thedenverpost--2020-12-22--Fox, Newsmax shoot down their own aired claims on election

NEW YORK — Two election technology companies whose names have come up in President Donald Trump ’ s false charges of widespread voter fraud in the presidential election are fighting back , prompting unusual public statements from Fox News and Newsmax .
The statements , over the weekend and on Monday , came after Smartmatic and Denver-based Dominion raised the prospect of legal action for reporting what they said was false information about them .
Both companies were referenced in the campaign ’ s suggestion that vote counts in swing states were manipulated to the advantage of President-elect Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about them , and there is no evidence any voting system switched or deleted votes in the 2020 election .
A nearly two-minute pre-taped segment was aired over the weekend on a Fox Business Network program hosted by Lou Dobbs and Fox News Channel shows with Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro .
That came days after Smartmatic sent a letter threatening legal action to Fox and two other networks popular with Trump supporters , Newsmax and One America News Network .
The two-minute Fox segments aired in the form of a question-and-answer session @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a voting technology expert at the nonpartisan Open Source Election Technology Institute .
“ I have not seen any evidence that Smartmatic software was used to delete , change or alter anything related to vote tabulations , ” Perez said .
The company says its only work that involved the 2020 U.S. election came in Los Angeles .
Trump lawyer Rudolph Giuliani has falsely claimed that Smartmatic was founded in Venezuela by former dictator Hugo Chavez for the goal of fixing elections .
Smartmatic was started in Florida in 2000 .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Chavez was never involved , and its last work in Venezuela came in 2017 when its software found the government had reported false turnout numbers .
After the segment aired Sunday on Bartiromo ’ s show , she said , “ So that is where we stand right now .
We will keep investigating.
” Perez also said there was no apparent business relationship between Smartmatic and Dominion ; Trump ’ s lawyers have claimed with no evidence that Dominion ’ s vote counting system used at some locations in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Asked Monday about the segments , Smartmatic ’ s lawyer , J. Erik Connolly , said the company “ can not comment on the recent broadcast by Fox News due to potential litigation.
” The network did not comment beyond the on-air segments aired over the weekend .
A statement aired by Newsmax anchors on Monday , and also printed on the company website , was much broader and concerned both Smartmatic and Dominion .
In the statement , Newsmax said there were “ several facts our viewers and readers should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a business relationship between the two companies or that Dominion had any ownership relationship with George Soros , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others .
“ No evidence has been offered that Dominion or Smartmatic used software or reprogrammed software that manipulated votes in the 2020 election , ” Newsmax said .
Company spokesman Anthony Rizzo said Newsmax itself had never made a claim of impropriety , but that others had appeared on the network to raise questions about Smartmatic .
“ As any major media outlet , we provide a forum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from OANN .
Dominion has not specifically targeted any news organization .
Instead , last week its lawyers sent a letter to Sidney Powell , demanding the Trump supporter retract several of the “ wild and reckless ” allegations she has made about them .
The company said some of its employees have been stalked , harassed and received death threats .
Powell , an appellate lawyer from Texas , was part of the president ’ s legal team immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making accusations of a scheme to manipulate voting machines .
In its letter to Powell , Dominion lawyers Thomas Clare and Megan Meier said that the company had no ties “ to the Chinese government , the Venezuelan government , Hugo Chavez , ( British politician ) Malloch Brown , George Soros , Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.
” Powell did not immediately return a request for comment .
Clare said Dominion ’ s immediate focus is on Powell for what she has been saying about the company .
“ Moving forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close look at others who have participated directly in the defamatory campaign , as well as those who have recklessly provided a platform for these discredited allegations , ” he said .

NEW YORK — Two election technology companies whose names have come up in President Donald Trump’s false charges of widespread voter fraud in the presidential election are fighting back, prompting unusual public statements from Fox News and Newsmax.
The statements, over the weekend and on Monday, came after Smartmatic and Denver-based Dominion raised the prospect of legal action for reporting what they said was false information about them.
Both companies were referenced in the campaign’s suggestion that vote counts in swing states were manipulated to the advantage of President-elect Joe Biden. The companies deny several statements made about them, and there is no evidence any voting system switched or deleted votes in the 2020 election.
A nearly two-minute pre-taped segment was aired over the weekend on a Fox Business Network program hosted by Lou Dobbs and Fox News Channel shows with Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro.
That came days after Smartmatic sent a letter threatening legal action to Fox and two other networks popular with Trump supporters, Newsmax and One America News Network.
The two-minute Fox segments aired in the form of a question-and-answer session between an offscreen voice and Eddie Perez, a voting technology expert at the nonpartisan Open Source Election Technology Institute.
“I have not seen any evidence that Smartmatic software was used to delete, change or alter anything related to vote tabulations,” Perez said.
The company says its only work that involved the 2020 U.S. election came in Los Angeles. Trump lawyer Rudolph Giuliani has falsely claimed that Smartmatic was founded in Venezuela by former dictator Hugo Chavez for the goal of fixing elections. Smartmatic was started in Florida in 2000. Its founder is Venezuelan, but the company said Chavez was never involved, and its last work in Venezuela came in 2017 when its software found the government had reported false turnout numbers.
After the segment aired Sunday on Bartiromo’s show, she said, “So that is where we stand right now. We will keep investigating.”
Perez also said there was no apparent business relationship between Smartmatic and Dominion; Trump’s lawyers have claimed with no evidence that Dominion’s vote counting system used at some locations in the U.S. elections had used Smartmatic’s software.
Asked Monday about the segments, Smartmatic’s lawyer, J. Erik Connolly, said the company “cannot comment on the recent broadcast by Fox News due to potential litigation.”
The network did not comment beyond the on-air segments aired over the weekend.
A statement aired by Newsmax anchors on Monday, and also printed on the company website, was much broader and concerned both Smartmatic and Dominion.
In the statement, Newsmax said there were “several facts our viewers and readers should be aware,” among them the lack of a business relationship between the two companies or that Dominion had any ownership relationship with George Soros, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others.
“No evidence has been offered that Dominion or Smartmatic used software or reprogrammed software that manipulated votes in the 2020 election,” Newsmax said.
Company spokesman Anthony Rizzo said Newsmax itself had never made a claim of impropriety, but that others had appeared on the network to raise questions about Smartmatic.
“As any major media outlet, we provide a forum for public concerns and discussion,” he said.
There was no immediate response to a request for comment from OANN.
Dominion has not specifically targeted any news organization. Instead, last week its lawyers sent a letter to Sidney Powell, demanding the Trump supporter retract several of the “wild and reckless” allegations she has made about them. The company said some of its employees have been stalked, harassed and received death threats.
Powell, an appellate lawyer from Texas, was part of the president’s legal team immediately after the election but was disavowed after making accusations of a scheme to manipulate voting machines.
In its letter to Powell, Dominion lawyers Thomas Clare and Megan Meier said that the company had no ties “to the Chinese government, the Venezuelan government, Hugo Chavez, (British politician) Malloch Brown, George Soros, Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.”
Powell did not immediately return a request for comment.
Clare said Dominion’s immediate focus is on Powell for what she has been saying about the company.
“Moving forward, we will certainly be taking a close look at others who have participated directly in the defamatory campaign, as well as those who have recklessly provided a platform for these discredited allegations,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-12-22--Aurora police chief: Officer fired for claiming overtime pay that wasn’t authorized

Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said she has fired an officer for saying his supervisor authorized overtime pay after the supervisor told him he couldn ’ t put in for the time .
Wilson said Monday that she fired Officer Jordan Odneal , who put in for the pay on June 4 and 7 for completing an online training course .
He indicated in the entries in the automated scheduling system that his supervisor gave the OK for the pay , according to a statement from the department .
But his supervisor told Odneal that the pay wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs Bureau investigated the case , which was reviewed by a discipline review board and the Independent Review Board .
The boards found the officer violated three department directives and recommended his termination .
Wilson said she fired Odneal on Friday after reviewing the case and the recommendations .
“ On day one of our academy we instill in our officers the core values of duty , honor and integrity .
Through our New Way plan , we have added the important pillar of accountability , ” Wilson said .
“ Officer Odneal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Odneal joined the Aurora Police Department in 2011 .
His last assignment was as patrol officer .
He can appeal his firing to the Aurora Civil Service Commission .

Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said she has fired an officer for saying his supervisor authorized overtime pay after the supervisor told him he couldn’t put in for the time.
Wilson said Monday that she fired Officer Jordan Odneal, who put in for the pay on June 4 and 7 for completing an online training course. He indicated in the entries in the automated scheduling system that his supervisor gave the OK for the pay, according to a statement from the department.
But his supervisor told Odneal that the pay wasn’t authorized, Wilson said.
The Internal Affairs Bureau investigated the case, which was reviewed by a discipline review board and the Independent Review Board. The boards found the officer violated three department directives and recommended his termination.
Wilson said she fired Odneal on Friday after reviewing the case and the recommendations.
“On day one of our academy we instill in our officers the core values of duty, honor and integrity. Through our New Way plan, we have added the important pillar of accountability,” Wilson said. “Officer Odneal’s actions have diminished those values.”
Odneal joined the Aurora Police Department in 2011. His last assignment was as patrol officer. He can appeal his firing to the Aurora Civil Service Commission.
The Aurora Police Association didn’t return a request for comment.


