thedenverpost--2020-10-05--Critical fire weather forecast Monday for Cameron Peak, Mullen blazes

Fire officials are expecting warm , windy weather Monday on both the Cameron Peak and Mullen fires , saying the winds may test their fire lines but hoping to keep the flames from spreading further .
The Cameron Peak Fire , which sparked in western Larimer County on Aug. 13 , has burned 126,164 acres , making it the third largest fire in Colorado history behind the 2002 Hayman Fire and the still burning Pine Gulch fire .
As of Sunday , it remained at 40 % contained .
Fire crews worked by hand , with heavy equipment and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend to strengthen barriers built to stop the spread of the fire , to douse areas of extreme fire heat to prevent more spread and to protect homes that are threatened by the fire .
So far , the fire has damaged or destroyed 99 structures , and evacuations and closures remain in place .
And with warmer temperatures and winds that could gust to 40 mph on Monday , the fire area was covered by a red flag warning from 9 p.m. Sunday through 7 p.m. Monday .
An online fire report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test ” the work fire crews have completed along the eastern edge and the northeast corner of the fire , which have been the highest priority for containment recently .
“ We have some challenging weather coming up , which is going to test our fire and test our control lines , ” John Norton-Jensen , planning operations trainee with the Northwest Incident Management Team , said in a recorded briefing on Sunday .
A second fire that sparked in Southern Wyoming on Sept. 17 , has burned across the Colorado border in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there and in northwestern Larimer County .
The Mullen Fire was reported at 140,140 acres and 11 % contained on Sunday .
Officials warned of a warming dry trend that will start on Monday that , with gusty winds , is expected to lead to active burning and significant fire spread.
” Chip Redmond , incident meteorologist , said Sunday that the warmer , drier , windier conditions will continue on the Mullen Fire through the week .
“ They ’ re still going to be cranking , ” Redmond said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be gusting 30 even 35 mph , not on the fire but around the fire … The rest of week , it ’ s rinse , wash , repeat .
I don ’ t see any reprieve this week.
” The winds from the Mullen Fire have carried the smoke throughout surrounding communities , including reaching both Loveland and Fort Collins .
This is predicted to continue on Monday .

Fire officials are expecting warm, windy weather Monday on both the Cameron Peak and Mullen fires, saying the winds may test their fire lines but hoping to keep the flames from spreading further.
The Cameron Peak Fire, which sparked in western Larimer County on Aug. 13, has burned 126,164 acres, making it the third largest fire in Colorado history behind the 2002 Hayman Fire and the still burning Pine Gulch fire. As of Sunday, it remained at 40% contained.
Fire crews worked by hand, with heavy equipment and with the help of air tankers over the weekend to strengthen barriers built to stop the spread of the fire, to douse areas of extreme fire heat to prevent more spread and to protect homes that are threatened by the fire.
So far, the fire has damaged or destroyed 99 structures, and evacuations and closures remain in place.
And with warmer temperatures and winds that could gust to 40 mph on Monday, the fire area was covered by a red flag warning from 9 p.m. Sunday through 7 p.m. Monday. An online fire report said these conditions are expected to “test” the work fire crews have completed along the eastern edge and the northeast corner of the fire, which have been the highest priority for containment recently.
“We have some challenging weather coming up, which is going to test our fire and test our control lines,” John Norton-Jensen, planning operations trainee with the Northwest Incident Management Team, said in a recorded briefing on Sunday.
A second fire that sparked in Southern Wyoming on Sept. 17, has burned across the Colorado border in Jackson County and led to some evacuations there and in northwestern Larimer County. The Mullen Fire was reported at 140,140 acres and 11% contained on Sunday.
Officials warned of a warming dry trend that will start on Monday that, with gusty winds, is expected to lead to active burning and significant fire spread.” Chip Redmond, incident meteorologist, said Sunday that the warmer, drier, windier conditions will continue on the Mullen Fire through the week.
“They’re still going to be cranking,” Redmond said in a recorded briefing. “They’re going to be gusting 30 even 35 mph, not on the fire but around the fire … The rest of week, it’s rinse, wash, repeat. I don’t see any reprieve this week.”
The winds from the Mullen Fire have carried the smoke throughout surrounding communities, including reaching both Loveland and Fort Collins. This is predicted to continue on Monday.


thedenverpost--2020-10-06--Keeler: If Brett Rypien can beat Bill Belichick in New England, he’s the man. Otherwise, he’s just a

Keeler: If Brett Rypien can beat Bill Belichick in New England, he’s the man. Otherwise, he’s just another Kyle Sloter.

Granted , there was a lot to like .
The calm in the pocket .
The zip to Tim Patrick through that tight window for six .
The touch on that rainbow to Jerry Jeudy .
The thing that strikes — and , in the end , ultimately slays — most young quarterbacks upon getting thrown to the NFL wolves is the warp speed at which everything flashes by .
Very little about last Thursday night looked too fast for Brett Rypien , which is the best compliment you can hang around any rookie signal-caller ’ s neck .
One-and-oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flip side , 1-0 also happened against the Jets , who right now resemble the Washington Generals , minus the confetti and the ice buckets .
And the gang in the giant green clown car still somehow managed to pick Rypien off three times , even running one of those interceptions back for a score .
There ’ s a lot of chatter about how much it said about the Broncos to hang with good Tennessee and Pittsburgh rosters while injuries shredded the depth chart .
That ’ s true .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drive away from knocking you to 0-4 and shooting your backside up another peg in the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes .
That sword cuts both ways .
Rent to your heart ’ s content .
Just don ’ t buy yet .
No .
4 ’ s not the definitive article .
Not the guy .
Not the answer .
Not the man .
Rypien isn ’ t the definitive anything , save for a definitively better Plan B than Jeff Driskel .
If Drew Lock can do more than 10 jumping jacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the safest bet in Foxboro , Cam Newton or no Cam Newton .
If No .
3 ’ s anything less than 80 % , you might as well give Rypien one more crack at the wheel .
And if the car ’ s still running at the end of the race , kids , then — then — you ’ ve got something .
Like , something something .
Bill Belichick eats rookie quarterbacks the way John Belushi ate little chocolate doughnuts .
As coach of the Pats , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s won eight straight matchups against them dating back to 2013 .
The Evil Genius is 20-5 with the Patriots , lifetime , against first-year signal-callers .
The last newbie to beat The Hoodie was the Jets ’ Geno Smith , in the Meadowlands , seven Octobers ago .
It can be done , mind you .
The Jets ran for 177 yards in that aforementioned 2013 contest , compared to New England ’ s 90 .
In 2010 , Browns rookie Colt McCoy completed 14-of-19 throws for 174 yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peyton Hillis rushed for 184 yards and two scores to carry the water .
Welcome to the party , Phillip Lindsay !
Your margin for error is wafer thin and you ’ ll need all kinds of help , but it can be done .
Before you run out and get a Boise State logo tattooed on your ankle , though , it might be wise to keep five things in mind : 2 .
The Jets ’ opposing quarterbacks have posted a 99.3 passer rating .
Gang Green ranks 24th among NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2.60 , the Broncos are eighth at 1.89 ) .
3 .
The gang at Pro Football Focus may love Garett Bolles again , but they ’ ve been throwing poisoned darts at young No .
4 as of late .
The scouting site ranked Rypien as the quarterback with the second-lowest grade in the NFL ( 40.5 ) out of any signal-caller with at least 50 snaps this fall , bettering only Washington ’ s Dwayne Haskins ( 36.2 ) .
• Broncos approved to host 5,700 fans for each remaining home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped up his play , but jury ’ s still out on Broncos left tackle • Kiszla vs. O ’ Halloran : Should the NFL postseason be played in a bubble ?
• Broncos at quarter pole : What ’ s working , what needs work during 1-3 start 4 .
Perspective , Part I : PFF ranks Lock as the third-worst , at 42.7 , and Driskel as fifth-worst , at 55.1 , giving John Elway the honor of somehow stitching together three of the league ’ s bottom-five field generals into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t even seen Blake Bortles yet .
Knock on wood .
5 .
Perspective , Part II : PFF said Rypien posted a 125.0 passer rating against New York with a clean pocket , but just a 10.6 mark while under pressure .
New England ranks second in the NFL , according to ProFootballReference.com , in quarterback pressure percentage ( harassment on 33.7 % of all opponent dropbacks , second only to Pittsburgh ’ s 46.5 ) .
The Pats rank No .
2 in interceptions per drive , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a kid ’ s head the way The Hoodie messes with a kid ’ s head .
If Rypien ’ s noggin stops spinning by late Sunday afternoon , you ’ ve got a keeper .
And a season going nowhere will have a pulchritudinous new direction : Up .

