thedenverpost--2020-12-20--CU Buffs’ Karl Dorrell building culture

CU Buffs’ Karl Dorrell building culture

Every time Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell has driven on Highway 36 into Boulder , he sees the remarkable view of the city on the horizon .
“ There ’ s not a more magnificent sight than to see our school in the setting right underneath the Flatirons and being right in the setting of the Rocky Mountains , ” Dorrell said .
“ We ’ re a very unique place .
I think our players understand that they like this type of environment.
” It ’ s all part of the recruiting pitch for Dorrell and his staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of intent on Wednesday .
Scenic views help , but more than anything , Dorrell is trying to build a culture that attracts recruits .
“ We ’ ve got well-rounded kids that school and football , they ’ re balanced to be motivated in both areas , ” he said .
“ The bottom line , what I ’ ve told their parents is that I want to create the best version of themselves here at Colorado .
They ’ re going to get great coaching and technique with our assistants with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help players make the most of their opportunities when it comes to name , image and likeness ( NIL ) .
The NCAA is expected to vote on NIL legislation next month , which could allow athletes to earn endorsements .
“ I want them to create a positive image about themselves and brand themselves and do a number of things ; it ’ s not just football , but it ’ s to create and do things that represent this program in the right way .
“ I want well-rounded players that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re also motivated to do things off the field , motivated to be successful in life .
Part of our culture is creating that type of attitude about we want to maximize their potential as young men , not only on the football field but also outside the football field.
” Along the way , the Buffs are hoping winning games will bring in top talent .
CU ’ s top-rated player in the 2021 class , tight end Erik Olsen from Heritage High School , said he was committed to the Buffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but CU ’ s 4-1 record didn ’ t hurt .
“ I feel like I ’ m even more assured of my decision after watching them play this season , ” Olsen said .
“ It ’ s not like I ’ m going to be joining a program that has no future .
Obviously , things could turn around in the next few years … but it just feels super good right now that they ’ re playing well.
” With the Buffs ( 4-1 , No .
25 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , they will now wait to get an invitation for a bowl game .
Although some teams have announced they won ’ t play in bowls , BuffZone has been told by sources at CU that the Buffs would accept a bid .
Linebacker Akil Jones said this week that many of the players are excited about the possibility of playing in a bowl for the first time since 2016 .
“ Bowl games are special , really , ” he said .
“ We haven ’ t been to a bowl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to be a part of that group .
I want to get the younger guys the experience of bowl games and knowing that when you make a bowl it ’ s special because if you ’ re here for Christmas playing football , it means you ’ re a good football team.
” The Pac-12 has four bowl tie-ins , with a New Year ’ s Six game , Alamo Bowl , Armed Forces Bowl and Independence Bowl .
CU is one of three Pac-12 teams that have clinched bowl eligibility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bowl .
The others are Southern California and Oregon .
Arizona State could join the list with a win this weekend .
On Friday , Utah and Washington became the latest Pac-12 teams to announce they would not accept a bowl bid , joining Stanford , UCLA and Washington State .
Arizona , California and Oregon State will not achieve bowl eligibility .
With the late signing period coming up in February , the Buffs will likely add at least a couple of players to the 2021 recruiting class .
The staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though .
• Grading the Week : Waiting on CU Buffs ’ Karl Dorrell to build wall around Colorado • Keeler : Thank you , Karl Dorrell .
You , too , Jarek Broussard .
CU Buffs produced a football season to remember during a 2020 we ’ d rather forget .
• Oregon beats USC for the championship in a finish that ’ s so very Pac-12 • CU football regular season over , Pac-12 says ; Buffs likely to accept bowl bid “ You have to continue to move forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ The ’ 21 class is great , but with the ’ 22 class , you have to be up and early in getting those evaluations done .
Our staff has done a tremendous job already with looking through those ’ 22 class members.
” Jones is one of eight scholarship seniors on the roster , but the NCAA has given all players an extra year of eligibility .
Jones , who recently became a father and has been a starter in 10 games over the past two seasons , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll do next year .
“ It ’ s definitely crossed my mind , ” he said of returning in 2021 .
“ It ’ s a tough time all around for everyone in the nation with COVID and everything ; people trying to stay safe , and me also being a father ; all those factors weigh in .
“ But definitely Dorrell is running something special and anyone really can see it .
If you ’ ve been a part of it , you already have that feeling .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to take some time for me to decide .
”

Every time Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell has driven on Highway 36 into Boulder, he sees the remarkable view of the city on the horizon.
“There’s not a more magnificent sight than to see our school in the setting right underneath the Flatirons and being right in the setting of the Rocky Mountains,” Dorrell said. “We’re a very unique place. I think our players understand that they like this type of environment.”
It’s all part of the recruiting pitch for Dorrell and his staff, which signed 17 players to national letters of intent on Wednesday.
Scenic views help, but more than anything, Dorrell is trying to build a culture that attracts recruits.
“We’ve got well-rounded kids that school and football, they’re balanced to be motivated in both areas,” he said. “The bottom line, what I’ve told their parents is that I want to create the best version of themselves here at Colorado. They’re going to get great coaching and technique with our assistants with their positions.”
Dorrell also hopes to help players make the most of their opportunities when it comes to name, image and likeness (NIL). The NCAA is expected to vote on NIL legislation next month, which could allow athletes to earn endorsements.
“I want them to create a positive image about themselves and brand themselves and do a number of things; it’s not just football, but it’s to create and do things that represent this program in the right way.
“I want well-rounded players that are fantastic players, but they’re also motivated to do things off the field, motivated to be successful in life. Part of our culture is creating that type of attitude about we want to maximize their potential as young men, not only on the football field but also outside the football field.”
Along the way, the Buffs are hoping winning games will bring in top talent.
CU’s top-rated player in the 2021 class, tight end Erik Olsen from Heritage High School, said he was committed to the Buffs no matter how this season turned out, but CU’s 4-1 record didn’t hurt.
“I feel like I’m even more assured of my decision after watching them play this season,” Olsen said. “It’s not like I’m going to be joining a program that has no future. Obviously, things could turn around in the next few years … but it just feels super good right now that they’re playing well.”
Waiting for an invite
With the Buffs (4-1, No. 25 in College Football Playoff rankings) off this week, they will now wait to get an invitation for a bowl game.
Although some teams have announced they won’t play in bowls, BuffZone has been told by sources at CU that the Buffs would accept a bid.
Linebacker Akil Jones said this week that many of the players are excited about the possibility of playing in a bowl for the first time since 2016.
“Bowl games are special, really,” he said. “We haven’t been to a bowl game since 2016. I was lucky enough to be a part of that group. I want to get the younger guys the experience of bowl games and knowing that when you make a bowl it’s special because if you’re here for Christmas playing football, it means you’re a good football team.”
The Pac-12 has four bowl tie-ins, with a New Year’s Six game, Alamo Bowl, Armed Forces Bowl and Independence Bowl.
CU is one of three Pac-12 teams that have clinched bowl eligibility, while not declaring an intention to bypass a bowl. The others are Southern California and Oregon. Arizona State could join the list with a win this weekend.
On Friday, Utah and Washington became the latest Pac-12 teams to announce they would not accept a bowl bid, joining Stanford, UCLA and Washington State. Arizona, California and Oregon State will not achieve bowl eligibility.
Looking ahead
With the late signing period coming up in February, the Buffs will likely add at least a couple of players to the 2021 recruiting class. The staff is well on its way with 2022, though.
“You have to continue to move forward and build the classes,” Dorrell said. “The ’21 class is great, but with the ’22 class, you have to be up and early in getting those evaluations done. Our staff has done a tremendous job already with looking through those ’22 class members.”
Undecided future
Jones is one of eight scholarship seniors on the roster, but the NCAA has given all players an extra year of eligibility.
Jones, who recently became a father and has been a starter in 10 games over the past two seasons, said he hasn’t decided what he’ll do next year.
“It’s definitely crossed my mind,” he said of returning in 2021. “It’s a tough time all around for everyone in the nation with COVID and everything; people trying to stay safe, and me also being a father; all those factors weigh in.
“But definitely Dorrell is running something special and anyone really can see it. If you’ve been a part of it, you already have that feeling. It’s just a thing that’s going to take some time for me to decide.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--With winter at hand, the virus whips up winds of uncertainty