thedenverpost--2020-12-22--Chubb, Simmons selected to the AFC Pro Bowl team

Suddenly , all of the adversity Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb faced in the past 15 months — tearing his ACL , a strenuous rehabilitation and doubts about ever returning to peak efficiency — hit him with force Monday night .
Chubb shed tears of happiness while appearing on a video conference after being named to the AFC Pro Bowl team , along with safety Justin Simmons .
He paused to collect himself .
He remembered the long days in the trainer ’ s room .
He acknowledged his slow start this season .
And the emotions poured out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ACL ( last October ) , I called my dad and he just told me to keep my head on straight , keep my head down and keep working , ” Chubb said between sobs .
“ That ’ s what I did .
I ’ ve been through a lot this year .
And it should feel good .
Chubb , who has a team-high 7 1/2 sacks , was voted a starter along with Pittsburgh ’ s T.J. Watt and joined receiver Courtland Sutton and running back Phillip Lindsay as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowl .
This year ’ s game was scheduled for Jan. 31 in Las Vegas , but the NFL canceled it earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
It will mark the first time since 1949 that some type of league all-star game won ’ t be played .
That the game won ’ t be played shouldn ’ t diminish the achievements of Chubb and Simmons .
Pan the intensity of the Pro Bowl , but the recognition is special , especially to young players .
Simmons enters the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackles ( 96 ) and first in interceptions ( four ) .
A free agent in March , he is playing this year on the franchise tag and whereas Chubb was emotional because of the journey , Simmons was thrilled because he felt he belonged on the team last year .
“ This offseason , I felt like there was motivation in ( not being on the Pro Bowl radar ) , ” he said .
“ I had a lot of team goals , but individually , there was a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game wasn ’ t being considered with best this league has to offer as far as safety play.
” Simmons was selected as the back-up free safety to Pittsburgh ’ s Minkah Fitzpatrick .
Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles is having his best pro season but was not named to the team .
The AFC offensive tackles are starters Eric Fisher ( Kansas City ) and Laremy Tunsil ( Houston ) and reserve Orlando Brown ( Baltimore ) .
Chubb was cruising along during training camp until experiencing knee soreness during a practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play the opening game but didn ’ t have a sack in the first three weeks ( all Broncos losses ) .
Chubb said it was “ a little bit of a surprise ” to be selected .
“ For sure because I felt like after my rookie season ( 12 sacks ) — that was a Pro Bowl season , and this year , I was still working back and didn ’ t feel I was playing at the highest level I could play at , ” he said .
Chubb became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his season going .
He said it was a talk with injured outside linebacker Von Miller .
“ I remember the night before we played the Jets ( on Oct. 1 ) , we had a conversation about I wanted out of the season , ” Chubb said .
“ He kept asking me , ‘ What type of leader do you want to be ?
What type of player do you want to be ?
’ When we had that conversation , I started to say , ‘ I ’ m in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I went out there and tried to gather my teammates around me.
” The Broncos beat the Jets , 37-28 , and Chubb had 2 1/2 sacks , two knockdowns and two pressures in a four-quarter tour de force .
Simmons parlayed last year ’ s play into the franchise tag , which he signed after he and the Broncos couldn ’ t reach a long-term contract agreement .
He is scheduled to be a free agent in March .
“ I wanted to make sure I solidified myself ( as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tag , ” he said .
“ A lot of adversity , but I think this speaks volumes to the way I ’ ve able to persevere and handle it.
” The 88 players were selected by a consensus of fans , players and coaches who voted .
Thirty-seven teams had at least one player selected , led by Baltimore , Green Bay , Kansas City and Seattle with seven players apiece .

Suddenly, all of the adversity Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb faced in the past 15 months — tearing his ACL, a strenuous rehabilitation and doubts about ever returning to peak efficiency — hit him with force Monday night.
Chubb shed tears of happiness while appearing on a video conference after being named to the AFC Pro Bowl team, along with safety Justin Simmons. He paused to collect himself. He remembered the long days in the trainer’s room. He acknowledged his slow start this season.
And the emotions poured out.
“When I got the news about the ACL (last October), I called my dad and he just told me to keep my head on straight, keep my head down and keep working,” Chubb said between sobs. “That’s what I did. I’ve been through a lot this year.
“This feels good.”
And it should feel good. Chubb, who has a team-high 7 1/2 sacks, was voted a starter along with Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt and joined receiver Courtland Sutton and running back Phillip Lindsay as Broncos 2018 rookies to make a Pro Bowl.
This year’s game was scheduled for Jan. 31 in Las Vegas, but the NFL canceled it earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will mark the first time since 1949 that some type of league all-star game won’t be played.
That the game won’t be played shouldn’t diminish the achievements of Chubb and Simmons. Pan the intensity of the Pro Bowl, but the recognition is special, especially to young players.
Simmons enters the final two games third on the Broncos in tackles (96) and first in interceptions (four). A free agent in March, he is playing this year on the franchise tag and whereas Chubb was emotional because of the journey, Simmons was thrilled because he felt he belonged on the team last year.
“This offseason, I felt like there was motivation in (not being on the Pro Bowl radar),” he said. “I had a lot of team goals, but individually, there was a lot of motivation because I felt part of my game wasn’t being considered with best this league has to offer as far as safety play.”
Simmons was selected as the back-up free safety to Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles is having his best pro season but was not named to the team. The AFC offensive tackles are starters Eric Fisher (Kansas City) and Laremy Tunsil (Houston) and reserve Orlando Brown (Baltimore).
Chubb was cruising along during training camp until experiencing knee soreness during a practice at Mile High. He returned to play the opening game but didn’t have a sack in the first three weeks (all Broncos losses).
Chubb said it was “a little bit of a surprise” to be selected.
“For sure because I felt like after my rookie season (12 sacks) — that was a Pro Bowl season, and this year, I was still working back and didn’t feel I was playing at the highest level I could play at,” he said.
Chubb became emotional again when asked about what got his season going. He said it was a talk with injured outside linebacker Von Miller.
“I remember the night before we played the Jets (on Oct. 1), we had a conversation about I wanted out of the season,” Chubb said. “He kept asking me, ‘What type of leader do you want to be? What type of player do you want to be?’ When we had that conversation, I started to say, ‘I’m in this league for a reason,’ and I went out there and tried to gather my teammates around me.”
The Broncos beat the Jets, 37-28, and Chubb had 2 1/2 sacks, two knockdowns and two pressures in a four-quarter tour de force.
Simmons parlayed last year’s play into the franchise tag, which he signed after he and the Broncos couldn’t reach a long-term contract agreement. He is scheduled to be a free agent in March.
“I wanted to make sure I solidified myself (as a top safety) again playing under the tag,” he said. “A lot of adversity, but I think this speaks volumes to the way I’ve able to persevere and handle it.”
The 88 players were selected by a consensus of fans, players and coaches who voted. Thirty-seven teams had at least one player selected, led by Baltimore, Green Bay, Kansas City and Seattle with seven players apiece.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Rockies’ Daniel Bard wins Tony Conigliaro Award for his 2020 comeback season

Daniel Bard ’ s remarkable comeback year includes one more honor .
And this one is close to his heart .
The Rockies ’ reliever on Monday was named the 2020 winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award .
After seven years away from the majors , Bard returned to pitch for the Rockies and eventually became their closer , saving six games in six opportunities .
The Tony Conigliaro Award is presented to the “ Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit , determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony C. ” The award , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1990 , honors Conigliaro , the late Boston outfielder whose bright career was altered by a beanball to his eye in 1967 .
Conigliaro , a Massachusetts native , made his debut with the Red Sox at age 19 in 1964 .
He led the American League with 32 home runs in 1965 and was a first-time all-star in 1967 , shortly before he was struck in the face by a pitch in August .
After missing all of the 1968 season , Conigliaro returned to the majors and played in 382 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at age 30 , when vision problems forced him from the game .
He died in 1990 at age 45 .
“ From my days playing in Boston , I remember how special this award is , ” said Bard , who began his big-league career with the Red Sox , making his debut in 2009 .
“ It ’ s special , not only because of Tony ’ s story and the incredible obstacles he had to overcome , but I also remember the list of names of all the great players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am grateful to those who voted for me and to the New England baseball community for their support over the years .
I am honored to be chosen as this year ’ s recipient.
” Among the other recipients of the award are Bo Jackson , Jim Abbott , Bret Saberhagen and Rich Hill .
Bard is the third Rockies player to win the award following Aaron Cook in 2005 and Chad Bettis in 2017 .
Cook came back from emergency surgery from blood clots in his arm , and Bettis battled back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case of the yips and increasing performance anxiety to stage his comeback .
He began 2020 just hoping to impress teams during a January tryout and get an invitation to spring training .
He not only hooked up with the Rockies but thrived as a late-game reliever .
In 23 appearances , including 14 scoreless outings , Bard went 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA .
The Tony Conigliaro Award is selected by a 15-person committee that includes media members , MLB executives , Red Sox officials and Conigliaro ’ s brothers , Richie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was named National League comeback player of the year in the 2020 Players Choice Awards , as sponsored by the MLB Players Association .
Earlier this month , Bard was named Major League Baseball ’ s National League comeback player of year , as voted on by the 30 club beat reporters from MLB.com .

