thedenverpost--2020-06-07--Fan experience to change profoundly amid COVID-19 pandemic

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
— Dayton Moore remembers so clearly the vast sections of empty seats inside Kauffman Stadium when he took over as general manager of the Kansas City Royals , and he remembers just as vividly — nearly a decade later — how those seats filled and fans roared as the long-suffering club won the World Series .
Those dueling memories make the thought of playing games in empty stadiums hard for Moore to fathom .
“ I know how much strength all players draw from the fans and environment , ” he said , when asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without crowds , “ and you need that support to get through an entire Major League Baseball schedule.
” As lockdowns are lifted and restrictions eased , sports are finally starting to emerge in the coronavirus pandemic .
But in virtually every situation , fans are not yet being allowed to attend and the only consensus for now is that there could be a long period of empty or nearly empty seating .
Some U.S. universities are modeling for 25 % capacity for the upcoming football season or maybe half-full arenas for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for most sports , a reduced crowd wouldn ’ t negatively impact the overall experience , especially in a situation like baseball or even the NFL , ” said Katy Lucy , a digital marketing agent from Atlanta whose fandom is split between all things Georgia Bulldogs and the Washington Capitals .
“ But it would be different for sure for those who attend in person.
” Count her family among those who would pause before heading to the ballpark .
“ For me personally , I ’ m not sure I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until there is a known treatment or widely available vaccine , ” Lucy said .
“ I trust the institutions to put the proper measures in place ; however , making sure that they are enforced is another matter.
” Many college and pro sports teams already were dealing with declining ticket sales .
Watching at home or streaming games are factors , as is the changing social makeup of fan bases .
Dynamic pricing , increases in parking and concession prices , and a push toward luxury seating have exacerbated the problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six of the past seven seasons .
In college football , 13 of the 130 schools that played in the Football Bowl Subdivision reported average crowd sizes of 50 % or less last season .
Even the NFL has seen an increase in empty seats despite its generally rock-solid popularity .
So as coronavirus concerns linger , how are teams going to lure fans back when stadiums do reopen ?
Loyalty and engagement apps , widespread around the major leagues and colleges even before the pandemic , will become even more common and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue .
There also will be more behind-the-scenes content and enhancements available via smartphones that will only be available to those in the stadium or arena , offering fans something unique over fans watching at home .
“ Fans want that experience to be top-notch , period .
That ’ s why teams are thinking about this , ” said Britton Stackhouse Miller , senior vice president at Fortress U.S. , a developer of engagement and integration systems with clients in European soccer , baseball , the NBA , NFL and NHL .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and touchless vending will become the norm for a while .
Even concessions will change , though one big difference — gulp — could lead to a lot of grumbling .
“ If you don ’ t sell beer the number of visits to the bathroom drops dramatically , ” said Marc Ganis , the director of sports consulting firm Sportscorp .
“ So for a time we may have to think about not selling beer.
” It won ’ t just be the vast oceans of bench seats left open , either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the first to return .
It ’ s the corporate suites from which many colleges and pro franchises derive so much of their gameday revenue that may end up being empty until long after games have resumed .
Economic woes may last for some time .
For fans who stay home , leagues are looking for ways to keep them engaged , too .
When Germany ’ s top soccer league returned without fans , broadcaster Sky knew it had a problem with silence coming through the TV .
Engineers created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the same teams , then teased out roars for specific events such as goals and red cards , giving those watching at home the option of a more realistic experience .
“ This was the only idea that we thought could be most respectful to the fans , ” said Alessandro Reitano , vice president of sports production for Sky Deutschland .
“ To be honest , it ’ s a major success.
” Old crowd noise is a bit like an old game , though .
It lacks a certain authenticity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created an app that utilizes the microphones of fans .
It captures their every roar and groan and sends the audio to its server , which then aggregates the noise into a single stream .
That stream is then returned to the viewer using proprietary algorithms to provide the broadcast with real-time sound , which is then immediately erased to ensure personal privacy .
“ Once they press play on our web app , they can hear what everyone else is cheering about and their own cheer , ” said ChampTrack chief executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon handle as many as 150,000 fans for each game .
Sound is one element of the fan experience .
Optics is another .
“ When it was clear there would be no audience this season , the fans had the idea of bringing their images to the stadium , ” said Lubbo Popken , deputy press secretary for German soccer club Borussia Monchengladbach , which affixed fan likenesses to their seats .
“ We were surprised how many people wanted to be part of this idea and have their images in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the empty stadium.
” Of course , none of that is the same as having real fans creating real noise .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dayton Moore remembers so clearly the vast sections of empty seats inside Kauffman Stadium when he took over as general manager of the Kansas City Royals, and he remembers just as vividly — nearly a decade later — how those seats filled and fans roared as the long-suffering club won the World Series.
Those dueling memories make the thought of playing games in empty stadiums hard for Moore to fathom.
“I know how much strength all players draw from the fans and environment,” he said, when asked about plans to play a shortened season without crowds, “and you need that support to get through an entire Major League Baseball schedule.”
As lockdowns are lifted and restrictions eased, sports are finally starting to emerge in the coronavirus pandemic. But in virtually every situation, fans are not yet being allowed to attend and the only consensus for now is that there could be a long period of empty or nearly empty seating. Some U.S. universities are modeling for 25% capacity for the upcoming football season or maybe half-full arenas for the ensuing basketball season.
“I think for most sports, a reduced crowd wouldn’t negatively impact the overall experience, especially in a situation like baseball or even the NFL,” said Katy Lucy, a digital marketing agent from Atlanta whose fandom is split between all things Georgia Bulldogs and the Washington Capitals. “But it would be different for sure for those who attend in person.”
Count her family among those who would pause before heading to the ballpark.
“For me personally, I’m not sure I would feel comfortable attending a live sporting event until there is a known treatment or widely available vaccine,” Lucy said. “I trust the institutions to put the proper measures in place; however, making sure that they are enforced is another matter.”
Many college and pro sports teams already were dealing with declining ticket sales. Watching at home or streaming games are factors, as is the changing social makeup of fan bases. Dynamic pricing, increases in parking and concession prices, and a push toward luxury seating have exacerbated the problem.
Major League Baseball attendance has declined six of the past seven seasons. In college football, 13 of the 130 schools that played in the Football Bowl Subdivision reported average crowd sizes of 50% or less last season. Even the NFL has seen an increase in empty seats despite its generally rock-solid popularity.
So as coronavirus concerns linger, how are teams going to lure fans back when stadiums do reopen?
Loyalty and engagement apps, widespread around the major leagues and colleges even before the pandemic, will become even more common and interactive as teams try to recapture lost revenue. There also will be more behind-the-scenes content and enhancements available via smartphones that will only be available to those in the stadium or arena, offering fans something unique over fans watching at home.
“Fans want that experience to be top-notch, period. That’s why teams are thinking about this,” said Britton Stackhouse Miller, senior vice president at Fortress U.S., a developer of engagement and integration systems with clients in European soccer, baseball, the NBA, NFL and NHL.
Temperature checks, hand sanitizer distribution stations and touchless vending will become the norm for a while. Even concessions will change, though one big difference — gulp — could lead to a lot of grumbling.
“If you don’t sell beer the number of visits to the bathroom drops dramatically,” said Marc Ganis, the director of sports consulting firm Sportscorp. “So for a time we may have to think about not selling beer.”
It won’t just be the vast oceans of bench seats left open, either. Many experts believe those hardy fans will be the first to return. It’s the corporate suites from which many colleges and pro franchises derive so much of their gameday revenue that may end up being empty until long after games have resumed. Economic woes may last for some time.
For fans who stay home, leagues are looking for ways to keep them engaged, too.
When Germany’s top soccer league returned without fans, broadcaster Sky knew it had a problem with silence coming through the TV. Engineers created “carpet audio” from previous games between the same teams, then teased out roars for specific events such as goals and red cards, giving those watching at home the option of a more realistic experience.
“This was the only idea that we thought could be most respectful to the fans,” said Alessandro Reitano, vice president of sports production for Sky Deutschland. “To be honest, it’s a major success.”
Old crowd noise is a bit like an old game, though. It lacks a certain authenticity. So along came ChampTrack, which created an app that utilizes the microphones of fans. It captures their every roar and groan and sends the audio to its server, which then aggregates the noise into a single stream. That stream is then returned to the viewer using proprietary algorithms to provide the broadcast with real-time sound, which is then immediately erased to ensure personal privacy.
“Once they press play on our web app, they can hear what everyone else is cheering about and their own cheer,” said ChampTrack chief executive Elias Anderson, adding the system could soon handle as many as 150,000 fans for each game.
Sound is one element of the fan experience. Optics is another.
“When it was clear there would be no audience this season, the fans had the idea of bringing their images to the stadium,” said Lubbo Popken, deputy press secretary for German soccer club Borussia Monchengladbach, which affixed fan likenesses to their seats. “We were surprised how many people wanted to be part of this idea and have their images in the stadium. It really changed the atmosphere in the empty stadium.”
Of course, none of that is the same as having real fans creating real noise.