Granted, there was a lot to like. The calm in the pocket. The zip to Tim Patrick through that tight window for six. The touch on that rainbow to Jerry Jeudy.
The thing that strikes — and, in the end, ultimately slays — most young quarterbacks upon getting thrown to the NFL wolves is the warp speed at which everything flashes by. Very little about last Thursday night looked too fast for Brett Rypien, which is the best compliment you can hang around any rookie signal-caller’s neck. One-and-oh in this league is 1-0.
On the flip side, 1-0 also happened against the Jets, who right now resemble the Washington Generals, minus the confetti and the ice buckets.
And the gang in the giant green clown car still somehow managed to pick Rypien off three times, even running one of those interceptions back for a score.
There’s a lot of chatter about how much it said about the Broncos to hang with good Tennessee and Pittsburgh rosters while injuries shredded the depth chart. That’s true. But the Rutgers of the NFL was also a drive away from knocking you to 0-4 and shooting your backside up another peg in the Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes. That sword cuts both ways.
Rent to your heart’s content. Just don’t buy yet. No. 4’s not the definitive article. Not the guy. Not the answer. Not the man. Rypien isn’t the definitive anything, save for a definitively better Plan B than Jeff Driskel.
If Drew Lock can do more than 10 jumping jacks without his shoulder falling off, he’s the safest bet in Foxboro, Cam Newton or no Cam Newton. If No. 3’s anything less than 80%, you might as well give Rypien one more crack at the wheel.
And if the car’s still running at the end of the race, kids, then — then — you’ve got something. Like, something something.
Bill Belichick eats rookie quarterbacks the way John Belushi ate little chocolate doughnuts. As coach of the Pats, he’s 13-0 against them at home. He’s won eight straight matchups against them dating back to 2013.
The Evil Genius is 20-5 with the Patriots, lifetime, against first-year signal-callers. The last newbie to beat The Hoodie was the Jets’ Geno Smith, in the Meadowlands, seven Octobers ago.
It can be done, mind you. The Jets ran for 177 yards in that aforementioned 2013 contest, compared to New England’s 90. In 2010, Browns rookie Colt McCoy completed 14-of-19 throws for 174 yards in a win over the Pats while Peyton Hillis rushed for 184 yards and two scores to carry the water. Welcome to the party, Phillip Lindsay!
Your margin for error is wafer thin and you’ll need all kinds of help, but it can be done. Before you run out and get a Boise State logo tattooed on your ankle, though, it might be wise to keep five things in mind:
1. Kyle Sloter.
2. The Jets’ opposing quarterbacks have posted a 99.3 passer rating. Gang Green ranks 24th among NFL squads in points allowed per drive (2.60, the Broncos are eighth at 1.89).
3. The gang at Pro Football Focus may love Garett Bolles again, but they’ve been throwing poisoned darts at young No. 4 as of late. The scouting site ranked Rypien as the quarterback with the second-lowest grade in the NFL (40.5) out of any signal-caller with at least 50 snaps this fall, bettering only Washington’s Dwayne Haskins (36.2).
4. Perspective, Part I: PFF ranks Lock as the third-worst, at 42.7, and Driskel as fifth-worst, at 55.1, giving John Elway the honor of somehow stitching together three of the league’s bottom-five field generals into the same position group. And we haven’t even seen Blake Bortles yet. Knock on wood.
5. Perspective, Part II: PFF said Rypien posted a 125.0 passer rating against New York with a clean pocket, but just a 10.6 mark while under pressure.
New England ranks second in the NFL, according to ProFootballReference.com, in quarterback pressure percentage (harassment on 33.7% of all opponent dropbacks, second only to Pittsburgh’s 46.5). The Pats rank No. 2 in interceptions per drive, according to FootballOutsiders.com (.138).
Nobody messes with a kid’s head the way The Hoodie messes with a kid’s head. If Rypien’s noggin stops spinning by late Sunday afternoon, you’ve got a keeper. And a season going nowhere will have a pulchritudinous new direction: Up.


thedenverpost--2020-10-06--Winds, dry weather fuel Cameron Peak fire as smoke drifts along Front Range

Windy and dry conditions fueled the Cameron Peak fire on Monday and the fire has crossed a containment line on the northside .
The fire , which has grown to 126,569 acres , or almost 198 square miles , jumped a containment line near the 333A road overnight Sunday , according to fire officials .
Fire crews concentrated efforts in the area of the containment line breach Monday with ground crews and air support .
The National Weather Service posted a red flag warning for critical fire conditions on Monday for areas including the northern mountains foothills , North Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the northeastern plains .
Winds were expected to gust to 35 mph with relative humidity dropping to about 10 % .
Monday ’ s red flag weather winds were capable of blowing an ember about half a mile with an 80 % probability of igniting should the ember land in a dry fuel bed , Cameron Peak fire behavioral analysts said .
The red flag warning was posted through 6 p.m. Monday .
“ These conditions will test fire lines , ” officials said .
“ Especially along the eastern edge and northeast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 42 % contained as of Monday .
Dry weather conditions are expected to continue at the Cameron Peak fire on Tuesday .
A red flag warning was also posted Monday for the Mullen fire , burning mostly in south central Wyoming .
The Mullen fire has crossed the state line and is burning in northern Colorado , in Jackson County .
Smoke off of the Mullen was expected to increase on Monday and drift east .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment extended an air quality warning for the Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counties under the action day for Particulates are : Douglas , Jefferson , Denver , western Arapahoe , western Adams , Broomfield , Boulder , Larimer and Weld .
Smoke from the two fires — Cameron Peak and Mullen — is expected to spread south in the Colorado Springs area on Monday night .
Moderate to heavy smoke is expected Monday night into Tuesday morning along the Front Range .

Windy and dry conditions fueled the Cameron Peak fire on Monday and the fire has crossed a containment line on the northside.
The fire, which has grown to 126,569 acres, or almost 198 square miles, jumped a containment line near the 333A road overnight Sunday, according to fire officials. Fire crews concentrated efforts in the area of the containment line breach Monday with ground crews and air support.
The National Weather Service posted a red flag warning for critical fire conditions on Monday for areas including the northern mountains foothills, North Park and Middle Parks, and most of the northeastern plains. Winds were expected to gust to 35 mph with relative humidity dropping to about 10%.
Monday’s red flag weather winds were capable of blowing an ember about half a mile with an 80% probability of igniting should the ember land in a dry fuel bed, Cameron Peak fire behavioral analysts said. The red flag warning was posted through 6 p.m. Monday.
“These conditions will test fire lines,” officials said. “Especially along the eastern edge and northeast corner of the fire.”
The fire is 42% contained as of Monday. Dry weather conditions are expected to continue at the Cameron Peak fire on Tuesday.
A red flag warning was also posted Monday for the Mullen fire, burning mostly in south central Wyoming. The Mullen fire has crossed the state line and is burning in northern Colorado, in Jackson County. Smoke off of the Mullen was expected to increase on Monday and drift east.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment extended an air quality warning for the Denver metro area until 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Counties under the action day for Particulates are: Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, western Arapahoe, western Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer and Weld.
Smoke from the two fires — Cameron Peak and Mullen — is expected to spread south in the Colorado Springs area on Monday night. Moderate to heavy smoke is expected Monday night into Tuesday morning along the Front Range.


thedenverpost--2020-10-06--With COVID-19 diagnosis, Trump says “I get it.” He doesn’t get it.

WASHNGTON — Now that he has contracted COVID-19 , President Donald Trump says he does “ get it.
” That revelation comes seven months — and almost 210,000 American deaths — is not the first time he has relied on personal experience to shape his views .
He said he now “ understands ” the virus .
But because of his own experience , as a patient at one of the nation ’ s finest medical facilities with treatment options available to very few , the president also reinforced that he has struggled to relate with everyday Americans , millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus .
Instead , as he has in relationships with other countries , he has prioritized his own personal experience over that of experts .
He has been reluctant , for instance , to call out Russian President Vladimir Putin over interference in American elections in the face of clear evidence from the U.S. intelligence community that it has occurred .
He has also drawn frequently on his experience with the business world or his own family to set the White House agenda .
He cited his business acumen as helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Embassy in Jerusalem , and he said he understands the airline industry because of his time running the failed Trump Shuttle .
Despite months of briefings from the nation ’ s leading infectious disease experts , it was the onset of his own symptoms , as he was brought low by a lethal virus , that he said gave him a greater understanding .
That understanding , however , seemed very much in conflict with expert public health guidance about how the virus behaves and the precautions that people infected , particularly those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , need to take .
“ It ’ s been a very interesting journey , ” Trump said in a video released Sunday night .
“ I learned a lot about COVID .
I learned it by really going to school .
This is the real school .
And I get it , and I understand it , and it ’ s a very interesting thing , and I ’ m going to be letting you know about it.
” But it soon became clear that he did not , in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surprise ride in a motorcade to pay tribute to his supporters , potentially exposing the Secret Service agents who rode in the vehicle with him .
The next day , when announcing that he would be returning to the White House , he took a tone that suggested he was out of touch with suffering Americans who could not receive the same level of presidential care .
“ Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life , ” Trump tweeted .
“ We have developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel better than I did 20 years ago !
” At no point since he tested positive for the virus has Trump acknowledged others afflicted with the deadly disease .
His general election foe , Democrat Joe Biden , on Monday urged him to fundamentally change how he manages the pandemic .
“ I was glad to see the president speaking and recording videos over the weekend , ” Biden said in Miami .
“ Now that he ’ s busy tweeting campaign messages , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Listen to the scientists , support masks.
” Even when the virus struck longtime friends , like Stanley Chera , a New Jersey developer who died of the disease in April , Trump did not change his approach and continued to talk about the virus as though it would soon be a thing of the past .
“ We ’ ve always said that he has no capacity for empathy .
His sense of self-regard is so overwhelming , he views everything that passes through the world through the lens of what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glaude , chair of the department of African American Studies at Princeton University .
“ Even though more than 200,000 Americans are dead , the nature of the crisis doesn ’ t come home unless it actually touches him , ” Glaude said .
“ Could he ever represent anyone other than himself ?
” Trump has said he could deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un because he had established a personal rapport with the authoritarian figure in ways that his predecessors could not .
“ I was being really tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we would go back and forth , ” Trump said at a 2018 rally .
“ And then we fell in love .
No really .
He wrote me beautiful letters.
” Since Trump has in effect declared his battle with the disease successful — an assessment that available medical evidence suggests is premature — it remains doubtful that Trump would take his personal experience battling COVID-19 and rethink his administration ’ s policies or attitudes toward the pandemic , especially given the competing imperative of continuing his presidential campaign .
Trump often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American presidency : consoling people dealing with intense grief , regardless of their political affiliation or support for the White House ’ s agenda .
It ’ s a quality rarely debated or analyzed during a campaign , yet one that can shape the way people view the success of their president .
But in 2020 , it has become a central issue .
The president has rarely mentioned the toll of the virus on the nation , instead focusing on an economic recovery or a rise in the stock market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask and mocked those who have .
And he has ignored his own federal government ’ s guidelines when holding rallies and large-scale White House events .
Trump may draw lessons from his own experiences but will rarely ever acknowledge a misstep , said former campaign adviser Sam Nunberg .
“ He once said , ‘ It is what it is ’ about the impact of COVID .
His video ( Sunday night ) was better than that , it was probably the closest he is going to get to an apology , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not who he is.
” “ He has experience now fighting the coronavirus as an individual , ” said Erin Perrine , a campaign spokeswoman .
“ Joe Biden doesn ’ t have that .
”

