thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett faces Senate despite virus

WASHINGTON — Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett are set to begin as a divided Senate charges ahead on President Donald Trump ’ s pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and cement a conservative court majority before Election Day .
Barrett , a federal appeals court judge , will tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that she she is “ forever grateful ” for Ginsburg ’ s trailblazing path as a woman .
But she is resolved to maintain the perspective of her own mentor , the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and “ apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her prepared opening remarks for the hearings , which start Monday as the country is in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life , ” Barrett says in the remarks , which The Associated Press obtained .
Republicans , who control the Senate , are moving at a breakneck pace to seat Barrett before the Nov. 3 election to secure Trump ’ s pick and hear a high-profile challenge to the Affordable Care Act and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in vain to delay the fast-track confirmation by raising fresh concerns about the safety of meeting during the pandemic after two GOP senators on the panel tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
Sen. Mike Lee , R-Utah , and Sen. Thom Tillis , R-N.C. , have not said if they will attend in person .
Lee ’ s spokesman said the senator is symptom-free but would be making a decision on whether to attend Monday morning , per his doctor ’ s orders .
A spokesman for Tillis did not respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive 10 days ago .
Key Democrats are staying away .
California Sen. Kamala Harris , the Democratic vice presidential nominee and a committee member , plans to participate remotely from her Senate office due to coronavirus concerns , her spokesman said Sunday .
The committee released a letter from the Architect of the Capitol on Sunday that says the hearing room has been set up in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician with appropriate distance between seats and air ventilation systems that meet or exceed industry standards .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the committee ’ s chairman , Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , on Fox News Channel ’ s “ Sunday Morning Futures.
” He said he took a coronavirus test last week and is “ negative.
” Trump chose the 48-year-old judge after the death last month of Ginsburg , a liberal icon .
It ’ s the opportunity to entrench a conservative majority on the court for years to come with his third justice .
Outside groups are pushing Democrats to make a strong case against what they call an illegitimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some states , saying the winner of the presidency should make the pick .
No Supreme Court justice has ever been confirmed so close to a presidential contest .
“ The public is with them that this shouldn ’ t happen before the election , ” said Brian Fallon , executive director of Demand Justice , which advocates against right-leaning nominees .
The country will get an extended look at Barrett over the next three days in hearings like none other during the heated election environment and the pandemic limiting public access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and she said would bring “ a few new perspectives ” as the first mother of school-age children on the nine-member court .
Barrett says she uses her children as a test when deciding cases , asking herself how she would view the decision if one of her children were the party she was ruling against .
“ Even though I would not like the result , would I understand that the decision was fairly reasoned and grounded in the law ?
” she says in the prepared remarks .
A Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ power of prayer.
” Barrett ’ s religious views and past leadership role in a Catholic faith community pose a challenge for Democrats as they try to probe her judicial approach to abortion , gay marriage and other social issues without veering into inappropriate questions of her faith .
Ordinarily , Barrett would get to show off her family and seven children .
But the White House event announcing her nomination , in which most of the audience did not wear masks , has been labeled a “ superspreader ” for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event , including the two GOP senators , have contracted COVID-19 since then .
Barrett and her family went maskless at the event .
She and her husband , Jesse , tested positive for the virus earlier this year and recovered , two administration officials have said .
Democrats already were enraged that Republicans are moving so quickly having refused to consider President Barack Obama nominee in February 2016 , well before that year ’ s election .
Barrett is the most openly anti-abortion Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide a majority to restrict if not overturn abortion rights .
Democrats have made clear that they will press Barrett on health care , abortion and other issues where her vote could push the court further to the right .
Republicans will highlight Barrett ’ s belief in sticking to the text of laws and the original meaning of constitutional provisions , both Scalia trademarks as well .
Associated Press writers Matthew Daly in Washington and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento , California , contributed to this report .

Mark Sherman, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Michael Balsamo

WASHINGTON — Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett are set to begin as a divided Senate charges ahead on President Donald Trump’s pick to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and cement a conservative court majority before Election Day.
Barrett, a federal appeals court judge, will tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that she she is “forever grateful” for Ginsburg’s trailblazing path as a woman. But she is resolved to maintain the perspective of her own mentor, the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and “apply the law as written,” according to her prepared opening remarks for the hearings, which start Monday as the country is in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life,” Barrett says in the remarks, which The Associated Press obtained.
Republicans, who control the Senate, are moving at a breakneck pace to seat Barrett before the Nov. 3 election to secure Trump’s pick and hear a high-profile challenge to the Affordable Care Act and any election-related challenges.
Democrats are trying in vain to delay the fast-track confirmation by raising fresh concerns about the safety of meeting during the pandemic after two GOP senators on the panel tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have not said if they will attend in person. Lee’s spokesman said the senator is symptom-free but would be making a decision on whether to attend Monday morning, per his doctor’s orders. A spokesman for Tillis did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Both tested positive 10 days ago.
Key Democrats are staying away. California Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and a committee member, plans to participate remotely from her Senate office due to coronavirus concerns, her spokesman said Sunday.
The committee released a letter from the Architect of the Capitol on Sunday that says the hearing room has been set up in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician with appropriate distance between seats and air ventilation systems that meet or exceed industry standards.
“We’re going to work safely,” said the committee’s chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” He said he took a coronavirus test last week and is “negative.”
Trump chose the 48-year-old judge after the death last month of Ginsburg, a liberal icon. It’s the opportunity to entrench a conservative majority on the court for years to come with his third justice.
Outside groups are pushing Democrats to make a strong case against what they call an illegitimate confirmation, when people are already voting in some states, saying the winner of the presidency should make the pick. No Supreme Court justice has ever been confirmed so close to a presidential contest.
“The public is with them that this shouldn’t happen before the election,” said Brian Fallon, executive director of Demand Justice, which advocates against right-leaning nominees.
The country will get an extended look at Barrett over the next three days in hearings like none other during the heated election environment and the pandemic limiting public access.
Faith and family punctuate her testimony, and she said would bring “a few new perspectives” as the first mother of school-age children on the nine-member court.
Barrett says she uses her children as a test when deciding cases, asking herself how she would view the decision if one of her children were the party she was ruling against.
“Even though I would not like the result, would I understand that the decision was fairly reasoned and grounded in the law?” she says in the prepared remarks.
A Catholic, she says she believes in the “power of prayer.” Barrett’s religious views and past leadership role in a Catholic faith community pose a challenge for Democrats as they try to probe her judicial approach to abortion, gay marriage and other social issues without veering into inappropriate questions of her faith.
Ordinarily, Barrett would get to show off her family and seven children. But the White House event announcing her nomination, in which most of the audience did not wear masks, has been labeled a “superspreader” for the coronavirus.
More than two dozen people linked to the Sept. 26 Rose Garden event, including the two GOP senators, have contracted COVID-19 since then. Barrett and her family went maskless at the event. She and her husband, Jesse, tested positive for the virus earlier this year and recovered, two administration officials have said.
Democrats already were enraged that Republicans are moving so quickly having refused to consider President Barack Obama nominee in February 2016, well before that year’s election.
Barrett is the most openly anti-abortion Supreme Court nominee in decades and her vote could provide a majority to restrict if not overturn abortion rights. Democrats have made clear that they will press Barrett on health care, abortion and other issues where her vote could push the court further to the right.
Republicans will highlight Barrett’s belief in sticking to the text of laws and the original meaning of constitutional provisions, both Scalia trademarks as well.
Associated Press writers Matthew Daly in Washington and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Falcons fire coach Dan Quinn, GM Thomas Dimitroff after 0-5 start

ATLANTA — Dan Quinn , who guided Atlanta to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history but infamously squandered a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots , was fired on Sunday night in his sixth season as the Falcons coach .
The Falcons have also fired general manager Thomas Dimitroff .
The moves came hours after the Falcons started 0-5 for the first time since 1997 , which included becoming the first team in NFL history to squander fourth-quarter leads of at least 15 points in back-to-back games .
Quinn became the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season in Arthur Blank ’ s 18 years as owner .
He is the second NFL coach this season to lose his job after Houston ’ s Bill O ’ Brien was dismissed following an 0-4 start .
The decisive game for Quinn was a 23-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday , leaving him with an overall record of 43-42 but just 14-23 since the beginning of the 2018 season .
He was 3-2 in two postseason appearances .
Quinn was hired by the Falcons in 2015 after a highly successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , highlighted by two straight trips to the Super Bowl .

ATLANTA — Dan Quinn, who guided Atlanta to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history but infamously squandered a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, was fired on Sunday night in his sixth season as the Falcons coach.
The Falcons have also fired general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
The moves came hours after the Falcons started 0-5 for the first time since 1997, which included becoming the first team in NFL history to squander fourth-quarter leads of at least 15 points in back-to-back games.
Quinn became the second coach to be fired during the season in Arthur Blank’s 18 years as owner. He is the second NFL coach this season to lose his job after Houston’s Bill O’Brien was dismissed following an 0-4 start.
The decisive game for Quinn was a 23-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, leaving him with an overall record of 43-42 but just 14-23 since the beginning of the 2018 season. He was 3-2 in two postseason appearances.
Quinn was hired by the Falcons in 2015 after a highly successful run as Seattle’s defensive coordinator, highlighted by two straight trips to the Super Bowl.


