.
Biden was quiet as Trump blitzed him as a tool of the “radical left” and a weak figure who opposes “law and order.” He pressed Biden repeatedly to name any police union that’s endorsed him. He falsely accused Biden of wanting to “defund the police.”
Biden didn’t capitalize when Trump refused to condemn armed militias and insisted, against the guidance of his own FBI director: “This is not a right-wing problem. This is a left-wing problem.”
“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” Trump said when prompted on the far-right group. “But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left.”
The former vice president tried to push back, but not until after Trump had made his arguments, including the misrepresentations.
Biden regained some footing mocking the president’s warnings about suburbs, saying, “He wouldn’t know a suburb unless he took a wrong turn.” And perhaps revealing the thinking about allowing Trump the rhetorical upper hand, Biden said, “All these dog whistles and racism doesn’t work anymore.”
QUESTION ABOUT COURT, ANSWER ABOUT HEALTH CARE
Trump defended his decision to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court just weeks before Election Day, saying “elections have consequences.”
Biden said he was “not opposed to the justice,” but said the “American people have a right to have a say in who the Supreme Court nominee is.”
But rather than litigate Republicans’ 2016 blocking of Merrick Garland to the high court, Biden quickly pivoted to the issues that will potentially come before the court: health care and abortion. It’s an effort by the Democrat to refocus the all-but-certain confirmation fight for Trump’s third justice to the Supreme Court into an assault on Trump and his record.
Biden said Barrett, who would be the sixth justice on the nine-member court to be appointed by a Republican, would endanger the Affordable Care Act and tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions, and would imperil legalized abortion. It was a reframing of the political debate to terms far more favorable to the Democrat, and one Trump played into. Trump said of the conservative Barrett, “You don’t know her view on Roe vs. Wade” and he defended his efforts to try to chip away at the popular Obama-era health law.
Biden has tried to press Democrats to use the court confirmation fight as a rallying cry against Trump, and the debate discussion largely played out on his turf.
“INVISIBLE” WALLACE STRUGGLES TO CONTAIN TRUMP
Debate moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News tried mightily to hold his ground Tuesday after saying beforehand that it was not his job to fact-check the candidates, especially Trump, in real time.
But Wallace struggled to stop Trump from interrupting and at times seemed to lose control of the debate.
“Mr. President, as the moderator, we are going to talk about COVID in the next segment,” Wallace said.
Soon after: “I’m the moderator, and I’d like you to let me ask my question.”
Minutes later: “I have to give you roughly equal time. Please let the vice president talk.”
And when Wallace noted that Trump hasn’t come up with his health care plan in nearly four years, Trump turned the question back on Wallace.
“First of all, I’m debating you and not him. That’s okay. I’m not surprised.”
Wallace had said he wanted to be “invisible.”
Well, that was impossible.
FAMILY BUSINESS
As expected, Trump found a way to bring up Hunter Biden, the former vice president’s son, and recycle allegations about the younger Biden’s international business practices. Biden called Trump’s litany “discredited” and fired back, “I mean, his family we can talk about all night.”
But Biden sidestepped any of the specifics of Trump’s international business dealings and instead turned straight to the camera. “This is not about my family or his family,” Biden said as Trump tried to talk over him. “This is about your family.”
In a later exchange, Trump interrupted Biden when he was talking about his late son, Beau Biden, who died of cancer in 2015 after having served in Iraq.
“I don’t know Beau, I know Hunter,” Trump said.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Timothy Ray Brown, 1st person cured of HIV, dies of cancer

Timothy Ray Brown , who made history as “ the Berlin patient , ” the first person known to be cured of HIV infection , has died .
He was 54 .
Brown died Tuesday at his home in Palm Springs , California , according to a social media post by his partner , Tim Hoeffgen .
The cause was a return of the cancer that originally prompted the unusual bone marrow and stem cell transplants Brown received in 2007 and 2008 , which for years seemed to have eliminated both his leukemia and HIV , the virus that causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is possible , under special circumstances , ” to rid a patient of HIV — something that many scientists had doubted could be done , said Dr. Gero Huetter , the Berlin physician who led Brown ’ s historic treatment .