thedenverpost--2020-06-07--Colin Kaepernick: Timeline of a gesture and its echoes

Colin Kaepernick was a second-round draft pick in 2011 .
The next year he led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl .
By 2016 , he had begun kneeling on the sideline at games during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality .
Soon after , he was gone from the NFL , and he has not played since .
Here ’ s a timeline of Kaepernick ’ s pro football and post-NFL days since he first kneeled during “ The Star-Spangled Banner.
” Aug. 26 , 2016 : During the anthem before a Packers-49ers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco bench .
Kaepernick says he sat because the country “ oppresses black people and people of color.
” His action does not attract immediate national attention .
He mentions that he had earlier not stood for the anthem .
Aug. 27 , 2016 : Kaepernick ’ s sitdown begins drawing headlines .
Some condemn him for dishonoring the flag and country .
Others applaud his motives .
The NFL says players are encouraged but not required to stand for the anthem .
Aug. 30 , 2016 : Former NFL player and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kneel rather than sit during the anthem .
Sept. 1 , 2016 : Kaepernick kneels before a road game against the Chargers and says he will donate $ 1 million to organizations supporting his aims .
Sept. 5 , 2016 : President Barack Obama defends Kaepernick ’ s protest , saying it is his constitutional right .
Sept. 7 , 2016 : NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he “ doesn ’ t necessarily agree with what ( Kaepernick ) is doing , ” but supports players who seek changes in society .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first full day of the regular season , several players kneel during the anthem .
Sept. 12 , 2016 : Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid kneel before the 49ers ’ home game against the Rams .
Kaepernick is rehabbing a knee injury and doesn ’ t play .
Sept. 27 , 2016 : After criticism from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump , Kaepernick responds : “ He always says make America great again .
Well , America has never been great for people of color .
That ’ s something that needs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America great for the first time.
” Oct. 16 , 2016 : Kaepernick returns as 49ers starter in a 45-16 loss at Buffalo and remains the starter the rest of the season .
March 3 , 2017 : His stint with the 49ers , who planned to cut him , ends as Kaepernick opts out of his contract .
Aug. 25 , 2017 : Although several teams have shown moderate interest in Kaepernick , he gets no contract offers .
Supporters say team owners are blackballing him , and a group rallies outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2017 : Without Kaepernick in the league , players still kneel during the anthem .
Sept. 26 , 2017 : Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones locks arms and kneels with his players before the anthem but stand while it ’ s played .
Oct. 15 , 2017 : Kaepernick files a grievance against NFL team owners , citing collusion to keep him out of the league .
April 18 , 2018 : As part of their collusion claim , Kaepernick and his representatives depose Goodell and a variety of NFL owners and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2018 : NFL owners approve a rule banning kneeling during the anthem .
Players have the option to stay in the locker room .
President Trump applauds the rule .
NFL owners soon retract the rule because of its divisiveness .
Sept. 3 , 2018 : As the regular season approaches without Kaepernick again , Nike makes the quarterback the focal point of its sports advertising campaign .
“ Believe in something , even if it means sacrificing everything .
# JustDoIt.
” There are calls for boycotting Nike as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 , 2018 : A second straight season begins with Kaepernick not on a roster , but with some players still kneeling during the anthem .
Sept. 26 , 2018 : Reid , a free agent , finally finds a team , the Carolina Panthers , and is congratulated on social media by Kaepernick .
Dec. 30 , 2018 : The regular season ends .
Kaepernick remains without an NFL offer .
Feb. 15 , 2019 : The NFL reaches settlements with Kaepernick and Reid on collusion grievances .
Monetary figures are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eyeing an NFL job , Kaepernick sends social media message to teams that includes a video of him working out .
Sept. 8 , 2019 : The third consecutive full opening day of an NFL season without Kaepernick .
Nov. 18 , 2019 : Finally , a workout with NFL teams , but chaos ensues .
Kaepernick moves the session in Atlanta , contending the league was not transparent in how it would be run , who would attend and who would be liable for potential injuries .
A limited number of teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kaepernick : “ We all know why .
I came out there and showed it today in front of everybody .
Stop running from the truth .
Stop running from the people.
” Feb. 13 , 2020 : Kaepernick announces he will write a memoir , though he still wants to play football .
May 29 , 2020 : Sparked by the death of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white police officer in Minneapolis pressed a knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes , Kaepernick offers support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right to fight back !
Rest in power George Floyd.
” May 30 , 2020 : The NFL ’ s statement on Floyd ’ s death and the ensuing protests mentions Kaepernick ’ s demonstrations during the anthem .
June 4 , 2020 : Many of Kaepernick ’ s supporters within the league release a video urging the NFL to denounce racism and further promote social justice .
June 5 , 2020 : In a video , Goodell apologizes to players for not listening to them earlier .
He encourages them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the league will be part of “ how we can improve and go forward for a better and more united NFL family.
” June 5 , 2020 : Trump reiterates his criticism of Kaepernick after New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees apologizes for comments about protesters ’ goals : The president says on Twitter the player “ should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag .
OLD GLORY is to be revered , cherished , and flown high… We should be standing up straight and tall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hand on heart .
There are other things you can protest , but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING !
”

Colin Kaepernick was a second-round draft pick in 2011. The next year he led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. By 2016, he had begun kneeling on the sideline at games during the national anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality.
Soon after, he was gone from the NFL, and he has not played since. Here’s a timeline of Kaepernick’s pro football and post-NFL days since he first kneeled during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Aug. 26, 2016: During the anthem before a Packers-49ers preseason game, Kaepernick sits on the San Francisco bench. Kaepernick says he sat because the country “oppresses black people and people of color.” His action does not attract immediate national attention. He mentions that he had earlier not stood for the anthem.
Aug. 27, 2016: Kaepernick’s sitdown begins drawing headlines. Some condemn him for dishonoring the flag and country. Others applaud his motives. The NFL says players are encouraged but not required to stand for the anthem.
Aug. 30, 2016: Former NFL player and ex-Green Beret Nate Boyer suggests to Kaepernick to kneel rather than sit during the anthem.
Sept. 1, 2016: Kaepernick kneels before a road game against the Chargers and says he will donate $1 million to organizations supporting his aims.
Sept. 5, 2016: President Barack Obama defends Kaepernick’s protest, saying it is his constitutional right.
Sept. 7, 2016: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he “doesn’t necessarily agree with what (Kaepernick) is doing,” but supports players who seek changes in society.
Sept. 11, 2016: On the first full day of the regular season, several players kneel during the anthem.
Sept. 12, 2016: Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid kneel before the 49ers’ home game against the Rams. Kaepernick is rehabbing a knee injury and doesn’t play.
Sept. 27, 2016: After criticism from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Kaepernick responds: “He always says make America great again. Well, America has never been great for people of color. That’s something that needs to be addressed. Let’s make America great for the first time.”
Oct. 16, 2016: Kaepernick returns as 49ers starter in a 45-16 loss at Buffalo and remains the starter the rest of the season.
Jan. 1, 2017: Kaepernick plays his final NFL game, a 25-23 loss to Seattle.
March 3, 2017: His stint with the 49ers, who planned to cut him, ends as Kaepernick opts out of his contract.
Aug. 25, 2017: Although several teams have shown moderate interest in Kaepernick, he gets no contract offers. Supporters say team owners are blackballing him, and a group rallies outside NFL headquarters in Manhattan.
Sept. 10, 2017: Without Kaepernick in the league, players still kneel during the anthem.
Sept. 26, 2017: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones locks arms and kneels with his players before the anthem but stand while it’s played.
Oct. 15, 2017: Kaepernick files a grievance against NFL team owners, citing collusion to keep him out of the league.
Dec. 31, 2017: NFL season ends with Kaepernick unemployed.
April 18, 2018: As part of their collusion claim, Kaepernick and his representatives depose Goodell and a variety of NFL owners and executives, including Jones.
May 23, 2018: NFL owners approve a rule banning kneeling during the anthem. Players have the option to stay in the locker room. President Trump applauds the rule. NFL owners soon retract the rule because of its divisiveness.
Sept. 3, 2018: As the regular season approaches without Kaepernick again, Nike makes the quarterback the focal point of its sports advertising campaign. “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt.” There are calls for boycotting Nike as well as praise for the apparel company.
Sept. 9, 2018: A second straight season begins with Kaepernick not on a roster, but with some players still kneeling during the anthem.
Sept. 26, 2018: Reid, a free agent, finally finds a team, the Carolina Panthers, and is congratulated on social media by Kaepernick.
Dec. 30, 2018: The regular season ends. Kaepernick remains without an NFL offer.
Feb. 15, 2019: The NFL reaches settlements with Kaepernick and Reid on collusion grievances. Monetary figures are not disclosed.
Aug. 8, 2019: Eyeing an NFL job, Kaepernick sends social media message to teams that includes a video of him working out.
Sept. 8, 2019: The third consecutive full opening day of an NFL season without Kaepernick.
Nov. 18, 2019: Finally, a workout with NFL teams, but chaos ensues. Kaepernick moves the session in Atlanta, contending the league was not transparent in how it would be run, who would attend and who would be liable for potential injuries. A limited number of teams make it to the workout. Says Kaepernick: “We all know why. I came out there and showed it today in front of everybody. Stop running from the truth. Stop running from the people.”
Dec. 29, 2019: The season ends with Kaepernick unsigned.
Feb. 13, 2020: Kaepernick announces he will write a memoir, though he still wants to play football.
May 29, 2020: Sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer in Minneapolis pressed a knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes, Kaepernick offers support to nationwide protesters. “We have the right to fight back! Rest in power George Floyd.”
May 30, 2020: The NFL’s statement on Floyd’s death and the ensuing protests mentions Kaepernick’s demonstrations during the anthem.
June 4, 2020: Many of Kaepernick’s supporters within the league release a video urging the NFL to denounce racism and further promote social justice.
June 5, 2020: In a video, Goodell apologizes to players for not listening to them earlier. He encourages them to protest peacefully and denounces racism. He says the league will be part of “how we can improve and go forward for a better and more united NFL family.”
June 5, 2020: Trump reiterates his criticism of Kaepernick after New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees apologizes for comments about protesters’ goals: The president says on Twitter the player “should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag. OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high… We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!”
___
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi and Sports Writer Ben Nuckols contributed.