Daniel Bard’s remarkable comeback year includes one more honor. And this one is close to his heart.
The Rockies’ reliever on Monday was named the 2020 winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award. After seven years away from the majors, Bard returned to pitch for the Rockies and eventually became their closer, saving six games in six opportunities.
The Tony Conigliaro Award is presented to the “Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony C.”
The award, created by the Boston Red Sox in 1990, honors Conigliaro, the late Boston outfielder whose bright career was altered by a beanball to his eye in 1967. Conigliaro, a Massachusetts native, made his debut with the Red Sox at age 19 in 1964. He led the American League with 32 home runs in 1965 and was a first-time all-star in 1967, shortly before he was struck in the face by a pitch in August. After missing all of the 1968 season, Conigliaro returned to the majors and played in 382 more games. He retired in 1975, at age 30, when vision problems forced him from the game. He died in 1990 at age 45.
“From my days playing in Boston, I remember how special this award is,” said Bard, who began his big-league career with the Red Sox, making his debut in 2009. “It’s special, not only because of Tony’s story and the incredible obstacles he had to overcome, but I also remember the list of names of all the great players who have won previously.
“I am grateful to those who voted for me and to the New England baseball community for their support over the years. I am honored to be chosen as this year’s recipient.”
Among the other recipients of the award are Bo Jackson, Jim Abbott, Bret Saberhagen and Rich Hill. Bard is the third Rockies player to win the award following Aaron Cook in 2005 and Chad Bettis in 2017. Cook came back from emergency surgery from blood clots in his arm, and Bettis battled back from testicular cancer.
Bard overcame a case of the yips and increasing performance anxiety to stage his comeback. He began 2020 just hoping to impress teams during a January tryout and get an invitation to spring training. He not only hooked up with the Rockies but thrived as a late-game reliever. In 23 appearances, including 14 scoreless outings, Bard went 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA.
The Tony Conigliaro Award is selected by a 15-person committee that includes media members, MLB executives, Red Sox officials and Conigliaro’s brothers, Richie and Billy.
In October, Bard was named National League comeback player of the year in the 2020 Players Choice Awards, as sponsored by the MLB Players Association. Earlier this month, Bard was named Major League Baseball’s National League comeback player of year, as voted on by the 30 club beat reporters from MLB.com.
Tony Conigliaro Award recipients:
2020 — Daniel Bard, Rockies
2019 — Rich Hill, Dodgers
2018 — Stephen Piscotty, Athletics
2017 — Chad Bettis, Rockies
2016 — Yangervis Solarte, Padres
2015 — Mitch Harris, Cardinals
2014 — Wilson Ramos, Nationals
2013 — John Lackey, Red Sox
2012 — R.A. Dickey, Mets
2011 — Tony Campana, Cubs
2010 — Joaquin Benoit, Rays
2009 — Chris Carpenter, Cardinals
2008 — Rocco Baldelli, Rays
2007 — Jon Lester, Red Sox
2006 — Freddy Sanchez, Pirates
2005 — Aaron Cook, Rockies
2004 — Dewon Brazelton, Rays
2003 — Jim Mecir, Athletics
2002 — Jose Rijo, Reds
2001 — Jason Johnson, Orioles; Graeme Lloyd, Expos
2000 — Kent Mercker, Angels; Tony Saunders, Marlins
1999 — Mike Lowell, Marlins
1998 — Bret Saberhagen, Red Sox
1997 — Eric Davis, Orioles
1996 — Curtis Pride, Tigers
1995 — Scott Radinsky, White Sox
1994 — Mark Leiter, Angels
1993 — Bo Jackson, White Sox
1992 — Jim Abbott, Angels
1991 — Dickie Thon, Phillies
1990 — Jim Eisenreich, Royals


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Colorado legislature delays next year’s work at least a month due to COVID-19

Colorado lawmakers plan to delay the 2021 legislative session for at least a month because of coronavirus concerns , Democratic leaders announced Monday .
The legislature will reconvene Jan. 13 as originally scheduled to swear in new members and meet technical and constitutional requirements , but then it will go into recess — tentatively until Feb. 16 .
It ’ s unclear how long legislators will meet initially .
It could be as little as a day or as long as three , depending on what needs to get addressed .
Ceremonial activities also will be delayed , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office said the annual State of State address , which usually is given in January , shortly after the legislature convenes , will be postponed and won ’ t happen until at least February after the session resumes .
“ From the very beginning , we ’ ve worked hard to find ways to protect the health and safety of the public , legislative staff and lawmakers while allowing for public participation , ” said Speaker-designate Alec Garnett , D-Denver , in a statement .
“ Recessing until mid-February will place us farther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases and will allow the bulk of our legislative work to take place when we hope it is safer and more Coloradans will have received the COVID vaccine.
” Garnett said leadership will keep track of the data and talk to public health experts to guide their next moves .
Prior to the pandemic , during legislative sessions , the Capitol building in Denver was typically filled with hundreds of people in addition to the 100 state representatives and senators , from lobbyists to staff to members of the public coming to testify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , interactions and in-person participation have been limited .
Temperature checks , mask-wearing among visitors and some lawmakers , and partitions between lawmakers ’ desks have become the norm .
While Colorado has administered the first coronavirus vaccine to some frontline workers , the general public isn ’ t expected to have access until the summer , and experts urge residents to continue safety measures until reaching immunity .
The delay comes at the heels of a three-day emergency session during which lawmakers worked quickly to pass legislation related to coronavirus relief .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal of planning and coordination , we were able to convene a highly-effective special session aimed at alleviating Colorado ’ s most immediate needs going into the winter season , ” said Senate President Leroy Garcia , D-Pueblo , in a statement .
“ Now as we approach our regular session , we are committed to acting with the same precision and forethought – diligently prioritizing what matters most to our state and completing mission-critical work before temporarily exiting the building.
” The legislature also went into a recess last year at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave in March before returning in May and ending in June .
The General Assembly is required to meet for 120 days , beginning by the second Wednesday in January , but the Colorado Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that those days do not have to be consecutive during a public health emergency .
Both chambers of the legislature are controlled by Democrats , and the announcement came from Democratic leadership .
Although House Minority Leader-elect Hugh McKean , R-Loveland , said his caucus was consulted about the decision , Colorado Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it too much to ask that ( Colorado Senate Democrats ) pick up the phone before announcing these big decisions to the press ?
” Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert , a Douglas County Republican , said he spoke to Garcia , the Senate president , about a potential delay in the past week and had suggested the new executive committee for next year meet to discuss the issue , but Holbert didn ’ t know a decision had been made until the announcement Monday .
“ I understand not being there , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed , ” Holbert said .
“ It ’ s just we worked really well together during the special session — Democrats and the governor commented on how much they appreciated it .
It seems like we have an opportunity to talk through these things and make decisions together.
” McKean said his members really want to get back to work and accomplish what they were elected to do for their constituents and that the decision most affects rural lawmakers because they have to make plans to be in Denver for extended periods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in limbo .
But , he said , “ I understand the desire for giving time for this latest spike to lessen and we ’ re ready to get back in there and go to work as soon as everybody thinks it ’ s time and safe to do so .
”

Colorado lawmakers plan to delay the 2021 legislative session for at least a month because of coronavirus concerns, Democratic leaders announced Monday.
The legislature will reconvene Jan. 13 as originally scheduled to swear in new members and meet technical and constitutional requirements, but then it will go into recess — tentatively until Feb. 16. It’s unclear how long legislators will meet initially. It could be as little as a day or as long as three, depending on what needs to get addressed.
Ceremonial activities also will be delayed, according to the announcement. The governor’s office said the annual State of State address, which usually is given in January, shortly after the legislature convenes, will be postponed and won’t happen until at least February after the session resumes.
“From the very beginning, we’ve worked hard to find ways to protect the health and safety of the public, legislative staff and lawmakers while allowing for public participation,” said Speaker-designate Alec Garnett, D-Denver, in a statement. “Recessing until mid-February will place us farther out from the holiday spike in COVID cases and will allow the bulk of our legislative work to take place when we hope it is safer and more Coloradans will have received the COVID vaccine.”
Garnett said leadership will keep track of the data and talk to public health experts to guide their next moves.
Prior to the pandemic, during legislative sessions, the Capitol building in Denver was typically filled with hundreds of people in addition to the 100 state representatives and senators, from lobbyists to staff to members of the public coming to testify. But since the arrival of COVID-19, interactions and in-person participation have been limited. Temperature checks, mask-wearing among visitors and some lawmakers, and partitions between lawmakers’ desks have become the norm.
While Colorado has administered the first coronavirus vaccine to some frontline workers, the general public isn’t expected to have access until the summer, and experts urge residents to continue safety measures until reaching immunity.
The delay comes at the heels of a three-day emergency session during which lawmakers worked quickly to pass legislation related to coronavirus relief.
“Last month, with a great deal of planning and coordination, we were able to convene a highly-effective special session aimed at alleviating Colorado’s most immediate needs going into the winter season,” said Senate President Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, in a statement. “Now as we approach our regular session, we are committed to acting with the same precision and forethought – diligently prioritizing what matters most to our state and completing mission-critical work before temporarily exiting the building.”
The legislature also went into a recess last year at the height of the pandemic’s first wave in March before returning in May and ending in June. The General Assembly is required to meet for no more than 120 days, beginning by the second Wednesday in January, but the Colorado Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that those days do not have to be consecutive during a public health emergency.
Both chambers of the legislature are controlled by Democrats, and the announcement came from Democratic leadership. Although House Minority Leader-elect Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, said his caucus was consulted about the decision, Colorado Senate Republicans on Twitter asked, “Is it too much to ask that (Colorado Senate Democrats) pick up the phone before announcing these big decisions to the press?”
Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, a Douglas County Republican, said he spoke to Garcia, the Senate president, about a potential delay in the past week and had suggested the new executive committee for next year meet to discuss the issue, but Holbert didn’t know a decision had been made until the announcement Monday.
“I understand not being there, giving the vaccine more time to be distributed,” Holbert said. “It’s just we worked really well together during the special session — Democrats and the governor commented on how much they appreciated it. It seems like we have an opportunity to talk through these things and make decisions together.”
McKean said his members really want to get back to work and accomplish what they were elected to do for their constituents and that the decision most affects rural lawmakers because they have to make plans to be in Denver for extended periods of time and that’s now in limbo.
But, he said, “I understand the desire for giving time for this latest spike to lessen and we’re ready to get back in there and go to work as soon as everybody thinks it’s time and safe to do so.”
Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Colorado General Assembly is required to meet for no more than 120 days, set by a 1998 constitutional amendment.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Maddox Daniels bringing all-around game off the bench for CU Buffs