WASHNGTON — Now that he has contracted COVID-19, President Donald Trump says he does “get it.” That revelation comes seven months — and almost 210,000 American deaths — is not the first time he has relied on personal experience to shape his views.
He said he now “understands” the virus. But because of his own experience, as a patient at one of the nation’s finest medical facilities with treatment options available to very few, the president also reinforced that he has struggled to relate with everyday Americans, millions of whom have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus.
Instead, as he has in relationships with other countries, he has prioritized his own personal experience over that of experts. He has been reluctant, for instance, to call out Russian President Vladimir Putin over interference in American elections in the face of clear evidence from the U.S. intelligence community that it has occurred.
He has also drawn frequently on his experience with the business world or his own family to set the White House agenda. He cited his business acumen as helping him land a deal for the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, and he said he understands the airline industry because of his time running the failed Trump Shuttle.
Despite months of briefings from the nation’s leading infectious disease experts, it was the onset of his own symptoms, as he was brought low by a lethal virus, that he said gave him a greater understanding.
That understanding, however, seemed very much in conflict with expert public health guidance about how the virus behaves and the precautions that people infected, particularly those in a higher risk group like the president, need to take.
“It’s been a very interesting journey,” Trump said in a video released Sunday night. “I learned a lot about COVID. I learned it by really going to school. This is the real school. And I get it, and I understand it, and it’s a very interesting thing, and I’m going to be letting you know about it.”
But it soon became clear that he did not, in fact, get it.
Trump took a surprise ride in a motorcade to pay tribute to his supporters, potentially exposing the Secret Service agents who rode in the vehicle with him. The next day, when announcing that he would be returning to the White House, he took a tone that suggested he was out of touch with suffering Americans who could not receive the same level of presidential care.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life,” Trump tweeted. “We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
At no point since he tested positive for the virus has Trump acknowledged others afflicted with the deadly disease. His general election foe, Democrat Joe Biden, on Monday urged him to fundamentally change how he manages the pandemic.
“I was glad to see the president speaking and recording videos over the weekend,” Biden said in Miami. “Now that he’s busy tweeting campaign messages, I would ask him to do this: Listen to the scientists, support masks.”
Even when the virus struck longtime friends, like Stanley Chera, a New Jersey developer who died of the disease in April, Trump did not change his approach and continued to talk about the virus as though it would soon be a thing of the past.
“We’ve always said that he has no capacity for empathy. His sense of self-regard is so overwhelming, he views everything that passes through the world through the lens of what it does for him,” said Eddie Glaude, chair of the department of African American Studies at Princeton University.
“Even though more than 200,000 Americans are dead, the nature of the crisis doesn’t come home unless it actually touches him,” Glaude said. “Could he ever represent anyone other than himself?”
Trump has said he could deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un because he had established a personal rapport with the authoritarian figure in ways that his predecessors could not.
“I was being really tough and so was he. And then we would go back and forth,” Trump said at a 2018 rally. “And then we fell in love. No really. He wrote me beautiful letters.”
Since Trump has in effect declared his battle with the disease successful — an assessment that available medical evidence suggests is premature — it remains doubtful that Trump would take his personal experience battling COVID-19 and rethink his administration’s policies or attitudes toward the pandemic, especially given the competing imperative of continuing his presidential campaign.
Trump often has had difficulty embracing a central role of the American presidency: consoling people dealing with intense grief, regardless of their political affiliation or support for the White House’s agenda. It’s a quality rarely debated or analyzed during a campaign, yet one that can shape the way people view the success of their president.
But in 2020, it has become a central issue. The president has rarely mentioned the toll of the virus on the nation, instead focusing on an economic recovery or a rise in the stock market.
He has largely eschewed wearing a mask and mocked those who have. And he has ignored his own federal government’s guidelines when holding rallies and large-scale White House events.
Trump may draw lessons from his own experiences but will rarely ever acknowledge a misstep, said former campaign adviser Sam Nunberg.
“He once said, ‘It is what it is’ about the impact of COVID. His video (Sunday night) was better than that, it was probably the closest he is going to get to an apology,” said Nunberg. “That’s not who he is.”
The White House sees it differently.
“He has experience now fighting the coronavirus as an individual,” said Erin Perrine, a campaign spokeswoman. “Joe Biden doesn’t have that.”


thedenverpost--2020-10-06--Trump, still infectious, is back at White House — without a mask

BETHESDA , Md .
— President Donald Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House Monday night after leaving the military hospital where he has been receiving an unprecedented level of care for COVID-19 .
He immediately ignited a new controversy by declaring that despite his illness the nation should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans — and then he entered the White House without a protective mask .
Trump ’ s message alarmed infectious disease experts and suggested the president ’ s own illness had not caused him to rethink his often-cavalier attitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected the first lady and several White House aides , including new cases revealed on Monday .
Landing at the White House on Marine One , Trump gingerly climbed the South Portico steps , removed his mask and declared , “ I feel good.
” He gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter from the portico terrace , where aides had arranged American flags for the sunset occasion .
He entered the White House , where aides were visible milling about the Blue Room , without wearing a face covering .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center , where his doctor , Navy Cdr .
Sean Conley , said earlier Monday that the president remains contagious and would not be fully “ out of the woods ” for another week but that Trump had met or exceeded standards for discharge from the hospital .
Trump is expected to continue his recovery at the White House , where the reach of the outbreak that has infected the highest levels of the U.S. government is still being uncovered .
Still Trump indicated he won ’ t be kept from campaigning for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon !
!
!
” Trump made a point of sounding confident earlier .
He tweeted , “ I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M .
Feeling really good !
Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life .
… I feel better than I did 20 years ago !
” Trump ’ s nonchalant message about not fearing the virus comes as his own administration has encouraged Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid contracting and spreading the disease as cases continue to spike across the country .
For more than eight months , Trump ’ s efforts to play down the threat of the virus in hopes of propping up the economy ahead of the election have drawn bipartisan criticism .
“ We have to be realistic in this : COVID is a complete threat to the American population , ” Dr. David Nace of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , said of Trump ’ s no-fear comment .
“ Most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , ” with an in-house medical unit and access to experimental treatments , added Nace , an expert on infections in older adults .
“ It ’ s an unconscionable message , ” agreed Dr. Sadiya Khan of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine .
“ I would go so far as to say that it may precipitate or worsen spread.
” There was political pushback to Trump ’ s attitude toward the virus , as well .
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told the Houston Chronicle editorial board that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in his effort to show that the country was moving beyond the virus and had created “ confusion ” about how to stay safe .
Conley said that because of Trump ’ s unusual level of treatment so early after discovery of his illness he was in “ uncharted territory.
” But the doctor also was upbeat at an afternoon briefing and said the president could resume his normal schedule once “ there is no evidence of live virus still present.
” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 can be contagious for as many — and should isolate for at least — 10 days .
Trump ’ s expected discharge raised new questions about how the administration was going to protect other officials from a disease that remains rampant in the president ’ s body .
Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced she had tested positive for the virus Monday morning and was entering quarantine .
Both Nace and Khan expressed fear Trump won ’ t properly stay isolated at the White House — and that he hasn ’ t learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We know he hates the mask , we know he hates to be restricted , we know he ’ s unpredictable , ” Nace said .
“ The rest of the American people are held accountable to a 10-day isolation period.
” There were also lingering questions about potential long term effects to the president — and even when he first came down with the virus Conley repeatedly declined to share results of medical scans of Trump ’ s lungs , saying he was not at liberty to discuss the information because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subject .
COVID-19 has been known to cause significant damage to the lungs of some patients .
Conley also declined to share the date of Trump ’ s most recent negative test for the virus — a critical point for contact tracing and understanding where Trump was in the course of the disease .
Only a day earlier , Trump suggested he had finally grasped the true nature of the virus , saying in a video , “ I get it.
” But then on Sunday afternoon , Trump briefly ventured out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheering supporters by motorcade — an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus .
White House officials said Trump was anxious to be released after three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , where doctors revealed that his blood oxygen level had dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick .
Trump ’ s experience with the disease has been dramatically different from most Americans , who do not have access to the same kind of monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their symptoms — and fear of whether they ’ ll take a turn for the worse — at home and alone , Trump has been staying in the presidential suite of one of the nation ’ s best hospitals and has been given experimental drugs not readily available to the public .
He returns to the White House where there is a team of doctors on call with 24-hour monitoring .
Trump was leaving the hospital after receiving a fourth dose of the antiviral drug remdesivir Monday evening , Conley said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose Tuesday at the White House .
Less than one month before Election Day , Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness and to press his campaign effort across the country .
Vice President Mike Pence returned to the campaign trail moments after Trump announced he would soon leave the hospital .
The vice president boarded Air Force Two to fly to Salt Lake City , where he is to face off against Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris on Wednesday .
Joe Biden ’ s campaign , meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative for coronavirus Sunday .
The results came five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Trump .
McEnany , who announced Monday that she had contracted the virus , spoke briefly with reporters on Sunday evening without wearing a mask , but said that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts .
Even before Trump ’ s motorcade outing on Sunday , some Secret Service agents had expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude toward masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but there isn ’ t much they can do , according to agents and officials who spoke to The Associated Press .
This close to the election , thousands of agents are engaged on protective duty so they can be subbed out quickly should someone test positive .
Trump ’ s aggressive course of treatment included the steroid dexamethasone and the single dose he was given Friday of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplies antibodies to help the immune system fight the virus .
Trump on Friday also began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gilead Sciences drug currently used for moderately and severely ill patients .
The drugs work in different ways — the antibodies help the immune system rid the body of virus , and remdesivir curbs the virus ’ ability to multiply .
Miller and Colvin reported from Washington .
Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard and Jonathan Lemire in Washington , and Bill Barrow in Wilmington , Delaware , contributed to this report .

BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House Monday night after leaving the military hospital where he has been receiving an unprecedented level of care for COVID-19. He immediately ignited a new controversy by declaring that despite his illness the nation should not fear the virus that has killed more than 210,000 Americans — and then he entered the White House without a protective mask.
Trump’s message alarmed infectious disease experts and suggested the president’s own illness had not caused him to rethink his often-cavalier attitude toward the disease, which has also infected the first lady and several White House aides, including new cases revealed on Monday.
Landing at the White House on Marine One, Trump gingerly climbed the South Portico steps, removed his mask and declared, “I feel good.” He gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter from the portico terrace, where aides had arranged American flags for the sunset occasion. He entered the White House, where aides were visible milling about the Blue Room, without wearing a face covering.
The president left Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where his doctor, Navy Cdr. Sean Conley, said earlier Monday that the president remains contagious and would not be fully “out of the woods” for another week but that Trump had met or exceeded standards for discharge from the hospital. Trump is expected to continue his recovery at the White House, where the reach of the outbreak that has infected the highest levels of the U.S. government is still being uncovered.
Still Trump indicated he won’t be kept from campaigning for long, tweeting before leaving the hospital, “Will be back on the Campaign Trail soon!!!”
Trump made a point of sounding confident earlier. He tweeted, “I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 P.M. Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. … I feel better than I did 20 years ago!”
Trump’s nonchalant message about not fearing the virus comes as his own administration has encouraged Americans to be very careful and take precautions to avoid contracting and spreading the disease as cases continue to spike across the country. For more than eight months, Trump’s efforts to play down the threat of the virus in hopes of propping up the economy ahead of the election have drawn bipartisan criticism.
“We have to be realistic in this: COVID is a complete threat to the American population,” Dr. David Nace of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said of Trump’s no-fear comment.
“Most of the people aren’t so lucky as the president,” with an in-house medical unit and access to experimental treatments, added Nace, an expert on infections in older adults.
“It’s an unconscionable message,” agreed Dr. Sadiya Khan of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “I would go so far as to say that it may precipitate or worsen spread.”
There was political pushback to Trump’s attitude toward the virus, as well.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told the Houston Chronicle editorial board that Trump had “let his guard down” in his effort to show that the country was moving beyond the virus and had created “confusion” about how to stay safe.
Conley said that because of Trump’s unusual level of treatment so early after discovery of his illness he was in “uncharted territory.” But the doctor also was upbeat at an afternoon briefing and said the president could resume his normal schedule once “there is no evidence of live virus still present.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 can be contagious for as many — and should isolate for at least — 10 days.
Trump’s expected discharge raised new questions about how the administration was going to protect other officials from a disease that remains rampant in the president’s body. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced she had tested positive for the virus Monday morning and was entering quarantine.
Both Nace and Khan expressed fear Trump won’t properly stay isolated at the White House — and that he hasn’t learned his lesson about wearing a mask.
“We know he hates the mask, we know he hates to be restricted, we know he’s unpredictable,” Nace said. “The rest of the American people are held accountable to a 10-day isolation period.”
There were also lingering questions about potential long term effects to the president — and even when he first came down with the virus
Conley repeatedly declined to share results of medical scans of Trump’s lungs, saying he was not at liberty to discuss the information because Trump did not waive doctor-patient confidentiality on the subject. COVID-19 has been known to cause significant damage to the lungs of some patients. Conley also declined to share the date of Trump’s most recent negative test for the virus — a critical point for contact tracing and understanding where Trump was in the course of the disease.
Only a day earlier, Trump suggested he had finally grasped the true nature of the virus, saying in a video, “I get it.” But then on Sunday afternoon, Trump briefly ventured out of the hospital while contagious to salute cheering supporters by motorcade — an outing that disregarded precautions meant to contain the virus.
White House officials said Trump was anxious to be released after three nights at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where doctors revealed that his blood oxygen level had dropped suddenly twice in recent days and that they gave him a steroid typically only recommended for the very sick.
Trump’s experience with the disease has been dramatically different from most Americans, who do not have access to the same kind of monitoring and care. While most must cope with their symptoms — and fear of whether they’ll take a turn for the worse — at home and alone, Trump has been staying in the presidential suite of one of the nation’s best hospitals and has been given experimental drugs not readily available to the public. He returns to the White House where there is a team of doctors on call with 24-hour monitoring.
Trump was leaving the hospital after receiving a fourth dose of the antiviral drug remdesivir Monday evening, Conley said. He will receive the fifth and final dose Tuesday at the White House.
Less than one month before Election Day, Trump was eager to project strength despite his illness and to press his campaign effort across the country.
Vice President Mike Pence returned to the campaign trail moments after Trump announced he would soon leave the hospital. The vice president boarded Air Force Two to fly to Salt Lake City, where he is to face off against Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris on Wednesday.
Joe Biden’s campaign, meanwhile, said the Democratic presidential nominee again tested negative for coronavirus Sunday. The results came five days after Biden spent more than 90 minutes on the debate stage with Trump.
McEnany, who announced Monday that she had contracted the virus, spoke briefly with reporters on Sunday evening without wearing a mask, but said that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts.
Even before Trump’s motorcade outing on Sunday, some Secret Service agents had expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude toward masks and social distancing inside the White House, but there isn’t much they can do, according to agents and officials who spoke to The Associated Press. This close to the election, thousands of agents are engaged on protective duty so they can be subbed out quickly should someone test positive.
Trump’s aggressive course of treatment included the steroid dexamethasone and the single dose he was given Friday of an experimental drug from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. that supplies antibodies to help the immune system fight the virus. Trump on Friday also began a five-day course of remdesivir, a Gilead Sciences drug currently used for moderately and severely ill patients. The drugs work in different ways — the antibodies help the immune system rid the body of virus, and remdesivir curbs the virus’ ability to multiply.
Miller and Colvin reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard and Jonathan Lemire in Washington, and Bill Barrow in Wilmington, Delaware, contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-10-05--Fatal COVID-19 outbreak linked to Colorado religious group suing state over limits on gatherings

The Colorado religious organization suing Gov .
Jared Polis over limits on large gatherings during the pandemic hosted a summer event in defiance of public health orders that led to as many as 63 coronavirus infections and one death , according to state records .
Andrew Wommack Ministries sued Polis last week , ahead of its Pastor ’ s Conference scheduled to start Monday night at Charis Bible College in Woodland Park — an event expected to draw more than 600 attendees .
The organization asked a judge to exempt it from what it argues is an unconstitutional 175-person cap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday denied the ministry ’ s request for emergency relief from the state ’ s public health orders ahead of this week ’ s conference .
A U.S. District Court judge similarly denied the group ’ s request last week .
The overall lawsuit is still pending .
The organization ’ s summer family Bible conference around July 4 in Woodland Park saw a significant COVID-19 outbreak , and state officials who are fighting attempts by the group ’ s leaders to hold additional large in-person events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The ( July ) event resulted in the largest outbreak in Teller County , ” state attorneys wrote in a Sunday court filing .
About 800 to 1,000 people attended that conference .
Teller County Coroner Kayla Daugherty said Monday she couldn ’ t release any information on the COVID-19 death connected to the Bible conference outbreak , and it was not immediately clear when the person died .
The death first was included in the state ’ s outbreak database , which is updated weekly , on Sept. 23 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately return a request for comment .
Mat Staver , founder of Liberty Counsel , the conservative nonprofit legal organization that is representing Andrew Wommack Ministries in its lawsuit , said the person who died was an older man , and that while the man did attend the Bible conference , state officials can ’ t prove he or anyone else actually contracted the novel coronavirus at that event .
“ Certainly our heart and prayers go out to the family , ” he said .
“ But even with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know where that individual contracted COVID.
” He said the man began showing symptoms within a couple days of the summer conference , and said attendees had been warned not to attend if they were sick or were considered to be high-risk for the virus .
Twenty-four staff members and 16 attendees were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 after the conference , according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment ’ s outbreak database , while another 22 staff members and one attendee had probable cases of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus infection , according to state records .
The Colorado Attorney General ’ s Office sent a cease-and-desist letter to Andrew Wommack Ministries during the July conference over event organizers ’ decision to exceed the 175-person limit for indoor gatherings .
The organization responded by saying it was following coronavirus precautions like social distancing and sanitation , and that the 1,000 attendees at the conference still represented less than half the capacity of the 3,200-seat worship center .
Staver said Monday that he thinks the Pastor ’ s Conference can go forward safely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is considering streaming the event to various rooms in order to comply with public health orders .
He said the college has been operating without any coronavirus infections for several weeks .