thedenverpost--2020-06-07--James Bennet resigns as New York Times opinion editor

James Bennet , brother of Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and the editorial page editor of The New York Times , has resigned after a controversy over an op-ed by a senator calling for military force against protesters in U.S. cities .
“ Last week we saw a significant breakdown in our editing processes , not the first we ’ ve experienced in recent years , ” said A.G. Sulzberger , the publisher , in a note to the staff .
In a brief interview Sunday afternoon , Sulzberger added , “ Both of us concluded that James would not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next leg of change that is required.
” Katie Kingsbury , a deputy editorial page editor , will be the acting editorial page editor through the November election , Sulzberger said .
Jim Dao , the deputy editorial page editor who oversees op-eds , is stepping down from his position , which was on the Times masthead , and taking a new job in the newsroom , Sulzberger said .
Bennet ’ s swift fall from one of the most powerful positions in American journalism comes as hundreds of thousands of people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement and society in recent weeks , after George Floyd died last month after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white police officer ’ s knee .
The movement has spread to newsrooms , where journalists and other employees have challenged leadership .
On Saturday night , Stan Wischnowski resigned as top editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer days after an article in the newspaper about the effects of protest on the urban landscape carried the headline , “ Buildings Matter , Too , ” prompting an apology , a heated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by dozens of journalists of color .
At the Times , the op-ed prompted a virtual town hall with the staff Friday , at which Bennet apologized for the op-ed , saying it should not have been published and that it resulted from a breakdown in a process meant to vet op-eds .
The op-ed , by Sen. Tom Cotton , R-Ark.
, had “ Send in the Troops ” as its headline .
“ One thing above all else will restore order to our streets : an overwhelming show of force to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the senator wrote .
As of Thursday evening , more than 800 staff members had signed a letter protesting its publication , addressed to high-ranking editors in the opinion and news divisions as well as New York Times Co. executives .
The letter argued that Cotton ’ s essay contained misinformation , such as his depiction of the role of “ antifa ” in the protests .
Dozens of Times employees objected to the op-ed on social media as well , despite a company policy that instructs them not to post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bennet ’ s departure seems to eliminate one of just a few projected contenders to be the newspaper ’ s next executive editor after Dean Baquet , who has been in charge of the newsroom for six years , retires .

The New York Times News Service Syndicate

James Bennet, brother of Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and the editorial page editor of The New York Times, has resigned after a controversy over an op-ed by a senator calling for military force against protesters in U.S. cities.
“Last week we saw a significant breakdown in our editing processes, not the first we’ve experienced in recent years,” said A.G. Sulzberger, the publisher, in a note to the staff. In a brief interview Sunday afternoon, Sulzberger added, “Both of us concluded that James would not be able to lead the team through the next leg of change that is required.”
Katie Kingsbury, a deputy editorial page editor, will be the acting editorial page editor through the November election, Sulzberger said.
Jim Dao, the deputy editorial page editor who oversees op-eds, is stepping down from his position, which was on the Times masthead, and taking a new job in the newsroom, Sulzberger said.
Bennet’s swift fall from one of the most powerful positions in American journalism comes as hundreds of thousands of people have marched in protest of racism in law enforcement and society in recent weeks, after George Floyd died last month after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white police officer’s knee. The movement has spread to newsrooms, where journalists and other employees have challenged leadership.
On Saturday night, Stan Wischnowski resigned as top editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer days after an article in the newspaper about the effects of protest on the urban landscape carried the headline, “Buildings Matter, Too,” prompting an apology, a heated staff meeting and a “sick-out” by dozens of journalists of color.
At the Times, the op-ed prompted a virtual town hall with the staff Friday, at which Bennet apologized for the op-ed, saying it should not have been published and that it resulted from a breakdown in a process meant to vet op-eds.
The op-ed, by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., had “Send in the Troops” as its headline. “One thing above all else will restore order to our streets: an overwhelming show of force to disperse, detain and ultimately deter lawbreakers,” the senator wrote.
As of Thursday evening, more than 800 staff members had signed a letter protesting its publication, addressed to high-ranking editors in the opinion and news divisions as well as New York Times Co. executives. The letter argued that Cotton’s essay contained misinformation, such as his depiction of the role of “antifa” in the protests. Dozens of Times employees objected to the op-ed on social media as well, despite a company policy that instructs them not to post partisan comments or take sides on issues.
Bennet’s departure seems to eliminate one of just a few projected contenders to be the newspaper’s next executive editor after Dean Baquet, who has been in charge of the newsroom for six years, retires.


thedenverpost--2020-06-07--Lights on! Gilpin County gets OK to start phased-in reopening of casinos in Black Hawk and Central C

Lights on! Gilpin County gets OK to start phased-in reopening of casinos in Black Hawk and Central City

Casinos in Gilpin County will start a phased-in reopening June 17 after getting the go-ahead from state health officials .
Gilpin County Commissioner Ron Engels said Sunday that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved a variance allowing the casinos in Black Hawk and Central City to open under extensive guidelines to keep customers and employees safe from COVID-19 .
The casinos in Gilpin and Teller counties have been closed since mid-March under statewide restrictions to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Gilpin County ’ s 50-page request for a variance was approved Saturday .
Teller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the casinos in Cripple Creek .
“ It is such an incredible relief and we know it ’ s still a very long haul , ” Engels said .
Only slot machines will be in operation at first .
Engels said the CDPHE wants to wait three weeks before allowing the table games to resume to make sure a spike in coronavirus cases doesn ’ t occur .
The guidelines approved by the CDPHE include limiting a casino ’ s occupancy to 50 % of the capacity allowed by the fire code , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor space .
Customers and employees will be screened for any symptoms of coronavirus and lines will be used to mark the six feet required for social distancing .
“ We look forward to working with Gilpin County to ensure they can reopen in as safe a manner as possible , ” Shelby Wieman , spokeswoman for Gov .
Jared Polis , said in an email .
The Gilpin County Board of Public Health approved an order Sunday to provide guidance for casinos , the city of Black Hawk said in a release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reopening and operation plan for every casino that will allow them to open their doors at 8 a.m. June 17 .
Engels said it will be a while before the businesses are back to full speed , but “ we see hope now.
” Roughly 6,000 people work in the Gilpin County casinos .
Engels has said that since the casinos closed , the number of people seeking help at the county ’ s food bank has jumped fourfold .
The cities and county have taken a big hit in tax revenue @ @ @ @