Coronavirus cases spiking nationwide .
A chill , existential and literal , setting in once more .
And now : a winter likely to be streaked by a soundtrack of sirens instead of silver bells .
It was winter when the pandemic began , and it will be winter long before it ’ s over .
Weary and traumatized from months of death and confinement , Americans are being handed mixed messages , from governments to their own internal clocks running haywire on flattened time .
Shouldn ’ t it be over by now ?
After all , vaccines are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will get inoculated , winter will exact its toll .
The holidays are wreathed in danger for those who travel and may spread the virus — and those who don ’ t and may suffer from isolation .
Small gifts of normalcy , like in-person schooling and indoor dining , are being interrupted again .
A new president will take the helm of a deeply cleaved country .
And a belated reckoning with social issues marches on .
“ We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easy , ” Dr. Anthony Fauci , the country ’ s top infectious-disease expert , was saying as early as September .
Now , winter is at hand — a winter like no other in living American memory .
And with its arrival Monday , a nation holds its breath .
“ I think there ’ s a pretty common sentiment that a lot of people feel like the world is falling apart , ” says Monica Johnson , a psychologist in New York who primarily serves patients from marginalized groups .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hangs in parks and bike rides have been the social capital that has allowed many Americans to reclaim a semblance of pre-pandemic life .
New York ’ s CitiBike broke its monthly ridership record in September , a Lyft spokesperson says .
Winter is different .
“ Going outside ” becomes a very different act in the cold , and indoors — where winter naturally draws us when the temperatures drop — is where the virus has spread most aggressively .
Exhibit A : public transportation , typically a mainstay of American cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of subway , bus and commuter rail systems has plunged this year .
Metropolitan Transit Authority bus operator Regan Weal has driven three Manhattan routes over the course of the pandemic , the beginning of which was “ mentally exhausting , ” she says .
While both ridership and conditions for drivers have improved , she says , it remains fraught .
More than 130 MTA workers have died of COVID-related causes .
“ I worry about when it gets cold , and now people are going to want to be on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to walk to the train , ” she says .
Novelist Laura Ingalls Wilder titled one of her “ Little House ” books “ The Long Winter.
” Barbara Mayes Boustead , an Omaha-based meteorologist instructor with NOAA , used Wilder ’ s writing as inspiration to co-develop the “ Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index.
” “ In Laura ’ s story , really , the winter is that antagonist out there , that thing that ’ s preventing them from getting what they need .
In the world we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know if COVID is the compounding factor or the antagonist here , ” Mayes Boustead says .
“ It may be that COVID is the antagonist , and then the winter , should it be severe in some places , could be a compounding factor.
” That ’ s playing out in rural eastern Pennsylvania , where English teacher Kerry Palumbo , 52 , had been heading into work every day at Palmerton High School .
Palmerton , which Palumbo describes as “ like Brigadoon ” for its small-town charm , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases because of its commuting culture and proximity to ski areas .
Palumbo ’ s entire family — she has parents in their 70s , two children in college and siblings who telecommute — had hoped to meet for Christmas .
“ My biggest fear is that I will be the one who brings it to my family .
I don ’ t know how I would handle the guilt if that happens , ” she texted in October .
But by Thanksgiving break , her classroom had moved back home amid rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen more than 2,100 cases and 85 COVID-related deaths as of Sunday night .
“ None of us feel as confident as we did before Thanksgiving that Christmas will be in person this year , ” she texted last week .
Rio Santisteban , 27 , lives close enough to their New York City workplace that they can usually just walk when they have to go in .
Their pandemic experience has been a “ roller coaster ” that summer improved .
Winter is different : They have seasonal affective disorder that typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becomes a lot more difficult and intense , a lot more of a journey and a challenge to actually see people rather than just sort of pull up and do nothing , ” Santisteban says .
To cope , they ordered an array of lights to stave off the dark and will “ suck it up and freeze ” to see friends outdoors .
That ’ s in line with recommendations from Alycia Scott , a psychologist who recommends that those fighting SAD counter the tendency to isolate .
Scott has seen a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not being able to do anything , especially because of the backdrop of coronavirus ” among her patients , who are primarily Black and brown .
Before being elected president , Joe Biden issued a warning : “ We ’ re about to go into a dark winter.
” After he won , he said he believed Americans had voted to “ marshal the forces of science and the forces of hope in the great battles of our time.
” With vaccines rolling out , a tangible end — or , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in sight .
Before that moment arrives , though , it ’ s clear that Americans will have to navigate , as Santisteban puts it , this “ horrible , horrible winter that may or may not be horrible ” — a winter dreaded , feared , unwanted , but tinged anew with hope .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

Coronavirus cases spiking nationwide. A chill, existential and literal, setting in once more. And now: a winter likely to be streaked by a soundtrack of sirens instead of silver bells.
It was winter when the pandemic began, and it will be winter long before it’s over. Weary and traumatized from months of death and confinement, Americans are being handed mixed messages, from governments to their own internal clocks running haywire on flattened time.
Shouldn’t it be over by now? After all, vaccines are here. But before the average person will get inoculated, winter will exact its toll.
The holidays are wreathed in danger for those who travel and may spread the virus — and those who don’t and may suffer from isolation. Small gifts of normalcy, like in-person schooling and indoor dining, are being interrupted again. A new president will take the helm of a deeply cleaved country. And a belated reckoning with social issues marches on.
“We need to hunker down and get through this fall and winter, because it’s not going to be easy,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious-disease expert, was saying as early as September.
Now, winter is at hand — a winter like no other in living American memory. And with its arrival Monday, a nation holds its breath.
“I think there’s a pretty common sentiment that a lot of people feel like the world is falling apart,” says Monica Johnson, a psychologist in New York who primarily serves patients from marginalized groups.
For months now, activities like socially distanced hangs in parks and bike rides have been the social capital that has allowed many Americans to reclaim a semblance of pre-pandemic life. New York’s CitiBike broke its monthly ridership record in September, a Lyft spokesperson says.
Winter is different. “Going outside” becomes a very different act in the cold, and indoors — where winter naturally draws us when the temperatures drop — is where the virus has spread most aggressively.
Exhibit A: public transportation, typically a mainstay of American cities in foul and fine conditions. Ridership of subway, bus and commuter rail systems has plunged this year.
Metropolitan Transit Authority bus operator Regan Weal has driven three Manhattan routes over the course of the pandemic, the beginning of which was “mentally exhausting,” she says. While both ridership and conditions for drivers have improved, she says, it remains fraught. More than 130 MTA workers have died of COVID-related causes.
“I worry about when it gets cold, and now people are going to want to be on the bus more because they don’t want to walk to the train,” she says.
Novelist Laura Ingalls Wilder titled one of her “Little House” books “The Long Winter.” Barbara Mayes Boustead, an Omaha-based meteorologist instructor with NOAA, used Wilder’s writing as inspiration to co-develop the “Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index.”
“In Laura’s story, really, the winter is that antagonist out there, that thing that’s preventing them from getting what they need. In the world we’re in this year, I don’t know if COVID is the compounding factor or the antagonist here,” Mayes Boustead says. “It may be that COVID is the antagonist, and then the winter, should it be severe in some places, could be a compounding factor.”
That’s playing out in rural eastern Pennsylvania, where English teacher Kerry Palumbo, 52, had been heading into work every day at Palmerton High School. Palmerton, which Palumbo describes as “like Brigadoon” for its small-town charm, has had many of the area’s cases because of its commuting culture and proximity to ski areas.
Palumbo’s entire family — she has parents in their 70s, two children in college and siblings who telecommute — had hoped to meet for Christmas.
“My biggest fear is that I will be the one who brings it to my family. I don’t know how I would handle the guilt if that happens,” she texted in October. But by Thanksgiving break, her classroom had moved back home amid rising cases in Carbon County, which had seen more than 2,100 cases and 85 COVID-related deaths as of Sunday night.
“None of us feel as confident as we did before Thanksgiving that Christmas will be in person this year,” she texted last week.
Rio Santisteban, 27, lives close enough to their New York City workplace that they can usually just walk when they have to go in. Their pandemic experience has been a “roller coaster” that summer improved. Winter is different: They have seasonal affective disorder that typically manifests as low-grade depression.
“It becomes a lot more difficult and intense, a lot more of a journey and a challenge to actually see people rather than just sort of pull up and do nothing,” Santisteban says.
To cope, they ordered an array of lights to stave off the dark and will “suck it up and freeze” to see friends outdoors.
That’s in line with recommendations from Alycia Scott, a psychologist who recommends that those fighting SAD counter the tendency to isolate. Scott has seen a growing “feeling of kind of impotence and not being able to do anything, especially because of the backdrop of coronavirus” among her patients, who are primarily Black and brown.
Before being elected president, Joe Biden issued a warning: “We’re about to go into a dark winter.” After he won, he said he believed Americans had voted to “marshal the forces of science and the forces of hope in the great battles of our time.”
With vaccines rolling out, a tangible end — or, at least, a way forward — is in sight. Before that moment arrives, though, it’s clear that Americans will have to navigate, as Santisteban puts it, this “horrible, horrible winter that may or may not be horrible” — a winter dreaded, feared, unwanted, but tinged anew with hope.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Trump’s legacy: He changed the presidency, but will it last?