“ It ’ s a very sad situation ” that cancer returned and took his life , because he still seemed free of HIV , said Huetter , who is now medical director of a stem cell company in Dresden , Germany .
The International AIDS Society , which had Brown speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment , issued a statement mourning his death and said he and Huetter are owed “ a great deal of gratitude ” for promoting research on a cure .
Brown was working in Berlin as a translator when he was diagnosed with HIV and then later , leukemia .
Transplants are known to be an effective treatment for the blood cancer , but Huetter wanted to try to cure the HIV infection as well by using a donor with a rare gene mutation that gives natural resistance to the AIDS virus .
Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only partly successful : His HIV seemed to be gone but his leukemia was not .
He had a second transplant from the same donor in 2008 and that one seemed to work .
But his cancer returned last year , Brown said in a recent interview with The Associated Press .
“ I ’ m still glad that I had it , ” he said of his transplant .
“ It opened up doors that weren ’ t there before ” and inspired scientists to work harder to find a cure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adam Castillejo — called “ the London patient ” until he revealed his identity earlier this year — also is believed to have been cured by a transplant similar to Brown ’ s in 2016 .
Because such donors are rare and transplants are medically risky , researchers have been testing gene therapy and other ways to try to get a similar effect .
At an AIDS conference in July , researchers said they may have achieved a long-term remission in a Brazil man by using a powerful combination of drugs meant to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mark King , a Baltimore man who writes a blog , said Brown “ was just this magnet for people living with HIV , like me , ” and embodied the hope for a cure .
“ He has said from the beginning , ‘ I don ’ t want to be the only one .
They have to keep working on this , ’ ” King said .

Timothy Ray Brown, who made history as “the Berlin patient,” the first person known to be cured of HIV infection, has died. He was 54.
Brown died Tuesday at his home in Palm Springs, California, according to a social media post by his partner, Tim Hoeffgen. The cause was a return of the cancer that originally prompted the unusual bone marrow and stem cell transplants Brown received in 2007 and 2008, which for years seemed to have eliminated both his leukemia and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
“Timothy symbolized that it is possible, under special circumstances,” to rid a patient of HIV — something that many scientists had doubted could be done, said Dr. Gero Huetter, the Berlin physician who led Brown’s historic treatment.
“It’s a very sad situation” that cancer returned and took his life, because he still seemed free of HIV, said Huetter, who is now medical director of a stem cell company in Dresden, Germany.
The International AIDS Society, which had Brown speak at an AIDS conference after his successful treatment, issued a statement mourning his death and said he and Huetter are owed “a great deal of gratitude” for promoting research on a cure.
Brown was working in Berlin as a translator when he was diagnosed with HIV and then later, leukemia. Transplants are known to be an effective treatment for the blood cancer, but Huetter wanted to try to cure the HIV infection as well by using a donor with a rare gene mutation that gives natural resistance to the AIDS virus.
Brown’s first transplant in 2007 was only partly successful: His HIV seemed to be gone but his leukemia was not. He had a second transplant from the same donor in 2008 and that one seemed to work.
But his cancer returned last year, Brown said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
“I’m still glad that I had it,” he said of his transplant.
“It opened up doors that weren’t there before” and inspired scientists to work harder to find a cure, Brown said.
A second man, Adam Castillejo — called “the London patient” until he revealed his identity earlier this year — also is believed to have been cured by a transplant similar to Brown’s in 2016.
Because such donors are rare and transplants are medically risky, researchers have been testing gene therapy and other ways to try to get a similar effect. At an AIDS conference in July, researchers said they may have achieved a long-term remission in a Brazil man by using a powerful combination of drugs meant to flush dormant HIV from his body.
Mark King, a Baltimore man who writes a blog, said Brown “was just this magnet for people living with HIV, like me,” and embodied the hope for a cure.