Casinos in Gilpin County will start a phased-in reopening June 17 after getting the go-ahead from state health officials.
Gilpin County Commissioner Ron Engels said Sunday that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved a variance allowing the casinos in Black Hawk and Central City to open under extensive guidelines to keep customers and employees safe from COVID-19.
The casinos in Gilpin and Teller counties have been closed since mid-March under statewide restrictions to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Gilpin County’s 50-page request for a variance was approved Saturday. Teller County is seeking a variance to reopen the casinos in Cripple Creek.
“It is such an incredible relief and we know it’s still a very long haul,” Engels said.
Only slot machines will be in operation at first. Engels said the CDPHE wants to wait three weeks before allowing the table games to resume to make sure a spike in coronavirus cases doesn’t occur.
The guidelines approved by the CDPHE include limiting a casino’s occupancy to 50% of the capacity allowed by the fire code, or 175 people in a confined, indoor space. Customers and employees will be screened for any symptoms of coronavirus and lines will be used to mark the six feet required for social distancing.
“We look forward to working with Gilpin County to ensure they can reopen in as safe a manner as possible,” Shelby Wieman, spokeswoman for Gov. Jared Polis, said in an email.
The Gilpin County Board of Public Health approved an order Sunday to provide guidance for casinos, the city of Black Hawk said in a release. Next, the board will approve a reopening and operation plan for every casino that will allow them to open their doors at 8 a.m. June 17.
Engels said it will be a while before the businesses are back to full speed, but “we see hope now.” Roughly 6,000 people work in the Gilpin County casinos. Engels has said that since the casinos closed, the number of people seeking help at the county’s food bank has jumped fourfold.
The cities and county have taken a big hit in tax revenue, he said.


thedenverpost--2020-06-07--Forrest Fenn treasure chest hidden in Rocky Mountains finally found

SANTA FE , N.M. — A bronze chest filled with gold , jewels , and other valuables worth more than $ 1 million and hidden a decade ago somewhere in the Rocky Mountain wilderness has been found , according to a famed art and antiquities collector who created the treasure hunt .
Forrest Fenn , 89 , told the Santa Fe New Mexican on Sunday that a man who did not want his name released — but was from “ back East ” — located the chest a few days ago and the discovery was confirmed by a photograph the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under a canopy of stars in the lush , forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago , ” Fenn said in a statement on his website Sunday that still did not reveal the exact location .
“ I do not know the person who found it , but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot.
” Fenn posted clues to the treasure ’ s whereabouts online and in a 24-line poem that was published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Chase.
” Hundreds of thousands have hunted in vain across remote corners of the U.S. West for the bronze chest believed to be filled with gold coins , jewelry and other valuable items .
Many quit their jobs to dedicate themselves to the search and others depleted their life savings .
At least four people died searching for it .
Fenn , who lives in Santa Fe , said he packed and repacked his treasure chest for more than a decade , sprinkling in gold dust and adding hundreds of rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal figures went in , along with prehistoric “ mirrors ” of hammered gold , ancient Chinese faces carved from jade and antique jewelry with rubies and emeralds .
He said he hid the treasure as a way to tempt people to get into the wilderness and give them a chance to launch an old-fashioned adventure and expedition for riches .
Fenn told The New Mexican in 2017 that the chest weighs 20 pounds ( 9 kilograms ) and its contents weigh another 22 pounds ( 10 kilograms ) .
He said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by himself over two separate trips .
Asked how he felt now that the treasure has been found , Fenn said : “ I don ’ t know , I feel halfway kind of glad , halfway kind of sad because the chase is over.
” “ I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search and hope they will continue to be drawn by the promise of other discoveries , ” he said on his website .

SANTA FE, N.M. — A bronze chest filled with gold, jewels, and other valuables worth more than $1 million and hidden a decade ago somewhere in the Rocky Mountain wilderness has been found, according to a famed art and antiquities collector who created the treasure hunt.
Forrest Fenn, 89, told the Santa Fe New Mexican on Sunday that a man who did not want his name released — but was from “back East” — located the chest a few days ago and the discovery was confirmed by a photograph the man sent him.
“It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago,” Fenn said in a statement on his website Sunday that still did not reveal the exact location. “I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot.”
Fenn posted clues to the treasure’s whereabouts online and in a 24-line poem that was published in his 2010 autobiography “The Thrill of the Chase.”
Hundreds of thousands have hunted in vain across remote corners of the U.S. West for the bronze chest believed to be filled with gold coins, jewelry and other valuable items. Many quit their jobs to dedicate themselves to the search and others depleted their life savings. At least four people died searching for it.
Fenn, who lives in Santa Fe, said he packed and repacked his treasure chest for more than a decade, sprinkling in gold dust and adding hundreds of rare gold coins and gold nuggets. Pre-Columbian animal figures went in, along with prehistoric “mirrors” of hammered gold, ancient Chinese faces carved from jade and antique jewelry with rubies and emeralds.
He said he hid the treasure as a way to tempt people to get into the wilderness and give them a chance to launch an old-fashioned adventure and expedition for riches.
Fenn told The New Mexican in 2017 that the chest weighs 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and its contents weigh another 22 pounds (10 kilograms). He said he delivered the chest to its hiding place by himself over two separate trips.
Asked how he felt now that the treasure has been found, Fenn said: “I don’t know, I feel halfway kind of glad, halfway kind of sad because the chase is over.”
“I congratulate the thousands of people who participated in the search and hope they will continue to be drawn by the promise of other discoveries,” he said on his website.


thedenverpost--2020-06-07--Conor McGregor makes 3rd retirement announcement in 4 years

Conor McGregor has announced his retirement for the third time in four years .
McGregor abruptly made his latest dubious declaration Sunday morning on his Twitter account , where the former two-division UFC champion also announced his retirement in 2016 and 2019 .
“ Hey guys I ’ ve decided to retire from fighting , ” McGregor wrote in a caption below a photo of him and his mother .
“ Thank you all for the amazing memories !
What a ride it ’ s been !
” The 31-year-old Irish superstar revitalized his combat sports career in January with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cowboy ” Cerrone at UFC 246 .
McGregor ( 22-4 ) hadn ’ t won a fight in a mixed martial arts cage or a boxing ring since 2016 , but he remained the UFC ’ s brightest star and biggest financial draw .
UFC President Dana White has already said McGregor is next in line for a title shot at the winner of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov ’ s bout with Justin Gaethje this summer .
The UFC ’ s schedule is in upheaval due to the coronavirus pandemic , but McGregor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this year , and he recently had been talking to White about taking another fight even earlier .
Earlier this week , McGregor posted photos and videos of himself training for fights .
White was still willing to take McGregor ’ s retirement announcement at face value — at least publicly — when he learned about it at his news conference following UFC 250 in Las Vegas .
“ If Conor McGregor feels he wants to retire , you know my feelings about retirement , ” White said .
“ You should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conor .
… There ’ s a handful of people that have made this really fun for me , and he ’ s one of them.
” Retirements are a time-honored device for gathering attention and increased bargaining power in combat sports .
From Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather to Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell , countless champions of boxing and MMA have gone back on their solemn announcements whenever need or ego brought them back to the sport .
McGregor made his first Twitter retirement announcement in April 2016 during a spat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rematch with Nate Diaz .
McGregor famously wrote : “ I have decided to retire young .
Thanks for the cheese .
Catch ya ’ s later.
” Three years later , McGregor retired again in March 2019 in what White believed was a gambit to entice the UFC to offer him an ownership stake in the company .
McGregor began talking about new fights shortly afterward , and he eventually returned to face Cerrone in early 2020 .
The loquacious McGregor has long proven that his pronouncements can ’ t be taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , McGregor “ accepted ” future fights against former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and long-retired boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya with little reason to think they will ever happen .