WASHINGTON — The most improbable of presidents , Donald Trump reshaped the office and shattered its centuries-old norms and traditions while dominating the national discourse like no one before .
Trump , governing by whim and tweet , deepened the nation ’ s racial and cultural divides and undermined faith in its institutions .
His legacy : a tumultuous four years that were marked by his impeachment , failures during the worst pandemic in a century and his refusal to accept defeat .
He smashed conceptions about how presidents behave and communicate , offering unvarnished thoughts and policy declarations alike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people while enthralling supporters and unnerving foes — and sometimes allies — both at home and abroad .
While the nation would be hardpressed to elect another figure as disruptive as Trump , it remains to be seen how much of his imprint on the office itself , occupied by only 44 other men , will be indelible .
Already it shadows the work of his successor , President-elect Joe Biden , who framed his candidacy as a repudiation of Trump , offering himself as an antidote to the chaos and dissent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to restore dignity to the Oval Office .
“ For all four years , this is someone who at every opportunity tried to stretch presidential power beyond the limits of the law , ” said presidential historian Michael Beschloss .
“ He altered the presidency in many ways , but many of them can be changed back almost overnight by a president who wants to make the point that there is a change.
” Trump ’ s most enduring legacy may be his use of the trappings of the presidency to erode Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own government .
From his first moments in office , Trump waged an assault on the federal bureaucracy , casting a suspicious eye on career officials he deemed the “ Deep State ” and shaking Americans ’ confidence in civil servants and the levers of government .
Believing that the investigation into Russian election interference was a crusade to undermine him , Trump went after the intelligence agencies and Justice Department — calling out leaders by name — and later unleashed broadsides against the man running the probe , respected special counsel Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : the Supreme Court for insufficient loyalty ; the post office for its handling of mail-in ballots ; even the integrity of the vote itself with his baseless claims of election fraud .
“ In the past , presidents who lost were always willing to turn the office over to the next person .
They were willing to accept the vote of the American public , ” said Richard Waterman , who studies the presidency at the University of Kentucky .
“ What we ’ re seeing right now is really an assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling suggests that many Americans , and a majority of Republicans , feel that Biden was illegitimately elected , damaging his credibility as he takes office during a crisis and also creating a template of deep suspicion for future elections .
“ That ’ s a cancer , ” Waterman said .
“ I don ’ t know if the cancer can be removed from the presidency without doing damage to the office itself .
I think he ’ s done tremendous damage in the last several weeks.
” Jeopardizing the peaceful transfer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first assault on the traditions of the presidency .
He didn ’ t release his tax returns or divest himself from his businesses .
He doled out government resources on a partisan basis and undermined his own scientists .
He rage tweeted at members of his own party and used government property for political purposes , including the White House as the backdrop for his renomination acceptance speech .
Trump used National Guard troops to clear a largely peaceful protest across from the White House for a photo-op .
He named a secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed a congressional waiver to serve because the retired general had not been out of uniform for the seven years required by law .
In that one example , Biden has followed Trump ’ s lead , nominating for Pentagon chief retired Gen. Lloyd Austin , who also will need a waiver .
Trump ’ s disruption extended to the global stage as well , where he cast doubt on once-inviolable alliances like NATO and bilateral partnerships with a host of allies .
His “ America First ” foreign policy emanated more from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts on the ground .
He unilaterally pulled troops from Afghanistan , Somalia , Iraq and Syria , each time drawing bipartisan fire for undermining the very purpose of the American deployment .
He pulled out of multinational environmental agreements , an action that scientists warn may have accelerated climate change .
He stepped away from accords that kept Iran ’ s nuclear ambitions , if not its regional malevolence , in check .
And his presidency may be remembered for altering , perhaps permanently , the nature of the U.S.-China relationship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China as a world power and laying the foundation for a new generation of economic and strategic rivalry .
While historians agree that Trump was a singular figure in the office , it will be decades before the consequences of his tenure are fully known .
But some pieces of his legacy already are in place .
He named three Supreme Court justices and more than 220 federal judges , giving the judiciary an enduring conservative bent .
He rolled back regulations and oversaw an economy that boomed until the pandemic hit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for and against him — to record levels .
He received unwavering loyalty from his own party but was quick to cast aside any who displeased him .
“ President Trump has been the person who has returned power to the American people , not the Washington elite , and preserved our history and institutions , while others have tried to tear them down , ” said White House spokesman Judd Deere .
“ The American people elected a successful businessman who promised to go to Washington , not to tear it down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At times , Trump acted like a bystander to his own presidency , opting to tweet along with a cable news segment rather than dive into an effort to change policy .
And that was one of the many ways Trump changed the way that presidents communicate .
Carefully crafted policy statements took a back seat , replaced by tweets and off-the-cuff remarks to reporters over the whir of helicopter blades .
The discourse hardened , with swear words , personal insults and violent imagery infiltrating the presidential lexicon .
And there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a count by The Washington Post — that Trump tossed out with little regard for their impact .
It was that lack of honesty that played a role in his defeat in an election that became a referendum on how he had managed the COVID-19 pandemic , which has now killed more than 300,000 Americans .
Day after day during his reelection campaign , Trump defied health guidelines and addressed packed , largely mask-less crowds , promising the nation was “ rounding the corner ” on the virus .
He admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to play down the seriousness of the virus .
He held superspreader events at the White House and contracted the virus himself .
And while his administration spearheaded Operation Warp Speed , which helped to produce coronavirus vaccines in record time , Trump also undermined his pubic health officials by refusing to embrace mask-wearing and suggesting unproven treatments , including the injection of disinfectant .
“ We have seen that Donald Trump ’ s style was one of the contributing factors to his failure as a president , ” said Mark K. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the LBJ Foundation .
“ His successor can look at his presidency as a cautionary tale .
”

Jonathan Lemire, Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville

WASHINGTON — The most improbable of presidents, Donald Trump reshaped the office and shattered its centuries-old norms and traditions while dominating the national discourse like no one before.
Trump, governing by whim and tweet, deepened the nation’s racial and cultural divides and undermined faith in its institutions. His legacy: a tumultuous four years that were marked by his impeachment, failures during the worst pandemic in a century and his refusal to accept defeat.
He smashed conceptions about how presidents behave and communicate, offering unvarnished thoughts and policy declarations alike, pulling back the curtain for the American people while enthralling supporters and unnerving foes — and sometimes allies — both at home and abroad.
While the nation would be hardpressed to elect another figure as disruptive as Trump, it remains to be seen how much of his imprint on the office itself, occupied by only 44 other men, will be indelible. Already it shadows the work of his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, who framed his candidacy as a repudiation of Trump, offering himself as an antidote to the chaos and dissent of the past four years while vowing to restore dignity to the Oval Office.
“For all four years, this is someone who at every opportunity tried to stretch presidential power beyond the limits of the law,” said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. “He altered the presidency in many ways, but many of them can be changed back almost overnight by a president who wants to make the point that there is a change.”
Trump’s most enduring legacy may be his use of the trappings of the presidency to erode Americans’ views of the institutions of their own government.
From his first moments in office, Trump waged an assault on the federal bureaucracy, casting a suspicious eye on career officials he deemed the “Deep State” and shaking Americans’ confidence in civil servants and the levers of government. Believing that the investigation into Russian election interference was a crusade to undermine him, Trump went after the intelligence agencies and Justice Department — calling out leaders by name — and later unleashed broadsides against the man running the probe, respected special counsel Robert Mueller.
His other targets were legion: the Supreme Court for insufficient loyalty; the post office for its handling of mail-in ballots; even the integrity of the vote itself with his baseless claims of election fraud.
“In the past, presidents who lost were always willing to turn the office over to the next person. They were willing to accept the vote of the American public,” said Richard Waterman, who studies the presidency at the University of Kentucky. “What we’re seeing right now is really an assault on the institutions of democracy.”
Current polling suggests that many Americans, and a majority of Republicans, feel that Biden was illegitimately elected, damaging his credibility as he takes office during a crisis and also creating a template of deep suspicion for future elections.
“That’s a cancer,” Waterman said. “I don’t know if the cancer can be removed from the presidency without doing damage to the office itself. I think he’s done tremendous damage in the last several weeks.”
Jeopardizing the peaceful transfer of power was hardly Trump’s first assault on the traditions of the presidency.
He didn’t release his tax returns or divest himself from his businesses. He doled out government resources on a partisan basis and undermined his own scientists. He rage tweeted at members of his own party and used government property for political purposes, including the White House as the backdrop for his renomination acceptance speech.
Trump used National Guard troops to clear a largely peaceful protest across from the White House for a photo-op. He named a secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, who needed a congressional waiver to serve because the retired general had not been out of uniform for the seven years required by law. In that one example, Biden has followed Trump’s lead, nominating for Pentagon chief retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, who also will need a waiver.
Trump’s disruption extended to the global stage as well, where he cast doubt on once-inviolable alliances like NATO and bilateral partnerships with a host of allies. His “America First” foreign policy emanated more from preconceived notions of past slights than current facts on the ground. He unilaterally pulled troops from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria, each time drawing bipartisan fire for undermining the very purpose of the American deployment.
He pulled out of multinational environmental agreements, an action that scientists warn may have accelerated climate change. He stepped away from accords that kept Iran’s nuclear ambitions, if not its regional malevolence, in check.
And his presidency may be remembered for altering, perhaps permanently, the nature of the U.S.-China relationship, dimming hopes for a peaceful emergence of China as a world power and laying the foundation for a new generation of economic and strategic rivalry.
While historians agree that Trump was a singular figure in the office, it will be decades before the consequences of his tenure are fully known. But some pieces of his legacy already are in place.
He named three Supreme Court justices and more than 220 federal judges, giving the judiciary an enduring conservative bent. He rolled back regulations and oversaw an economy that boomed until the pandemic hit. His presence increased voter turnout — both for and against him — to record levels. He received unwavering loyalty from his own party but was quick to cast aside any who displeased him.
“President Trump has been the person who has returned power to the American people, not the Washington elite, and preserved our history and institutions, while others have tried to tear them down,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere. “The American people elected a successful businessman who promised to go to Washington, not to tear it down, but to put them first.”
At times, Trump acted like a bystander to his own presidency, opting to tweet along with a cable news segment rather than dive into an effort to change policy. And that was one of the many ways Trump changed the way that presidents communicate.
Carefully crafted policy statements took a back seat, replaced by tweets and off-the-cuff remarks to reporters over the whir of helicopter blades. The discourse hardened, with swear words, personal insults and violent imagery infiltrating the presidential lexicon. And there were the untruths — more than 23,000, according to a count by The Washington Post — that Trump tossed out with little regard for their impact.
It was that lack of honesty that played a role in his defeat in an election that became a referendum on how he had managed the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more than 300,000 Americans.
Day after day during his reelection campaign, Trump defied health guidelines and addressed packed, largely mask-less crowds, promising the nation was “rounding the corner” on the virus. He admitted that from the beginning, he set out to play down the seriousness of the virus.
He held superspreader events at the White House and contracted the virus himself. And while his administration spearheaded Operation Warp Speed, which helped to produce coronavirus vaccines in record time, Trump also undermined his pubic health officials by refusing to embrace mask-wearing and suggesting unproven treatments, including the injection of disinfectant.
“We have seen that Donald Trump’s style was one of the contributing factors to his failure as a president,” said Mark K. Updegrove, presidential historian and CEO of the LBJ Foundation. “His successor can look at his presidency as a cautionary tale.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Firefighters hospitalized after engine tumbles down hillside near Steamboat Springs