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Los Angeles Lakers win 17th NBA title, beating Miami Heat in Game 6 of NBA Finals

This season , for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers , had it all .
And it ended in the only fashion that they deemed would be acceptable , with them back atop the basketball world .
For the first time since Kobe Bryant ’ s fifth and final title a decade ago , the Lakers are NBA champions .
James had 28 points , 14 rebounds and 10 assists , and the Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 on Sunday night to win the NBA Finals in six games .
Anthony Davis had 19 points and 15 rebounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enormous anguish that followed the death of the iconic Bryant in January and all the challenges that came with leaving home for three months to play at Walt Disney World in a bubble designed to keep inhabitants safe from the coronavirus .
It would be , James predicted , the toughest title to ever win .
They made the clincher look easy .
James won his fourth title , doing it with a third different franchise — and against the Heat franchise that showed him to to become a champion .
Bam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Miami , which got 12 points from Jimmy Butler — the player who , in his first Heat season , got the team back to title contention .
Rajon Rondo scored 19 points for the Lakers .
With that , the league ’ s bubble chapter , put together after a 4 1/2-month suspension of play that started March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic , is over .
So , too , is a season that saw the league and China get into political sparring , the death on Jan. 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who did so much to make the league what it is — and then the shock on Jan. 26 that came with the news that Bryant , his daughter Gianna and seven other died in a helicopter crash .
The Lakers said they were playing the rest of the season in his memory .
They delivered what Bryant did five times for L.A. — a ring , and the clincher was emphatic .
Game 6 was over by halftime , the Lakers taking a 64-36 lead into the break .
The Heat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from anywhere : 35 % from 2-point range in the half , 33 % from 3-point range and even an uncharacteristic 42 % from the line , not like any of it really mattered .
The Lakers were getting everything they wanted and then some , outscoring Miami 36-16 in the second quarter and doing all that with James making just one shot in the period .
Rajon Rondo , now a two-time champion and the first to win rings as a player in both Boston and Los Angeles — the franchises now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 for 6 in the half , the first time he ’ d done that since November 2007 .
The Lakers ’ lead was 46-32 with 5:00 left in the half , and they outscored Miami 18-4 from there until intermission .
Ball game .
The 28-point halftime lead was the second-biggest in NBA Finals history , topped only by the Celtics leading the Lakers 79-49 on May 27 , 1985 .
True to form , the Heat — a No .
5 seed in the Eastern Conference that finished with a losing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embraced the challenge of the bubble like none other — didn ’ t stop playing , not even when the deficit got to 36 in the third quarter .
A 23-8 run by Miami got the Heat to 90-69 with 8:37 left .
But the outcome was never in doubt , and before long confetti was blasted into the air as the Lakers ’ celebration formally and officially began .
Lakers : Davis did not wear the gold-painted sneakers that he had for Game 5 ; instead , he went with red-and-black ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dion Waiters , who began this season with the Heat ; 19-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker ( he turns 20 Nov. 25 ) and Kostas Antetokounmpo — the brother of two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks .
Heat : Goran Dragic ( torn left plantar fascia ) checked in late in the first quarter , his first appearance since Game 1 of the series .
… Jae Crowder had 12 points and Duncan Robinson had 10 for the Heat .
John Salley and Robert Horry were , until Sunday , the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchises .
James ( Miami , Cleveland ) and Danny Green ( San Antonio , Toronto ) added their names to that list with this title .
Miami led the NBA with 94 games played this season — 30 more than Minnesota , which played the fewest in the NBA .
The Heat finished with 1,247 3-pointers this season , including playoffs , 290 more than any other year in team history .
Nobody knows .
The draft is set for Nov. 18 , but the dates for the start of free agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s schedule could be weeks away from being finalized .

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The ultimate anguish. The ultimate joy.
This season, for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, had it all. And it ended in the only fashion that they deemed would be acceptable, with them back atop the basketball world.
For the first time since Kobe Bryant’s fifth and final title a decade ago, the Lakers are NBA champions. James had 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Lakers beat the Miami Heat 106-93 on Sunday night to win the NBA Finals in six games.
Anthony Davis had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who dealt with the enormous anguish that followed the death of the iconic Bryant in January and all the challenges that came with leaving home for three months to play at Walt Disney World in a bubble designed to keep inhabitants safe from the coronavirus.
It would be, James predicted, the toughest title to ever win.
They made the clincher look easy. James won his fourth title, doing it with a third different franchise — and against the Heat franchise that showed him to to become a champion.
Bam Adebayo had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, which got 12 points from Jimmy Butler — the player who, in his first Heat season, got the team back to title contention. Rajon Rondo scored 19 points for the Lakers.
With that, the league’s bubble chapter, put together after a 4 1/2-month suspension of play that started March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic, is over. So, too, is a season that saw the league and China get into political sparring, the death on Jan. 1 of commissioner emeritus David Stern — the man who did so much to make the league what it is — and then the shock on Jan. 26 that came with the news that Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other died in a helicopter crash.
The Lakers said they were playing the rest of the season in his memory.
They delivered what Bryant did five times for L.A. — a ring, and the clincher was emphatic.
Game 6 was over by halftime, the Lakers taking a 64-36 lead into the break. The Heat never led and couldn’t shoot from anywhere: 35% from 2-point range in the half, 33% from 3-point range and even an uncharacteristic 42% from the line, not like any of it really mattered. The Lakers were getting everything they wanted and then some, outscoring Miami 36-16 in the second quarter and doing all that with James making just one shot in the period.
Rajon Rondo, now a two-time champion and the first to win rings as a player in both Boston and Los Angeles — the franchises now tied with 17 titles apiece — was 6 for 6 in the half, the first time he’d done that since November 2007. The Lakers’ lead was 46-32 with 5:00 left in the half, and they outscored Miami 18-4 from there until intermission.
Ball game. The 28-point halftime lead was the second-biggest in NBA Finals history, topped only by the Celtics leading the Lakers 79-49 on May 27, 1985.
True to form, the Heat — a No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference that finished with a losing record last season, a team that embraced the challenge of the bubble like none other — didn’t stop playing, not even when the deficit got to 36 in the third quarter.
A 23-8 run by Miami got the Heat to 90-69 with 8:37 left. But the outcome was never in doubt, and before long confetti was blasted into the air as the Lakers’ celebration formally and officially began.
TIP-INS
Lakers: Davis did not wear the gold-painted sneakers that he had for Game 5; instead, he went with red-and-black ones Sunday. … Among the ring-winners: Dion Waiters, who began this season with the Heat; 19-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker (he turns 20 Nov. 25) and Kostas Antetokounmpo — the brother of two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Heat: Goran Dragic (torn left plantar fascia) checked in late in the first quarter, his first appearance since Game 1 of the series. … Jae Crowder had 12 points and Duncan Robinson had 10 for the Heat.
JOIN THE CLUB
John Salley and Robert Horry were, until Sunday, the only players to win championships with three different franchises. James (Miami, Cleveland) and Danny Green (San Antonio, Toronto) added their names to that list with this title.
HEAT SEASON
Miami led the NBA with 94 games played this season — 30 more than Minnesota, which played the fewest in the NBA. The Heat finished with 1,247 3-pointers this season, including playoffs, 290 more than any other year in team history.
UP NEXT
Nobody knows. The draft is set for Nov. 18, but the dates for the start of free agency, training camps and next season’s schedule could be weeks away from being finalized.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--Three more Rapids matches postponed amid COVID-19 outbreak

The Colorado Rapids have not had any new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since last weekend ’ s game against the L.A. Galaxy was postponed .
Still , MLS announced Monday night it would postpone Rapids matches for the next 10 days .
The decision comes after the club already had four matches postponed in the wake of 17 positive tests within the franchise since late September — five players and 12 staff members .
Major League Soccer said its decision to postpone additional matches was based on the total number of confirmed cases , and was done “ in consultation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Environment.
” Colorado last played Sept. 23 , when it beat San Jose 5-0 .
Matches against Portland , Kansas City , LAFC and the Galaxy have all been postponed since .
The league is looking at options to reschedule the Rapids ’ newly postponed matches , which include dates at Seattle ( Oct. 14 ) , vs. Real Salt Lake ( Oct. 18 ) and vs .
Sporting Kansas City ( Oct. 21 ) .
“ Those individuals who have continued to test negative will have the ability to attend team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the league stated in its release .

The Colorado Rapids have not had any new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since last weekend’s game against the L.A. Galaxy was postponed. Still, MLS announced Monday night it would postpone Rapids matches for the next 10 days.
The decision comes after the club already had four matches postponed in the wake of 17 positive tests within the franchise since late September — five players and 12 staff members.
Major League Soccer said its decision to postpone additional matches was based on the total number of confirmed cases, and was done “in consultation with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.”
Colorado last played Sept. 23, when it beat San Jose 5-0. Matches against Portland, Kansas City, LAFC and the Galaxy have all been postponed since.
The league is looking at options to reschedule the Rapids’ newly postponed matches, which include dates at Seattle (Oct. 14), vs. Real Salt Lake (Oct. 18) and vs. Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 21).
“Those individuals who have continued to test negative will have the ability to attend team training but will otherwise remain quarantined,” the league stated in its release.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--Woman severely injured in I-225 crash in Aurora is in medically induced coma

A single mother of two who was severely injured in a traffic crash on Interstate 225 last week has undergone brain surgery and remains in a medically induced coma .
Diana Sevilla , 46 , was driving to work at about 6 a.m. on Oct. 6 when her vehicle was hit head-on , according to a GoFundMe page .
The driver of the Dodge Charger who crossed into oncoming traffic and hit Sevilla head-on was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol , according to police .
That driver died at the scene .
Sevilla ’ s children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 , and other family members , have set up a GoFundMe page in hope of raising $ 330,000 for “ medical , illness and healing ” expenses .
As of Monday evening , 31 people had donated $ 3,025 .
“ Diana is currently in the Intensive Care Unit fighting for her life .
When she arrived at the hospital she only had a 5 % chance of survival , she was suffering from severe bleeding in her brain and intestinal injuries , ” the GoFundMe post said .
She remains in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post .
Sevilla was working two jobs to support her family at the time of the crash .
“ We greatly appreciate anyone who contributes , all donations will go to helping pay her medical bills , ” the post said .