“He has said from the beginning, ‘I don’t want to be the only one. They have to keep working on this,’” King said.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Foreign observers wary of “chaos,” “rancor” in first presidential debate

GENEVA — “ Chaos , interruptions , personal attacks and insults , ” one Chinese newspaper editor said of the U.S. presidential debate .
An Australian counterpart said the debate was “ swamped ” by the “ rancor engulfing America.
” Denmark ’ s prime minister bemoaned the quarrelling and interruptions on display .
The first debate pitting Republican President Donald Trump against Democratic challenger Joe Biden was not a highlight of political oratory in the eyes of many overseas .
Yet interest ran high for its potential impact on what may be the most consequential U.S. election in years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Observers from Asia and Australia to Europe and Africa looked for possible impact on financial markets and currencies , although the reaction was muted overall .
Share prices slipped further in Japan and the dollar weakened against the Japanese yen and the euro , while U.S. futures were lower , auguring a weak opening on Wall Street .
European bourses showed few initial tremors .
The debate itself went as expected , said Jeffrey Halley , a senior market analyst at Oanda .
“ Markets have remained calm , as no policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ The debate will not move the needle on the Democrat lead in the national polls.
” The greater worry is over how tight the race might be and whether a delay in election results might prove disruptive , said Stephen Innes of AxiCorp .
“ A highly polarized and possibly legally contested U.S. election is just around the corner , ” Innes said .
“ With mail-in votes likely to be too high ( and potentially questioned ) , there is a chance that we still will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with constitutional chaos ensuing.
” In Europe and Africa woke up to reports about the cacophonous showdown overnight .
“ The comments I ’ ve seen from various European press is basically : ‘ I ’ m happy I ’ m not an American voter this year.
’ It ’ s just a mess , ” said Jussi Hanhimaki , a Finnish-Swiss professor of International History at the Graduate Institute in Geneva .
“ That ’ s all extremely disturbing for many Europeans , who generally would think the United States would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been the oldest democracy in the world — that has this long , long tradition of , yes , very acrimonious debate , but there ’ s always been a winner and a peaceful transfer of power , ” he said .
Quipped Kenyan commentator Patrick Gathara on Twitter : “ This debate would be sheer comedy if it wasn ’ t such a pitiful and tragic advertisement for U.S. dysfunction.
” On Facebook , Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote , “ An election debate in the States last night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill up way too much .
Fortunately , this is not the case in Denmark .
And I never hope it will be like that .
The harsh words polarize and split.
” Walter Veltroni , a columnist for Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera and a former center-left mayor of Rome , said he had seen all the U.S. TV debates since Kennedy vs. Nixon in 1960 , but “ I have never witnessed a spectacle similar to the one last night.
” He said the debate showed how there are two Americas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that of a country in stalemate , paralyzed by politics and tones that are foreign to its tradition , ” Veltroni said .
Hu Xijin , editor of China ’ s nationalistic Communist Party tabloid Global Times , wrote in the paper ’ s microblog that the “ chaos , interruptions , personal attacks and insults ” on display were a reflection of America ’ s “ overarching division , anxiety and the accelerating erosion of the system ’ s original advantages.
” “ I used to admire this kind of televised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have much more mixed feelings when watch it again now , ” wrote Hu , who personally and through his paper routinely attacks American policies .
The editor-at-large of The Australian newspaper , Paul Kelly , described the debate as a “ spiteful , chaotic , abusive , often out-of-control brawling encounter with both candidates revealing their contempt for each other.
” While Trump surely energized his base , he “ never landed a political knock-out blow , ” and Biden occasionally faltered but “ showed he could fight , ” he wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous several weeks.
” A columnist for the newspaper , Peter Hoysted , called the debate a “ shout-athon ” and a “ verbal shambles ” that reflected American political life and the “ yawning gap between the left and right.
” Tim Wilson , a lawmaker in Australia ’ s conservative government , was frustrated by the debate ’ s lack of policy focus .
“ It was pretty unedifying in terms of a discussion , not just about the future of America , but ultimately because of the might of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world as well , ” Wilson told Australian Broadcasting Corp. Amanda Wishworth , a lawmaker in Australia ’ s center-left Labor Party , said , “ A lot of people would be scratching their heads , especially here from Australia , where , believe it or not , our politics is a little bit more gentle than the U.S. of A.