Four West Routt Fire Protection District firefighters were injured when their engine rolled multiple times off the road , stopping @ @ @ @ @ a hillside .
The firefighters on board were all buckled up Saturday when the incident @ @ @ @ @ to area hospitals where they were treated and released , according to Chief Trevor Guire @ @ @ @ @ of a steep and icy road , rolling off the edge outside of Steamboat Springs @ @ @ @ @ to a garage fire at 40700 Peak View Court .
Speed was not a factor @ @ @ @ @ to recover the engine .
There were no injuries reported in the garage fire , @ @ @ @ @ .

Four West Routt Fire Protection District firefighters were injured when their engine rolled multiple times off the road, stopping after falling 255 feet down a hillside.
The firefighters on board were all buckled up Saturday when the incident occurred. They were taken to area hospitals where they were treated and released, according to Chief Trevor Guire.
Engine 7-1 slid off of a steep and icy road, rolling off the edge outside of Steamboat Springs. The crew was responding to a garage fire at 40700 Peak View Court.
Speed was not a factor. Crews spent Sunday attempting to recover the engine.
There were no injuries reported in the garage fire, which is still under investigation.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Denver weather: Warm and breezy start to winter season

As of Monday , it is officially winter .
The coldest season kicks off with unseasonably warm temperatures .
According to the National Weather Service in Boulder , the high for the day is 57 degrees downtown , with wind gusting up to 15 mph from the southwest .
Skies will stay clear all day and into the evening , allowing for a good look at a rare celestial event as Jupiter and Saturn will appear very close to each other .
The best time to get a look at it will be right after sunset .
The low will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winds dying down .
Winds will pick up to gust at over 20 mph on Tuesday and bring even warmer temperatures as the high is expected at 60 degrees .
The mostly sunny day will turn into a possibly snowy night as there is a 20 % chance of flurries .
Temperatures will drop to 20 degrees overnight and stay cool through Wednesday when the high is only set for 31 degrees .
The sun that takes back over the sky Wednesday will remain through the weekend , meaning it ’ s unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Denver this year .

As of Monday, it is officially winter.
The coldest season kicks off with unseasonably warm temperatures. According to the National Weather Service in Boulder, the high for the day is 57 degrees downtown, with wind gusting up to 15 mph from the southwest.
Skies will stay clear all day and into the evening, allowing for a good look at a rare celestial event as Jupiter and Saturn will appear very close to each other. The best time to get a look at it will be right after sunset. The low will drop down to 29 degrees, with winds dying down.
Winds will pick up to gust at over 20 mph on Tuesday and bring even warmer temperatures as the high is expected at 60 degrees.
The mostly sunny day will turn into a possibly snowy night as there is a 20% chance of flurries. Temperatures will drop to 20 degrees overnight and stay cool through Wednesday when the high is only set for 31 degrees.
The sun that takes back over the sky Wednesday will remain through the weekend, meaning it’s unlikely that there will be a white Christmas in Denver this year.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Susana Cordova’s advice to Denver Public Schools’ future superintendent: Find common ground

After a 31-year career working in many facets of the Denver Public Schools system , Susana Cordova is rightfully full of mixed emotions as her days as superintendent come to a close .
It ’ s bittersweet to leave the district from which she and her kids graduated to embark on a new adventure as the deputy superintendent of leading and learning at the Dallas Independent School District in Texas .
Denver Public Schools quite literally changed her life .
“ I grew up in a hardworking family who loved me and really valued education , but my parents ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time they grew up and their lack of access to education , ” Cordova said in a parting interview with The Denver Post .
“ My life and children ’ s life is completely different , and the reality is that we do change lives.
” During her career , Cordova served as a bilingual secondary teacher , principal of a high-needs elementary school and an administrator before succeeding Tom Boasberg as superintendent of Colorado ’ s largest school district .
The board of education unanimously elected her to the position in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dedication to ensuring all students had the tools they needed to succeed , Carrie Olson , board president , said .
“ Anyone in public education has a dedication beyond the paycheck .
I saw that in Susana , ” Olson said .
“ She has all these touch points to understand what it means to walk in our halls.
” That understanding proved useful during Cordova ’ s first weeks on the job when she helped resolve DPS ’ first teacher strike in a quarter century .
Cordova ’ s collaborative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she went to the table with many of her peers , Olson said .
Cordova ’ s legacy is cemented in the many strides DPS made toward diversity and inclusivity , said Sharon Bailey , the Denver school district ’ s senior adviser for equity initiatives .
Under Cordova ’ s leadership , Denver schools adopted the Black Excellence and Know Justice , Know Peace resolutions , which focus on supporting Black student success and revising curriculums to include more historical and contemporary contributions of Black , Indigenous and Latino communities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cordova also shifted the district ’ s perspective on second language acquisition to value and honor students who are multilingual , Olson said .
“ She rose ( equity ) up so it became a cornerstone value of the district , ” Bailey said .
“ She has really been a champion in creating a culture that makes educators and students of color feel like they belong.
” The biggest lesson Cordova takes away from her time in Denver Public Schools is the importance of having clear goals and being able to rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic proved that no goal is too ambitious .
“ Pre-pandemic , nobody would have thought that we could get laptops and internet to all kids .
We had a plan around that and it was a multi-year , full bond initiative kind of plan .
Then in the space of a couple months , we got out 55,000 Chromebooks , we got internet hotspots , we got broadband in homes , ” Cordova said .
“ We needed to do this and we did it.
” Not every challenge was as successfully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person or remote learning in the fall were some of the most difficult to navigate as the pandemic evolved , she said .
And looking back , Cordova admits she probably would have made different decisions based on what she now knows about the disease and how it spreads in schools .
Parents criticized Cordova and other district leaders for their response to the pandemic .
Tim Kotowski went as far as to transfer his daughter , who is a freshman , out of the district in September when it became apparent she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The superintendent ’ s departure in the middle of year mired by crisis is also disheartening , he said .
“ This is a lost year for DPS students , ” Kotowski said , “ and to pretend otherwise is disingenuous.
” It ’ s hard to gauge how profound an impact the pandemic will make on students ’ academic and social-emotional well-being , Cordova said , but she expects addressing the effects will be part of her duties for years to come .
In her new role in Dallas , Cordova will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams to develop school strategies and support teachers to meet these new student needs .
To her successor , Cordova advised getting to know the “ amazing people in DPS , ” setting a clear vision with the board of education of what it is they want to achieve and moving beyond ideological divides to do what ’ s best for students .
“ I don ’ t know that there ’ s a more important job than superintendent of Denver Public Schools , ” Cordova said .
“ Roll up your sleeves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and find it within yourself to truly listen to what people are saying and find the common ground .
I think that ’ s the only way to move forward .
”