The Colorado religious organization suing Gov. Jared Polis over limits on large gatherings during the pandemic hosted a summer event in defiance of public health orders that led to as many as 63 coronavirus infections and one death, according to state records.
Andrew Wommack Ministries sued Polis last week, ahead of its Pastor’s Conference scheduled to start Monday night at Charis Bible College in Woodland Park — an event expected to draw more than 600 attendees. The organization asked a judge to exempt it from what it argues is an unconstitutional 175-person cap on indoor gatherings.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday denied the ministry’s request for emergency relief from the state’s public health orders ahead of this week’s conference. A U.S. District Court judge similarly denied the group’s request last week. The overall lawsuit is still pending.
The organization’s summer family Bible conference around July 4 in Woodland Park saw a significant COVID-19 outbreak, and state officials who are fighting attempts by the group’s leaders to hold additional large in-person events are concerned they may cause additional outbreaks.
“The (July) event resulted in the largest outbreak in Teller County,” state attorneys wrote in a Sunday court filing. About 800 to 1,000 people attended that conference.
Teller County Coroner Kayla Daugherty said Monday she couldn’t release any information on the COVID-19 death connected to the Bible conference outbreak, and it was not immediately clear when the person died. The death first was included in the state’s outbreak database, which is updated weekly, on Sept. 23.
A spokeswoman for Teller County Public Health did not immediately return a request for comment.
Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, the conservative nonprofit legal organization that is representing Andrew Wommack Ministries in its lawsuit, said the person who died was an older man, and that while the man did attend the Bible conference, state officials can’t prove he or anyone else actually contracted the novel coronavirus at that event.
“Certainly our heart and prayers go out to the family,” he said. “But even with that one, there is no way to know where that individual contracted COVID.”
He said the man began showing symptoms within a couple days of the summer conference, and said attendees had been warned not to attend if they were sick or were considered to be high-risk for the virus.
Twenty-four staff members and 16 attendees were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 after the conference, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s outbreak database, while another 22 staff members and one attendee had probable cases of the virus. The person who died had a confirmed coronavirus infection, according to state records.
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office sent a cease-and-desist letter to Andrew Wommack Ministries during the July conference over event organizers’ decision to exceed the 175-person limit for indoor gatherings.
The organization responded by saying it was following coronavirus precautions like social distancing and sanitation, and that the 1,000 attendees at the conference still represented less than half the capacity of the 3,200-seat worship center.
Staver said Monday that he thinks the Pastor’s Conference can go forward safely in-person, but also said the organization is considering streaming the event to various rooms in order to comply with public health orders. He said the college has been operating without any coronavirus infections for several weeks.
Denver Post reporter Meg Wingerter contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-10-05--Denver airport keeps former CFO as consultant in $20,000-a-month contract

Meet the high-paid consultant who will advise Denver International Airport after the departure of its chief financial officer — the former CFO herself .
Gisela Shanahan , who stepped down in early August after serving in that position for five years , is shifting into work as an aviation industry consultant .
DIA last week signed a contract with New York City-based Frasca & Associates , her new employer , that ’ s worth up to $ 468,000 over two years .
That amounts to a $ 19,500-a-month retainer , though the ultimate payment will depend on the total billable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees approved for the contract .
Shanahan made slightly more at DIA , where her final annual salary was about $ 242,000 , a spokesperson said .
It ’ s not uncommon for top city appointees who leave their jobs to be paid for project work or as consultants .
But in granting a waiver ahead of time , the Denver Board of Ethics said the arrangement was unusual because it was with Shanahan ’ s new employer , rather than with her directly .
DIA ’ s intent is to keep Shanahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of billions of dollars worth of projects — including the underfunded Great Hall terminal renovation — and other accounting matters .
“ DEN has made the decision to contract with Gisela Shanahan in an advisory role during this time of transition while we conduct a national search for her replacement , ” CEO Kim Day said in a statement to The Denver Post .
“ This is so we can continue to have access to necessary fiscal expertise and guidance during this interim period , and especially during the challenges DEN is facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fall-off in air travel has delivered a hit to the airport ’ s budget .
Day said the pandemic also was likely to slow down recruiting for the “ critical position , ” so it might take a year or longer to have someone in place and brought up to speed .
For now , George Karayiannakis , a senior vice president , is serving as acting deputy CFO .
Frasca already has a separate city contract to advise officials , including at DIA , on bond issuances .
The ethics board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shanahan ’ s contracting arrangement wouldn ’ t violate revolving-door restrictions because she didn ’ t play a role in the awarding of that contract by the city ’ s finance department , and she didn ’ t oversee it .
Shanahan , now a managing director at Frasca , said when she left DIA that she and her husband planned to spend more time with family members based on the East Coast .

Meet the high-paid consultant who will advise Denver International Airport after the departure of its chief financial officer — the former CFO herself.
Gisela Shanahan, who stepped down in early August after serving in that position for five years, is shifting into work as an aviation industry consultant. DIA last week signed a contract with New York City-based Frasca & Associates, her new employer, that’s worth up to $468,000 over two years.
That amounts to a $19,500-a-month retainer, though the ultimate payment will depend on the total billable work done by Shanahan and two other employees approved for the contract.
Shanahan made slightly more at DIA, where her final annual salary was about $242,000, a spokesperson said.
It’s not uncommon for top city appointees who leave their jobs to be paid for project work or as consultants. But in granting a waiver ahead of time, the Denver Board of Ethics said the arrangement was unusual because it was with Shanahan’s new employer, rather than with her directly.
DIA’s intent is to keep Shanahan involved in financial planning, its management of billions of dollars worth of projects — including the underfunded Great Hall terminal renovation — and other accounting matters.
“DEN has made the decision to contract with Gisela Shanahan in an advisory role during this time of transition while we conduct a national search for her replacement,” CEO Kim Day said in a statement to The Denver Post. “This is so we can continue to have access to necessary fiscal expertise and guidance during this interim period, and especially during the challenges DEN is facing throughout this pandemic.”
This year’s fall-off in air travel has delivered a hit to the airport’s budget. Day said the pandemic also was likely to slow down recruiting for the “critical position,” so it might take a year or longer to have someone in place and brought up to speed.
For now, George Karayiannakis, a senior vice president, is serving as acting deputy CFO.
Frasca already has a separate city contract to advise officials, including at DIA, on bond issuances. The ethics board’s Aug. 27 waiver letter said Shanahan’s contracting arrangement wouldn’t violate revolving-door restrictions because she didn’t play a role in the awarding of that contract by the city’s finance department, and she didn’t oversee it.
Shanahan is a managing director at Frasca. When she left DIA, Shanahan said she and her husband planned to spend more time with family members based on the East Coast, and a consulting career offered more flexibility to do so.


thedenverpost--2020-10-05--Colorado Rapids scrap plans to host fans at upcoming home matches after COVID-19 outbreak

Plans to host fans at upcoming Colorado Rapids matches at Dick ’ s Sporting Goods Park have been scuttled after the team recently experienced a COVID-19 outbreak , the club announced Monday afternoon .
The team planned to have as many as 1,165 fans ( 6 % capacity ) attend matches Wednesday and Saturday nights at its Commerce City stadium .
But after 14 people within the Rapids organization ( four players , 10 staff members ) tested positive for the virus during the last two weeks , those plans were put on hold “ out of an abundance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous two matches against Sporting Kansas City ( Sept. 27 ) and the Portland Timbers ( Oct. 3 ) due to the outbreak .
The team will return to its home field 7 p.m. Wednesday against LAFC , followed by another match at Dick ’ s Sporting Goods Park 5 p.m. Saturday vs. the L.A. Galaxy — just not with fans in the stadium .
“ The health and safety of our players , staff and supporters has always been our main priority as we navigate this unique season , ” Rapids executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ While our plan to host fans at Dick ’ s Sporting Goods Park remains approved by state officials , we want to ensure we are taking every precaution possible to create the safest environment on game days .
As excited as we are to see our supporters cheering the team on in person , we felt this was best course of action at this time.
” Those who purchased tickets for the two home matches will be contacted by the club ’ s ticketing staff with refund information .