” Foreign policy issues were largely absent from the debate , although Trump slung accusations that China had paid Biden ’ s son Hunter for consulting work and Biden attacked Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failing to deliver benefits .
Trump also repeatedly blamed China for the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 1 million people globally and laid waste to economies around the world .
In the Mideast , the largely domestic debate drew raised eyebrows when Biden at one point said “ inshallah ” as Trump hedged on saying when he would release his tax returns .
“ Inshallah ” in Arabic means “ God willing.
” It also can be used in a way to suggest something won ’ t ever happen .
Al-Arabiya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dubai , and The National , a state-linked newspaper in Abu Dhabi , both published articles noting Biden ’ s use of the word .
A Emirati political scientist , Abdulkhaleq Abdulla , wrote on Twitter that he saw the debate as a “ tumultuous verbal battle.
” “ How did America reach this level of political decline ?
” he wrote .

GENEVA — “Chaos, interruptions, personal attacks and insults,” one Chinese newspaper editor said of the U.S. presidential debate. An Australian counterpart said the debate was “swamped” by the “rancor engulfing America.” Denmark’s prime minister bemoaned the quarrelling and interruptions on display.
The first debate pitting Republican President Donald Trump against Democratic challenger Joe Biden was not a highlight of political oratory in the eyes of many overseas.
Yet interest ran high for its potential impact on what may be the most consequential U.S. election in years, now just over a month away.
Observers from Asia and Australia to Europe and Africa looked for possible impact on financial markets and currencies, although the reaction was muted overall. Share prices slipped further in Japan and the dollar weakened against the Japanese yen and the euro, while U.S. futures were lower, auguring a weak opening on Wall Street. European bourses showed few initial tremors.
The debate itself went as expected, said Jeffrey Halley, a senior market analyst at Oanda.
“Markets have remained calm, as no policy surprises have emerged from the debate,” he said. “The debate will not move the needle on the Democrat lead in the national polls.”
The greater worry is over how tight the race might be and whether a delay in election results might prove disruptive, said Stephen Innes of AxiCorp.
“A highly polarized and possibly legally contested U.S. election is just around the corner,” Innes said. “With mail-in votes likely to be too high (and potentially questioned), there is a chance that we still will not know the result by Inauguration Day, with constitutional chaos ensuing.”
In Europe and Africa woke up to reports about the cacophonous showdown overnight.
“The comments I’ve seen from various European press is basically: ‘I’m happy I’m not an American voter this year.’ It’s just a mess,” said Jussi Hanhimaki, a Finnish-Swiss professor of International History at the Graduate Institute in Geneva.
“That’s all extremely disturbing for many Europeans, who generally would think the United States would be a symbol of democracy — that’s been the oldest democracy in the world — that has this long, long tradition of, yes, very acrimonious debate, but there’s always been a winner and a peaceful transfer of power,” he said.
Quipped Kenyan commentator Patrick Gathara on Twitter: “This debate would be sheer comedy if it wasn’t such a pitiful and tragic advertisement for U.S. dysfunction.”
On Facebook, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote, “An election debate in the States last night, where interruptions and quarrels were allowed to fill up way too much. Fortunately, this is not the case in Denmark. And I never hope it will be like that. The harsh words polarize and split.”
Walter Veltroni, a columnist for Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera and a former center-left mayor of Rome, said he had seen all the U.S. TV debates since Kennedy vs. Nixon in 1960, but “I have never witnessed a spectacle similar to the one last night.”
He said the debate showed how there are two Americas that appear irreconcilable.
“The impression is that of a country in stalemate, paralyzed by politics and tones that are foreign to its tradition,” Veltroni said.
Hu Xijin, editor of China’s nationalistic Communist Party tabloid Global Times, wrote in the paper’s microblog that the “chaos, interruptions, personal attacks and insults” on display were a reflection of America’s “overarching division, anxiety and the accelerating erosion of the system’s original advantages.”