After a 31-year career working in many facets of the Denver Public Schools system, Susana Cordova is rightfully full of mixed emotions as her days as superintendent come to a close.
It’s bittersweet to leave the district from which she and her kids graduated to embark on a new adventure as the deputy superintendent of leading and learning at the Dallas Independent School District in Texas. Denver Public Schools quite literally changed her life.
“I grew up in a hardworking family who loved me and really valued education, but my parents’ opportunities were really limited because of the time they grew up and their lack of access to education,” Cordova said in a parting interview with The Denver Post. “My life and children’s life is completely different, and the reality is that we do change lives.”
During her career, Cordova served as a bilingual secondary teacher, principal of a high-needs elementary school and an administrator before succeeding Tom Boasberg as superintendent of Colorado’s largest school district. The board of education unanimously elected her to the position in 2018 because of her experience in the classroom and dedication to ensuring all students had the tools they needed to succeed, Carrie Olson, board president, said.
“Anyone in public education has a dedication beyond the paycheck. I saw that in Susana,” Olson said. “She has all these touch points to understand what it means to walk in our halls.”
That understanding proved useful during Cordova’s first weeks on the job when she helped resolve DPS’ first teacher strike in a quarter century. Cordova’s collaborative attitude was instrumental in negotiations, especially as she went to the table with many of her peers, Olson said.
Cordova’s legacy is cemented in the many strides DPS made toward diversity and inclusivity, said Sharon Bailey, the Denver school district’s senior adviser for equity initiatives. Under Cordova’s leadership, Denver schools adopted the Black Excellence and Know Justice, Know Peace resolutions, which focus on supporting Black student success and revising curriculums to include more historical and contemporary contributions of Black, Indigenous and Latino communities.
As DPS’ first Latina leader, Cordova also shifted the district’s perspective on second language acquisition to value and honor students who are multilingual, Olson said.
“She rose (equity) up so it became a cornerstone value of the district,” Bailey said. “She has really been a champion in creating a culture that makes educators and students of color feel like they belong.”
The biggest lesson Cordova takes away from her time in Denver Public Schools is the importance of having clear goals and being able to rally the community around them. The COVID-19 pandemic proved that no goal is too ambitious.
“Pre-pandemic, nobody would have thought that we could get laptops and internet to all kids. We had a plan around that and it was a multi-year, full bond initiative kind of plan. Then in the space of a couple months, we got out 55,000 Chromebooks, we got internet hotspots, we got broadband in homes,” Cordova said. “We needed to do this and we did it.”
Not every challenge was as successfully addressed. Decisions about whether to do in-person or remote learning in the fall were some of the most difficult to navigate as the pandemic evolved, she said. And looking back, Cordova admits she probably would have made different decisions based on what she now knows about the disease and how it spreads in schools.
Parents criticized Cordova and other district leaders for their response to the pandemic. Tim Kotowski went as far as to transfer his daughter, who is a freshman, out of the district in September when it became apparent she would not return to in-person learning. The superintendent’s departure in the middle of year mired by crisis is also disheartening, he said.
“This is a lost year for DPS students,” Kotowski said, “and to pretend otherwise is disingenuous.”
It’s hard to gauge how profound an impact the pandemic will make on students’ academic and social-emotional well-being, Cordova said, but she expects addressing the effects will be part of her duties for years to come. In her new role in Dallas, Cordova will be working with the academic and innovation teams to develop school strategies and support teachers to meet these new student needs.
To her successor, Cordova advised getting to know the “amazing people in DPS,” setting a clear vision with the board of education of what it is they want to achieve and moving beyond ideological divides to do what’s best for students.
“I don’t know that there’s a more important job than superintendent of Denver Public Schools,” Cordova said. “Roll up your sleeves, jump in, look past labels and find it within yourself to truly listen to what people are saying and find the common ground. I think that’s the only way to move forward.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Aurora may follow Denver in lifting its pit bull ban — and it’s not the only city doing so

Thousands of pit bulls in metro Denver are getting a reprieve from long-standing laws that target them , and the change of heart toward the dogs is happening with speed .
Last month , voters in Denver decisively lifted the city ’ s 30-year ban on pit bulls .
Castle Rock ’ s elected leaders did the same two years prior , ending a 26-year prohibition on pit bulls in the Douglas County town .
Commerce City is in the midst of ditching breed-specific legislation after 15 years , with a final vote on the matter set for early January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where on Monday two measures lifting the city ’ s ban on pit bulls will be introduced at City Council — one leaving the decision to the council and the other asking the voters to make the call .
“ An animal doesn ’ t need to be a pit bull to have a violent incident , ” said Aurora Councilwoman Allison Hiltz , who is pushing her fellow council members to approve an end to the ban .
“ To single out a specific breed doesn ’ t actually address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hiltz said with Aurora ’ s recent overhaul of its animal code , which put in place strict dangerous dog measures to address menacing or harmful behaviors by any canine breed , the time has come to scuttle legislation that targets pit bulls .
Under Aurora ’ s classification , that means American pit bull terriers , American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers could live in the city .
For owners whose dogs exhibit dangerous behavior , Aurora now imposes special restrictions — from requiring a dog to wear a muzzle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s not a breed issue , ” Hiltz said .
“ It ’ s a people problem so let ’ s address the people problem.
” That ’ s how David Edelstein , president of Arvada-based Team Pit-a-Full , sees it .
His organization has been pushing for an end to pit bull bans for more than half a decade , saying “ they don ’ t work.
” The onus , instead , should be on owners who abuse or don ’ t properly train their pit bulls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to a dog ’ s aberrant behavior .
“ What you need is to write some genuinely effective legislation that holds the dog owner liable .
If your dog runs at large , we ’ re not going to give you a warning — we ’ re going to slap you with fines , ” he said .
“ These particular laws that try to single out a breed to tackle a general problem is wrong from the get-go.
” But Mia Johnson , a founder of National Pit Bull Victim Awareness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true colors .
Her organization ’ s website compiled media stories about fatal pit bull encounters across North America , concluding that 31 people have been killed this year so far .
Johnson , whose 5-pound dog was eviscerated by a pit bull as she was walking through her Vancouver neighborhood in Canada several years ago , said a pit bull kills someone every nine days on average .
“ Pit bulls are lovable and goofy dogs , but they ’ re unpredictable , ” she said .
“ One of the problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is almost no warning.
” The other issue , Johnson said , is that while plenty of other breeds bite , pit bull attacks are much more likely to result in serious injury or death .
In statistics compiled by dogsbite.org for the years 2005 to 2019 , dogs killed 521 Americans .
Pit bulls were responsible for two of every three of those killings — or 346 fatalities .
“ The first bite is often fatal , ” Johnson said .
Or if not fatal , severely damaging .
In 2005 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three pit bulls in his Aurora backyard , losing his left arm and sustaining injuries to his face .
The attack occurred nine days after the city had passed its prohibition on new pit bulls being brought into Aurora .
Jones told The Associated Press in a 2018 interview that despite the attack he harbored no ill will toward the breed and favored lifting Aurora ’ s pit bull ban .
“ They ’ re still a normal dog .
They ’ re not vicious , ” he said .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.
” That ’ s the conclusion of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , which in its position statement on the issue says “ heredity , early experience , socialization and training , sex and reproductive status ” are far more important in determining a dog ’ s behavior than its breed .
In the two or so years since Castle Rock lifted its ban and switched to a “ behavior focused assessment ” of pets , the town ’ s police department has seen no noticeable increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a town spokeswoman .
While pit bull biting incidents varied between three and four annually in the three years leading up to the end of the ban , the town recorded two pit bull biting incidents in 2019 and three so far this year .
Since 2018 , seven dogs identified as dangerous have been removed from Castle Rock .
None were pit bulls , the town said .
In Aurora , there are around 400 incidents of dogs biting humans in the city per year .
Since 2017 , bites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 to 69 of all dog bites annually , according to the city .
Despite what the data may show , pit bulls generate strong feelings and emotions .
Many of the attacks that have occurred have been gruesome and some twhave involved children .
Media attention tends to be intense after a mauling .
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman , who favors lifting the ban , said he ’ d rather the final decision come from the voters , not the City Council .
His alternate measure , set for Monday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the November 2021 ballot .
“ For me , it ’ s a question of process and respecting the voters , ” he said .
“ It ’ s a moral responsibility to refer it back to the voters as they ’ ve already voted on the issue.
” It was six years ago that voters in Aurora overwhelmingly — by a 2-to-1 margin — rejected lifting the city ’ s ban on pit bulls .
Coffman said he worded his proposed ballot question in a careful way , inserting guardrails that require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the breed in the city .
“ With these kinds of protections in place , I feel confident we can have the restricted breeds in the city that aren ’ t more dangerous than the non-restricted breeds , ” he said .
Hiltz , the councilwoman , said she respects Coffman ’ s desire to send the issue to the voters .
But she said an end to the pit bull ban has been under discussion for years , with plenty of opportunities for public input during that time .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ This is three years in the making and I ’ m ready to move forward on this .
”