LAS VEGAS — When D ’ Shawn Schwartz was unavailable to start the season , the Colorado Buffaloes turned to Maddox Daniels .
It was a natural substitution , as the two senior wings play the same position and share similar body types .
Yet while Schwartz is an established starter for the Buffs who has hit plenty of big shots in his career , Daniels is a former junior college player who is blossoming into a solid all-around contributor off the bench in his second year at CU .
And Daniels credits much of his recent success to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice .
Daniels put together his best all-around game in a CU uniform during Sunday ’ s rout of Washington in Las Vegas , and he and the Buffs will seek an encore performance when they take on Grand Canyon at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night .
“ Just going hard in practice and I watched film before we came here to Vegas .
I think that helped , ” Daniels said .
“ I ’ m just trying to bring it all together — playing hard on defense , and playing relaxed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m trying to help the squad any way I can .
We just want to get wins .
“ I guard D ’ Shawn a lot in practice .
I ’ ve been guarding him all summer and all preseason .
That ’ s my guy .
He helps me out a lot .
I really think guarding D ’ Shawn has really helped my defensive game.
” While 7-footer Dallas Walton grabbed the spotlight with his career-high 22 points against Washington , Daniels quietly enjoyed a career night as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniels matched his CU career high in points ( 10 ) and made 3-pointers , finishing 3-for-4 from the arc .
Daniels also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and recorded a career-best four assists , matching his total from the season ’ s first five games combined .
Against Grand Canyon , the Buffs will face a team coming off a two-point loss against San Francisco in Las Vegas on Sunday .
The Lopes are coached by Bryce Drew , who authored an all-time NCAA Tournament moment for Valparaiso in 1998 with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grand Canyon nearly topped Arizona State last week before dropping a one-point decision .
“ I told our team ( Grand Canyon ) had a shot at the buzzer to beat Arizona State , and we know how good Arizona State is , ” CU head coach Tad Boyle said .
“ They ’ re going to be fired up to play us and we ’ ve got to make sure we ’ re fired up to play them .
I believe with a veteran group we will be .
But it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a short turnaround for us .
We ’ re just trying to get our games in .
Our guys want to play .
That ’ s what we came to Vegas to do .
We got 50 % of our job done and now it ’ s time to finish it off .
“ But it ’ s not going to be easy on Tuesday .
We ’ ve got to have our hard hats on .
They ’ re a good team and a well-coached team and a tough team and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canyon — F Alessandro Lever , Sr. , 16.5 ppg , 4.7 rpg ; C Asbjorn Midtgaard , Sr. , 13.7 ppg , 10.0 rpg ; G Jovan Blacksher , So.
, 13.3 ppg , 6.2 apg .
Colorado — G McKinley Wright , Sr. , 15.5 ppg , 5.7 apg , 4.8 rpg ; F Jeriah Horne , Sr. , 11.3 ppg , 6.2 rpg ; C Dallas Walton , Sr. , 11.2 ppg , 3.2 rpg .
WHAT TO WATCH : After rolling to three impressive victories in a week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance before embarking on a demanding opening road slate in the Pac-12 — at Arizona , USC , and UCLA , after Christmas .
NOTES : This is the first matchup between the teams…CU earned 13 points in this week ’ s AP top 25 vote , putting the Buffs unofficially at No .
34 in the nation…Through Sunday ’ s games , the Buffs sat at No .
25 overall at KenPom.com while ranking 19th in adjusted defensive efficiency…After going 26-for-28 on free throws in Sunday ’ s win against Washington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in free throw percentage ( .858 ) …Wright is set to make his 105th start , which will match Donnie Boyce for the seventh-most in program history .
Wright has recorded 20 assists with only two turnovers in the past three games… Walton already has scored more points this season ( 67 ) than he did all of last season ( 45 ) …During their three-game winning streak the Buffs have shot .424 ( 25-for-59 ) from 3-point range…CU has won five of its past seven games at T-Mobile Arena…Following the game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days before beginning preparations for the Pac-12 opener at Arizona on Dec. 28 .

LAS VEGAS — When D’Shawn Schwartz was unavailable to start the season, the Colorado Buffaloes turned to Maddox Daniels.
It was a natural substitution, as the two senior wings play the same position and share similar body types. Yet while Schwartz is an established starter for the Buffs who has hit plenty of big shots in his career, Daniels is a former junior college player who is blossoming into a solid all-around contributor off the bench in his second year at CU.
And Daniels credits much of his recent success to the challenge of guarding Schwartz every day at practice. Daniels put together his best all-around game in a CU uniform during Sunday’s rout of Washington in Las Vegas, and he and the Buffs will seek an encore performance when they take on Grand Canyon at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night.
“Just going hard in practice and I watched film before we came here to Vegas. I think that helped,” Daniels said. “I’m just trying to bring it all together — playing hard on defense, and playing relaxed and playing smart on offense. I’m trying to help the squad any way I can. We just want to get wins.
“I guard D’Shawn a lot in practice. I’ve been guarding him all summer and all preseason. That’s my guy. He helps me out a lot. I really think guarding D’Shawn has really helped my defensive game.”
While 7-footer Dallas Walton grabbed the spotlight with his career-high 22 points against Washington, Daniels quietly enjoyed a career night as well.
In 18 minutes off the bench, Daniels matched his CU career high in points (10) and made 3-pointers, finishing 3-for-4 from the arc. Daniels also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and recorded a career-best four assists, matching his total from the season’s first five games combined.
Against Grand Canyon, the Buffs will face a team coming off a two-point loss against San Francisco in Las Vegas on Sunday. The Lopes are coached by Bryce Drew, who authored an all-time NCAA Tournament moment for Valparaiso in 1998 with his buzzer-beating 3-pointer that toppled Ole Miss. Grand Canyon nearly topped Arizona State last week before dropping a one-point decision.
“I told our team (Grand Canyon) had a shot at the buzzer to beat Arizona State, and we know how good Arizona State is,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “They’re going to be fired up to play us and we’ve got to make sure we’re fired up to play them. I believe with a veteran group we will be. But it will be a short turnaround for them, a short turnaround for us. We’re just trying to get our games in. Our guys want to play. That’s what we came to Vegas to do. We got 50% of our job done and now it’s time to finish it off.
“But it’s not going to be easy on Tuesday. We’ve got to have our hard hats on. They’re a good team and a well-coached team and a tough team and a talented team.”
Grand Canyon vs. CU Buffs men’s basketball
TIPOFF: Tuesday, 9 p.m. MT, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
BROADCAST: TV — Pac-12 Networks; Radio — 850 AM and 94.1 FM.
RECORDS: Grand Canyon 4-2; Colorado 5-1.
COACHES: Grand Canyon — Bryce Drew, 1st season (4-2, 168-110 overall); Colorado — Tad Boyle, 11th season (215-135, 271-201 overall).
KEY PLAYERS: Grand Canyon — F Alessandro Lever, Sr., 16.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg; C Asbjorn Midtgaard, Sr., 13.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg; G Jovan Blacksher, So., 13.3 ppg, 6.2 apg. Colorado — G McKinley Wright, Sr., 15.5 ppg, 5.7 apg, 4.8 rpg; F Jeriah Horne, Sr., 11.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg; C Dallas Walton, Sr., 11.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg.
WHAT TO WATCH: After rolling to three impressive victories in a week, the Buffs will seek one last sharp performance before embarking on a demanding opening road slate in the Pac-12 — at Arizona, USC, and UCLA, after Christmas.
NOTES: This is the first matchup between the teams…CU earned 13 points in this week’s AP top 25 vote, putting the Buffs unofficially at No. 34 in the nation…Through Sunday’s games, the Buffs sat at No. 25 overall at KenPom.com while ranking 19th in adjusted defensive efficiency…After going 26-for-28 on free throws in Sunday’s win against Washington, CU began the week leading the nation in free throw percentage (.858)…Wright is set to make his 105th start, which will match Donnie Boyce for the seventh-most in program history. Wright has recorded 20 assists with only two turnovers in the past three games… Walton already has scored more points this season (67) than he did all of last season (45)…During their three-game winning streak the Buffs have shot .424 (25-for-59) from 3-point range…CU has won five of its past seven games at T-Mobile Arena…Following the game, the Buffs will be off for three days before beginning preparations for the Pac-12 opener at Arizona on Dec. 28.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Nuggets vet Paul Millsap among standouts this preseason: “He’s playing his role perfectly”

As evidenced by his strong December play , Millsap , 35 , still has some spring in his step .
Millsap led the Nuggets at nearly 17 points per game on 53 % shooting from the field in preseason games this month , including 46 % from 3-point range .
“ He ’ s playing his role perfectly , doing what he does , ” guard Jamal Murray said .
“ He ’ s been making shots and making plays .
He feels comfortable with how we ’ re doing it , how we ’ re playing it.
” Millsap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to make himself more available in the offense .
In the preseason , 14 of his 17 buckets were assisted , including 12 courtesy of either Murray or Nikola Jokic .
In Denver ’ s final preseason game against Portland on Friday , Millsap poured in 24 points in the first half .
One basket made Murray himself blush .
Minutes into the game , Millsap had former Nugget Jusuf Nurkic shadowing him in the corner .
Millsap dribbled toward the lane , then re-routed with a hard left-right cross to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t enough to evoke images of Millsap in an Atlanta Hawks uniform , the four-time all-star finished the reverse layup through contact .
After the play , Murray got down in a crouch , preening at his veteran teammate .
There ’ s no telling how long Millsap ’ s momentary rejuvenation will last .
Earlier in training camp , he was candid about his time in the “ Bubble ” in Orlando to finish the 2019-20 season , conceding he wasn ’ t completely himself .
Later , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new mindset .
He would carry no personal expectations aside from working hard .
Furthermore , he offered it didn ’ t matter to him whether he started or came off the bench in favor of newcomer JaMychal Green .
Thus far , while taking his place alongside the regular starters , Millsap ’ s been one of the standouts of training camp .
“ He came back in great shape , ” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said .
“ You can tell that the last two months he was working on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready .
I ’ ll tell you , this is my fourth year with him , and this might be the most engaged I ’ ve seen him , the most vocal I ’ ve seen him .
• Why Facundo Campazzo left Spain for the Nuggets : “ This kid just doesn ’ t belong here ” • Kickin ’ It with Kiz : Does starting Will Barton over Michael Porter Jr. make any basketball sense ?
• Nuggets veteran Will Barton : “ I have no plans on being the sixth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) went back into the time machine , looked like a young Paul Millsap .
The biggest thing is just the attitude , the selflessness , the engagement and the vocal leadership , on top of how well he ’ s playing .
That ’ s not even talking about the efficiency on the court .
It ’ s been really nice to see.
” Malone said he did some of the recruiting during Millsap ’ s free agency this summer .
He reminded him how valuable he ’ d been as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a veteran presence in the locker room .
Some portion of Malone ’ s sales pitch worked .
Millsap decided to return on a one-year , $ 10 million deal .
Having accomplished almost everything else , Malone wants him to put a bow on his legacy with a championship ring .
“ It would be a great story for him to do that here in Denver , ” Malone said .