A single mother of two who was severely injured in a traffic crash on Interstate 225 last week has undergone brain surgery and remains in a medically induced coma.
Diana Sevilla, 46, was driving to work at about 6 a.m. on Oct. 6 when her vehicle was hit head-on, according to a GoFundMe page.
The driver of the Dodge Charger who crossed into oncoming traffic and hit Sevilla head-on was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, according to police. That driver died at the scene.
Sevilla’s children, Tyler and Katie, ages 19 and 17, and other family members, have set up a GoFundMe page in hope of raising $330,000 for “medical, illness and healing” expenses.
As of Monday evening, 31 people had donated $3,025.
“Diana is currently in the Intensive Care Unit fighting for her life. When she arrived at the hospital she only had a 5% chance of survival, she was suffering from severe bleeding in her brain and intestinal injuries,” the GoFundMe post said.
She remains in a medically induced coma, according to the post.
Sevilla was working two jobs to support her family at the time of the crash.
“We greatly appreciate anyone who contributes, all donations will go to helping pay her medical bills,” the post said.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--Keeler: Phillip Lindsay takes COVID-19 seriously —  for a reason. It sent his father to the hospital

Keeler: Phillip Lindsay takes COVID-19 seriously —  for a reason. It sent his father to the hospital, made Broncos star question 2020 season.

Dang straight , he thought about opting out .
Who wouldn ’ t ?
New dad .
Baby at home .
A potentially chaotic fall .
Phillip Lindsay never quit on anything .
Certainly not teammates .
Certainly not on anything he could control .
But COVID-19 ?
“ He thought a lot about it , ” Troy Lindsay , father of the Broncos ’ Pro Bowl tailback , told me recently .
“ With Phil , being an undrafted free agent … a lot of the ones that got to opt out , they ’ ve already gotten their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was more of one of those things where he ’ s saying , ‘ Dad , I can ’ t … we need the money.
’ “ ( The Broncos ) have him under contract for this year , it ’ s his tender year .
Even if ( they don ’ t tender him ) , he still has the possibility of getting something ( on the open market ) even bigger .
So it really wasn ’ t the time to take off .
But for him , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s always worrying about his long-term stuff , with ( taking care of ) his family.
” Lindsay ’ s slated to become a restricted free agent after this season .
The three-year , $ 1.725-million contract he signed with the Broncos in 2018 , which included a $ 15,000 signing bonus , has proven to be one of the best bargains in the NFL .
The most important skill for a tailback in today ’ s game is reliability in the passing game .
Almost as important : Availability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing stars drop like flies .
“ Anybody can get COVID at any time , ” Lindsay , the former CU and Denver South standout , said last week .
“ It ’ s one of those things where you try your hardest to keep it away .
But it ’ s a disease and it ’ s something that spreads .
Knowing that , you have to go through every day like you ’ re protecting your family , yourself and your job.
” Lindsay hasn ’ t got time for COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they ’ re too cool for masks , too invincible to give a flip about safety protocols .
Or the way the NFL keeps yanking the Broncos around because of the Patriots ’ coronavirus follies .
An unseen enemy never seems real until it hits you .
It hit Phillip Lindsay ’ s dad about two months ago .
Hard .
“ So for Phillip , it ’ s even more important than you can imagine , ” said Troy , who was hospitalized late in the summer after contracting the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see our grandbaby for ( more than ) two weeks.
” The elder Lindsay , who was a running back at Colorado State back in the day , considers himself lucky , all things considered .
He didn ’ t require a ventilator and was discharged from the hospital after a week .
“ I kind of question a lot of this ( from the NFL ) , because I know with COVID , if you get it , there ’ s some lingering side effects , ” Troy said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the NFL , you see it here and then ( they ’ re ) saying , ‘ OK , these people got it , ’ and they can come back in a week .
“ Well , they gave me some of the wrong medicine .
Because I sure wasn ’ t back in a week .
I didn ’ t get any of that magical Trump stuff.
” More than eight weeks later , Troy still feels it from time to time .
The fatigue .
The shortness of breath .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 59 , on the cusp of the danger zone .
“ Some days , you ’ re not clear — it ’ s not clear , ” the elder Lindsay explained .
“ You know after you ’ ve been up all night , you wake up groggy ?
You think you ’ re OK the next day .
And then … it comes back .
• Kiszla vs. O ’ Halloran : Do Broncos or Patriots get more benefit by delaying game ?
• Kiszla : Broncos suffer because clowns in charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deal with COVID • NFL does major juggling of schedule due to coronavirus • Broncos-Patriots game moved again — this time to next Sunday • Broncos rookie Lloyd Cushenberry settling in at center : “ I want to prove people wrong who have started doubting me.
” “ Your sense of smell and taste takes a while to come back .
It affects your lungs and your heart and so you ’ re still ( exhausted ) .
You ’ re tired all the time and you find yourself out of breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can run around at full tilt against the Broncos after this , Troy figures , hats off to you , kid .
“ It is real , ” Troy said .
“ The younger people , they come out of it better than old people do .
It ’ s basically just because they ’ re younger .
But as you get older , man , I ’ d watch out .
“ Everyone says that , ‘ You ’ re well , ’ and , ‘ You don ’ t have it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stuff there .
Keep that mask on .
And keep your distance .
”

Dang straight, he thought about opting out. Who wouldn’t? New dad. Baby at home. A potentially chaotic fall. Phillip Lindsay never quit on anything. Certainly not teammates. Certainly not on anything he could control. But COVID-19?
COVID-19 was … different.
“He thought a lot about it,” Troy Lindsay, father of the Broncos’ Pro Bowl tailback, told me recently. “With Phil, being an undrafted free agent … a lot of the ones that got to opt out, they’ve already gotten their money. And for him, it was more of one of those things where he’s saying, ‘Dad, I can’t … we need the money.’
“(The Broncos) have him under contract for this year, it’s his tender year. Even if (they don’t tender him), he still has the possibility of getting something (on the open market) even bigger. So it really wasn’t the time to take off. But for him, he’s so worried about it. Phil, he’s always worrying about his long-term stuff, with (taking care of) his family.”
Lindsay’s slated to become a restricted free agent after this season. The three-year, $1.725-million contract he signed with the Broncos in 2018, which included a $15,000 signing bonus, has proven to be one of the best bargains in the NFL. The most important skill for a tailback in today’s game is reliability on the receiving front. Almost as important: Availability. Especially in an autumn that’s seeing stars drop like flies.
“Anybody can get COVID at any time,” Lindsay, the former CU and Denver South standout, said last week. “It’s one of those things where you try your hardest to keep it away. But it’s a disease and it’s something that spreads. Knowing that, you have to go through every day like you’re protecting your family, yourself and your job.”
Lindsay hasn’t got time for COVID deniers. Or teammates who act as if they’re too cool for masks, too invincible to give a flip about safety protocols. Or the way the NFL keeps yanking the Broncos around because of the Patriots’ coronavirus follies.
An unseen enemy never seems real until it hits you. It hit Phillip Lindsay’s dad about two months ago. Hard.
“So for Phillip, it’s even more important than you can imagine,” said Troy, who was hospitalized late in the summer after contracting the coronavirus. “We didn’t get to see our grandbaby for (more than) two weeks.”
The elder Lindsay, who was a running back at Colorado State back in the day, considers himself lucky, all things considered. He didn’t require a ventilator and was discharged from the hospital after a week.
“I kind of question a lot of this (from the NFL), because I know with COVID, if you get it, there’s some lingering side effects,” Troy said. “And I’m sorry, but in the NFL, you see it here and then (they’re) saying, ‘OK, these people got it,’ and they can come back in a week.
“Well, they gave me some of the wrong medicine. Because I sure wasn’t back in a week. I didn’t get any of that magical Trump stuff.”
More than eight weeks later, Troy still feels it from time to time. The fatigue. The shortness of breath. The dulled senses. He’s 59, on the cusp of the danger zone.
“Some days, you’re not clear — it’s not clear,” the elder Lindsay explained. “You know after you’ve been up all night, you wake up groggy? You think you’re OK the next day. And then … it comes back.
“Your sense of smell and taste takes a while to come back. It affects your lungs and your heart and so you’re still (exhausted). You’re tired all the time and you find yourself out of breath more often.”
So if Cam Newton can run around at full tilt against the Broncos after this, Troy figures, hats off to you, kid.
“It is real,” Troy said. “The younger people, they come out of it better than old people do. It’s basically just because they’re younger. But as you get older, man, I’d watch out.
“Everyone says that, ‘You’re well,’ and, ‘You don’t have it anymore.’ There’s some lingering stuff there. Keep that mask on. And keep your distance.”


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Search ongoing for missing hiker in Zapata Falls area of Alamosa County

Search and rescue officials in Alamosa County are asking for tips from the public about and overdue hiker who was @ @ @ @ @ .
Joy Cipoletti , 60 , was hiking Saturday in the Zapata Falls area , @ @ @ @ @ Trail , and in the Ellingwood Point area , according to the sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ known to be wearing a light purple or green jacket and she may be wearing @ @ @ @ @ is described as 5 feet , 3 inches tall and about 140 pounds , with @ @ @ @ @ .
She was last heard from at about 3 p.m. Saturday .
Anyone who has @ @ @ @ @ knows of her whereabouts , is asked to call police at 719-589-5807 , or search @ @ @ @ @

Search and rescue officials in Alamosa County are asking for tips from the public about and overdue hiker who was last heard from on Saturday.
Joy Cipoletti, 60, was hiking Saturday in the Zapata Falls area, on the South Zapata Lake Trail, and in the Ellingwood Point area, according to the sheriff’s office.
Cipolleti was last known to be wearing a light purple or green jacket and she may be wearing a white hat. She is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and about 140 pounds, with curly brown and gray hair. She was last heard from at about 3 p.m. Saturday.
Anyone who has seen Cipolleti, or who knows of her whereabouts, is asked to call police at 719-589-5807, or search and rescue at 773-456-2927.