Thousands of pit bulls in metro Denver are getting a reprieve from long-standing laws that target them, and the change of heart toward the dogs is happening with speed.
Last month, voters in Denver decisively lifted the city’s 30-year ban on pit bulls. Castle Rock’s elected leaders did the same two years prior, ending a 26-year prohibition on pit bulls in the Douglas County town.
Commerce City is in the midst of ditching breed-specific legislation after 15 years, with a final vote on the matter set for early January.
Now the spotlight shifts to Aurora, where on Monday two measures lifting the city’s ban on pit bulls will be introduced at City Council — one leaving the decision to the council and the other asking the voters to make the call.
“An animal doesn’t need to be a pit bull to have a violent incident,” said Aurora Councilwoman Allison Hiltz, who is pushing her fellow council members to approve an end to the ban. “To single out a specific breed doesn’t actually address the problem with responsible ownership and what not.”
Hiltz said with Aurora’s recent overhaul of its animal code, which put in place strict dangerous dog measures to address menacing or harmful behaviors by any canine breed, the time has come to scuttle legislation that targets pit bulls. Under Aurora’s classification, that means American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers could live in the city.
For owners whose dogs exhibit dangerous behavior, Aurora now imposes special restrictions — from requiring a dog to wear a muzzle or the owner to buy liability insurance.
“It’s not a breed issue,” Hiltz said. “It’s a people problem so let’s address the people problem.”
That’s how David Edelstein, president of Arvada-based Team Pit-a-Full, sees it. His organization has been pushing for an end to pit bull bans for more than half a decade, saying “they don’t work.” The onus, instead, should be on owners who abuse or don’t properly train their pit bulls, factors that he said most often lead to a dog’s aberrant behavior.
“What you need is to write some genuinely effective legislation that holds the dog owner liable. If your dog runs at large, we’re not going to give you a warning — we’re going to slap you with fines,” he said. “These particular laws that try to single out a breed to tackle a general problem is wrong from the get-go.”
But Mia Johnson, a founder of National Pit Bull Victim Awareness, said the breed has shown its true colors. Her organization’s website compiled media stories about fatal pit bull encounters across North America, concluding that 31 people have been killed this year so far.
Johnson, whose 5-pound dog was eviscerated by a pit bull as she was walking through her Vancouver neighborhood in Canada several years ago, said a pit bull kills someone every nine days on average.
“Pit bulls are lovable and goofy dogs, but they’re unpredictable,” she said. “One of the problems with a pit bull attack is that there is almost no warning.”
The other issue, Johnson said, is that while plenty of other breeds bite, pit bull attacks are much more likely to result in serious injury or death. In statistics compiled by dogsbite.org for the years 2005 to 2019, dogs killed 521 Americans. Pit bulls were responsible for two of every three of those killings — or 346 fatalities.
“The first bite is often fatal,” Johnson said.
Or if not fatal, severely damaging. In 2005, 10-year-old Gregg Jones was mauled by three pit bulls in his Aurora backyard, losing his left arm and sustaining injuries to his face. The attack occurred nine days after the city had passed its prohibition on new pit bulls being brought into Aurora.
Jones told The Associated Press in a 2018 interview that despite the attack he harbored no ill will toward the breed and favored lifting Aurora’s pit bull ban.
“They’re still a normal dog. They’re not vicious,” he said. “It’s just the way that you treat them.”
That’s the conclusion of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which in its position statement on the issue says “heredity, early experience, socialization and training, sex and reproductive status” are far more important in determining a dog’s behavior than its breed.
In the two or so years since Castle Rock lifted its ban and switched to a “behavior focused assessment” of pets, the town’s police department has seen no noticeable increase in dog bites associated with pit bulls, according to a town spokeswoman.
While pit bull biting incidents varied between three and four annually in the three years leading up to the end of the ban, the town recorded two pit bull biting incidents in 2019 and three so far this year. Since 2018, seven dogs identified as dangerous have been removed from Castle Rock. None were pit bulls, the town said.
In Aurora, there are around 400 incidents of dogs biting humans in the city per year. Since 2017, bites from pit bulls made up anywhere from 34 to 69 of all dog bites annually, according to the city.
Despite what the data may show, pit bulls generate strong feelings and emotions. Many of the attacks that have occurred have been gruesome and some twhave involved children. Media attention tends to be intense after a mauling.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who favors lifting the ban, said he’d rather the final decision come from the voters, not the City Council. His alternate measure, set for Monday’s meeting, would refer a question to the November 2021 ballot.
“For me, it’s a question of process and respecting the voters,” he said. “It’s a moral responsibility to refer it back to the voters as they’ve already voted on the issue.”
It was six years ago that voters in Aurora overwhelmingly — by a 2-to-1 margin — rejected lifting the city’s ban on pit bulls. Coffman said he worded his proposed ballot question in a careful way, inserting guardrails that require owners to take additional steps when registering the breed in the city.
“With these kinds of protections in place, I feel confident we can have the restricted breeds in the city that aren’t more dangerous than the non-restricted breeds,” he said.
Hiltz, the councilwoman, said she respects Coffman’s desire to send the issue to the voters. But she said an end to the pit bull ban has been under discussion for years, with plenty of opportunities for public input during that time.
“We’ve done the public outreach campaign,” she said. “This is three years in the making and I’m ready to move forward on this.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Denver residents buying health insurance through state marketplace won’t have UCHealth option in 202

Denver residents buying health insurance through state marketplace won’t have UCHealth option in 2021

Denver residents who buy their insurance through Connect for Health Colorado won ’ t have easy access to UCHealth ’ s hospital and doctor network in 2021 , after the health system and Anthem/Blue Cross failed to come to agreement .
Eight companies sell plans through the state-run individual health insurance marketplace in Denver .
Anthem was the only one that included UCHealth in its provider network , but elected to drop the system in 2021 .
UCHealth remains in-network for some marketplace plans sold in other parts of Colorado , and for Anthem ’ s group coverage plans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that means the insurance company and the provider agreed to rates for services provided to that company ’ s customers .
Patients can see a doctor who ’ s out-of-network , but they ’ re responsible for most or all of the cost of their visit — unless it ’ s an emergency situation .
Laura Packard , a Denver resident , said she ’ s concerned about replacing the oncologist and cardiologist she sees at UCHealth .
It can be difficult to find specialists who are taking new patients , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to do the same thing , she said .
Vince Plymell , spokesman for the Colorado Division of Insurance , said people undergoing care for a significant health issue and those in their second or third trimester of pregnancy can request a 90-day extension , so they can set up a smooth transition .
It doesn ’ t apply to people who just want to keep their current doctor for routine care , he said .
Packard had Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma , which has been in remission since 2018 .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year to check for signs the cancer is returning , and needs monitoring for heart and lung damage from chemotherapy and radiation treatment .
Since she isn ’ t undergoing cancer treatment , she doesn ’ t qualify for the 90-day extension .
“ I have to find a new everything , ” she said .
“ I can ’ t even imagine someone who ’ s going through chemotherapy now.
” It ’ s not unusual for insurance networks to change from year-to-year , Plymell said .
Anthem decided to contract with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Division of Insurance determined that HealthOne has enough physician , hospital and urgent care options in the Denver area , he said .
Insurance companies aren ’ t required to have every possible service and specialty in-network , Plymell said .
People who need a type of care that may not be available at their in-network hospital , such as an organ transplant , can request an exemption to pay in-network rates while seeing an out-of-network doctor , he said .
The division estimated Anthem will pay about 19 % less to HealthOne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely drove the 20 % overall decrease in their rates in the Denver area , Plymell said .
Neither Anthem nor UCHealth clearly explained why the system was in-network in some parts of Colorado , but not Denver .
Dan Weaver , spokesman for UCHealth , said Anthem didn ’ t notify the system that it wouldn ’ t include them until it was too late to make an agreement with a different company to be in-network in Denver starting in January .
They are working on reaching an agreement that would add @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later in 2021 , he said .
“ We understand that this is difficult for many of our patients , ” he said in a statement .
Anthem told a different story .
Spokesman Tony Felts said Anthem asked UCHealth to participate in a lower-cost plan they were rolling out in Denver , but the health system wasn ’ t interested .
The new plan still offers “ hundreds of doctors ” affiliated with HealthOne and Boulder Community Health , while lowering the monthly cost to customers , he said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
When health systems go out-of-network , it ’ s generally because they wanted higher rates than insurers are willing to offer , said Adam Fox , deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative .
People buying their insurance through the marketplace tend to have lower incomes and more chronic conditions than people who have employer-sponsored coverage , so they may face difficulty transitioning to new doctors when the networks change , he said .
Packard said she struggles to understand why people in other Front Range counties can buy insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t .
She said she ’ s frustrated with both parties , because UCHealth had revenue that was well above average last year , and Anthem has a history of brinksmanship in negotiations in other states .
“ I think it ’ s two bad actors colliding , and the patients are getting caught in the middle , ” she said .