Father time hasn’t caught Paul Millsap just yet.
As evidenced by his strong December play, Millsap, 35, still has some spring in his step. Millsap led the Nuggets at nearly 17 points per game on 53% shooting from the field in preseason games this month, including 46% from 3-point range.
“He’s playing his role perfectly, doing what he does,” guard Jamal Murray said. “He’s been making shots and making plays. He feels comfortable with how we’re doing it, how we’re playing it.”
Millsap said he’s made a conscientious effort to make himself more available in the offense. In the preseason, 14 of his 17 buckets were assisted, including 12 courtesy of either Murray or Nikola Jokic. In Denver’s final preseason game against Portland on Friday, Millsap poured in 24 points in the first half. One basket made Murray himself blush.
Minutes into the game, Millsap had former Nugget Jusuf Nurkic shadowing him in the corner. Millsap dribbled toward the lane, then re-routed with a hard left-right cross to leave Nurkic grasping at air. If that wasn’t enough to evoke images of Millsap in an Atlanta Hawks uniform, the four-time all-star finished the reverse layup through contact. After the play, Murray got down in a crouch, preening at his veteran teammate.
Just noticed this from Friday's game. Aside from Paul Millsap's best Allen Iverson impression, check Jamal Murray at the end of the clip. Like he's never seen his Unc hoop like that. pic.twitter.com/rxBXTE4sjv — Mike Singer (@msinger) December 21, 2020
There’s no telling how long Millsap’s momentary rejuvenation will last. Earlier in training camp, he was candid about his time in the “Bubble” in Orlando to finish the 2019-20 season, conceding he wasn’t completely himself. Later, he said he was approaching this season with a new mindset. He would carry no personal expectations aside from working hard.
Furthermore, he offered it didn’t matter to him whether he started or came off the bench in favor of newcomer JaMychal Green. Thus far, while taking his place alongside the regular starters, Millsap’s been one of the standouts of training camp.
“He came back in great shape,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “You can tell that the last two months he was working on his body, staying in shape, staying ready. I’ll tell you, this is my fourth year with him, and this might be the most engaged I’ve seen him, the most vocal I’ve seen him.
“(Against Portland he) went back into the time machine, looked like a young Paul Millsap. The biggest thing is just the attitude, the selflessness, the engagement and the vocal leadership, on top of how well he’s playing. That’s not even talking about the efficiency on the court. It’s been really nice to see.”
Malone said he did some of the recruiting during Millsap’s free agency this summer. He reminded him how valuable he’d been as a bedrock of the Nuggets’ defense and a veteran presence in the locker room. Some portion of Malone’s sales pitch worked. Millsap decided to return on a one-year, $10 million deal.
Having accomplished almost everything else, Malone wants him to put a bow on his legacy with a championship ring.
“It would be a great story for him to do that here in Denver,” Malone said.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Kevin Greene, Pro Football Hall of Famer and pass rushing great, dies at 58

Hall of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene , considered one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history , has died .
He was 58 .
Greene died Monday , the family confirmed , as did the Pro Football Hall of Fame .
No cause of death was given .
“ The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Kevin Greene , ” Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement Monday .
“ I regarded him as a personal friend and a true Hall of Famer in every sense .
He possessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ever met .
He was a great player , but more than that , he was a great man.
” A two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection , Greene finished his career with 160 sacks , which ranks third in league history behind only Bruce Smith ( 200 ) and Reggie White ( 198 ) .
He also had 23 forced fumbles and five interceptions .
Greene was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 .
He played 15 seasons in the NFL for four teams : the Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1993–1995 ) , Carolina Panthers ( 1996 , 1998-99 ) and San Francisco 49ers .
He was All-Pro in 1994 and 1996 .
“ Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin ’ s wife , Tara , and their entire family , ” Baker said .
“ We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations .
The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Kevin ’ s memory .
”

Hall of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene, considered one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, has died. He was 58.
Greene died Monday, the family confirmed, as did the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
No cause of death was given.
“The entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Kevin Greene,” Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement Monday. “I regarded him as a personal friend and a true Hall of Famer in every sense. He possessed the most incredible can-do attitude of anyone I ever met. He was a great player, but more than that, he was a great man.”
A two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection, Greene finished his career with 160 sacks, which ranks third in league history behind only Bruce Smith (200) and Reggie White (198). He also had 23 forced fumbles and five interceptions.
Greene was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
He played 15 seasons in the NFL for four teams: the Los Angeles Rams (1985–1992), Pittsburgh Steelers (1993–1995), Carolina Panthers (1996, 1998-99) and San Francisco 49ers. He was All-Pro in 1994 and 1996.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin’s wife, Tara, and their entire family,” Baker said. “We will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration for future generations. The Hall of Fame flag will be flown at half-staff in Kevin’s memory.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Police in Nevada arrest girlfriend of Denver man found buried in his backyard

The girlfriend of a Denver man whose remains were found buried in his backyard has been arrested in Nevada and is being held for investigation of first-degree murder .
Police said Eusivio Luevano , 42 , was reported missing in November after he had not been seen for several months .
With help from the Denver medical examiner ’ s office and the police crime lab , investigators found Luevano ’ s remains buried in the backyard of his home on North Fillmore Street on Dec. 5 .
Preliminary evidence indicated that Luevano died from a gunshot wound , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s girlfriend , 45-year-old Kimberly Cottle , was arrested Thursday in Reno , Nev. , in the death .
Besides the murder charge , Cottle is being held for investigation of tampering with a deceased body , identity theft , aggravated motor vehicle theft , theft and unlawful use of a financial transaction device .
The arrest affidavit was sealed .
Cottle ’ s booking photo wasn ’ t available for release .
Denver police say anyone with information that can assist with this case are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP @

The girlfriend of a Denver man whose remains were found buried in his backyard has been arrested in Nevada and is being held for investigation of first-degree murder.
Police said Eusivio Luevano, 42, was reported missing in November after he had not been seen for several months. With help from the Denver medical examiner’s office and the police crime lab, investigators found Luevano’s remains buried in the backyard of his home on North Fillmore Street on Dec. 5.
Preliminary evidence indicated that Luevano died from a gunshot wound, police said in a statement.
Luevano’s girlfriend, 45-year-old Kimberly Cottle, was arrested Thursday in Reno, Nev., in the death. Besides the murder charge, Cottle is being held for investigation of tampering with a deceased body, identity theft, aggravated motor vehicle theft, theft and unlawful use of a financial transaction device.
The arrest affidavit was sealed. Cottle’s booking photo wasn’t available for release. Denver police say anyone with information that can assist with this case are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--CHSAA earns state approval to begin winter high school sports in January

The tug-of-war between Colorado high school sports and state health authorities shifted back toward athletes on Monday with the announcement that practices and games for winter sports will begin next month .
A statewide coronavirus spike had previously led the Colorado High School Activities Association ( CHSAA ) and Colorado Department of Health and Environment ( CDPHE ) to postpone all prep sports in Season B — including basketball , ice hockey , skiing , wrestling , and girls swimming — until at least early February .
However , following several meetings over the past week , CHSAA announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow practices to begin Jan. 18 with games starting Jan. 25 .
CHSAA had initially planned to start winter sports on Jan. 4 prior to pushing things back earlier this month .
“ For months , our office has been laser-focused on students and the safe resumption of high school sports and activities in 2021 , ” CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said in a news release .
“ The conversations with CDPHE and the Governor ’ s COVID Response Team to resume Season B sports have been intentional and assertive .
Though it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are thrilled that our student-athletes , member schools and local school communities have a resolution .
Educationally-based athletics are a vital extension of the classroom.
” In the first week of January , CHSAA officials will conduct meetings with coaches and athletic directors to provide more details for the implementation of each sport .
CHSAA said it received CDPHE approval for basketball teams to have 24 players total , as well as coaches and trainers , in the gym for games — exceeding the 10-person limit during red-level restrictions on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerate the timeline on winter prep sports in Colorado arrived days after more than 60 high school coaches , athletes and their parents traveled from across the state to protest at the CDPHE offices over the state ’ s decision to postpone .
But there are many obstacles ahead for prep sports teams anxious to get back into the gym .
“ I appreciate all the work that CHSAA , the state of Colorado , and the health department has done to try and make sure our kids can have a season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Denver Post .
“ My only concern is that wrestling is different than basketball , swimming , or any of these other winter sports — and many of our young people have not had the chance to even get on the mat .
… Broomfield will wrestle whenever we get the opportunity and we ’ ll be grateful for it .
But right now , we have more questions than we have answers .
I just worry about the safety of the kids .
”