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Colorado marijuana sales eclipse $200 million (again) in August

Colorado dispensaries sold $ 218.6 million worth of marijuana in August , falling just short of the all-time monthly record @ @ @ @ @ set in July .
Recreational sales totaled $ 176,566,595 for the month , while medical @ @ @ @ @ , according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue .
The state collected more @ @ @ @ @ taxes and fees from August sales .
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic , cannabis sales have @ @ @ @ @ setting records in May , June and July .
Though August , typically the industry @ @ @ @ @ broke that streak , sales are up 26 % compared to the same month in @ @ @ @ @ the debut of Colorado ’ s first contactless weed vending machine .
In the first @ @ @ @ @ consumers purchased more than $ 1.4 billion worth of cannabis products .
Since recreational sales @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s dispensaries have sold more than $ 9.2 billion worth of cannabis @

Colorado dispensaries sold $218.6 million worth of marijuana in August, falling just short of the all-time monthly record, $226 million, set in July.
Recreational sales totaled $176,566,595 for the month, while medical sales totaled $42,034,746, according to data from the Colorado Department of Revenue. The state collected more than $40 million in taxes and fees from August sales.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, cannabis sales have grown exponentially this year, setting records in May, June and July. Though August, typically the industry’s biggest month, broke that streak, sales are up 26% compared to the same month in 2019. August also saw the debut of Colorado’s first contactless weed vending machine.
In the first eight months of 2020, consumers purchased more than $1.4 billion worth of cannabis products. Since recreational sales began in January 2014, the state’s dispensaries have sold more than $9.2 billion worth of cannabis.


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Tyler Matzek, former Rockies’ top pick, overcomes yips to shine for Braves’ bullpen

In the summer of 2019 , Atlanta Braves bench coach Walt Weiss was studying the organization ’ s minor-league scouting reports when he came across a familiar name .
“ I was reading one of our box scores from our Double-A team in Jackson ( Miss . )
, and it said , ‘ Matzek , ’ ” Weiss recalled .
“ I thought , ‘ Well , that can ’ t be him.
’ I hadn ’ t heard from Tyler in four or five years .
I just assumed he wasn ’ t in the game anymore .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Man , what an incredible journey.
” Monday night , Tyler Matzek , the Rockies ’ first-round draft choice in 2009 whose performance anxiety and case of the yips nearly ruined his baseball career , was in the Braves ’ bullpen as they faced the Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field .
“ If you had told me this would happen a year ago , I would have said , ‘ There ’ s no way , ’ ” Matzek said from his hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This was always the vision and the dream .
This moment , this time , was the thing that kept me pushing through all of the ( crud ) I was dealing with .
And the funny thing is , after everything I ’ ve been through , this all happened so fast .
So , for my vision to come true is just a whole different thing.
” Matzek ’ s feel-good story rivals that of Rockies closer Daniel Bard , who this past season overcame his own battle with the yips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first time in more than seven years .
Like Bard , Matzek has done more than just make it back to the bigs , he ’ s thrived .
The 29-year-old left-hander made 21 appearances during the 60-game season and led the major leagues with 12 relief appearances of more than one inning .
His ERA was 2.79 and he ranked fifth among big-league relievers in strikeouts , with 43 .
In the first three postseason games of his career , Matzek pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings , allowing two hits , striking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every time I see Tyler on the mound , it ’ s just a great feeling , ” said Weiss , Matzek ’ s first big-league manager .
“ Because I know what he ’ s been through and I was there in the dark days .
Now he ’ s been pitching at a very high level .
He ’ s been quite the find.
” Weiss was there on June 11 , 2014 , when Matzek made his big-league debut , pitching 7 innings against Atlanta at Coors Field .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was outstanding , giving up two runs on five hits , striking out seven and walking none .
It seemed to be the beginning of a bright career for Matzek , the 11th overall pick who got a $ 3.9 million signing bonus from the Rockies .
On Sept. 5 , 2014 , at Coors Field , Matzek hurled a three-hit shutout against San Diego .
Over his final six starts of his rookie season , he went 4-2 with a 1.55 ERA .
But anxiety crept upon him and the yips grew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rockies home opener in 2015 but within a month was sent down to Triple-A .
Things got worse from there , and there were many , including Weiss , who feared Matzek ’ s career was over .
“ That ’ s a dark place to be , ” Weiss said .
“ It ’ s a tough place to come back from .
Not just to come back to pitching , but to pitch at a high level at the major leagues .
The chances are overwhelmingly against you .
It takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-and-winding journey has included stints at all levels of the minors , including playing for the independent Texas AirHogs of the American Association as late as 2019 , as well as a season for the Palm Springs Chill in the California Winter League in 2018 .
He came very close to quitting baseball .
It was his wife , Lauren , who kept him going .
“ In 2017 , when I wasn ’ t getting picked up by anybody , I was back home in California , playing catch , ” Matzek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was trying to play catch , throwing the ball all over the place .
I basically told Lauren that I was done and that I was going to go back to school .
I told her we were going to have to figure out the rest of our lives .
“ She basically said , ‘ No.
’ She said , ‘ I know you can do it .
I believe in you and you need to keep pushing along as long as you possibly can , ’ ” Matzek recalled .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll do it.
’ But I was done , honestly .
If it wasn ’ t for her , I wouldn ’ t be playing baseball.
” The couple started dating at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo , Calif. , so Lauren knew her husband , sometimes better than he knew himself .
“ I told him , ‘ This isn ’ t , obviously , where we planned to be , but I ’ ve seen you pitch , I know what you can do , ’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ Don ’ t give up until you have tried your hardest to get back to where you need to be , back to where you belong.
’ As cheesy as it sounds , I knew that once he believed in himself again , he would get back to the big leagues.
” In addition to his wife ’ s unwavering support , Matzek consulted psychologists and mental-skills coaches to help him beat the yips .
Still , the roller-coaster continued until last summer in Grand Prairie , Texas , when Matzek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. , the son of the late , famed , colorful manager .
Martin , president of the AirHogs , convinced Matzek to return to the higher arm angle he employed early in his career .
“ That one little thing changed my command and my ( velocity ) — everything , ” Matzek said .
“ Then I just continued to throw , throw , throw .
I think that got the yips out of me .
“ It also enabled me to relax .
I wasn ’ t thinking about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about pitching and my delivery got much smoother .
It was easier than it had been in a long time.
” Matzek , however , was not with the Braves ’ big-league team during spring training .
During summer camp , he got only a few looks with Atlanta .
But , as Weiss noted , the left-hander was striking out just about every batter he faced at the Braves ’ alternative training site and Matzek made the club ’ s opening-day roster in late July .
“ I remember telling our guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it out , he can be a game-changer for us , ” Weiss said .
“ And he has been.
” “ I ’ m super proud of him , ” Lauren said .
“ When he got the call that he was making the opening-day roster , both of us got teary-eyed .
I mean , I cried a little bit and I ’ m not one to cry .
I mean , I didn ’ t even cry on our wedding day .
But it was like , ‘ Oh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
’ “

In the summer of 2019, Atlanta Braves bench coach Walt Weiss was studying the organization’s minor-league scouting reports when he came across a familiar name.
“I was reading one of our box scores from our Double-A team in Jackson (Miss.), and it said, ‘Matzek,’ ” Weiss recalled. “I thought, ‘Well, that can’t be him.’ I hadn’t heard from Tyler in four or five years. I just assumed he wasn’t in the game anymore. But sure enough, it was him. Man, what an incredible journey.”
Monday night, Tyler Matzek, the Rockies’ first-round draft choice in 2009 whose performance anxiety and case of the yips nearly ruined his baseball career, was in the Braves’ bullpen as they faced the Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field.
“If you had told me this would happen a year ago, I would have said, ‘There’s no way,’ ” Matzek said from his hotel room in Arlington, Texas. “This was always the vision and the dream. This moment, this time, was the thing that kept me pushing through all of the (crud) I was dealing with. And the funny thing is, after everything I’ve been through, this all happened so fast. So, for my vision to come true is just a whole different thing.”
Matzek’s feel-good story rivals that of Rockies closer Daniel Bard, who this past season overcame his own battle with the yips and pitched in the majors for the first time in more than seven years. Like Bard, Matzek has done more than just make it back to the bigs, he’s thrived.
The 29-year-old left-hander made 21 appearances during the 60-game season and led the major leagues with 12 relief appearances of more than one inning. His ERA was 2.79 and he ranked fifth among big-league relievers in strikeouts, with 43. In the first three postseason games of his career, Matzek pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out eight and walking none.
“Every time I see Tyler on the mound, it’s just a great feeling,” said Weiss, Matzek’s first big-league manager. “Because I know what he’s been through and I was there in the dark days. Now he’s been pitching at a very high level. He’s been quite the find.”
Weiss was there on June 11, 2014, when Matzek made his big-league debut, pitching 7 innings against Atlanta at Coors Field. The Rockies won, 8-2, and Matzek was outstanding, giving up two runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking none. It seemed to be the beginning of a bright career for Matzek, the 11th overall pick who got a $3.9 million signing bonus from the Rockies.
On Sept. 5, 2014, at Coors Field, Matzek hurled a three-hit shutout against San Diego. Over his final six starts of his rookie season, he went 4-2 with a 1.55 ERA.
But anxiety crept upon him and the yips grew out of control. He pitched the Rockies home opener in 2015 but within a month was sent down to Triple-A. Things got worse from there, and there were many, including Weiss, who feared Matzek’s career was over.
“That’s a dark place to be,” Weiss said. “It’s a tough place to come back from. Not just to come back to pitching, but to pitch at a high level at the major leagues. The chances are overwhelmingly against you. It takes a special person.”
Matzek’s long-and-winding journey has included stints at all levels of the minors, including playing for the independent Texas AirHogs of the American Association as late as 2019, as well as a season for the Palm Springs Chill in the California Winter League in 2018. He came very close to quitting baseball. It was his wife, Lauren, who kept him going.
“In 2017, when I wasn’t getting picked up by anybody, I was back home in California, playing catch,” Matzek recalled. “Or rather, I was trying to play catch, throwing the ball all over the place. I basically told Lauren that I was done and that I was going to go back to school. I told her we were going to have to figure out the rest of our lives.
“She basically said, ‘No.’ She said, ‘I know you can do it. I believe in you and you need to keep pushing along as long as you possibly can,’ ” Matzek recalled. “I said, ‘All right, I’ll do it.’ But I was done, honestly. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be playing baseball.”
The couple started dating at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Calif., so Lauren knew her husband, sometimes better than he knew himself.
“I told him, ‘This isn’t, obviously, where we planned to be, but I’ve seen you pitch, I know what you can do,’ ” she said. “I told him, ‘Don’t give up until you have tried your hardest to get back to where you need to be, back to where you belong.’ As cheesy as it sounds, I knew that once he believed in himself again, he would get back to the big leagues.”
In addition to his wife’s unwavering support, Matzek consulted psychologists and mental-skills coaches to help him beat the yips.
Still, the roller-coaster continued until last summer in Grand Prairie, Texas, when Matzek got some key advice from Billy Martin Jr., the son of the late, famed, colorful manager. Martin, president of the AirHogs, convinced Matzek to return to the higher arm angle he employed early in his career.
“That one little thing changed my command and my (velocity) — everything,” Matzek said. “Then I just continued to throw, throw, throw. I think that got the yips out of me.
“It also enabled me to relax. I wasn’t thinking about the mechanics anymore. I was just thinking about pitching and my delivery got much smoother. It was easier than it had been in a long time.”
Matzek, however, was not with the Braves’ big-league team during spring training. During summer camp, he got only a few looks with Atlanta. But, as Weiss noted, the left-hander was striking out just about every batter he faced at the Braves’ alternative training site and Matzek made the club’s opening-day roster in late July.
“I remember telling our guys, ‘If this kid has figured it out, he can be a game-changer for us,” Weiss said. “And he has been.”
Which doesn’t really surprise Lauren.
“I’m super proud of him,” Lauren said. “When he got the call that he was making the opening-day roster, both of us got teary-eyed. I mean, I cried a little bit and I’m not one to cry. I mean, I didn’t even cry on our wedding day. But it was like, ‘Oh, my God, we’re back!’ “