Conor McGregor has announced his retirement for the third time in four years.
McGregor abruptly made his latest dubious declaration Sunday morning on his Twitter account, where the former two-division UFC champion also announced his retirement in 2016 and 2019.
“Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting,” McGregor wrote in a caption below a photo of him and his mother. “Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!”
The 31-year-old Irish superstar revitalized his combat sports career in January with an impressive first-round stoppage of Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246. McGregor (22-4) hadn’t won a fight in a mixed martial arts cage or a boxing ring since 2016, but he remained the UFC’s brightest star and biggest financial draw.
UFC President Dana White has already said McGregor is next in line for a title shot at the winner of lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s bout with Justin Gaethje this summer.
The UFC’s schedule is in upheaval due to the coronavirus pandemic, but McGregor was expected to get his title shot later this year, and he recently had been talking to White about taking another fight even earlier. Earlier this week, McGregor posted photos and videos of himself training for fights.
White was still willing to take McGregor’s retirement announcement at face value — at least publicly — when he learned about it at his news conference following UFC 250 in Las Vegas.
“If Conor McGregor feels he wants to retire, you know my feelings about retirement,” White said. “You should absolutely do it. And I love Conor. … There’s a handful of people that have made this really fun for me, and he’s one of them.”
Retirements are a time-honored device for gathering attention and increased bargaining power in combat sports. From Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather to Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, countless champions of boxing and MMA have gone back on their solemn announcements whenever need or ego brought them back to the sport.
McGregor made his first Twitter retirement announcement in April 2016 during a spat with the UFC over promotion of his rematch with Nate Diaz.
McGregor famously wrote: “I have decided to retire young. Thanks for the cheese. Catch ya’s later.”
McGregor and Diaz fought in August 2016.
Three years later, McGregor retired again in March 2019 in what White believed was a gambit to entice the UFC to offer him an ownership stake in the company. McGregor began talking about new fights shortly afterward, and he eventually returned to face Cerrone in early 2020.
The loquacious McGregor has long proven that his pronouncements can’t be taken as gospel truth. Earlier this year, McGregor “accepted” future fights against former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and long-retired boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya with little reason to think they will ever happen.
___
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thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Piece of clothing, phone last seen with missing Eagle boy found in river; search narrowed

An article of clothing belonging to a young boy who went missing Friday night in Eagle was found Saturday in the Eagle River and a phone he was carrying when he went missing was found in the river near the apartment complex at which he was last seen , the sheriff ’ s office said Sunday night .
More than 500 volunteers are estimated to have searched for 3-year-old Sebastian Castro , a boy with autism who disappeared near the Eagle Villas Apartments , which back up to the Eagle River , since he went missing Friday night .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a news release Sunday night that an article of clothing that was positively identified as belonging to the boy was found in the river .
Search crews expanded downstream , and the phone he had when he went missing was found Sunday in the river below the apartment complex , the sheriff ’ s office said .
“ Despite exhaustive efforts by both first responders and volunteers , we have been unable to find any other additional clues , ” the sheriff ’ s office wrote in the release .
The ECSO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward the river starting Monday and that volunteer land-based searches would be suspended for the time being .
Air operations will continue , the sheriff ’ s office said , and Vail Mountain Rescue will lead the water search efforts .
Read the full story from our partner at thedenverchannel.com .

An article of clothing belonging to a young boy who went missing Friday night in Eagle was found Saturday in the Eagle River and a phone he was carrying when he went missing was found in the river near the apartment complex at which he was last seen, the sheriff’s office said Sunday night.
More than 500 volunteers are estimated to have searched for 3-year-old Sebastian Castro, a boy with autism who disappeared near the Eagle Villas Apartments, which back up to the Eagle River, since he went missing Friday night.
The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Sunday night that an article of clothing that was positively identified as belonging to the boy was found in the river. Search crews expanded downstream, and the phone he had when he went missing was found Sunday in the river below the apartment complex, the sheriff’s office said.
“Despite exhaustive efforts by both first responders and volunteers, we have been unable to find any other additional clues,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the release.
The ECSO said that it will consolidate search efforts toward the river starting Monday and that volunteer land-based searches would be suspended for the time being. Air operations will continue, the sheriff’s office said, and Vail Mountain Rescue will lead the water search efforts.
Read the full story from our partner at thedenverchannel.com.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Denver’s COVID-19 infection and death rates surpass a flattening Weld County

Denver now has more COVID-19 cases and related deaths compared to population than Weld County , which was hit particularly hard by outbreaks , but the epidemic in Colorado ’ s capital is still far from the worst .
Weld County initially was hit harder by the virus than any other of the state ’ s 10 most-populated counties , with outbreaks in a meatpacking plant , several nursing homes and the county jail .
Denver overtook the county in deaths compared to population on May 23 , however , and also had more cases per 100,000 people by Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared to population than Weld County by late May , though its case rate is still lower .
Case and death rates matter because they allow for an apples-to-apples comparison of how many people are getting sick or dying from COVID-19 .
Otherwise , counties and states with more people would always look worse , even if an area with less population was actually being hit harder .
The rates include all cases added up over time , meaning that they flatten out as an epidemic is ending , rather than go down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most-populous counties didn ’ t show much sign of flattening , except Weld County .
The trend appeared a bit more encouraging in several large counties , though there were signs deaths might be increasing again in late May .
A statement from the Weld County Joint Information Center said the number of new cases and deaths in the county has decreased since late April , as testing and contact tracing have ramped up , but it ’ s still important that residents maintain social distancing and wash their hands .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on compliance with preventative measures to stop the spread of the virus , ” the statement said .
As of Friday , Denver had recorded 841.6 cases of COVID-19 and 47.1 deaths among those cases for every 100,000 residents — the eighth-highest case rate and fourth-highest death rate in the state .
Heather Burke , a spokeswoman for Denver ’ s Joint Information Center , said multiple factors could be involved in Denver ’ s higher rate of growth in cases and deaths , including delays in data reporting that mean any day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate .
Testing is increasing , which would uncover more cases , and businesses are reopening , which could allow the virus to spread more easily , she said .
“ Denver is still seeing community transmission , which could be contributing to an increase in cases , ” she said .
“ That ’ s why Denver continuously educates people about the importance of wearing face coverings and social distancing when in public.
” Weld was just behind Denver , with 808.3 cases and 42.6 deaths per 100,000 people .
Arapahoe County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11th-highest case rate , with 704.9 cases for every 100,000 people .
John Douglas , executive director of the Tri-County Health Department , said the number of cases identified in Arapahoe County is growing as testing expands , but they ’ re keeping an eye out for signs that might show an increase in transmission .
The death rate in Arapahoe County is rising particularly fast , but it also hasn ’ t leveled out in the way that it has in Weld County .
That might reflect that transmission in Arapahoe is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread than by large outbreaks like those in Weld , he said .
If a few facilities account for most of the cases in an area , new cases and deaths become less common as those outbreaks end .
“ Outbreaks are not really driving the story in Arapahoe County , ” he said .
“ Our ( numbers ) have been steadier.
” None of the large counties came close to the impact in Morgan County , however , where the rate was 2,248.9 cases and 161.4 deaths .
That means roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , and one out of every 1,000 died .
Logan County — home to Colorado ’ s largest outbreak , at the Sterling Correctional Facility — had an even higher case rate , but far fewer deaths .
The death rate reflects not only how well an area was able to treat people with COVID-19 , but perhaps more importantly , if the virus was able to penetrate settings with many vulnerable people , like nursing homes .
Cases per 100,000 people , as of June 4 : Deaths per 100,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the growth in rates will accelerate or flatten may depend on what residents decide to do .
Projections from Children ’ s Hospital of Philadelphia ’ s PolicyLab show new cases increasing slightly in Adams County over the next four weeks ; decreasing in Boulder , Douglas , El Paso , Jefferson and Weld counties ; and going up before they go down in Larimer County .
New cases are expected to flatten out in Denver , Arapahoe and Eagle counties .
The projections are based on residents maintaining their current level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on cellphone records of trips to non-essential businesses , said Dr. David Rubin , director of PolicyLab .
So far , Colorado hasn ’ t seen a spike in cases as more businesses reopen , though it ’ s too early to see in Memorial Day festivities and the recent protests resulted in increased transmission , he said .
“ Overall , things have gone more smoothly in Colorado than in other places , ” he said .
“ I suspect people in Colorado are being more cautious .
”