Denver residents who buy their insurance through Connect for Health Colorado won’t have easy access to UCHealth’s hospital and doctor network in 2021, after the health system and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield failed to come to agreement.
Eight companies sell plans through the state-run individual health insurance marketplace in Denver. Anthem was the only one that included UCHealth in its provider network, but didn’t include the system in 2021 in plans sold in the 10-county Denver metro area. UCHealth remains in-network for some marketplace plans sold in other parts of Colorado, and for Anthem’s group coverage plans.
When a doctor or hospital is in-network, that means the insurance company and the provider agreed to rates for services provided to that company’s customers. Patients can see a doctor who’s out-of-network, but they’re responsible for most or all of the cost of their visit — unless it’s an emergency situation.
Laura Packard, a Denver resident, said she’s concerned about replacing the oncologist and cardiologist she sees at UCHealth. It can be difficult to find specialists who are taking new patients, especially when a significant number of people are trying to do the same thing, she said.
Vince Plymell, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Insurance, said people undergoing care for a significant health issue and those in their second or third trimester of pregnancy can request a 90-day extension, so they can set up a smooth transition. It doesn’t apply to people who just want to keep their current doctor for routine care, he said.
Packard had Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which has been in remission since 2018. She still sees an oncologist multiple times a year to check for signs the cancer is returning, and needs monitoring for heart and lung damage from chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Since she isn’t undergoing cancer treatment, she doesn’t qualify for the 90-day extension.
“I have to find a new everything,” she said. “I can’t even imagine someone who’s going through chemotherapy now.”
It’s not unusual for insurance networks to change from year-to-year, Plymell said. Anthem decided to contract with HealthOne instead of UCHealth, and the Division of Insurance determined that HealthOne has enough physician, hospital and urgent care options in the Denver area, he said.
Insurance companies aren’t required to have every possible service and specialty in-network, Plymell said. People who need a type of care that may not be available at their in-network hospital, such as an organ transplant, can request an exemption to pay in-network rates while seeing an out-of-network doctor, he said.
The division estimated Anthem will pay about 19% less to HealthOne than it did to UCHealth, which largely drove the 20% overall decrease in their rates in the Denver area, Plymell said.
Neither Anthem nor UCHealth clearly explained why the system was in-network in some parts of Colorado, but not Denver.
Dan Weaver, spokesman for UCHealth, said Anthem didn’t notify the system that it wouldn’t include them until it was too late to make an agreement with a different company to be in-network in Denver starting in January. They are working on reaching an agreement that would add them to another company’s network later in 2021, he said.
“We understand that this is difficult for many of our patients,” he said in a statement.
Anthem told a different story. Spokesman Tony Felts said Anthem asked UCHealth to participate in a lower-cost plan they were rolling out in Denver, but the health system wasn’t interested. The new plan still offers “hundreds of doctors” affiliated with HealthOne and Boulder Community Health, while lowering the monthly cost to customers, he said.
“We asked, they declined,” he said.
When health systems go out-of-network, it’s generally because they wanted higher rates than insurers are willing to offer, said Adam Fox, deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. People buying their insurance through the marketplace tend to have lower incomes and more chronic conditions than people who have employer-sponsored coverage, so they may face difficulty transitioning to new doctors when the networks change, he said.
Packard said she struggles to understand why people in other Front Range counties can buy insurance with UCHealth in-network and Denver residents can’t. She said she’s frustrated with both parties, because UCHealth had revenue that was well above average last year, and Anthem has a history of brinksmanship in negotiations in other states.
“I think it’s two bad actors colliding, and the patients are getting caught in the middle,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Kwity Paye to the Broncos? NFL mock draft has Michigan edge rusher coming to Denver.

Another edge rusher for the Broncos ?
One mock draft has one of the nation ’ s best heading to Denver .
Yahoo Sports ’ Eric Edholm has Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye going to Denver with the No .
13 overall pick in his latest NFL mock draft .
“ If the Broncos end up picking higher , perhaps a quarterback will be in the discussion .
Maybe Mac Jones at No .
13 won ’ t sound wild in April .
That ’ s a chat for another day , ” Edholm writes .
“ It makes sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miller following his freakish ankle injury and his contract is due to expire following the 2021 season .
“ Paye possesses elite athleticism and has been the clear standout on a disappointing Wolverines defense this season .
Although his pass rush arsenal could use refinement , his burst , thick build and bull-rush prowess give him an excellent template to grow.
” The 6-foot-4 , 272-pound Paye had two sacks and 16 tackles in six games for the Wolverines this season .
In 2019 , he had 6.5 sacks and a fumble recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed with Creative Artists Agency , according to the Detroit Free Press .
The 2021 NFL draft will take place April 29-May 1 in Cleveland .

Another edge rusher for the Broncos? One mock draft has one of the nation’s best heading to Denver.
Yahoo Sports’ Eric Edholm has Michigan edge rusher Kwity Paye going to Denver with the No. 13 overall pick in his latest NFL mock draft.
“If the Broncos end up picking higher, perhaps a quarterback will be in the discussion. Maybe Mac Jones at No. 13 won’t sound wild in April. That’s a chat for another day,” Edholm writes. “It makes sense to start thinking about life after Von Miller following his freakish ankle injury and his contract is due to expire following the 2021 season.
“Paye possesses elite athleticism and has been the clear standout on a disappointing Wolverines defense this season. Although his pass rush arsenal could use refinement, his burst, thick build and bull-rush prowess give him an excellent template to grow.”
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Paye had two sacks and 16 tackles in six games for the Wolverines this season. In 2019, he had 6.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. He announced on Friday that he signed with Creative Artists Agency, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The 2021 NFL draft will take place April 29-May 1 in Cleveland.


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--Ask Amy: This year, everybody needs a book on their bed

Dear Readers : Every year at Christmastime , I prompt readers to put “ A Book on Every Bed.
” The idea originally came from historian David McCollough .
On the Christmas mornings of his youth , the very first thing he woke up to was a wrapped book at the base of his bed , left there by Santa .
Working with my literacy partner , Children ’ s Reading Connection , this campaign has grown to include schools , libraries and bookstores .
This year is different .
All of us — not just children — need a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve reached out to some of my favorite independent booksellers for their special picks for books for all ages .
I hope you will be inspired to put A Book on Every Bed this year , and not only for Christmas .
This idea is one to sustain people throughout what might be a long and dark winter .
“ Parents should choose books to surround babies with an abundance of loving and delightful words.
” “ If You Come to Earth , ” by Sophie Blackall , visually and lyrically beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hug to any child who receives it .
“ You Matter , ” by Christian Robinson , is a bright and elegant book that takes children on a journey around the world .
Everyone matters , no matter what they look like or where they are from.
” Early Readers : From Sandra Dear , owner of The Little Boho Bookshop , in Bayonne , NJ ( thelittlebohobookshop.com ) “ The Suitcase , ” by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros : This beautiful story about immigration is full of heart and humanity as it teaches our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kindness .
“ Home in the Woods , ” by Eliza Wheeler : This stunningly beautiful picture book is about starting over , and of overcoming !
A story of family , love , and the joy of growing together .
Middle Grade Readers : From Becky Anderson , co-owner of Anderson ’ s Bookshop , in Naperville , Illinois ( andersonsbookshop.com ) “ Ways to Make Sunshine , ” by Renee Watson : Watson writes her own version of Ramona Quimby , starring a Black girl and her family , in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about spirit , kindness , and sunshine .
“ The Silver Arrow , ” by Lev Grossman : Kate ’ s humdrum life is transformed when her eccentric Uncle Herbert brings her a colossal locomotive train , the Silver Arrow , leading her and her younger brother on a mysterious journey .
“ One of Us is Lying , ” by Karen M McManus is an edge-of-your-seat mystery that takes place in Bayview High school during detention .
A tale of twists and turns that has the reader questioning the reliability of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The New Kid ” by Jerry Craft : A spot-on graphic novel .
Jordan Banks is in seventh grade when he is sent to a rigorous private school and grapples with staying true to himself .
Adult Non-fiction , from Alex George , author of The Paris Hours , owner of Skylark Bookshop ( skylarkbookshop.com ) , in Columbia , Missouri : “ Wintering , ” by Katherine May : This is a deeply personal , quietly beautiful book , offering insight as to how we might think differently about low points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Delights , ” by Ross Gay : Gay set himself the challenge of finding one thing that delighted him each day for a year .
The result is a quirky , brilliant book : A guaranteed lifter of spirits .
“ Intimations : Six Essays , ” by Zadie Smith : Written during the pandemic , this small but powerful book shows Smith ’ s talents at their finest .
Adult Fiction : from Mark LaFramboise of Politics and Prose , in Washington , D.C. ( politics-prose.com ) .
“ The Butterfly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a beautiful story of mental illness , the bonds of sisterhood , and the liveliness of a child ’ s imagination .
“ What Are You Going Through , ” by Sigrid Nunez : The story of a woman who is asked by an old college acquaintance to be with her when she takes her life , after a cancer diagnosis .
This book bristles with life .
“ Apeirogon , ” by Colum McCann : Two fathers , one Palestinian and one Israeli , have both lost their young daughters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconciliation , not revenge , is what they needed to seek .
“ The Chair Rocks , ” by Ashton Applewhite : Lively , funny , and deeply researched , tracing Applewhite ’ s journey from apprehensive boomer to pro-aging radical , and in the process debunks myths about late life .