“I used to admire this kind of televised debate in American politics, but I have much more mixed feelings when watch it again now,” wrote Hu, who personally and through his paper routinely attacks American policies.
The editor-at-large of The Australian newspaper, Paul Kelly, described the debate as a “spiteful, chaotic, abusive, often out-of-control brawling encounter with both candidates revealing their contempt for each other.”
“The rancor engulfing America swamped the first Trump-Biden debate,” Kelly wrote.
While Trump surely energized his base, he “never landed a political knock-out blow,” and Biden occasionally faltered but “showed he could fight,” he wrote, adding, “America faces a dangerous several weeks.”
A columnist for the newspaper, Peter Hoysted, called the debate a “shout-athon” and a “verbal shambles” that reflected American political life and the “yawning gap between the left and right.”
Tim Wilson, a lawmaker in Australia’s conservative government, was frustrated by the debate’s lack of policy focus.
“It was pretty unedifying in terms of a discussion, not just about the future of America, but ultimately because of the might of the United States, about the rest of the world as well,” Wilson told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Amanda Wishworth, a lawmaker in Australia’s center-left Labor Party, said, “A lot of people would be scratching their heads, especially here from Australia, where, believe it or not, our politics is a little bit more gentle than the U.S. of A.”
Foreign policy issues were largely absent from the debate, although Trump slung accusations that China had paid Biden’s son Hunter for consulting work and Biden attacked Trump’s trade deals with China for failing to deliver benefits.
Trump also repeatedly blamed China for the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 1 million people globally and laid waste to economies around the world.
In the Mideast, the largely domestic debate drew raised eyebrows when Biden at one point said “inshallah” as Trump hedged on saying when he would release his tax returns. “Inshallah” in Arabic means “God willing.” It also can be used in a way to suggest something won’t ever happen.
Al-Arabiya, a Saudi-owned satellite channel based in Dubai, and The National, a state-linked newspaper in Abu Dhabi, both published articles noting Biden’s use of the word.
A Emirati political scientist, Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, wrote on Twitter that he saw the debate as a “tumultuous verbal battle.”
“How did America reach this level of political decline?” he wrote.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Broncos’ Super Bowl LV odds get significantly worse after 0-3 start

After opening the 2020 NFL season with a 0-3 record , the Broncos ’ chances of winning Super Bowl LV have been greatly reduced , according to oddsmakers .
Denver has +17,500 odds — meaning a $ 100 bet would win $ 17,500 — to take home the Lombardi Trophy this season , according to oddsmaker Bovada .
The Broncos are tied for the 26th-best odds with Jacksonville , Miami and Washington .
The Chiefs are favored at +375 , followed by the Ravens ( +650 ) and the Seahawks ( +900 ) .
Prior to the start of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ odds at +7,000 .
• With Elijah Wilkinson headed to injured reserve with leg injury , Broncos call on veteran Demar Dotson at right tackle • With Broncos eyeing another lost season , these five players still have plenty at stake • Broncos name Brett Rypien starting quarterback for Week 4 game against Jets Denver opened the year at +4,000 on BetMGM , but has fallen to +10,000 , as of Wednesday morning .
They are tied for 20th with the Texans and the Vikings .
The Chiefs are favored at +450 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Seahawks ( +900 ) .
To win the AFC , Denver now sits at the bottom at +5,000 on BetMGM .

After opening the 2020 NFL season with a 0-3 record, the Broncos’ chances of winning Super Bowl LV have been greatly reduced, according to oddsmakers.
Denver has +17,500 odds — meaning a $100 bet would win $17,500 — to take home the Lombardi Trophy this season, according to oddsmaker Bovada. The Broncos are tied for the 26th-best odds with Jacksonville, Miami and Washington. The Chiefs are favored at +375, followed by the Ravens (+650) and the Seahawks (+900).
Prior to the start of the season, the Broncos had the 19th-best odds at +7,000.
Denver opened the year at +4,000 on BetMGM, but has fallen to +10,000, as of Wednesday morning. They are tied for 20th with the Texans and the Vikings. The Chiefs are favored at +450, followed by the Ravens (+600) and Seahawks (+900).