Denver now has more COVID-19 cases and related deaths compared to population than Weld County, which was hit particularly hard by outbreaks, but the epidemic in Colorado’s capital is still far from the worst.
Weld County initially was hit harder by the virus than any other of the state’s 10 most-populated counties, with outbreaks in a meatpacking plant, several nursing homes and the county jail.
Denver overtook the county in deaths compared to population on May 23, however, and also had more cases per 100,000 people by Tuesday. Arapahoe County also had more deaths compared to population than Weld County by late May, though its case rate is still lower.
Case and death rates matter because they allow for an apples-to-apples comparison of how many people are getting sick or dying from COVID-19. Otherwise, counties and states with more people would always look worse, even if an area with less population was actually being hit harder.
The rates include all cases added up over time, meaning that they flatten out as an epidemic is ending, rather than go down. As of early June, Colorado’s most-populous counties didn’t show much sign of flattening, except Weld County. The trend appeared a bit more encouraging in several large counties, though there were signs deaths might be increasing again in late May.
A statement from the Weld County Joint Information Center said the number of new cases and deaths in the county has decreased since late April, as testing and contact tracing have ramped up, but it’s still important that residents maintain social distancing and wash their hands.
“Our progress so far has depended on compliance with preventative measures to stop the spread of the virus,” the statement said.
As of Friday, Denver had recorded 841.6 cases of COVID-19 and 47.1 deaths among those cases for every 100,000 residents — the eighth-highest case rate and fourth-highest death rate in the state.
Heather Burke, a spokeswoman for Denver’s Joint Information Center, said multiple factors could be involved in Denver’s higher rate of growth in cases and deaths, including delays in data reporting that mean any day’s snapshot may not be totally accurate. Testing is increasing, which would uncover more cases, and businesses are reopening, which could allow the virus to spread more easily, she said.
“Denver is still seeing community transmission, which could be contributing to an increase in cases,” she said. “That’s why Denver continuously educates people about the importance of wearing face coverings and social distancing when in public.”
Weld was just behind Denver, with 808.3 cases and 42.6 deaths per 100,000 people.
Arapahoe County has the third-highest death rate, but 11th-highest case rate, with 704.9 cases for every 100,000 people. John Douglas, executive director of the Tri-County Health Department, said the number of cases identified in Arapahoe County is growing as testing expands, but they’re keeping an eye out for signs that might show an increase in transmission.
The death rate in Arapahoe County is rising particularly fast, but it also hasn’t leveled out in the way that it has in Weld County. That might reflect that transmission in Arapahoe is driven more by small outbreaks and community spread than by large outbreaks like those in Weld, he said. If a few facilities account for most of the cases in an area, new cases and deaths become less common as those outbreaks end.
“Outbreaks are not really driving the story in Arapahoe County,” he said. “Our (numbers) have been steadier.”
None of the large counties came close to the impact in Morgan County, however, where the rate was 2,248.9 cases and 161.4 deaths. That means roughly two in every 100 people got the virus, and one out of every 1,000 died.
Logan County — home to Colorado’s largest outbreak, at the Sterling Correctional Facility — had an even higher case rate, but far fewer deaths. The death rate reflects not only how well an area was able to treat people with COVID-19, but perhaps more importantly, if the virus was able to penetrate settings with many vulnerable people, like nursing homes.
Cases per 100,000 people, as of June 4:
Logan County: 2,869.0
Morgan County: 2,248.9
Saguache County: 1,345.6
Crowley County: 1,126.9
Eagle County: 1,099.1
Gunnison County: 1,036.5
Washington County: 888.1
Denver County: 841.6
Weld County: 808.3
Summit County: 771.6
Deaths per 100,000 people, as of June 4:
Morgan County: 161.4
Chaffee County: 99.9
Arapahoe County: 50.1
Denver County: 47.1
Weld County: 42.6
Kit Carson County: 41.9
Broomfield County: 38.9
Gunnison County: 34.9
Jefferson County: 30.9
Montrose County: 28.4
Whether the growth in rates will accelerate or flatten may depend on what residents decide to do.
Projections from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s PolicyLab show new cases increasing slightly in Adams County over the next four weeks; decreasing in Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson and Weld counties; and going up before they go down in Larimer County. New cases are expected to flatten out in Denver, Arapahoe and Eagle counties.
The projections are based on residents maintaining their current level of social distancing, which they measure based on cellphone records of trips to non-essential businesses, said Dr. David Rubin, director of PolicyLab. So far, Colorado hasn’t seen a spike in cases as more businesses reopen, though it’s too early to see in Memorial Day festivities and the recent protests resulted in increased transmission, he said.
“Overall, things have gone more smoothly in Colorado than in other places,” he said. “I suspect people in Colorado are being more cautious.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--How I got hooked on sports: The night the Cleveland Indians refused to quit

If you grew up in Cleveland , you grew up an Indians fan .
Those mid-1990s teams were loaded .
Bats like Manny Ramirez , Jim Thome , Albert Belle .
Jaw-dropping fielders like Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar .
Ever since I was young , when I would watch games with knee-high red socks like Thome wore , I was crazy about the Tribe .
My dad , a former left-handed pitcher who actually tried out with the Indians many moons ago , had me hooked .
That ’ s why I ’ ll never forget Aug. 5 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a pediatric residency .
It was one of those Sunday night baseball broadcasts , with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on ESPN .
The Indians were playing the Mariners and were losing 14-2 by the fifth inning .
Me , being a loyalist ( and a weirdo ) , had nothing better to do than watch the pounding .
The Indians justifiably yanked some of their starters , so I was counting on guys like Eddie Taubensee and Russell Branyan to pull off the miracle .
In the seventh , the Indians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still 14-5 .
By the eighth inning , after a couple more home runs and a timely double by Vizquel , the Indians had chopped it to 14-9 .
In the ninth , they were down to their final out and still trailing by five .
After some more clutch magic , Vizquel found himself at the dish down 14-11 with the bases loaded .
He ripped a bases-clearing triple to tie the game , tying the MLB record for the largest comeback of all time .
The Indians would go on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course of the comeback , I ’ d called my dad in Canada maybe ten times .
By the end of it , I ’ d racked up an $ 80 international phone charge .
Money well spent , in my mind .

If you grew up in Cleveland, you grew up an Indians fan.
Those mid-1990s teams were loaded. Bats like Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Albert Belle. Jaw-dropping fielders like Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar.
Ever since I was young, when I would watch games with knee-high red socks like Thome wore, I was crazy about the Tribe. My dad, a former left-handed pitcher who actually tried out with the Indians many moons ago, had me hooked.
That’s why I’ll never forget Aug. 5, 2001. My dad was in Montreal for a pediatric residency. It was one of those Sunday night baseball broadcasts, with Jon Miller and Joe Morgan on ESPN. The Indians were playing the Mariners and were losing 14-2 by the fifth inning. Me, being a loyalist (and a weirdo), had nothing better to do than watch the pounding. The Indians justifiably yanked some of their starters, so I was counting on guys like Eddie Taubensee and Russell Branyan to pull off the miracle.
In the seventh, the Indians knocked in three runs. It was still 14-5. By the eighth inning, after a couple more home runs and a timely double by Vizquel, the Indians had chopped it to 14-9. In the ninth, they were down to their final out and still trailing by five.
After some more clutch magic, Vizquel found himself at the dish down 14-11 with the bases loaded. He ripped a bases-clearing triple to tie the game, tying the MLB record for the largest comeback of all time. The Indians would go on to win in the 11th.
Throughout the course of the comeback, I’d called my dad in Canada maybe ten times. By the end of it, I’d racked up an $80 international phone charge.
Money well spent, in my mind.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--Here’s how Colorado’s Democratic U.S. Senate candidates differ on the issues as primary ballots drop