The tug-of-war between Colorado high school sports and state health authorities shifted back toward athletes on Monday with the announcement that practices and games for winter sports will begin next month.
A statewide coronavirus spike had previously led the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) and Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) to postpone all prep sports in Season B — including basketball, ice hockey, skiing, wrestling, and girls swimming — until at least early February.
However, following several meetings over the past week, CHSAA announced that the state had approved its variance to allow practices to begin Jan. 18 with games starting Jan. 25.
CHSAA had initially planned to start winter sports on Jan. 4 prior to pushing things back earlier this month.
“For months, our office has been laser-focused on students and the safe resumption of high school sports and activities in 2021,” CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green said in a news release. “The conversations with CDPHE and the Governor’s COVID Response Team to resume Season B sports have been intentional and assertive. Though it has taken many late nights and weekends, we are thrilled that our student-athletes, member schools and local school communities have a resolution. Educationally-based athletics are a vital extension of the classroom.”
In the first week of January, CHSAA officials will conduct meetings with coaches and athletic directors to provide more details for the implementation of each sport. CHSAA said it received CDPHE approval for basketball teams to have 24 players total, as well as coaches and trainers, in the gym for games — exceeding the 10-person limit during red-level restrictions on the COVID-19 threat dial.
The decision to accelerate the timeline on winter prep sports in Colorado arrived days after more than 60 high school coaches, athletes and their parents traveled from across the state to protest at the CDPHE offices over the state’s decision to postpone. But there are many obstacles ahead for prep sports teams anxious to get back into the gym.
“I appreciate all the work that CHSAA, the state of Colorado, and the health department has done to try and make sure our kids can have a season,” Broomfield wrestling coach Jimmy Zechmann told The Denver Post.
“My only concern is that wrestling is different than basketball, swimming, or any of these other winter sports — and many of our young people have not had the chance to even get on the mat. … Broomfield will wrestle whenever we get the opportunity and we’ll be grateful for it. But right now, we have more questions than we have answers. I just worry about the safety of the kids.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-22--2020 is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths topping 3 million

NEW YORK — This is the deadliest year in U.S. history , with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic .
Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months .
But preliminary numbers suggest that the United States is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year , or at least 400,000 more than in 2019 .
U.S. deaths increase most years , so some annual rise in fatalities is expected .
But the 2020 numbers amount to a jump of about 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the deaths from this month are counted .
That would mark the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918 , when tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers died in World War I and hundreds of thousands of Americans died in a flu pandemic .
Deaths rose 46 % that year , compared with 1917 .
COVID-19 has killed more than 318,000 Americans and counting .
Before it came along , there was reason to be hopeful about U.S. death trends .
The nation ’ s overall mortality rate fell a bit in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cancer deaths .
And life expectancy inched up — by several weeks — for the second straight year , according to death certificate data released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But life expectancy for 2020 could end up dropping as much as three full years , said Robert Anderson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The CDC counted 2,854,838 U.S. deaths last year , or nearly 16,000 more than 2018 .
That ’ s fairly good news : Deaths usually rise by about 20,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the nation ’ s aging , and growing , population .
Indeed , the age-adjusted death rate dropped about 1 % in 2019 , and life expectancy rose by about six weeks to 78.8 years , the CDC reported .
“ It was actually a pretty good year for mortality , as things go , ” said Anderson , who oversees CDC death statistics .
The U.S. coronavirus epidemic has been a big driver of deaths this year , both directly and indirectly .
The virus was first identified in China last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were reported this year .
But it has become the third leading cause of death , behind only heart disease and cancer .
For certain periods this year , COVID-19 was the No .
1 killer .
But some other types of deaths also have increased .
A burst of pneumonia cases early this year may have been COVID-19 deaths that simply weren ’ t recognized as such early in the epidemic .
But there also have been an unexpected number of deaths from certain types of heart and circulatory diseases , diabetes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those , too , may be related to COVID .
The virus could have weakened patients already struggling with those conditions , or could have diminished the care they were getting , he said .
Early in the epidemic , some were optimistic that car crash deaths would drop as people stopped commuting or driving to social events .
Data on that is not yet in , but anecdotal reports suggest there was no such decline .
Suicide deaths dropped in 2019 compared with 2018 , but early information suggests they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson and others said .
Drug overdose deaths , meanwhile , got much worse .
Before the coronavirus even arrived , the U.S. was in the midst of the deadliest drug overdose epidemic in its history .
Data for all of 2020 is not yet available .
But last week the CDC reported more than 81,000 drug overdose deaths in the 12 months ending in May , making it the highest number ever recorded in a one-year period .
Experts think the pandemic ’ s disruption to in-person treatment and recovery services may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are more likely to be taking drugs alone — without the benefit of a friend or family member who can call 911 or administer overdose-reversing medication .
But perhaps a bigger factor are the drugs themselves : COVID-19 caused supply problems for dealers , so they are increasingly mixing cheap and deadly fentanyl into heroin , cocaine and methamphetamine , experts said .
“ I don ’ t suspect there are a bunch of new people who suddenly started using drugs because of COVID .
If anything , I think the supply of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more contaminated , ” said Shannon Monnat , a Syracuse University researcher who studies drug overdose trends .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

NEW YORK — This is the deadliest year in U.S. history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time — due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic.
Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months. But preliminary numbers suggest that the United States is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year, or at least 400,000 more than in 2019.
U.S. deaths increase most years, so some annual rise in fatalities is expected. But the 2020 numbers amount to a jump of about 15%, and could go higher once all the deaths from this month are counted.
That would mark the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918, when tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers died in World War I and hundreds of thousands of Americans died in a flu pandemic. Deaths rose 46% that year, compared with 1917.
COVID-19 has killed more than 318,000 Americans and counting. Before it came along, there was reason to be hopeful about U.S. death trends.
The nation’s overall mortality rate fell a bit in 2019, due to reductions in heart disease and cancer deaths. And life expectancy inched up — by several weeks — for the second straight year, according to death certificate data released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But life expectancy for 2020 could end up dropping as much as three full years, said Robert Anderson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC counted 2,854,838 U.S. deaths last year, or nearly 16,000 more than 2018. That’s fairly good news: Deaths usually rise by about 20,000 to 50,000 each year, mainly due to the nation’s aging, and growing, population.
Indeed, the age-adjusted death rate dropped about 1% in 2019, and life expectancy rose by about six weeks to 78.8 years, the CDC reported.
“It was actually a pretty good year for mortality, as things go,” said Anderson, who oversees CDC death statistics.
The U.S. coronavirus epidemic has been a big driver of deaths this year, both directly and indirectly.
The virus was first identified in China last year, and the first U.S. cases were reported this year. But it has become the third leading cause of death, behind only heart disease and cancer. For certain periods this year, COVID-19 was the No. 1 killer.
But some other types of deaths also have increased.
A burst of pneumonia cases early this year may have been COVID-19 deaths that simply weren’t recognized as such early in the epidemic. But there also have been an unexpected number of deaths from certain types of heart and circulatory diseases, diabetes and dementia, Anderson said.
Many of those, too, may be related to COVID. The virus could have weakened patients already struggling with those conditions, or could have diminished the care they were getting, he said.
Early in the epidemic, some were optimistic that car crash deaths would drop as people stopped commuting or driving to social events. Data on that is not yet in, but anecdotal reports suggest there was no such decline.
Suicide deaths dropped in 2019 compared with 2018, but early information suggests they have not continued to drop this year, Anderson and others said.
Drug overdose deaths, meanwhile, got much worse.
Before the coronavirus even arrived, the U.S. was in the midst of the deadliest drug overdose epidemic in its history.
Data for all of 2020 is not yet available. But last week the CDC reported more than 81,000 drug overdose deaths in the 12 months ending in May, making it the highest number ever recorded in a one-year period.
Experts think the pandemic’s disruption to in-person treatment and recovery services may have been a factor. People also are more likely to be taking drugs alone — without the benefit of a friend or family member who can call 911 or administer overdose-reversing medication.
But perhaps a bigger factor are the drugs themselves: COVID-19 caused supply problems for dealers, so they are increasingly mixing cheap and deadly fentanyl into heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, experts said.
“I don’t suspect there are a bunch of new people who suddenly started using drugs because of COVID. If anything, I think the supply of people who are already using drugs is more contaminated,” said Shannon Monnat, a Syracuse University researcher who studies drug overdose trends.
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thedenverpost--2020-12-22--Biden to address COVID bill, holiday pandemic precautions

WILMINGTON , Del .
— President-elect Joe Biden will speak Tuesday as the nation deals with a COVID-19 surge that ’ s casting a shadow over the Christmas holiday this week .
Biden will deliver remarks in Wilmington , Delaware on Tuesday afternoon , where he ’ s expected to speak on the $ 900 billion coronavirus aid bill passed by Congress on Monday .
It ’ s a package he supports but one he ’ s said is just a “ down payment ” for a broader relief bill he plans to introduce when he takes office in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanksgiving , Biden will express sympathy for the struggles American families are facing as they head into Christmas dealing with the emotional and economic impacts of the pandemic .
But he ’ ll encourage the nation to continue to take precautions to try to stem the spread of the virus , which has now killed more than 320,000 people in the United States .
Earlier this month , Biden said Americans “ can not be traveling during these holidays , ” and acknowledged that “ Christmas is going to be a lot harder.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden himself got vaccinated on live television as part of an effort to reassure people that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe .
After a quick prick in the arm , Biden urged Americans to continue wearing masks and socially distance if possible during the holidays .
“ If you don ’ t have to travel , don ’ t travel , ” he said .
“ It ’ s really important.
” On Tuesday , Biden ’ s team also announced a new round of White House staff appointments , led by longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff .
Reed served as Biden ’ s chief of staff during his first term as vice president , as has long been a close member of Biden ’ s inner circle of advisers .
But throughout the weeks of speculation over Biden ’ s Cabinet selections , progressives have expressed concerns about what they see as Reed ’ s moderate political views and fiscal conservatism .
Progressives notched a win in the latest round of staff announcements , however , with the appointment of Gautam Raghavan as deputy director of the office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief of staff to Rep. Pramila Jayapal , who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus , and in his new role he ’ ll help evaluate applicants for thousands of federal jobs and appointments throughout the administration .
Biden has also appointed Anne Filipic as director of management & administration , Ryan Montoya as director of scheduling & advance , Vinay Reddy as director of speechwriting and Elizabeth Wilkins as a senior advisor to the chief of staff .
All are alumni of the Obama-Biden Administration , and Montoya and Reddy worked on Biden @ @ @ @ @ @