To win the AFC, Denver now sits at the bottom at +5,000 on BetMGM.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Colorado voters will be able to fix their ballot problems via text, Secretary of State says

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said her office is testing a way for voters to fix problematic ballots by phone in the November election .
The state ’ s mail-in election process relies on a signature verification system to ensure ballots were cast by the registered voters to whom they were mailed .
Ballots are flagged when a signature is missing or doesn ’ t match .
A new program expected to launch statewide , TXT2cure , will make it easier for voters — especially younger ones — to cure , or fix , the problem , Griswold told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified of discrepancies by mail , as usual .
But now they ’ ll have a route other than the U.S .
Postal Service to fix the problem .
“ You literally just text ‘ Colorado2Vote , ’ enter your voter ID and follow the instructions , ” Griswold said .
“ You don ’ t need a stamp .
You don ’ t need to go to a mailbox .
You do it right on your phone.
” Voters between 18 and 22 years of age sometimes have their signatures flagged because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to compare against .
“ We all know that younger people are always on their phones , ” Griswold said .
“ It ’ s an easy thing , making it more accessible to fix those signatures.
” The Delta County Clerk ’ s Office tried the program in this year ’ s June 30 primary , and about half of the 20-30 ballots rejected for signature discrepancies were cured with TXT2cure , said Rene Loy-Maas , chief deputy clerk .
“ It just gives ( voters ) another option to be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with our tech-savvy youth now , that follows right along with them , ” Loy-Maas said .
Three Colorado counties , including Denver , have used TXT2cure in past elections and 16 , including Delta County , tried it out for the first time in June , said Steve Hurlbert , spokesperson for Griswold .
More than half of Denver ballots with signature problems are cured through the program , said Alton Dillard , spokesperson for the Denver County Clerk ’ s Office .
To be sure , the rejection rate on signatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ballots cast by 18-year-olds , for instance , are referred back to the voter to cure .
Still , Griswold said , it ’ s important to take steps to count every vote possible .
The state is finishing security tests on the technology and expects it to be available statewide by the Nov. 3 election .

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said her office is testing a way for voters to fix problematic ballots by phone in the November election.
The state’s mail-in election process relies on a signature verification system to ensure ballots were cast by the registered voters to whom they were mailed. Ballots are flagged when a signature is missing or doesn’t match.
A new program expected to launch statewide, TXT2cure, will make it easier for voters — especially younger ones — to cure, or fix, the problem, Griswold told The Denver Post. Voters will be notified of discrepancies by mail, as usual. But now they’ll have a route other than the U.S. Postal Service to fix the problem.
“You literally just text ‘Colorado2Vote,’ enter your voter ID and follow the instructions,” Griswold said. “You don’t need a stamp. You don’t need to go to a mailbox. You do it right on your phone.”
Voters between 18 and 22 years of age sometimes have their signatures flagged because election computers and judges have fewer signatures to compare against.
“We all know that younger people are always on their phones,” Griswold said. “It’s an easy thing, making it more accessible to fix those signatures.”
The Delta County Clerk’s Office tried the program in this year’s June 30 primary, and about half of the 20-30 ballots rejected for signature discrepancies were cured with TXT2cure, said Rene Loy-Maas, chief deputy clerk.
“It just gives (voters) another option to be able to quickly cure that discrepant signature and with our tech-savvy youth now, that follows right along with them,” Loy-Maas said.
Three Colorado counties, including Denver, have used TXT2cure in past elections and 16, including Delta County, tried it out for the first time in June, said Steve Hurlbert, spokesperson for Griswold.
More than half of Denver ballots with signature problems are cured through the program, said Alton Dillard, spokesperson for the Denver County Clerk’s Office.
To be sure, the rejection rate on signatures is low: Fewer than 2% of ballots cast by 18-year-olds, for instance, are referred back to the voter to cure. Still, Griswold said, it’s important to take steps to count every vote possible.
The state is finishing security tests on the technology and expects it to be available statewide by the Nov. 3 election.