One is a teetotaler , the other a beer-drinking brewery founder .
One is a former legislator , the other a former executive .
And , perhaps most importantly to voters , one is a liberal and the other a moderate .
Andrew Romanoff and John Hickenlooper , two Democrats who have been in electoral politics for nearly the entire 21st century , square off head-to-head for the first time on ballots dropping Monday for the June 30 primary .
At stake is the opportunity to face vulnerable U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner , a Yuma Republican , this November .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ favorite among the Democratic establishment , which sees the former governor and Denver mayor as the safe bet to beat Gardner .
With control of the U.S. Senate potentially at stake , national Democrats pressured Hickenlooper hard to drop his bid for the presidency and join the Senate primary .
But Romanoff has significant grassroots support among progressives , and Hickenlooper was found Friday to have committed two ethics violations as governor .
Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters can cast ballots in the U.S. Senate primary between Hickenlooper and Romanoff .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few major issues .
No topic better underscores the policy differences between Hickenlooper and Romanoff than health care .
And before the coronavirus pandemic , no issue was talked about more by the Democratic candidates for Senate .
Hickenlooper supports the Affordable Care Act and worked to implement it as governor .
He would add a public health insurance option to the marketplace , which he believes would be more attractive than private health insurance .
“ If it ’ s done well , and it ’ s successful , it will grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 14 .
“ It will attract more people , it will get larger , the costs will come down , the quality will increase .
… You ’ ll end up with an evolution that allows people , ultimately , to get to a single-payer system .
But it will be an evolution , not a revolution.
” Romanoff , meanwhile , supports a single-payer , Medicare for All approach .
“ I don ’ t believe this is a time for timidity , ” he said during the May 14 forum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wait for a slow evolution is heartless .
Not when 35,000 Americans are dying because they can ’ t afford to see a doctor , or when half a million families are going bankrupt.
” Romanoff and Hickenlooper agree that climate change is an unprecedented crisis and an existential threat to life on this planet .
They disagree on what to do next .
Romanoff supports the Green New Deal , a package of highly ambitious policies aimed at ending the use of fossil fuels for energy by 2035 and reaching net-zero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes new buildings and vehicles should be carbon-free , that there should be fees for carbon emissions , that fracking should be banned , and that a Climate Conservation Corps should be created , similar to the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps .
“ It ’ s the heart of my campaign , ” Romanoff has said of the Green New Deal , “ and it is the profound moral test of our time .
I describe this as the last , best chance to rescue life on Earth.
” Hickenlooper , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and less expensive — plan , with a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 .
His plan calls for large government investments in climate technology , moving to a 100 % electric vehicle fleet over time , transitioning workers away from the fossil fuel industry and toward renewable energies , and rejoining the Paris climate agreement .
“ We need to pull all of this together , but with innovation , it ’ s going to create jobs , ” he said at the May 14 forum .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time , save the future of our planet.
” Since Hickenlooper joined the race in August , the two have routinely been asked at forums whether they support tuition-free higher education and student loan debt forgiveness .
It is another area of ideological difference .
“ I ’ m not sure that we want to be writing off everybody ’ s debt , ” Hickenlooper told a crowd at Metro State University of Denver in November .
“ And I ’ m not sure the children or grandchildren of billionaires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should have free college .
But I do think there should be a sliding scale … for people who are struggling to make ends meet.
” Romanoff supports free higher education as well as student loan debt forgiveness .
“ If you were to forgive that debt , you would see more revenue coming in than you would sacrifice by forgiving it in the first place , ” he told a crowd at MSU Denver on Feb. 17 .
“ In other words , student loan forgiveness turns out to be a net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a step I believe we should take.
” You can learn more about the candidates at their websites , AndrewRomanoff.com and Hickenlooper.com .

One is a teetotaler, the other a beer-drinking brewery founder. One is a former legislator, the other a former executive. And, perhaps most importantly to voters, one is a liberal and the other a moderate.
Andrew Romanoff and John Hickenlooper, two Democrats who have been in electoral politics for nearly the entire 21st century, square off head-to-head for the first time on ballots dropping Monday for the June 30 primary. At stake is the opportunity to face vulnerable U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, a Yuma Republican, this November.
The better-known and better-funded Hickenlooper is the favorite among the Democratic establishment, which sees the former governor and Denver mayor as the safe bet to beat Gardner. With control of the U.S. Senate potentially at stake, national Democrats pressured Hickenlooper hard to drop his bid for the presidency and join the Senate primary.
But Romanoff has significant grassroots support among progressives, and Hickenlooper was found Friday to have committed two ethics violations as governor.
Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters can cast ballots in the U.S. Senate primary between Hickenlooper and Romanoff. Here’s where these two differ on a few major issues.
Health care
No topic better underscores the policy differences between Hickenlooper and Romanoff than health care. And before the coronavirus pandemic, no issue was talked about more by the Democratic candidates for Senate.
Hickenlooper supports the Affordable Care Act and worked to implement it as governor. He would add a public health insurance option to the marketplace, which he believes would be more attractive than private health insurance.
“If it’s done well, and it’s successful, it will grow,” Hickenlooper said at a forum May 14. “It will attract more people, it will get larger, the costs will come down, the quality will increase. … You’ll end up with an evolution that allows people, ultimately, to get to a single-payer system. But it will be an evolution, not a revolution.”
Romanoff, meanwhile, supports a single-payer, Medicare for All approach.
“I don’t believe this is a time for timidity,” he said during the May 14 forum, “and telling folks they have to wait for a slow evolution is heartless. Not when 35,000 Americans are dying because they can’t afford to see a doctor, or when half a million families are going bankrupt.”
Environment
Romanoff and Hickenlooper agree that climate change is an unprecedented crisis and an existential threat to life on this planet. They disagree on what to do next.
Romanoff supports the Green New Deal, a package of highly ambitious policies aimed at ending the use of fossil fuels for energy by 2035 and reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. He believes new buildings and vehicles should be carbon-free, that there should be fees for carbon emissions, that fracking should be banned, and that a Climate Conservation Corps should be created, similar to the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps.
“It’s the heart of my campaign,” Romanoff has said of the Green New Deal, “and it is the profound moral test of our time. I describe this as the last, best chance to rescue life on Earth.”
Hickenlooper, a former petroleum geologist, supports a less ambitious — and less expensive — plan, with a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. His plan calls for large government investments in climate technology, moving to a 100% electric vehicle fleet over time, transitioning workers away from the fossil fuel industry and toward renewable energies, and rejoining the Paris climate agreement.
“We need to pull all of this together, but with innovation, it’s going to create jobs,” he said at the May 14 forum. “It’s going to drive our economy and, at the same time, save the future of our planet.”
Education
Since Hickenlooper joined the race in August, the two have routinely been asked at forums whether they support tuition-free higher education and student loan debt forgiveness. It is another area of ideological difference.
“I’m not sure that we want to be writing off everybody’s debt,” Hickenlooper told a crowd at Metro State University of Denver in November. “And I’m not sure the children or grandchildren of billionaires should have their debt written off or should have free college. But I do think there should be a sliding scale … for people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
Romanoff supports free higher education as well as student loan debt forgiveness.
“If you were to forgive that debt, you would see more revenue coming in than you would sacrifice by forgiving it in the first place,” he told a crowd at MSU Denver on Feb. 17. “In other words, student loan forgiveness turns out to be a net gain for the economy and it’s a step I believe we should take.”
You can learn more about the candidates at their websites, AndrewRomanoff.com and Hickenlooper.com.


thedenverpost--2020-06-08--LPGA player and Colorado native Jennifer Kupcho gets first pro win at CoBank Colorado Women’s Open

Westminster ’ s Jennifer Kupcho fired a 4-under par 68 to win the CoBank Colorado Women ’ s Open at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club on June 5 .
Kupcho beat No .
15 Carlota Ciganda of Pamplona , Spain , by three strokes to record her first professional victory .
Kupcho , twice runner-up and paired with Ciganda in the final round , never relinquished the lead after Ciganda closed the gap within one after the par-4 11th .
Kupcho won an NCAA title and the 2019 Augusta National Women ’ s Amateur just over one year ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all-time Colorado Women ’ s Open scoring record by five strokes set in 2016 by Lauren Coughlin .
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Westminster’s Jennifer Kupcho fired a 4-under par 68 to win the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club on June 5. Kupcho beat No. 15 Carlota Ciganda of Pamplona, Spain, by three strokes to record her first professional victory.
Kupcho, twice runner-up and paired with Ciganda in the final round, never relinquished the lead after Ciganda closed the gap within one after the par-4 11th.
Kupcho won an NCAA title and the 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur just over one year ago. Her 16-under par Friday broke the all-time Colorado Women’s Open scoring record by five strokes set in 2016 by Lauren Coughlin.
Congrats to our 2020 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champions!! Champion – Jennifer Kupcho!! Pro-Am Team Champions – Jennifer Kupcho and Pat Hamill (GVR owner), Team Oakwood Homes #1,
Low Amateur – Alyaa Abdulghany, #coloopens #wherelegendsbegin @jenniferkupcho @AlyaaAbdulghany pic.twitter.com/BflhXv9usz — CoBank Colorado Open (@ColoradoOpen) June 5, 2020
— Denver Post staff
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thedenverpost--2020-06-08--“No transparency, no communication”: Inside Colorado’s wild fight for PPE in the pandemic’s early mo