WILMINGTON, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden will speak Tuesday as the nation deals with a COVID-19 surge that’s casting a shadow over the Christmas holiday this week.
Biden will deliver remarks in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday afternoon, where he’s expected to speak on the $900 billion coronavirus aid bill passed by Congress on Monday. It’s a package he supports but one he’s said is just a “down payment” for a broader relief bill he plans to introduce when he takes office in January.
And as he did prior to Thanksgiving, Biden will express sympathy for the struggles American families are facing as they head into Christmas dealing with the emotional and economic impacts of the pandemic. But he’ll encourage the nation to continue to take precautions to try to stem the spread of the virus, which has now killed more than 320,000 people in the United States.
Earlier this month, Biden said Americans “cannot be traveling during these holidays,” and acknowledged that “Christmas is going to be a lot harder.”
The remarks come the day after Biden himself got vaccinated on live television as part of an effort to reassure people that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. After a quick prick in the arm, Biden urged Americans to continue wearing masks and socially distance if possible during the holidays.
“If you don’t have to travel, don’t travel,” he said. “It’s really important.”
On Tuesday, Biden’s team also announced a new round of White House staff appointments, led by longtime aide Bruce Reed as deputy chief of staff. Reed served as Biden’s chief of staff during his first term as vice president, as has long been a close member of Biden’s inner circle of advisers.
But throughout the weeks of speculation over Biden’s Cabinet selections, progressives have expressed concerns about what they see as Reed’s moderate political views and fiscal conservatism.
Progressives notched a win in the latest round of staff announcements, however, with the appointment of Gautam Raghavan as deputy director of the office of Presidential Personnel. Raghavan served as chief of staff to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and in his new role he’ll help evaluate applicants for thousands of federal jobs and appointments throughout the administration.
Biden has also appointed Anne Filipic as director of management & administration, Ryan Montoya as director of scheduling & advance, Vinay Reddy as director of speechwriting and Elizabeth Wilkins as a senior advisor to the chief of staff. All are alumni of the Obama-Biden Administration, and Montoya and Reddy worked on Biden’s campaign as well.


thedenverpost--2020-12-22--Denver weather: Near record warmth, high winds ahead

Denver will near a record high Tuesday , but the wind will dominate the day .
According to the National Weather Service in Boulder , Denver expects a high temperature of 61 degrees under clear skies .
The record high for Dec. 22 was hit in 2005 at 64 degrees .
The metro area should stay under that mark .
It will still be an eventful weather day .
A southwest breeze that gusts up to 24 mph will only increase overnight as gusts could reach near 50 mph in the city .
Temperatures will drop into the teens Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and north-central Colorado could see gusts near 70 mph .
The strong west and northwest winds will develop light to moderate snow in the mountains creating hazardous driving conditions .
Another round of strong winds may affect the foothills Wednesday and downtown as gusts near 35 mph from the northwest .
The mostly sunny day will hover around freezing at 32 degrees .
Temperatures will drop into the teens overnight as the wind sticks around until Thursday .
Christmas Eve will finally see the wind progressively die down throughout the day as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no snow in the forecast for Christmas .

Denver will near a record high Tuesday, but the wind will dominate the day.
According to the National Weather Service in Boulder, Denver expects a high temperature of 61 degrees under clear skies. The record high for Dec. 22 was hit in 2005 at 64 degrees. The metro area should stay under that mark.
It will still be an eventful weather day. A southwest breeze that gusts up to 24 mph will only increase overnight as gusts could reach near 50 mph in the city. Temperatures will drop into the teens Tuesday night .
Around the state, northeast and north-central Colorado could see gusts near 70 mph. The strong west and northwest winds will develop light to moderate snow in the mountains creating hazardous driving conditions.
Another round of strong winds may affect the foothills Wednesday and downtown as gusts near 35 mph from the northwest. The mostly sunny day will hover around freezing at 32 degrees.
Temperatures will drop into the teens overnight as the wind sticks around until Thursday. Christmas Eve will finally see the wind progressively die down throughout the day as the high will near 50 under pristine skies.
There is no snow in the forecast for Christmas.


thedenverpost--2020-12-22--How Colorado’s new redistricting commissions will navigate a political swamp in 2021

Citizens passionate about fair elections will come together over the next year to painstakingly plot out the political lines that will govern state and federal races for the next decade — without fear or favor to partisan interests .
At least , that ’ s the ideal set out by a pair of constitutional amendments , approved by seven in 10 voters that Colorado will test out for the first time .
Starting in a few months , new independent redistricting commissions will grab the wheel , steering the process of redrawing congressional and legislative districts , a process that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by whichever party held more sway .
There ’ s no guarantee that politics will be left entirely at the door in 2021 , of course .
A lot will hinge on who gets picked as commissioners , how well they work together , and how they juggle competing interests , including jockeying for an 8th congressional seat that ’ s expected to be granted to fast-growing Colorado .
But advocates say the 12-member commissions are set up to keep decision-making out of back rooms .
Each is required to be divided evenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with each group taking four seats .
Many political insiders and lobbyists are barred from being members , and extensive rules require consensus to approve the new maps , with a decisive role handed to the unaffiliated members .
The state constitution , for the first time , also makes districts ’ competitiveness a key consideration , though it puts that behind other priorities aimed at ensuring good representation .
“ This is a really unique opportunity , ” said Amanda Gonzalez , who as executive director of Colorado Common Cause took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that crafted the amendments in 2018 .
“ This is the first time that , officially , regular people have control of the process , and they ’ ll be picking their politicians , not the other way around.
” One commission , created by Amendment Y , will use fresh population data from the 2020 census to redraw boundaries for Colorado ’ s congressional districts .
A separate commission , created by Amendment Z , will redraw its 65 state House districts and 35 Senate districts .
More than 3,000 applications came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The carefully calibrated selection process — designed to minimize favoritism — is underway .
“ The process is messy , but there are elaborate checks and balances built in ” to keep either major party from stacking the deck this time , said Josh Penry , a Republican strategist and former state lawmaker .
He also was involved in the talks on the 2018 amendments , and in a recent interview he mused : “ You wonder how previous map-drawing exercises in Colorado would ’ ve been different with the ( same ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s change to independent commissions is among a handful of highly watched redistricting reforms enacted among states in recent years .
Though other states have been more egregious in gerrymandering their districts to maximize wins for one party , fighting over Colorado ’ s maps often has spilled into the courts .
The state legislature long was handed the task of redrawing congressional districts , and a reapportionment commission — created by voters in a previous 1974 good-government overhaul — redrew state legislative districts .
In 2011 , after political flare-ups and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off on the eventual legislative and congressional maps pushed by Democrats .
The congressional map has proven slightly competitive , though it took Democrats several tries to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman from his redrawn suburban Denver district .
The party succeeded in 2018 , gaining a 4-3 edge in the delegation .
Under the state House map , Democrats have carried a clear — though not overwhelming — advantage as they ’ ve racked up big wins , according to a 2017 Associated Press analysis , which didn ’ t consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 election , Democrats maintained their 41-24 House majority and expanded their Senate edge to 20-15 .
How the process will play out The once-a-decade redistricting exercise is rarely elegant , coming with imperatives that range from the functional to the politically explosive .
Under the constitutional amendments , the commissions are charged with rebalancing all district lines to account for population growth and shifts , in ways that result in compact districts — but nonetheless keep “ communities of interest ” together .
Those could be cities and counties or racial and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The map-makers are not allowed to consider potential impacts on incumbents .
There ’ s some uncertainty to the timeline , owing to expected delays in the delivery of Colorado ’ s new population data by the U.S. Census Bureau , said Jessika Shipley , the new commissions ’ staff director .
She ’ s a veteran from the nonpartisan Colorado Legislative Council who was involved in Colorado ’ s 2011 redistricting process .
But she said the commissions will be ready to roll when the data arrives , expected anytime from late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what to expect , based on the amendments ’ requirements : Membership selection : An elaborate process will whittle down lists of 1,488 applicants for the legislative commission and 2,101 for the congressional commission , including plenty who applied for both .
By mid-March , a panel of state judges will use a mix of random draw and attention to geographic , racial , ethnic and gender diversity as they fill each commission ’ s eight partisan and four unaffiliated slots .
For each commission , Democratic and Republican legislative leaders get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each party ’ s final two slots will be filled .
Plenty of current and former political insiders have applied , but the rules generally bar those who recently have held elected office in Colorado , been a candidate for certain offices , occupied high positions in political parties or been registered as lobbyists .
The restrictions go back three or five years .
Initial maps and public hearings : After census data is delivered , the commissions ’ nonpartisan staff will use a computer program to draw preliminary district map proposals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state — three in each of the current congressional districts — by July deadlines ( staggered between the commissions ) to collect suggestions on the districts .
Yet to be decided , Shipley said , is whether the meetings will be conducted in-person or remotely .
Debate and further proposals : From there , the commissions will hash out priorities and public input as the staff prepares new map proposals .
Among the rules : Commissioners can request changes or newly created maps only during public meetings , though anyone can propose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by outside interests must be disclosed within 72 hours .
Adoption of maps : The congressional commission has until Sept. 15 to adopt new district lines .
The legislative commission has until Sept. 30 .
To approve a map , it will take a supermajority — 8 of 12 members — including at least two of the unaffiliated commissioners .
The Colorado Supreme Court then will review the maps for adherence to the criteria spelled out by the state constitution , potentially sending them back to the commissions for changes .
The court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final congressional map and until Dec. 29 to approve the state House and Senate maps .
If outside interests think the maps violate any rules , they can still bring court challenges .
“ It can ’ t be any worse , ” analyst says Basic politics is intrinsic to redistricting , as every decision hinges on competing interests — from the state level to the street level , across the urban-rural divide , and within basic disagreements such as whether to run district lines through counties or around them .
But will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political bickering that ’ s defined the past ?
“ I ’ d start by saying it can ’ t be any worse , ” said Eric Sondermann , an independent political analyst in Denver .
He ’ ll be among those watching closely as the commissions put new concepts into practice — and the political and legal worlds adjust .
“ The proof will be in the pudding , ” he said , “ but this is an effort to take both of these processes several steps further away from blatant partisanship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be worse .
It depends on how many high-quality people without a political ax to grind get selected.
” Shipley , the commissions ’ staff director , said she ’ s hopeful they will have a wide range of voices , though it took a late call for more applicants to increase the pools ’ diversity .
Applicants still ended up disproportionately white and skewed older .
The likely big time commitment kept some people who work full-time from applying , she said .
As she prepares for the year ahead , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There will be a lot less back-room stuff because of the requirements for who can talk to whom and when , ” Shipley said , adding : “ The commissioners can ’ t just go meet with legislative leadership and decide it all , and then it ’ s done — which is frankly what happened last time.
” For their part , Colorado ’ s major political parties each tried to recruit commission applicants and will be watching closely .
Spokesmen for each keyed in on the importance of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the parties at least can encourage varying interests to speak up .
“ We want to make sure we encourage as many people from as many communities as possible to chime in , ” said the Democrats ’ David Pourshoushtari , “ because it affects them.
” Joe Jackson , the Colorado GOP ’ s spokesman , said voters approved the amendments “ because they wanted politically balanced commissions that would consider the needs and voices of all four corners of Colorado .
We hope that is their priority as they move @ @ @ @ @ @