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Security guard suspect in fatal Denver protest shooting acted in self-defense, attorney says

The 30-year-old security guard suspected of shooting and killing a protester in Denver on Saturday was acting in self-defense when he opened fire , an attorney for the suspect ’ s family said .
During a confrontation , a demonstrator who had attended a “ Patriot Rally ” in Civic Center — identified by family as Lee Keltner , 49 — struck Matthew Robert Dolloff while holding a can of what appears to be pepper spray , photos of the incident show .
Keltner used the spray and Dolloff opened fire , though it ’ s not clear in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keltner reaching into his shirt and feared for his safety , family attorney Doug Richards said .
Police and 9News said Dolloff was working as a contracted security guard for staff of the television station at the time of the shooting , though city officials say they have no record he was licensed to do such work in Denver .
“ I think it ’ s important to recognize that this is somebody who is at the protest working to protect First Amendment rights , ” Richards said in an interview Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of any organization or to advance any political agenda .
You can see in the images that he put his body in between the protester and the reporter .
Matt was doing everything he was supposed to do and everything he was trained to do.
” Dolloff had worked for more than a year as a private security guard at a number of events in Colorado , Richards said .
The night before the shooting , Dolloff worked as an armed security guard at a debate between Colorado ’ s U.S. Senate candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held at Denver7 ’ s television studio and co-hosted by The Denver Post and Colorado Public Radio .
Denver7 on Monday confirmed Dolloff was one of the guards at the debate but disputed that he was armed .
“ We do not use armed guards , ” Holly Gauntt , Denver7 ’ s news director , said in an email .
“ We have always told Pinkerton that we want unarmed guards.
” Dolloff picked up the security jobs as a contractor through Pinkerton , Richards said .
The attorney on Monday said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training Dolloff had or what entity provided the training .
He also said he didn ’ t know whether Dolloff had a license to work as a security guard in Denver .
Such licenses are required to work in private security in the city .
“ Even if he didn ’ t carry the special Denver security license , it didn ’ t stop Pinkerton from sending Matt into that job and it doesn ’ t change the fact that Matt was acting in self-defense , ” Richards said .
Pinkerton officials provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impacted by the shooting .
“ As it relates to the incident in Denver on Oct. 10 , the agent in question is not a Pinkerton employee but rather a contractor agent from a long-standing industry vendor , ” the statement reads .
“ Security professionals often serve as guides to protect media crews during potentially dangerous situations or hostile environments .
We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation.
” A public relations consultant working for Pinkerton did not respond to a question from The Post asking for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 9News on Monday also did not reply to a request by The Post for an interview about the shooting .
The Denver City Attorney ’ s Office and the city department that handles licensing are investigating Dolloff ’ s licensing and deciding what punishment , if any , should be levied against involved parties .
“ Licensed security guard employers that hire unlicensed security guards could face disciplinary actions against their licenses ranging from a fine to suspension to revocation , ” the city attorney ’ s office said Monday in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal charges for permitting or directing an unlicensed person to perform security services .
Regarding Matthew Dolloff , there could be civil or criminal actions taken , or both , against Mr. Dolloff , Pinkerton , 9News , and/or any other entity that hired and deployed Dolloff in an unlicensed security guard capacity.
” The Elbert County Sheriff ’ s Office issued a concealed-carry license to Dolloff in June 2018 that was valid for five years , Sheriff Tim Norton said .
The sheriff ’ s office suspended the license after the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Dolloff worked the security jobs to help pay for his education at University of Colorado Denver , where he had nearly completed an undergraduate degree in political science , Richards said .
Dolloff ’ s family has received hate mail and death threats because of the shooting , the attorney said .
“ They ’ re essentially in hiding right now because people think that this was a political event , ” Richards said .
Dolloff remained in Denver ’ s Downtown Detention Center on Monday without bond .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been formally charged by prosecutors .
He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder .

The 30-year-old security guard suspected of shooting and killing a protester in Denver on Saturday was acting in self-defense when he opened fire, an attorney for the suspect’s family said.
During a confrontation, a demonstrator who had attended a “Patriot Rally” in Civic Center — identified by family as Lee Keltner, 49 — struck Matthew Robert Dolloff while holding a can of what appears to be pepper spray, photos of the incident show. Keltner used the spray and Dolloff opened fire, though it’s not clear in the photos which occurred first.
Dolloff saw Keltner reaching into his shirt and feared for his safety, family attorney Doug Richards said.
Police and 9News said Dolloff was working as a contracted security guard for staff of the television station at the time of the shooting, though city officials say they have no record he was licensed to do such work in Denver.
“I think it’s important to recognize that this is somebody who is at the protest working to protect First Amendment rights,” Richards said in an interview Monday. “He was not there on behalf of any organization or to advance any political agenda. You can see in the images that he put his body in between the protester and the reporter. Matt was doing everything he was supposed to do and everything he was trained to do.”
Dolloff had worked for more than a year as a private security guard at a number of events in Colorado, Richards said. The night before the shooting, Dolloff worked as an armed security guard at a debate between Colorado’s U.S. Senate candidates, Richards said. That debate was held at Denver7’s television studio and co-hosted by The Denver Post and Colorado Public Radio.
Denver7 on Monday confirmed Dolloff was one of the guards at the debate but disputed that he was armed. “We do not use armed guards,” Holly Gauntt, Denver7’s news director, said in an email. “We have always told Pinkerton that we want unarmed guards.”
Dolloff picked up the security jobs as a contractor through Pinkerton, Richards said. The attorney on Monday said he did not know exactly what security training Dolloff had or what entity provided the training. He also said he didn’t know whether Dolloff had a license to work as a security guard in Denver. Such licenses are required to work in private security in the city.
“Even if he didn’t carry the special Denver security license, it didn’t stop Pinkerton from sending Matt into that job and it doesn’t change the fact that Matt was acting in self-defense,” Richards said.
Pinkerton officials provided a statement Monday offering condolences to people impacted by the shooting.
“As it relates to the incident in Denver on Oct. 10, the agent in question is not a Pinkerton employee but rather a contractor agent from a long-standing industry vendor,” the statement reads. “Security professionals often serve as guides to protect media crews during potentially dangerous situations or hostile environments. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation.”
A public relations consultant working for Pinkerton did not respond to a question from The Post asking for the name of the vendor. A representative from 9News on Monday also did not reply to a request by The Post for an interview about the shooting.
The Denver City Attorney’s Office and the city department that handles licensing are investigating Dolloff’s licensing and deciding what punishment, if any, should be levied against involved parties.
“Licensed security guard employers that hire unlicensed security guards could face disciplinary actions against their licenses ranging from a fine to suspension to revocation,” the city attorney’s office said Monday in a statement. “Businesses could also face criminal charges for permitting or directing an unlicensed person to perform security services. Regarding Matthew Dolloff, there could be civil or criminal actions taken, or both, against Mr. Dolloff, Pinkerton, 9News, and/or any other entity that hired and deployed Dolloff in an unlicensed security guard capacity.”
The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office issued a concealed-carry license to Dolloff in June 2018 that was valid for five years, Sheriff Tim Norton said. The sheriff’s office suspended the license after the shooting pending the results of the criminal investigation, he said.
Dolloff worked the security jobs to help pay for his education at University of Colorado Denver, where he had nearly completed an undergraduate degree in political science, Richards said.
Dolloff’s family has received hate mail and death threats because of the shooting, the attorney said.
“They’re essentially in hiding right now because people think that this was a political event,” Richards said.
Dolloff remained in Denver’s Downtown Detention Center on Monday without bond. As of Monday afternoon, he had not been formally charged by prosecutors. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder.


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Two women injured in Lakewood carjacking taken to hospital

Two women , victims of a carjacking , were injured Monday afternoon in Lakewood when the fleeing carjacker ran them @ @ @ @ @ The incident happened at about 12:45 p.m. in the 400 block of Benton Street , @ @ @ @ @ .
The women , ages 88 and 76 , were taken to a local hospital @ @ @ @ @ describe the carjacker as a Hispanic man , about the age of 20 , about @ @ @ @ @ tall .
He was last seen wearing a red , cloth facial mask and a @ @ @ @ @ is a 2000 Lincoln sedan with a Colorado Honorably Discharged license plate 274-CBF .
The @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
Anyone who sees the vehicle , or has information on the @ @ @ @ @ call 911 .