Plans to host fans at upcoming Colorado Rapids matches at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park have been scuttled after the team recently experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, the club announced Monday afternoon.
The team planned to have as many as 1,165 fans (6% capacity) attend matches Wednesday and Saturday nights at its Commerce City stadium. But after 14 people within the Rapids organization (four players, 10 staff members) tested positive for the virus during the last two weeks, those plans were put on hold “out of an abundance of caution.”
MLS postponed Colorado’s previous two matches against Sporting Kansas City (Sept. 27) and the Portland Timbers (Oct. 3) due to the outbreak. The team will return to its home field 7 p.m. Wednesday against LAFC, followed by another match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park 5 p.m. Saturday vs. the L.A. Galaxy — just not with fans in the stadium.
“The health and safety of our players, staff and supporters has always been our main priority as we navigate this unique season,” Rapids executive Pádraig Smith said in news release. “While our plan to host fans at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park remains approved by state officials, we want to ensure we are taking every precaution possible to create the safest environment on game days. As excited as we are to see our supporters cheering the team on in person, we felt this was best course of action at this time.”
Those who purchased tickets for the two home matches will be contacted by the club’s ticketing staff with refund information.


thedenverpost--2020-10-05--Two people injured in Thornton apartment fire Monday afternoon

Flames shot through the roof of a Thornton apartment building on Monday , sending black plumes of smoke into the @ @ @ @ @ blaze .
The fire broke out at the Skyline Apartments , 517 E. 88th Ave. @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Thornton Fire Department .
Two people were taken to a local @ @ @ @ @ fire , Thornton fire said .
Two other people were injured but refused treatment .
@ @ @ @ @ is under investigation .

Flames shot through the roof of a Thornton apartment building on Monday, sending black plumes of smoke into the sky as firefighters battled the blaze.
Crews working a structure fire at Skyline Apts, 517 E 88th Ave, Bldg 10. No known injuries at this time. Assistance from @adamscountyfire and @NMFirePIO. pic.twitter.com/v76Gx3495T — Thornton Fire Dept. (@ThorntonFire) October 5, 2020
The fire broke out at the Skyline Apartments, 517 E. 88th Ave., building No. 10, according to the Thornton Fire Department.
Multiple fire departments helped fight the fire, including Adams County Fire Rescue, Westminster Fire Department and North Metro Fire Rescue District.
Two people were taken to a local hospital with injuries from the fire, Thornton fire said. Two other people were injured but refused treatment.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.


thedenverpost--2020-10-05--Denver health officials share trick-or-treat tips to battle COVID-19

Halloween may be scarier this year than usual because of pandemic health concerns , according to Denver health officials .
Denver remains in a “ safer at home ” state in response to COVID-19 — a level 2 category that includes certain restrictions to help stop the spread of the coronavirus — according to a Denver Public Health & Environment news release .
Trick-or-treating should be done with family members and people you live with , the health department said .
“ Keep six-feet apart from those not in your household , ” the release said .
Time spent gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ households visited compared to years past .
Anyone feeling ill should stay home and avoid activities and visitors .
Bring hand sanitizer , along with pumpkin basket , and take breaks to apply the sanitizer , the release added .
A Halloween mask is not a substitute for a protective face mask .
Kids should wear a protective mask , under their costume mask , and make sure it covers nose and mouth .
“ Kids two years and younger are not required to wear a face covering , but everyone three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not medically tolerate it , ” the news release said .
Households greeting Halloween visitors should minimize direct contacts with visitors .
Hosts should disinfect doorbell buttons and other high-touch surfaces outside the home , especially at the evening ’ s end , the release said .
Hosts should distribute the treats , and not have multiple kids reach into a bowl to retrieve treats .
Kids should wash their hands thoroughly at the end of the night .
“ Halloween 2020 will be unlike any other in recent history .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And for most of us , it means uncertain times , ” said Robert McDonald , executive director of DDPHE , in the release .
“ But if we are careful , if we maintain proper social distancing , if we wear our face coverings and use sanitizer , we can maintain a little bit of our traditions and enjoy a fun evening with loved ones.
” Halloween parties should be kept to small numbers , with no more than 10 people .
Wear protective masks , social distance and no buffets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ singing more easily spreads the virus.
” Denver haunted houses — businesses that frighten customers — must enforce social distancing and regularly sanitize touch points and surfaces .
Visitors and staffers must wear protective masks and staffers will be temperature screened .
As Halloween creeps closer on the calendar , revelers are urged to check with the state ’ s COVID-19 Dial Dashboard for the status , and limitations , of their local community .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

Halloween may be scarier this year than usual because of pandemic health concerns, according to Denver health officials.
Denver remains in a “safer at home” state in response to COVID-19 — a level 2 category that includes certain restrictions to help stop the spread of the coronavirus — according to a Denver Public Health & Environment news release.
Trick-or-treating should be done with family members and people you live with, the health department said. “Keep six-feet apart from those not in your household,” the release said.
Time spent gathering candy should be shortened, with less households visited compared to years past. Anyone feeling ill should stay home and avoid activities and visitors. Bring hand sanitizer, along with pumpkin basket, and take breaks to apply the sanitizer, the release added.
A Halloween mask is not a substitute for a protective face mask. Kids should wear a protective mask, under their costume mask, and make sure it covers nose and mouth.
“Kids two years and younger are not required to wear a face covering, but everyone three years and older must wear one unless they cannot medically tolerate it,” the news release said.
Households greeting Halloween visitors should minimize direct contacts with visitors. Hosts should disinfect doorbell buttons and other high-touch surfaces outside the home, especially at the evening’s end, the release said. Hosts should distribute the treats, and not have multiple kids reach into a bowl to retrieve treats.
Kids should wash their hands thoroughly at the end of the night.
“Halloween 2020 will be unlike any other in recent history. We’re dealing with a global pandemic. And for most of us, it means uncertain times,” said Robert McDonald, executive director of DDPHE, in the release. “But if we are careful, if we maintain proper social distancing, if we wear our face coverings and use sanitizer, we can maintain a little bit of our traditions and enjoy a fun evening with loved ones.”
Halloween parties should be kept to small numbers, with no more than 10 people. Wear protective masks, social distance and no buffets. Skip the karaoke, as “singing more easily spreads the virus.”
Denver haunted houses — businesses that frighten customers — must enforce social distancing and regularly sanitize touch points and surfaces. Visitors and staffers must wear protective masks and staffers will be temperature screened.
As Halloween creeps closer on the calendar, revelers are urged to check with the state’s COVID-19 Dial Dashboard for the status, and limitations, of their local community.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-10-05--Homeless challenge Denver encampment sweeps in federal court

Homeless people filed a federal lawsuit on Monday seeking to stop Denver from clearing their encampments around the city , saying the operations violate their constitutional rights and also raise the risk of spreading the coronavirus .
The lawsuit names Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and other city officials and police officers as defendants but also Gov .
Jared Polis for allegedly encouraging the sweep of an encampment of a park near the state Capitol this summer .
It claims that the city has not been giving homeless people enough notice of the sweeps as required under a class action settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show up and disrupt the operations .
It also says the city ’ s approach of pushing people out of encampments violates CDC guidance against removing homeless people when there is no individual housing units available for them .
“ Despite this clear warning , Defendants chose to act in direct contravention of public health guidance and to violate the property and due process rights of homeless individuals in a cruel and dangerous manner , ” the lawsuit said .
Denver opened two larger shelters — one for men and another for women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing during the pandemic .
However , Andy McNulty , who represents the homeless plaintiffs as well as the advocacy group Denver Homeless Out Loud in the case , said people who stay in homeless shelters are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 , just as people are in jails .
A settlement reached last year in another case brought by homeless people required the city to give people seven days notice before conducting large-scale cleanups and property removal but did include an exception for emergencies .
A spokesperson for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luby , said the city has not seen the lawsuit yet but disagrees that it has violated the terms of the settlement .
“ The City works very hard to connect people experiencing homelessness with services , but can not allow unsafe and unsanitary conditions to continue as it puts everyone at risk , including those who are experiencing homelessness , ” he said .
Nancy Kuhn , a spokesperson for the city agency that conducts the cleanups , the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure , said the city needs to balance the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other health risks that can stem from conditions in the encampments .
A spokesperson for Polis , Conor Cahill , said the office would not comment on pending litigation .
The lawsuit came a day before an expected sweep of an encampment near apartment buildings a few blocks from the state Capitol .