Citizens passionate about fair elections will come together over the next year to painstakingly plot out the political lines that will govern state and federal races for the next decade — without fear or favor to partisan interests.
At least, that’s the ideal set out by a pair of constitutional amendments, approved by seven in 10 voters, that Colorado will test out for the first time.
Starting in a few months, new independent redistricting commissions will grab the wheel, steering the process of redrawing congressional and legislative districts. It’s a process that in the past has often been dominated by whichever party held more sway.
There’s no guarantee that politics will be left entirely at the door in 2021, of course. A lot will hinge on who gets picked as commissioners, how well they work together, and how they juggle competing interests, including jockeying for an 8th congressional seat that’s expected to be granted to fast-growing Colorado.
But advocates say the 12-member commissions are set up to keep decision-making out of back rooms. Each is required to be divided evenly between Democratic, Republican and unaffiliated members, with each group taking four seats. Many political insiders and lobbyists are barred from being members, and extensive rules require consensus to approve the new maps, with a decisive role handed to the unaffiliated members.
The state constitution, for the first time, also makes districts’ competitiveness a key consideration, though it puts that behind other priorities aimed at ensuring good representation.
“This is a really unique opportunity,” said Amanda Gonzalez, who as executive director of Colorado Common Cause took part in a wide-ranging, cross-partisan coalition that crafted the amendments in 2018. “This is the first time that, officially, regular people have control of the process, and they’ll be picking their politicians, not the other way around.”
One commission, created by Amendment Y, will use fresh population data from the 2020 census to redraw boundaries for Colorado’s congressional districts. A separate commission, created by Amendment Z, will redraw its 65 state House districts and 35 Senate districts. More than 3,000 applications came in ahead of a November deadline. The carefully calibrated selection process — designed to minimize favoritism — is underway.
“The process is messy, but there are elaborate checks and balances built in” to keep either major party from stacking the deck this time, said Josh Penry, a Republican strategist and former state lawmaker.
He also was involved in the talks on the 2018 amendments, and in a recent interview he mused: “You wonder how previous map-drawing exercises in Colorado would’ve been different with the (same) bright light of public scrutiny.”
Colorado’s change to independent commissions is among a handful of highly watched redistricting reforms enacted among states in recent years. Though other states have been more egregious in gerrymandering their districts to maximize wins for one party, fighting over Colorado’s maps often has spilled into the courts.
The state legislature long was handed the task of redrawing congressional districts, and a reapportionment commission — created by voters in a previous 1974 good-government overhaul — redrew state legislative districts. In 2011, after political flare-ups and charges of back-room dealing, judges signed off on the eventual legislative and congressional maps pushed by Democrats.
The congressional map has proven slightly competitive, though it took Democrats several tries to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman from his redrawn suburban Denver district. The party succeeded in 2018, gaining a 4-3 edge in the delegation.
Under the state House map, Democrats have carried a clear — though not overwhelming — advantage as they’ve racked up big wins, according to a 2017 Associated Press analysis, which didn’t consider the Senate map. In the Nov. 3 election, Democrats maintained their 41-24 House majority and expanded their Senate edge to 20-15.
How the process will play out
The once-a-decade redistricting exercise is rarely elegant, coming with imperatives that range from the functional to the politically explosive.
Under the constitutional amendments, the commissions are charged with rebalancing all district lines to account for population growth and shifts, in ways that result in compact districts — but nonetheless keep “communities of interest” together. Those could be cities and counties or racial and ethnic groups spread over larger areas.
The map-makers are not allowed to consider potential impacts on incumbents.
There’s some uncertainty to the timeline, owing to expected delays in the delivery of Colorado’s new population data by the U.S. Census Bureau, said Jessika Shipley, the new commissions’ staff director. She’s a veteran from the nonpartisan Colorado Legislative Council who was involved in Colorado’s 2011 redistricting process.
But she said the commissions will be ready to roll when the data arrives, expected anytime from late winter to early summer. Here’s what to expect, based on the amendments’ requirements:
Membership selection: An elaborate process will whittle down lists of 1,488 applicants for the legislative commission and 2,101 for the congressional commission, including plenty who applied for both. By mid-March, a panel of state judges will use a mix of random draw and attention to geographic, racial, ethnic and gender diversity as they fill each commission’s eight partisan and four unaffiliated slots. For each commission, Democratic and Republican legislative leaders get to pick smaller applicant pools from which each party’s final two slots will be filled.
Plenty of current and former political insiders have applied, but the rules generally bar those who recently have held elected office in Colorado, been a candidate for certain offices, occupied high positions in political parties or been registered as lobbyists. The restrictions go back three or five years.
Initial maps and public hearings: After census data is delivered, the commissions’ nonpartisan staff will use a computer program to draw preliminary district map proposals. Plans call for 21 public meetings across the state — three in each of the current congressional districts — by July deadlines (staggered between the commissions) to collect suggestions on the districts. Yet to be decided, Shipley said, is whether the meetings will be conducted in-person or remotely.
Debate and further proposals: From there, the commissions will hash out priorities and public input as the staff prepares new map proposals. Among the rules: Commissioners can request changes or newly created maps only during public meetings, though anyone can propose a map for consideration. Any lobbying by outside interests must be disclosed within 72 hours.
Adoption of maps: The congressional commission has until Sept. 15 to adopt new district lines. The legislative commission has until Sept. 30. To approve a map, it will take a supermajority — 8 of 12 members — including at least two of the unaffiliated commissioners.
The Colorado Supreme Court then will review the maps for adherence to the criteria spelled out by the state constitution, potentially sending them back to the commissions for changes. The court has until Dec. 15 to approve the final congressional map and until Dec. 29 to approve the state House and Senate maps.
If outside interests think the maps violate any rules, they can still bring court challenges.
“It can’t be any worse,” analyst says
Basic politics is intrinsic to redistricting, as every decision hinges on competing interests — from the state level to the street level, across the urban-rural divide, and within basic disagreements such as whether to run district lines through counties or around them.
But will these new commissions be free of the political bickering that’s defined the past?
“I’d start by saying it can’t be any worse,” said Eric Sondermann, an independent political analyst in Denver.
He’ll be among those watching closely as the commissions put new concepts into practice — and the political and legal worlds adjust.
“The proof will be in the pudding,” he said, “but this is an effort to take both of these processes several steps further away from blatant partisanship. Again, it can’t be worse. It depends on how many high-quality people without a political ax to grind get selected.”
Shipley, the commissions’ staff director, said she’s hopeful they will have a wide range of voices, though it took a late call for more applicants to increase the pools’ diversity. Applicants still ended up disproportionately white and skewed older. The likely big time commitment kept some people who work full-time from applying, she said.
As she prepares for the year ahead, she pointed to key distinctions in the process.
“There will be a lot less back-room stuff because of the requirements for who can talk to whom and when,” Shipley said, adding: “The commissioners can’t just go meet with legislative leadership and decide it all, and then it’s done — which is frankly what happened last time.”
For their part, Colorado’s major political parties each tried to recruit commission applicants and will be watching closely. Spokesmen for each keyed in on the importance of public input — a point in the process where the parties at least can encourage varying interests to speak up.
“We want to make sure we encourage as many people from as many communities as possible to chime in,” said the Democrats’ David Pourshoushtari, “because it affects them.”
Joe Jackson, the Colorado GOP’s spokesman, said voters approved the amendments “because they wanted politically balanced commissions that would consider the needs and voices of all four corners of Colorado. We hope that is their priority as they move forward with this process.”