Two women, victims of a carjacking, were injured Monday afternoon in Lakewood when the fleeing carjacker ran them over, police said.
The incident happened at about 12:45 p.m. in the 400 block of Benton Street, according to a news release.
The women, ages 88 and 76, were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Police describe the carjacker as a Hispanic man, about the age of 20, about 6 feet, 2 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a red, cloth facial mask and a hat. The vehicle stolen is a 2000 Lincoln sedan with a Colorado Honorably Discharged license plate 274-CBF.
The suspect is armed and dangerous, police said.
Anyone who sees the vehicle, or has information on the incident, is asked to call 911.


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--WATCH: Rays’ Manny Margot crashes over the wall to make catch against Astros

Look for Manny Margot to be on every sports highlight reel tonight .
First , he hit a three-run blast @ @ @ @ @ first inning to give Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead .
Then , with two outs @ @ @ @ @ second inning Monday , the right fielder made an incredible catch that sent him tumbling @ @ @ @ @ stands .
The Rays led 3-0 at that point .

Look for Manny Margot to be on every sports highlight reel tonight.
First, he hit a three-run blast in the bottom of the first inning to give Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead.
Then, with two outs in the top of the second inning Monday, the right fielder made an incredible catch that sent him tumbling over a wall into the stands.
WOW… INSANE CATCH BY MANNY MARGOT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mMqdIZjd8c — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 12, 2020
The Rays led 3-0 at that point.


thedenverpost--2020-10-12--Jets’ Adam Gase considering handing off play-calling duties

NEW YORK — Adam Gase might be ready to call an audible on play-calling duties .
With the New York Jets off to an 0-5 start for the first time since 1996 and struggling mightily on offense , the coach acknowledged Monday he is considering handing off calling plays during games so he can take a wider-angle view of the entire team .
“ I don ’ t think I ’ m ever opposed to trying something to change things up , ” Gase said during a conference call .
“ I ’ d say everything ’ s on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has called the offensive plays during every game he has been a head coach , including his three seasons in Miami , but acknowledged he has “ toyed with the idea ” at times .
While he wouldn ’ t commit to relinquishing those duties this week , it sounded as though more input from offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and/or running backs coach Jim Bob Cooter is possible .
“ I ’ m considering everything , ” Gase said .
“ I ’ m just looking at everything and just trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this thing in the right direction , I ’ ll be all for it.
” The Jets rank last or close to last in nearly every major offensive category .
They have dealt with several injuries , including quarterback Sam Darnold missing a game with a sprained right shoulder , and a handful of wide receivers sidelined during the first five games .
Running back Le ’ Veon Bell ( hamstring ) returned Sunday after missing three games , but had little impact in the 30-10 loss to Arizona .
He ran for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 7-yard catch on the only pass that came his way .
Bell raised some eyebrows after the game when he “ liked ” a few social media posts that questioned why he wasn ’ t used more in the passing game — and one that suggested the Jets trade him .
Bell didn ’ t speak to reporters after the game or on Monday .
Gase said he hadn ’ t yet spoken to Bell about the situation , but understands the running back ’ s frustration over the team not winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the route that we go with all this instead of just talking to me about it , but that seems to be the way guys want to do it nowadays , ” Gase said of players using social media .
The best player on the field has been wide receiver Jamison Crowder , despite his missing two games with a hamstring injury .
Whether it has been Darnold or Joe Flacco under center , Crowder has been consistently reliable .
He has three straight games with 100 or more yards receiving and leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next closest players in receptions are Chris Hogan ( 14 receptions ) and Chris Herndon ( 13 ) — and they ’ ve played in all five games .
WHAT NEEDS HELP Well , the list could go on and on .
But the inability to score touchdowns in the red zone has been critical .
New York has had its chances this season , but is a league-worst 25 % ( 3 of 12 ) inside the opponents ’ 20-yard line .
The Jets went 1 for 3 Sunday , Flacco connecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ With a team like us that ’ s struggling right now to get going it ’ s , in a way , good to see those long drives and keeping ourselves on the field and converting first downs , ” Flacco said .
“ But at the same time , we just haven ’ t been able to get out of our own way.
” John Franklin-Myers .
The defensive end had the Jets ’ only sack against Arizona and has been emerging as a bright spot in limited snaps .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a sack and a forced fumble in the Super Bowl against New England in February 2019 .
He was claimed by the Jets off waivers last year , but spent the season on injured reserve .
Henry Anderson .
The veteran defensive end had a career-high seven sacks in his first season with the Jets under Todd Bowles in 2018 , He has one in the two years since while playing in Gregg Williams ’ defense .
He played only 17 snaps on defense against Arizona and is seeing diminished playing time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this week , with the team wanting to see how he feels before determining if he will throw in practice Wednesday .
… Gase also had no update on top draftee LT Mekhi Becton ( shoulder ) , who missed the game against Arizona .
… Hogan has a high-ankle sprain and was undergoing additional tests , but it sounded as though he will be sidelined at least this week .
34.8 % — That ’ s the Jets ’ third-down efficiency , converting 24 times in 69 opportunities — including just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York ranks 28th in the NFL and it ’ s a major reason for the offense being unable to consistently sustain drives .
The NFL shuffled the schedule because of coronavirus outbreaks with Tennessee and New England , so the Jets will head to AFC East-rival Miami next Sunday instead of Los Angeles to face the Chargers .
Rather than face a rookie quarterback in Justin Herbert , New York will take on a familiar face in veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick , who led the Dolphins to a stunning 43-17 win at San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Jets starter and could be in for another big day against a leaky New York defense .

NEW YORK — Adam Gase might be ready to call an audible on play-calling duties.
With the New York Jets off to an 0-5 start for the first time since 1996 and struggling mightily on offense, the coach acknowledged Monday he is considering handing off calling plays during games so he can take a wider-angle view of the entire team.
“I don’t think I’m ever opposed to trying something to change things up,” Gase said during a conference call. “I’d say everything’s on the table at this point.”
Gase said he has called the offensive plays during every game he has been a head coach, including his three seasons in Miami, but acknowledged he has “toyed with the idea” at times. While he wouldn’t commit to relinquishing those duties this week, it sounded as though more input from offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and/or running backs coach Jim Bob Cooter is possible.
“I’m considering everything,” Gase said. “I’m just looking at everything and just trying to figure out whatever can help us turn this thing in the right direction, I’ll be all for it.”
The Jets rank last or close to last in nearly every major offensive category. They have dealt with several injuries, including quarterback Sam Darnold missing a game with a sprained right shoulder, and a handful of wide receivers sidelined during the first five games.
Running back Le’Veon Bell (hamstring) returned Sunday after missing three games, but had little impact in the 30-10 loss to Arizona. He ran for 60 yards on 13 carries and had a 7-yard catch on the only pass that came his way.
Bell raised some eyebrows after the game when he “liked” a few social media posts that questioned why he wasn’t used more in the passing game — and one that suggested the Jets trade him. Bell didn’t speak to reporters after the game or on Monday.
Gase said he hadn’t yet spoken to Bell about the situation, but understands the running back’s frustration over the team not winning.
“I hate that’s the route that we go with all this instead of just talking to me about it, but that seems to be the way guys want to do it nowadays,” Gase said of players using social media.
WHAT’S WORKING
The best player on the field has been wide receiver Jamison Crowder, despite his missing two games with a hamstring injury.
Whether it has been Darnold or Joe Flacco under center, Crowder has been consistently reliable. He has three straight games with 100 or more yards receiving and leads the Jets with 22 catches. The next closest players in receptions are Chris Hogan (14 receptions) and Chris Herndon (13) — and they’ve played in all five games.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
Well, the list could go on and on. But the inability to score touchdowns in the red zone has been critical.
New York has had its chances this season, but is a league-worst 25% (3 of 12) inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. The Jets went 1 for 3 Sunday, Flacco connecting with Crowder on an 11-yard touchdown.
“With a team like us that’s struggling right now to get going it’s, in a way, good to see those long drives and keeping ourselves on the field and converting first downs,” Flacco said. “But at the same time, we just haven’t been able to get out of our own way.”
STOCK UP
John Franklin-Myers. The defensive end had the Jets’ only sack against Arizona and has been emerging as a bright spot in limited snaps. As a rookie with the Rams, Franklin-Myers had a sack and a forced fumble in the Super Bowl against New England in February 2019. He was claimed by the Jets off waivers last year, but spent the season on injured reserve.
STOCK DOWN
Henry Anderson. The veteran defensive end had a career-high seven sacks in his first season with the Jets under Todd Bowles in 2018, He has one in the two years since while playing in Gregg Williams’ defense. He played only 17 snaps on defense against Arizona and is seeing diminished playing time.
INJURED
Darnold’s availability is uncertain for this week, with the team wanting to see how he feels before determining if he will throw in practice Wednesday. … Gase also had no update on top draftee LT Mekhi Becton (shoulder), who missed the game against Arizona. … Hogan has a high-ankle sprain and was undergoing additional tests, but it sounded as though he will be sidelined at least this week.
KEY NUMBER
34.8% — That’s the Jets’ third-down efficiency, converting 24 times in 69 opportunities — including just 4 of 13 against Arizona. New York ranks 28th in the NFL and it’s a major reason for the offense being unable to consistently sustain drives.
NEXT STEPS
The NFL shuffled the schedule because of coronavirus outbreaks with Tennessee and New England, so the Jets will head to AFC East-rival Miami next Sunday instead of Los Angeles to face the Chargers. Rather than face a rookie quarterback in Justin Herbert, New York will take on a familiar face in veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led the Dolphins to a stunning 43-17 win at San Francisco. The 37-year-old Fitzpatrick spent two years as Jets starter and could be in for another big day against a leaky New York defense.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--Editorial: Every American should be able to protest without the fear of death