Homeless people filed a federal lawsuit on Monday seeking to stop Denver from clearing their encampments around the city, saying the operations violate their constitutional rights and also raise the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
The lawsuit names Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and other city officials and police officers as defendants but also Gov. Jared Polis for allegedly encouraging the sweep of an encampment of a park near the state Capitol this summer. It claims that the city has not been giving homeless people enough notice of the sweeps as required under a class action settlement reached last year to avoid having demonstrators show up and disrupt the operations. It also says the city’s approach of pushing people out of encampments violates CDC guidance against removing homeless people when there is no individual housing units available for them.
“Despite this clear warning, Defendants chose to act in direct contravention of public health guidance and to violate the property and due process rights of homeless individuals in a cruel and dangerous manner,” the lawsuit said.
Denver opened two larger shelters — one for men and another for women and transgender people — to allow for social distancing during the pandemic.
However, Andy McNulty, who represents the homeless plaintiffs as well as the advocacy group Denver Homeless Out Loud in the case, said people who stay in homeless shelters are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, just as people are in jails.
A settlement reached last year in another case brought by homeless people required the city to give people seven days notice before conducting large-scale cleanups and property removal but did include an exception for emergencies.
A spokesperson for the city attorney’s office, Ryan Luby, said the city has not seen the lawsuit yet but disagrees that it has violated the terms of the settlement.
“The City works very hard to connect people experiencing homelessness with services, but cannot allow unsafe and unsanitary conditions to continue as it puts everyone at risk, including those who are experiencing homelessness,” he said.
Nancy Kuhn, a spokesperson for the city agency that conducts the cleanups, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said the city needs to balance the CDC’s guidance on the virus with other health risks that can stem from conditions in the encampments.
A spokesperson for Polis, Conor Cahill, said the office would not comment on pending litigation.
The lawsuit came a day before an expected sweep of an encampment near apartment buildings a few blocks from the state Capitol.


thedenverpost--2020-10-07--U.S. Rep. Lamborn staffers in D.C. test positive for COVID-19, sources say

Two members of U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn ’ s Washington , D.C. , staff have tested positive for COVID-19 , staffers of the Colorado Springs Republican confirmed to The Denver Post on Tuesday evening .
Meanwhile , Lamborn is back in Colorado attending fundraisers and refusing to take a test himself , according to the officials , who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution .
“ The deputy chief of staff , who is also the legislative director , started feeling unwell sometime around Thursday or Friday and tested positive for COVID over the weekend , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , Lamborn ’ s military legislative assistant tested positive Tuesday , the source said .
“ The chief of staff called and told us about the one positive case , ” the source said .
“ Three or four more people are experiencing symptoms .
… It was recommended that they not tell their roommates.
” The information provided by the source was confirmed by a second Lamborn staffer .
A representative of Lamborn ’ s D.C. office did not immediately return a call seeking comment .
This is a developing @ @ @ @ @ @

Two members of U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn’s Washington, D.C., staff have tested positive for COVID-19, staffers of the Colorado Springs Republican confirmed to The Denver Post on Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Lamborn is back in Colorado attending fundraisers and refusing to take a test himself, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.
The highly contagious coronavirus has been spreading through the White House and Capitol at least since a Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony in which President Donald Trump announced Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee.
“The deputy chief of staff, who is also the legislative director, started feeling unwell sometime around Thursday or Friday and tested positive for COVID over the weekend,” one of Lamborn’s staffers told The Post.
Then, Lamborn’s military legislative assistant tested positive Tuesday, the source said.
“The chief of staff called and told us about the one positive case,” the source said. “Three or four more people are experiencing symptoms. … It was recommended that they not tell their roommates.”
The information was confirmed by a second Lamborn staff member.
Cassandra Sebastian, spokesperson for Lamborn, said the congressman’s staff will work virtually for the next two weeks and that constituent services will not be interrupted.
“Congressman Lamborn has been in contact with a physician within the attending physician’s office for the U.S. House of Representatives,” Sebastian said. “After giving detailed information to the office, including a lack of symptoms, he was advised that he did not need to be tested or quarantined for COVID-19.”
Lamborn will continue to monitor his condition and follow the advice of doctors, Sebastian said, declining to comment further on the condition of the congressman’s staff members.
Lamborn’s offices are among the few in Congress that haven’t closed due to the pandemic, his staffers said. His D.C. office employs about a dozen people, while the local office employs about seven.
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi began requiring masks to be worn on the House floor and in Capitol office buildings in July, but she and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have resisted calls for mandatory testing, according to The Hill.
Now that Lamborn is back in Colorado, he has been attending events and meeting with people, including a fundraiser Tuesday evening for 6th District Congressional District candidate Steve House, a fellow Republican. At least some attendees of the Colorado Springs event weren’t wearing masks, according to a photo former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams posted on Facebook.
House told 9News’ Marshall Zelinger that he spoke to Lamborn, who confirmed a staffer had tested positive, but that the congressman had little interaction with that person.


thedenverpost--2020-10-07--Kiszla: How 2020 is this? Fate of Broncos’ slim playoff hopes could rest on results of Cam Newton’s

Kiszla: How 2020 is this? Fate of Broncos’ slim playoff hopes could rest on results of Cam Newton’s COVID tests

Sure , quarterback Tom Brady leaving the Patriots was a pretty big deal .
But when NFL historians look back at 2020 , I ’ m guessing they will peg the end of New England ’ s dynasty as the moment coach Bill Belichick sold his soul to Subway in commercials even harder to stomach than those sandwiches .
“ In the NFL , players come and go off teams each year , ” Belichick said Tuesday , as if the departure of a Hall of Fame quarterback that won six championship rings for the Patriots was no different than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today .
Gone tomorrow .
Eat a sammy .
Life goes on .
Crabby Bill treats everybody like the dirt he walks on .
Everybody , except Jon Bon Jovi , whom the Patriots coach adores like a rock ‘ n ’ roll god .
Well , 2020 seems as good a time as any to crank up “ Livin ’ on a Prayer.
” Because whether the Broncos or Patriots win when they play Sunday depends largely on whether New England quarterback Cam Newton can beat the coronavirus .
“ Who knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broncos linebacker Josey Jewel said .
Newton keeps getting tangled up in the Broncos ’ storyline .
When linebacker Von Miller dared to tug on Superman ’ s cape , Denver won Super Bowl 50 .
Earlier this year , the Patriots signed Newton off the street to replace Brady , because Belichick didn ’ t know where else to turn for a quality quarterback .
And Newton , the 2015 league MVP , led New England to a surprising 2-1 start by throwing for 714 yards and running for 149 yards in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into disarray by testing positive for COVID-19 late last week .
Showing an amazing lack of foresight even for a dunderhead like commissioner Roger Goodell , the NFL left no wiggle room in its regular-season schedule in the middle of a pandemic .
But despite a COVID outbreak in Tennessee or the positive test for Newton , the show must go on , because pro football ain ’ t nothing but an excuse to bet $ 100 now .
So the league delayed the kickoff between the Chiefs and Patriots for more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hop on a plane Monday morning bound for Kansas City , where they bungled Belichick ’ s inspired defensive game plan against Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes .
Flying in on game day handed a “ W ” to K.C .
You say : What about the integrity of the sport ?
To the surprise of absolutely nobody , the Pats played like jet-lagged Zombies .
There was 34-year-old quarterback Brian Hoyer making the rookie mistake of forgetting he was out of time outs at the end of the second quarter , which erased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve sent New England into the locker room tied with the Chiefs .
Whatever hope of the upset the Pats had left was given away in the fourth quarter , when Julian Edelman hand-delivered a pick-6 interception to K.C.
’ s Tyrann Mathieu .
“ It is what it is , ” Hoyer told reporters after the 26-10 loss .
“ I think a lot of people in 2020 are dealing with a lot of crazy things , ups and downs .
We signed up for this , and this is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newton can play quarterback , New England is probably a touchdown better than the Broncos .
But if it ’ s Hoyer or Jarrett Stidham under center for the Pats , there really is no reason for the Broncos to rush back Drew Lock from a shoulder injury .
Inexperienced backup Brett Rypien has all the skill or more than washed-up Hoyer or the wannabe Stidham .
The single factor that might most determine whether the Broncos fall to 1-4 and lose contact with the playoff race or return home from New England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the outcome of upcoming COVID tests for Newton .
In this crazy NFL season , that ’ s about as 2020 as it gets , don ’ t you think ?
If you ’ re a football fan with a heart , you pray for Newton ’ s full recovery .
But if you bleed orange , you hope it takes Newton a week before he ’ s medically cleared to get back in the New England huddle .
“ We ’ ll take it day by day .
Today is Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ m not going to try to make any predictions or read into a crystal ball on where things are going to be Friday , Saturday or some other day in the week .
There are so many unpredictable factors here .
You just can ’ t nail them down.
” In one important regard , even the mighty Belichick isn ’ t much different than knuckleheads like you and me .
We ’ re all day to day , livin ’ on a prayer .