Dear Readers: Every year at Christmastime, I prompt readers to put “A Book on Every Bed.”
The idea originally came from historian David McCollough. On the Christmas mornings of his youth, the very first thing he woke up to was a wrapped book at the base of his bed, left there by Santa.
Working with my literacy partner, Children’s Reading Connection, this campaign has grown to include schools, libraries and bookstores.
This year is different. All of us — not just children — need a good book on our beds.
I’ve reached out to some of my favorite independent booksellers for their special picks for books for all ages.
I hope you will be inspired to put A Book on Every Bed this year, and not only for Christmas. This idea is one to sustain people throughout what might be a long and dark winter.
Baby and Toddlers: From Brigid Hubberman, Children’s Reading Connection (childrensreadingconnection.org):
“Parents should choose books to surround babies with an abundance of loving and delightful words.”
“Baby Cakes,” by Karma Wilson and Sam Williams
“Haiku Baby,” by Betsy E. Snyder
“Shine Baby Shine,” by Leslie Staub and Lori Nichols
Ages 3 to 5: From Lisa Swaze, Buffalo Street Books, Ithaca, N.Y. (buffalostreetbooks.com):
“If You Come to Earth,” by Sophie Blackall, visually and lyrically beautiful. It will feel like a warm hug to any child who receives it.
“You Matter,” by Christian Robinson, is a bright and elegant book that takes children on a journey around the world. Everyone matters, no matter what they look like or where they are from.”
Early Readers: From Sandra Dear, owner of The Little Boho Bookshop, in Bayonne, NJ (thelittlebohobookshop.com)
“The Suitcase,” by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros: This beautiful story about immigration is full of heart and humanity as it teaches our littlest ones about hope, tolerance and kindness.
“Home in the Woods,” by Eliza Wheeler: This stunningly beautiful picture book is about starting over, and of overcoming! A story of family, love, and the joy of growing together.
Middle Grade Readers: From Becky Anderson, co-owner of Anderson’s Bookshop, in Naperville, Illinois (andersonsbookshop.com)
“Ways to Make Sunshine,” by Renee Watson: Watson writes her own version of Ramona Quimby, starring a Black girl and her family, in this start to a charming new middle-grade series about spirit, kindness, and sunshine.
“The Silver Arrow,” by Lev Grossman: Kate’s humdrum life is transformed when her eccentric Uncle Herbert brings her a colossal locomotive train, the Silver Arrow, leading her and her younger brother on a mysterious journey.
YA READERS: Danielle Kreger, Blue Bunny Books, Dedham, Massachusetts. (bluebunnybooks.com):
“One of Us is Lying,” by Karen M McManus is an edge-of-your-seat mystery that takes place in Bayview High school during detention. A tale of twists and turns that has the reader questioning the reliability of the characters and the secrets they keep.
“The New Kid” by Jerry Craft: A spot-on graphic novel. Jordan Banks is in seventh grade when he is sent to a rigorous private school and grapples with staying true to himself.
Adult Non-fiction, from Alex George, author of The Paris Hours, owner of Skylark Bookshop (skylarkbookshop.com), in Columbia, Missouri: “Wintering,” by Katherine May: This is a deeply personal, quietly beautiful book, offering insight as to how we might think differently about low points in our lives.
“The Book of Delights,” by Ross Gay: Gay set himself the challenge of finding one thing that delighted him each day for a year. The result is a quirky, brilliant book: A guaranteed lifter of spirits.
“Intimations: Six Essays,” by Zadie Smith: Written during the pandemic, this small but powerful book shows Smith’s talents at their finest.
Adult Fiction: from Mark LaFramboise of Politics and Prose, in Washington, D.C. (politics-prose.com).
“The Butterfly Lampshade,” by Aimee Bender: This is a beautiful story of mental illness, the bonds of sisterhood, and the liveliness of a child’s imagination.
“What Are You Going Through,” by Sigrid Nunez: The story of a woman who is asked by an old college acquaintance to be with her when she takes her life, after a cancer diagnosis. This book bristles with life.
Elders: From Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe and Phoenix, Arizona (changinghands.com):
“Apeirogon,” by Colum McCann: Two fathers, one Palestinian and one Israeli, have both lost their young daughters to violence, but have decided that reconciliation, not revenge, is what they needed to seek.
“The Chair Rocks,” by Ashton Applewhite: Lively, funny, and deeply researched, tracing Applewhite’s journey from apprehensive boomer to pro-aging radical, and in the process debunks myths about late life.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-12-21--CU Buffs dominate Washington in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — It was less than two years ago when Colorado and Washington met at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a berth in the Pac-12 Conference championship game on the line .
Only one team looked as if it might be ready for another run at a conference title on Sunday .
And it certainly wasn ’ t the Huskies .
The Buffaloes added to the misery that has been Washington ’ s season so far , dominating the Huskies from the opening tip to post a 92-69 win in a contest that was played as a nonconference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floor and was able to consistently dissect the Huskies ’ zone defense for easy looks , while the Buffs ’ defense never allowed Washington ’ s struggling offense to get on track .
CU opened the game with an 11-2 run and never trailed , building a 21-5 lead less than 8 minutes into the game .
The Buffs routinely got the ball to either Dallas Walton or Jeriah Horne in the open spot of the zone around the free throw line , allowing those two forwards to shoot a combined 12-for-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line before finishing with a career-high 22 points .
D ’ Shawn Schwartz went 3-for-5 on 3-pointers and scored 13 points , while Horne finished with 16 points .
With five players scoring in double figures , CU was so dominant that despite star point guard McKinley Wright finishing just 2-for-6 with five points , the Buffs were able to cruise to a 23-point win .
Wright still contributed five assists and four rebounds with only one turnover in 28 minutes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ while holding Washington to a 4-for-18 mark from 3-point range .

LAS VEGAS — It was less than two years ago when Colorado and Washington met at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a berth in the Pac-12 Conference championship game on the line.
Only one team looked as if it might be ready for another run at a conference title when they collided again Sunday night. And it certainly wasn’t the Huskies.
The Buffaloes added to the misery that has been Washington’s season so far, dominating the Huskies from the opening tip to post a 92-69 win in a contest that was played as a nonconference game. CU shot well from the floor and was able to consistently dissect the Huskies’ zone defense for easy looks, while the Buffs’ defense never allowed Washington’s struggling offense to get on track.
“I thought we played really, really well in that first half,” CU head coach Tad Boyle said. “We made great decisions against the zone. Quick, decisive decisions, which is what you have to do. The second half, I thought we struggled. Especially down the stretch there. I don’t like the way we finished the game. But overall, I thought we rebounded the ball better in the second half. The first half, we gave up seven layups and eight offensive rebounds. I thought we should have held them to 20 points in the first half. They had 30.
“But to win a game going away against a conference opponent that’s given you problems in the past, it’s a good sign. I thought we executed the game plan on offense really, really well tonight.”
CU opened the game with an 11-2 run and never trailed, building a 21-5 lead less than 8 minutes into the game. The Buffs routinely got the ball to either Dallas Walton or Jeriah Horne in the open spot of the zone around the free throw line, allowing those two forward to shoot a combined 12-for-19.
Walton was particularly dominant, going 6-for-7 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line before finishing with a career-high 22 points. D’Shawn Schwartz went 3-for-5 on 3-pointers and scored 13 points, while Horne finished with 16 points.
Walton’s 6-for-7 night from the floor increased his season shooting percentage to .750 (21-for-28).
“I can’t put into words how good it feels,” Walton said. “A lot of credit goes to my teammates and coaches for putting me in positions to produce. I think it was a good game for us. We’ve just got to keep this thing going.”
With five players scoring in double figures, CU was so dominant that despite star point guard McKinley Wright finishing just 2-for-6 with five points, the Buffs were able to cruise to a 23-point win. Wright still contributed five assists and four rebounds with only one turnover in 28 minutes.
The Buffs shot .483 from the field while holding Washington to a 4-for-18 mark from 3-point range.
“I think it was after the Tennessee game, (Walton) was 1-for-1 and I remember coming into the next staff meeting in the morning saying we’ve got to get this guy more shots,” Boyle said. “He’s got to be more a focal part of the offense. And we told the team that as well. They really responded because he’s very efficient with his shots. He doesn’t take a lot of bad ones. Every time he touches it down there you feel something good is going to happen.”
Fast break
What went right: Pretty much everything. The Buffs shot .483 from the field, went 26-for-28 at the free throw line, outrebounded Washington 43-28, and committed a season-low seven turnovers.
What went wrong: Very little, though a late 15-0 run by the Huskies made the final margin slightly more palatable for UW.
Star of the game: Dallas Walton. The 7-footer from Arvada West went 6-for-7 from the field and 10-for-10 at the free throw line while scoring a career-high 22 points.
What’s next: The Buffs will have an off day in Las Vegas before taking on Grand Canyon at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday (9 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Networks).
COLORADO 92, WASHINGTON 69
COLORADO (5-1): Battey 0-1 6-6 6, Walton 6-7 10-10 22, Parquet 2-4 0-0 4, M.Wright 2-6 1-2 5, Schwartz 4-9 2-2 13, Horne 6-12 4-4 16, Barthelemy 3-7 2-2 10, Daniels 3-7 1-2 10, Walker 3-5 0-0 6, Clifford 0-1 0-0 0, O’Brien 0-1 0-0 0, Strating 0-0 0-0 0, Jessup 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 26-28 92.
WASHINGTON (1-6): Roberts 1-2 0-1 2, H.Wright 0-2 0-0 0, Battle 0-4 0-0 0, Green 4-14 4-4 12, Pryor 7-17 1-2 15, Bey 3-7 0-0 8, Sorn 7-8 2-3 16, Bajema 0-1 0-0 0, Tsohonis 4-4 4-6 14, Brooks 1-2 0-0 2, Stevenson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-63 11-16 69.
Halftime — Colorado 52-30. 3-Point Goals — Colorado 8-20 (Daniels 3-4, Schwartz 3-5, Barthelemy 2-6, Horne 0-1, O’Brien 0-1, Parquet 0-1, M.Wright 0-2), Washington 4-18 (Tsohonis 2-2, Bey 2-3, H.Wright 0-1, Pryor 0-2, Stevenson 0-2, Battle 0-3, Green 0-5). Rebounds — Colorado 43 (Daniels 7), Washington 28 (Sorn 8). Assists — Colorado 21 (M.Wright 5), Washington 10 (Pryor 5). Total Fouls — Colorado 19, Washington 20. Technical foul — Walker.