Lee Keltner — a Denver-area hat maker who created art with his custom-ordered products — was shot and killed in downtown Denver while attending a rally to support the police and after a physical altercation with an armed man providing security for a television producer .
Keltner ’ s death , like several across the U.S. that have occurred during protests since the death of George Floyd , is a tragedy .
Americans must find ways to gather and express their views , to be vocal and passionate , and to also be peaceful and non-violent .
And we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one deserves to die for getting in a verbal or physical fight , spraying mace , resisting arrest , grabbing a police officer ’ s spent Taser , serving this country as a police officer , or exercising the right to peacefully assemble .
We don ’ t pretend to know what transpired before or after Keltner was shot ; we are waiting on additional information from the police investigation .
An attorney representing Dolloff ’ s family said that Dolloff was protecting a journalist and acted in self-defense .
Just like thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the photos that Denver Post photographer Helen Richardson captured showing the moments before and after Keltner was shot .
It need not be said that Richardson displayed incredible bravery and dedication to her role as a journalist capturing these moments of strife and division in America .
We know from Richardson ’ s photos that Keltner slaps Dolloff .
Dolloff appears in another photo to be reaching for his gun .
Then another image shows Keltner spraying a cloud of pepper spray as Dolloff fires his gun ( the photo captures a shell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was killed and police arrested Dolloff .
Dolloff had been hired as a security guard to accompany a 9News producer who was covering the protests , police and a 9News source have said .
However , it ’ s unclear what company , if any , Dolloff was employed through and whether he was properly licensed to be a private security guard in Denver .
It doesn ’ t matter what Keltner or Dolloff thought of Black Lives Matter or police .
What matters is that one man was killed , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was manslaughter , murder or self-defense .
We can not help but note the reversal of roles in this situation , and it ’ s possible that if Coloradans can step back from this tragedy dispassionately , they could find common ground .
A man is dead who did not appear to use or threaten lethal force ( we ’ ll wait for the investigation to tell us whether he was unarmed or not and what words were exchanged ) , and the question is whether the shooting was in some way justified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans have grappled with far too many times this year .
All of these deaths and shootings — whether it was at the hands of a police officer , a private security guard , an armed teen trying to protect private property , a protester recklessly firing a gun at a moving vehicle or anyone else — should lead us to question whether our self-defense laws are serving justice or permitting murder .
Are we empowering people to protect themselves and others or are we making our public spaces unsafe with our laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at the tragic deaths that occurred across the nation in 2020 and consider the answers to those questions .
We must protect the right to assemble .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

Lee Keltner — a Denver-area hat maker who created art with his custom-ordered products — was shot and killed in downtown Denver while attending a rally to support the police and after a physical altercation with an armed man providing security for a television producer. Keltner’s death, like several across the U.S. that have occurred during protests since the death of George Floyd, is a tragedy.
Americans must find ways to gather and express their views, to be vocal and passionate, and to also be peaceful and non-violent.
And we are sure all Americans can agree that no one deserves to die for getting in a verbal or physical fight, spraying mace, resisting arrest, grabbing a police officer’s spent Taser, serving this country as a police officer, or exercising the right to peacefully assemble.
We don’t pretend to know what transpired before or after Keltner was shot; we are waiting on additional information from the police investigation. An attorney representing Dolloff’s family said that Dolloff was protecting a journalist and acted in self-defense.
Just like thousands of others, we’ve seen the photos that Denver Post photographer Helen Richardson captured showing the moments before and after Keltner was shot. It need not be said that Richardson displayed incredible bravery and dedication to her role as a journalist capturing these moments of strife and division in America.
We know from Richardson’s photos that Keltner slaps Dolloff. Dolloff appears in another photo to be reaching for his gun. Then another image shows Keltner spraying a cloud of pepper spray as Dolloff fires his gun (the photo captures a shell casing in the air.) Keltner was killed and police arrested Dolloff.
Dolloff had been hired as a security guard to accompany a 9News producer who was covering the protests, police and a 9News source have said. However, it’s unclear what company, if any, Dolloff was employed through and whether he was properly licensed to be a private security guard in Denver.
It doesn’t matter what Keltner or Dolloff thought of Black Lives Matter or police.
What matters is that one man was killed, and the Denver district attorney must determine if this was manslaughter, murder or self-defense.
We cannot help but note the reversal of roles in this situation, and it’s possible that if Coloradans can step back from this tragedy dispassionately, they could find common ground. A man is dead who did not appear to use or threaten lethal force (we’ll wait for the investigation to tell us whether he was unarmed or not and what words were exchanged), and the question is whether the shooting was in some way justified. It’s a question that Americans have grappled with far too many times this year.
All of these deaths and shootings — whether it was at the hands of a police officer, a private security guard, an armed teen trying to protect private property, a protester recklessly firing a gun at a moving vehicle or anyone else — should lead us to question whether our self-defense laws are serving justice or permitting murder. Are we empowering people to protect themselves and others or are we making our public spaces unsafe with our laws?
As a society, we must look at the tragic deaths that occurred across the nation in 2020 and consider the answers to those questions. We must protect the right to assemble.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--Serious crash closes eastbound I-70 at Central Park Boulevard in Denver

DENVER — A serious crash closed all eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Denver early Tuesday morning .
The wreck @ @ @ @ @ at Central Park Boulevard .
The crash involved serious injuries , according to a tweet @ @ @ @ @ .
All eastbound traffic was being diverted off of I-70 at Northfield Quebec Street in @ @ @ @ @ be closed for a while , traffic operators with the Colorado Department of Transportation told @ @ @ @ @ .
Read the full story from our partner at thedenverchannel.com .

DENVER –A serious crash closed all eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 in Denver early Tuesday morning. The interstate reopened just before 8:20 a.m.
The wreck was reported around 4 a.m. at Central Park Boulevard.
The crash involved serious injuries, according to a tweet from the Denver Police Department.
All eastbound traffic was diverted off of I-70 at Northfield Quebec Street in Denver.
Read the full story from our partner at thedenverchannel.com.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--Colorado in “third wave” of COVID-19 as hospitalizations reach highest level since May, state health

Colorado in “third wave” of COVID-19 as hospitalizations reach highest level since May, state health director says

More Colorado residents are in the hospital for COVID-19 than at any point since late May , as hospitalizations surged past the peak of the state ’ s summer spike .
As of Monday , 288 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colorado .
The last time more patients were receiving hospital-level care for the virus was May 31 , when the spring wave of the new coronavirus was receding .
Cases also took a turn upward last week after falling slightly the previous week .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 4,979 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is about 900 cases more than the state saw during the single-biggest week of the July surge .
The state did perform more tests last week than in late July , but the increasing rate of tests coming back positive indicates that ’ s not the only reason the number of cases is growing .
About 4.5 % of tests statewide came back positive over the last three days , which was the highest rate since Aug. 5 .
When the positivity rate exceeds 5 % , it suggests a state isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths is harder to track , because reports can be delayed as long as two weeks .
What can be discerned isn ’ t terribly encouraging , though : the number of deaths per week has increased since mid-September , and two weeks ago , the total was the highest it has been since the end of the summer wave .
Jill Hunsaker Ryan , executive director of the state health department , said Colorado is in a “ third wave.
” The first wave in March and April was likely much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be certain how big it was because testing was limited , she said .
The second wave followed July 4 , and this one began after Labor Day .
Hunsaker Ryan said she ’ s concerned about increased social mixing around Halloween leading to more infections , and that if transmission continues to grow into November , people visiting their relatives may inadvertently bring the virus .
It ’ s best to avoid gathering to celebrate now , but if you do , you should wear masks if you ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t live with , she said .
“ Our goal is to knock this down before the holidays , before the winter and flu season start , ” she said .
Current hospitalizations are exceeding projections from late September , said Kacey Wulff , a senior COVID-19 adviser to Gov .
Jared Polis .
If the current pace of infections continues , Colorado hospitals could be forced to adopt “ crisis standards ” because of a lack of intensive care beds in December , she said .
Crisis standards allow for care that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in normal times , when there aren ’ t enough resources to meet the usual standard .
On Monday , 77 % of Colorado ’ s 1,977 ICU beds were in use , according to state data .
“ If we continue on our current path , we are not going to be in good shape for the holidays , ” she said .
It ’ s important to focus on precautions like social distancing now , because any close contacts are riskier than they were over the summer , said Beth Carlton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health .
With the virus circulating more widely in the community , the odds are higher that any given person has it , perhaps without knowing it , she said .
“ I don ’ t think anyone knows where we will be come Halloween , but these numbers are very concerning , ” she said .
Denver County accounted for about 19 % of new infections last week .
Adams , Arapahoe , El Paso and Jefferson counties also showed increasing cases , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop .
Nine counties , including Denver and Adams , had enough new cases to be in the second-highest ( orange ) level on the state ’ s dashboard of how well the virus is being controlled .
One , Logan County , was in the red , meaning it could face a stay-at-home order if less-drastic measures don ’ t work .
Statewide , 79,037 people in Colorado have tested positive , and 7,915 have been hospitalized .
Since March , 1,998 people have died directly from the virus .