Sure, quarterback Tom Brady leaving the Patriots was a pretty big deal. But when NFL historians look back at 2020, I’m guessing they will peg the end of New England’s dynasty as the moment coach Bill Belichick sold his soul to Subway in commercials even harder to stomach than those sandwiches.
“In the NFL, players come and go off teams each year,” Belichick said Tuesday, as if the departure of a Hall of Fame quarterback that won six championship rings for the Patriots was no different than a punter or a long-snapper.
Here today. Gone tomorrow. Eat a sammy. Life goes on.
Crabby Bill treats everybody like the dirt he walks on. Everybody, except Jon Bon Jovi, whom the Patriots coach adores like a rock ‘n’ roll god.
Well, 2020 seems as good a time as any to crank up “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
Because whether the Broncos or Patriots win when they play Sunday depends largely on whether New England quarterback Cam Newton can beat the coronavirus.
“Who knows with all this COVID stuff?” Broncos linebacker Josey Jewell said.
Newton keeps getting tangled up in the Broncos’ storyline. When linebacker Von Miller dared to tug on Superman’s cape, Denver won Super Bowl 50.
Earlier this year, the Patriots signed Newton off the street to replace Brady, because Belichick didn’t know where else to turn for a quality quarterback. And Newton, the 2015 league MVP, led New England to a surprising 2-1 start by throwing for 714 yards and running for 149 yards in three starts.
Then Newton threw everything into disarray by testing positive for COVID-19 late last week.
Showing an amazing lack of foresight even for a dunderhead like commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL left no wiggle room in its regular-season schedule in the middle of a pandemic. But despite a COVID outbreak in Tennessee or the positive test for Newton, the show must go on, because pro football ain’t nothing but an excuse to bet $100 now.
So the league delayed the kickoff between the Chiefs and Patriots for more than 24 hours, forcing New England to hop on a plane Monday morning bound for Kansas City, where they bungled Belichick’s inspired defensive game plan against Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes.
Flying in on game day handed a “W” to K.C.
You say: What about the integrity of the sport?
And 2020 replies: Quit your belly-aching, Karen.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the Pats played like jet-lagged Zombies.
There was 34-year-old quarterback Brian Hoyer making the rookie mistake of forgetting he was out of timeouts at the end of the second quarter, which erased the shot at a field goal that could’ve sent New England into the locker room tied with the Chiefs. Whatever hope of the upset the Pats had left was given away in the fourth quarter, when Julian Edelman hand-delivered a pick-6 interception to K.C.’s Tyrann Mathieu.
“It is what it is,” Hoyer told reporters after the 26-10 loss. “I think a lot of people in 2020 are dealing with a lot of crazy things, ups and downs. We signed up for this, and this is just the way it played out.”
If Newton can play quarterback, New England is probably a touchdown better than the Broncos.
But if it’s Hoyer or Jarrett Stidham under center for the Pats, there really is no reason for the Broncos to rush back Drew Lock from a shoulder injury. Inexperienced backup Brett Rypien has all the skill or more than washed-up Hoyer or the wannabe Stidham.
The single factor that might most determine whether the Broncos fall to 1-4 and lose contact with the playoff race or return home from New England with a victory and newfound hope could be the outcome of upcoming COVID tests for Newton.
In this crazy NFL season, that’s about as 2020 as it gets, don’t you think?
If you’re a football fan with a heart, you pray for Newton’s full recovery.
But if you bleed orange, you hope it takes Newton a week before he’s medically cleared to get back in the New England huddle.
“We’ll take it day by day. Today is Tuesday,” Belichick told radio station WEEI. “I’m not going to try to make any predictions or read into a crystal ball on where things are going to be Friday, Saturday or some other day in the week. There are so many unpredictable factors here. You just can’t nail them down.”
That’s 2020, y’all.
In one important regard, even the mighty Belichick isn’t much different than knuckleheads like you and me.
We’re all day to day, livin’ on a prayer.


thedenverpost--2020-10-07--NY Rangers select Alexis Lafreniere with No. 1 pick in NHL draft

The New York Rangers selected Canadian forward Alexis Lafreniere with the No .
1 pick in the NHL draft on Tuesday night .
Lafreniere was the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ’ s top-ranked North American skater .
He becomes the first Canadian to go No .
1 since Connor McDavid was chosen by Edmonton in 2015 .
From suburban Montreal , the 6-foot-1 playmaking left wing was the first to earn both Canadian Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League MVP honors in consecutive seasons since Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby in 2004 and ’ 05 , when he also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a young , developing Rangers team that features one of his favorite players , Hart Trophy finalist Artemi Panarin .
The Rangers also have up-and-coming youngsters such as Kaapo Kakko , the No .
2 pick in last year ’ s draft , and defenseman Adam Fox , who finished fourth in the rookie of the year voting this season .
New York landed the No .
1 pick for the first time since the NHL established the universal draft in 1969 .
The Rangers bucked the odds by jumping ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the draft lottery after being swept in three games by Carolina in the preliminary round in August .
They became the first NHL team to select first following a postseason appearance since the then-Minnesota North Stars in 1983 , who acquired the No .
1 selection in a trade with Pittsburgh .
The Los Angeles Kings then selected Ontario Hockey League center Quinton Byfield with the second pick .
The 6-foot-4 Byfield , whose father moved to Canada from Jamaica , became the highest drafted Black player .
The Ottawa Senators were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stuetzle , who played professionally in his native Germany last year , with their first of three first-round selections .
The Detroit Red Wings , who were bumped to the fourth spot despite finishing with the league ’ s worst record , drafted Swedish forward Lucas Raymond .
A little over an hour before the draft , the Red Wings announced general manager Steve Yzerman had to self-isolate in overseeing the draft separate from his staff after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 .
The draft was held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their home cities .
Commissioner Gary Bettman introduced each team making a first-round selection from a podium at the NHL Network studios in New Jersey .
The two-day event was originally scheduled to be held in Montreal in June , but it was pushed back like the rest of the NHL calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The league paused its season in mid-March before resuming in August by going directly to the postseason , which ended last week with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second Stanley Cup title by defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The lengthy delay ended a long wait for Lafreniere , who had been looking forward to taking the stage and hearing his name announced in his hometown .
He instead settled for being with his parents and sister at their home a half-hour outside of Montreal .
Upon hearing Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton announce the selection , Lafreniere rose from his living room chair , handed his sister his sport coat and the pulled on a Rangers hat and No .
20 jersey .
Lafreniere scored 35 goals and led the QMJHL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season .
He became the first Quebec-born player to be selected first since Pittsburgh chose goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in 2003 , and the first skater from the province to go first since 1998 , when Tampa Bay drafted Vincent Lecavalier , who also played for Rimouski .
The draft concludes Wednesday with rounds second through seven , before teams turn their attention to the NHL ’ s free agency signing period , which opens Friday .
Teams have already been active in reshaping their rosters and freeing space under the $ 81.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last season and expected to stay fixed for at least another year due to the financial losses resulting from coronavirus .
Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader and Montreal defenseman Karl Alzner were placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the remainder of their contracts earlier in the day .
The Canadiens also traded center Max Domi and a third-round draft pick to Columbus for forward Josh Anderson .

The New York Rangers selected Canadian forward Alexis Lafreniere with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Tuesday night.
Lafreniere was the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s top-ranked North American skater. He becomes the first Canadian to go No. 1 since Connor McDavid was chosen by Edmonton in 2015.
From suburban Montreal, the 6-foot-1 playmaking left wing was the first to earn both Canadian Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League MVP honors in consecutive seasons since Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby in 2004 and ’05, when he also played for the Oceanic.
Lafreniere joins a young, developing Rangers team that features one of his favorite players, Hart Trophy finalist Artemi Panarin. The Rangers also have up-and-coming youngsters such as Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 pick in last year’s draft, and defenseman Adam Fox, who finished fourth in the rookie of the year voting this season.
New York landed the No. 1 pick for the first time since the NHL established the universal draft in 1969. The Rangers bucked the odds by jumping ahead of the NHL’s seven non-playoff teams to win the draft lottery after being swept in three games by Carolina in the preliminary round in August.
They became the first NHL team to select first following a postseason appearance since the then-Minnesota North Stars in 1983, who acquired the No. 1 selection in a trade with Pittsburgh.
The Los Angeles Kings then selected Ontario Hockey League center Quinton Byfield with the second pick. The 6-foot-4 Byfield, whose father moved to Canada from Jamaica, became the highest drafted Black player.
The Ottawa Senators were next and chose top-ranked international forward Tim Stuetzle, who played professionally in his native Germany last year, with their first of three first-round selections.
The Detroit Red Wings, who were bumped to the fourth spot despite finishing with the league’s worst record, drafted Swedish forward Lucas Raymond. A little over an hour before the draft, the Red Wings announced general manager Steve Yzerman had to self-isolate in overseeing the draft separate from his staff after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.
The draft was held remotely, with teams making selections from their home cities. Commissioner Gary Bettman introduced each team making a first-round selection from a podium at the NHL Network studios in New Jersey.
The two-day event was originally scheduled to be held in Montreal in June, but it was pushed back like the rest of the NHL calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The league paused its season in mid-March before resuming in August by going directly to the postseason, which ended last week with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second Stanley Cup title by defeating the Dallas Stars in six games.
The lengthy delay ended a long wait for Lafreniere, who had been looking forward to taking the stage and hearing his name announced in his hometown. He instead settled for being with his parents and sister at their home a half-hour outside of Montreal.
Upon hearing Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton announce the selection, Lafreniere rose from his living room chair, handed his sister his sport coat and the pulled on a Rangers hat and No. 20 jersey.
Lafreniere scored 35 goals and led the QMJHL with 77 assists and 112 points last season. He became the first Quebec-born player to be selected first since Pittsburgh chose goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in 2003, and the first skater from the province to go first since 1998, when Tampa Bay drafted Vincent Lecavalier, who also played for Rimouski.
The draft concludes Wednesday with rounds second through seven, before teams turn their attention to the NHL’s free agency signing period, which opens Friday.
Teams have already been active in reshaping their rosters and freeing space under the $81.5 million salary cap, which is unchanged from last season and expected to stay fixed for at least another year due to the financial losses resulting from coronavirus.
Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader and Montreal defenseman Karl Alzner were placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the remainder of their contracts earlier in the day. The Canadiens also traded center Max Domi and a third-round draft pick to Columbus for forward Josh Anderson.
___
AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.