More Colorado residents are in the hospital for COVID-19 than at any point since late May, as hospitalizations surged past the peak of the state’s summer spike.
As of Monday, 288 people were hospitalized with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colorado. The last time more patients were receiving hospital-level care for the virus was May 31, when the spring wave of the new coronavirus was receding.
Cases also took a turn upward last week after falling slightly the previous week. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported 4,979 cases in the week ending Sunday, which is about 900 cases more than the state saw during the single-biggest week of the July surge.
The state did perform more tests last week than in late July, but the increasing rate of tests coming back positive indicates that’s not the only reason the number of cases is growing. About 4.5% of tests statewide came back positive over the last three days, which was the highest rate since Aug. 5. When the positivity rate exceeds 5%, it suggests a state isn’t doing enough testing.
The trajectory of deaths is harder to track, because reports can be delayed as long as two weeks. What can be discerned isn’t terribly encouraging, though: the number of deaths per week has increased since mid-September, and two weeks ago, the total was the highest it has been since the end of the summer wave.
Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the state health department, said Colorado is in a “third wave.” The first wave in March and April was likely much larger, though it’s difficult to be certain how big it was because testing was limited, she said. The second wave followed July 4, and this one began after Labor Day.
Hunsaker Ryan said she’s concerned about increased social mixing around Halloween leading to more infections, and that if transmission continues to grow into November, people visiting their relatives may inadvertently bring the virus. It’s best to avoid gathering to celebrate now, but if you do, you should wear masks if you’re going to be around people you don’t live with, she said.
“Our goal is to knock this down before the holidays, before the winter and flu season start,” she said.
Current hospitalizations are exceeding projections from late September, said Kacey Wulff, a senior COVID-19 adviser to Gov. Jared Polis. If the current pace of infections continues, Colorado hospitals could be forced to adopt “crisis standards” because of a lack of intensive care beds in December, she said. Crisis standards allow for care that wouldn’t be up to expectations in normal times, when there aren’t enough resources to meet the usual standard.
On Monday, 77% of Colorado’s 1,977 ICU beds were in use, according to state data.
“If we continue on our current path, we are not going to be in good shape for the holidays,” she said.
It’s important to focus on precautions like social distancing now, because any close contacts are riskier than they were over the summer, said Beth Carlton, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health. With the virus circulating more widely in the community, the odds are higher that any given person has it, perhaps without knowing it, she said.
“I don’t think anyone knows where we will be come Halloween, but these numbers are very concerning,” she said.
Denver County accounted for about 19% of new infections last week. Adams, Arapahoe, El Paso and Jefferson counties also showed increasing cases, while Boulder County’s numbers continued to drop.
Nine counties, including Denver and Adams, had enough new cases to be in the second-highest (orange) level on the state’s dashboard of how well the virus is being controlled. One, Logan County, was in the red, meaning it could face a stay-at-home order if less-drastic measures don’t work.
Statewide, 79,037 people in Colorado have tested positive, and 7,915 have been hospitalized. Since March, 1,998 people have died directly from the virus.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--What does Colorado law say about Denver protest shooting suspect’s self-defense claim?

Whether the security guard who shot and killed a Denver demonstrator over the weekend will be able to successfully argue in court that he acted in self-defense will depend on the particular nuances of the case , Colorado legal experts said Monday .
Doug Richards , who is working with the family of Matthew Robert Dolloff , 30 , called the shooting tragic Monday , and said that Dolloff fired only when he was attacked .
Dolloff shot and killed Lee Keltner , 49 , toward the end of two opposing demonstrations downtown , with one billed as a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ BLM-Antifa Soup Drive.
” “ This was a very clear case of Matt acting in self-defense , ” Richards said .
Dolloff has not yet been charged by prosecutors but is being held by police on suspicion of first-degree murder .
Under Colorado law , someone can use deadly force in self-defense only if that person reasonably thinks using less force won ’ t be sufficient , and the person reasonably believes he or someone else faces an immediate threat of being killed or seriously hurt .
There is no duty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action taken in self-defense must be generally proportionate to the attack , attorneys said .
“ The way I used to explain it to juries is there are two fundamental components of self-defense , ” said Stan Garnett , former district attorney in Boulder County .
“ The first one is the perception of the person involved in it — what did they reasonably believe was happening ?
And the second provision is proportionality .
Did they respond in a manner that was appropriate and proportionate ?
” “ If someone comes at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , you can ’ t take out a gun and shoot them , ” said attorney Jacob Kartchner .
“ The amount of self-defense needs to be requisite with the threat presented against you.
” Keltner ’ s family told The Denver Post he went downtown Sunday to support law enforcement .
Toward the end of the rallies , he got into a confrontation with Dolloff — it ’ s not clear how it started , but photos taken by a Post photographer show at one point Keltner appears to have slapped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two men stepped back from one another .
Keltner pulled out a can of pepper spray and fired it toward Dolloff , who Keltner shot from a few feet away , according to the photos .
Whether Dolloff ’ s decision to fire was reasonable will depend on myriad factors , attorneys said , such as his state of mind , what words were exchanged and whether he knew Keltner was armed with pepper spray or thought he may have had a gun .
Dolloff was working as a contracted security guard for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city officials say he was not licensed for such work in Denver .
Under state law , Dolloff also can ’ t claim self-defense if he started the confrontation , unless he tried to end it and communicated that to Keltner , and Keltner nevertheless attacked again , attorneys said .
All of those factors will be part of the determining whether Dolloff held reasonable beliefs and took reasonable actions , said Ken Eichner , a defense attorney and former prosecutor .
“ Once you get into the courtroom , then you really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ A person ( spraying ) another person with pepper spray might create a situation where responding with a gun might be considered a reasonable force… But it could be the other way , too .
Other people might think using a gun for pepper spray is absurd .
It ’ s going to be a hotly contested fact .
”

Whether the security guard who shot and killed a Denver demonstrator over the weekend will be able to successfully argue in court that he acted in self-defense will depend on the particular nuances of the case, Colorado legal experts said Monday.
Doug Richards, who is working with the family of Matthew Robert Dolloff, 30, called the shooting tragic Monday, and said that Dolloff fired only when he was attacked. Dolloff shot and killed Lee Keltner, 49, toward the end of two opposing demonstrations downtown, with one billed as a “Patriot Rally” and the other a “BLM-Antifa Soup Drive.”
“This was a very clear case of Matt acting in self-defense,” Richards said.
Dolloff has not yet been charged by prosecutors but is being held by police on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Under Colorado law, someone can use deadly force in self-defense only if that person reasonably thinks using less force won’t be sufficient, and the person reasonably believes he or someone else faces an immediate threat of being killed or seriously hurt.
There is no duty to retreat under state law, but the action taken in self-defense must be generally proportionate to the attack, attorneys said.
“The way I used to explain it to juries is there are two fundamental components of self-defense,” said Stan Garnett, former district attorney in Boulder County. “The first one is the perception of the person involved in it — what did they reasonably believe was happening? And the second provision is proportionality. Did they respond in a manner that was appropriate and proportionate?”
“If someone comes at you and they are going to punch you, you can’t take out a gun and shoot them,” said attorney Jacob Kartchner. “The amount of self-defense needs to be requisite with the threat presented against you.”
Keltner’s family told The Denver Post he went downtown Sunday to support law enforcement. Toward the end of the rallies, he got into a confrontation with Dolloff — it’s not clear how it started, but photos taken by a Post photographer show at one point Dolloff touched Keltner in the chest, then Keltner appears to have slapped Dolloff in the face. The two men stepped back from one another before Keltner fired a can of pepper spray toward Dolloff, and Dolloff shot Keltner from a few feet away, according to the photos.
Whether Dolloff’s decision to fire was reasonable will depend on myriad factors, attorneys said, such as his state of mind, what words were exchanged and whether he knew Keltner was armed with pepper spray or thought he may have had a gun.
Dolloff was working as a contracted security guard for 9News when he killed Keltner, though city officials say he was not licensed for such work in Denver.
Under state law, Dolloff also can’t claim self-defense if he started the confrontation, unless he tried to end it and communicated that to Keltner, and Keltner nevertheless attacked again, attorneys said.
All of those factors will be part of the determining whether Dolloff held reasonable beliefs and took reasonable actions, said Ken Eichner, a defense attorney and former prosecutor.
“Once you get into the courtroom, then you really get into the weeds,” he said. “A person (spraying) another person with pepper spray might create a situation where responding with a gun might be considered a reasonable force… But it could be the other way, too. Other people might think using a gun for pepper spray is absurd. It’s going to be a hotly contested fact.”
Updated Oct. 13, 2020 This story has been updated to clarify the sequence of events following the publication of the full set of photos taken by a Denver Post photographer.


thedenverpost--2020-10-13--Nuggets 2020-21 championship odds: Denver has quite a few teams in front of them to win the NBA Fina

Nuggets 2020-21 championship odds: Denver has quite a few teams in front of them to win the NBA Finals

Even though the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Finals , oddsmakers are giving many other teams better chances at bringing home the Larry O ’ Brien championship trophy in 2021 .
Denver is tied for the ninth favorite with the Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA championship next season at +2,000 — meaning a $ 100 bet would win $ 2,000 — according to BetMGM .
The Lakers , who won their 17th title in franchise history Sunday , are favored to repeat at +400 .
The Clippers , who the Nuggets beat in the second round , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ +500 .
They ’ re followed by the Warriors ( +800 ) , Nets ( +900 ) , Heat ( +900 ) , Celtics ( +1,000 ) and Raptors ( +1,600 ) .
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Bleacher Report ’ s NBA mock draft has North Carolina guard coming to Denver .
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Denver is also listed as tied for fourth favorite to win the West with the Mavericks at +1,100 .
The Lakers ( +200 ) , Clippers ( +260 ) and Warriors ( +425 ) are ahead of them .
Bovada and BetOnline also have the Nuggets as the ninth favorite at +2,000 with the Lakers as the favorites at +400 .

Even though the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Finals, oddsmakers are giving many other teams better chances at bringing home the Larry O’Brien championship trophy in 2021.
Denver is tied for the ninth favorite with the Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA championship next season at +2,000 — meaning a $100 bet would win $2,000 — according to BetMGM.
The Lakers, who won their 17th title in franchise history Sunday, are favored to repeat at +400. The Clippers, who the Nuggets beat in the second round, are tied for second with the Bucks at +500. They’re followed by the Warriors (+800), Nets (+900), Heat (+900), Celtics (+1,000) and Raptors (+1,600).
Denver is also listed as tied for fourth favorite to win the West with the Mavericks at +1,100. The Lakers (+200), Clippers (+260) and Warriors (+425) are ahead of them.
Bovada and BetOnline also have the Nuggets as the ninth favorite at +2,000 with the Lakers as the favorites at +400.