“No transparency, no communication”: Inside Colorado’s wild fight for PPE in the pandemic’s early months

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic , as Colorado officials were scrambling to acquire personal protection equipment for front line workers , the state ’ s Innovation Response Team received a promising lead on surgical masks .
The team was getting hundreds , if not thousands , of these leads during the first month of the crisis .
And they came from everywhere : People who knew people in China .
Someone ’ s brother who has connections overseas .
Officials pulled the trigger and the masks were shipped to a warehouse in New Jersey .
The company wanted Colorado to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wouldn ’ t do .
They had no idea what these masks really looked like or whether they even worked .
So Gov .
Jared Polis rang a friend — a physician in New Jersey — to see if he could do some reconnaissance .
The doctor got the specifications and ran them past people he knew in China .
These aren ’ t masks you could use in a medical setting , he was told .
By the end of a long weekend going back and forth , Colorado officials told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these masks .
As global supply chains froze in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic , inundated by demand that suppliers and manufacturers could never meet , Colorado was forced to rely on methods of procurement state officials never could have dreamed up .
The story of the New Jersey doctor is one of several situations state officials had to carefully negotiate as they forged through this chaotic new world of procurement , said Pat Meyers , Colorado ’ s constrained critical supply lead on the Innovation Response Team , who relayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigated the global supply chain and its myriad new actors — some with good intentions , others less so — it had to also figure out how to get supplies from the federal government .
With the new coronavirus sending hundreds of people to the hospital every day , emergency management officials were desperately trying to acquire more ventilators needed for the sickest COVID-19 patients .
Internal emails obtained by The Denver Post show the state ’ s top emergency officials expressing exasperation at the lack of transparency from their federal partners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting canceled or ripped from their fingertips .
Meanwhile , some Colorado hospitals and nursing homes say they ’ re paying premiums of up to 1,500 % for their needed supplies , with some orders backlogged until the fall .
In early April , Polis went on CNN and accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency of swooping in on an order for 500 ventilators , lamenting that it ’ s hard enough battling other states for resources , let alone the federal government .
FEMA officials vehemently denied taking supplies earmarked for Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Colorado ’ s director of emergency management and FEMA ’ s regional leader — first obtained by government watchdog group Accountable.US , and independently obtained and reviewed by The Denver Post through the Colorado Open Records Act — show state leader ’ s frustrations with the government ’ s alleged intrusion on their orders .
“ Lot of questions by our administration , ” Kevin Klein , Colorado ’ s director for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management , wrote in an April 6 email to Lee dePalo , FEMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor got off the phone with the CEO of Zoll ( a medical device company ) who told him that FEMA preempted our purchase.
” Klein then referenced a New York Times story , which reported that FEMA was taking shipments and deciding where they should go on a county-by-county basis .
“ No transparency , ” Klein wrote .
“ No communication with the states .
Kept us out there fighting for supplies .
It may have been effective 6 weeks ago , but now ?
What is really going on ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Klein that Colorado ’ s orders were in the queue , but “ the priority hasn ’ t gone beyond the most impacted areas right now.
” He also relayed to Klein that FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor told him that “ we are not at a point where we can meet demand with vents ” — ventilators — “ still on the shelf.
” On April 8 , Klein wrote to dePalo that “ FEMA commandeered the shipments ” for an order of 1 million N95 masks , in addition to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on those , ” Klein wrote .
“ Those are the 3rd and 4th orders canceled .
Can we get together and get clarity on how we are going to be supplied particularly with PPE ?
” The Times reported that the Trump administration initially pushed for states to procure their own protective gear , but a new hybrid effort divided between the federal government , local officials and private health care companies was leading to confusion and allegations of confiscation — with Colorado serving as a prime example .
The desperation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state neared its peak hospitalization numbers , with some 200 people being admitted to the hospital each day .
Despite modeling , no one really knew how many ventilators Colorado hospitals would need .
Images from New York City , where hospitals were overrun by COVID-19 patients , startled public health officials and governors across the country .
On April 2 , Polis sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence , pleading with the Trump administration to send 10,000 ventilators .
But the state never did run out of ventilators , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order and other social distancing efforts helped flatten the curve and prevented a shortage of ICU beds .
As of Friday , with COVID-19 hospitalizations steadily falling , Colorado hospitals still had 790 of its 1,088 critical-use ventilators available .
FEMA has repeatedly denied seizing supplies from Colorado or other states , clarifying that federal government requirements are put ahead of other orders to assist areas most in need of supplies .
In a statement , dePalo said the effort to provide supplies during the pandemic “ has been challenging , especially early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the supplies were acquired in a ‘ just in time ’ setting given the unprecedented situation.
” He added that his team was in constant contact with Colorado ’ s leadership , and that the state ’ s response to the virus has been “ commendable and prevented medical facilities from being overwhelmed beyond capacity.
” Meanwhile , as state officials were trying to figure out where their ventilators had gone , the Innovation Response Team was sifting through leads on masks , gowns , gloves and other hospital supplies from this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was a novel concept for the state , which never before had bought these supplies in bulk .
In normal times , hospitals and first responders purchase these items through their normal supply chains .
The state wasn ’ t in the business of buying ventilators or personal protection equipment .
All of a sudden that changed .
And as global demanded skyrocketed , the state found that companies were using that to their advantage .
Some suppliers , like the company Meyers described , wanted payment up front , before anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the Polis administration says it stayed away from — caused some states to briefly lose tens of million of dollars when their products never showed up .
Take Blue Flame Medical , a company started during the epidemic by a pair of former Republican operatives .
They said they could get the highly coveted N95 masks , and Colorado officials were interested .
They negotiated for a week , but Blue Flame was asking for money up front and their prices were high , Meyers said .
Soon after , the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had launched an investigation into Blue Flame after multiple states said they paid the company for equipment they never received .
California lost a $ 457 million deposit in one deal , though the state ultimately recouped the money .
Fraudulent practices and price gauging are rampant , the Polis administration , hospitals and nursing homes have found .
Some companies charge up to $ 7 per N95 masks .
They normally go for 80 cents .
The administration says it ’ s arrived at a stable place when it comes to reliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is evening out — though it ’ s still not perfect .
As of last week , Colorado had spent $ 73.5 million on purchase orders for more than 23 million medical masks , face shields , gowns and gloves , as well as 750 ventilators , according to the governor ’ s office .
These supplies are in addition to those provided to the state by FEMA or from the Strategic National Stockpile .
In a statement , Colorado ’ s Office of Emergency Management affirmed its strong relationship with FEMA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of other pieces of personal protection equipment from the federal agency since the virus was confirmed the state in early March .
“ FEMA continues to provide critical support to the state of Colorado by helping to secure resources for our COVID-19 response as well as technical assistance directly to the State Emergency Operations Center , ” said Mike Willis , director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management .
“ These partnerships were developed through planning efforts , exercises and response to past disasters.
” Hospitals and nursing homes , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need .
Scott Bunker , supply chain director at Gunnison Valley Hospital , said in order to fill the gap between need and allocation quantities , all hospitals are paying a 700 % to 1,500 % markup for personal protective equipment through third-party vendors .
Aspen Valley Hospital is still waiting on orders it put in two months ago , hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Slaughter said in an email .
At the same time , some of their suppliers have changed production or temporarily closed , she said , leading to back orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .
The end results of this widespread supply chain uncertainty were underscored in the recent experience of the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center outside Fort Morgan .
The nursing home , which has seen some of the most devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic , tried to order gowns , masks and sanitizing wipes through a Connecticut company that previously specialized in graphic design .
But the order for desperately needed supplies instead blew up into a national blame-game , with the CEO of the nursing home accusing the Connecticut company of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the federal agency saying Chinese companies were using it as a scapegoat for their inability to fill orders .
Ultimately , the nursing home never got its supplies .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, as Colorado officials were scrambling to acquire personal protection equipment for front line workers, the state’s Innovation Response Team received a promising lead on surgical masks.
The team was getting hundreds, if not thousands, of these leads during the first month of the crisis. And they came from everywhere: People who knew people in China. Someone’s brother who has connections overseas.
Officials pulled the trigger and the masks were shipped to a warehouse in New Jersey. The company wanted Colorado to pay in advance, something state officials wouldn’t do. They had no idea what these masks really looked like or whether they even worked.
So Gov. Jared Polis rang a friend — a physician in New Jersey — to see if he could do some reconnaissance. The doctor got the specifications and ran them past people he knew in China. These aren’t masks you could use in a medical setting, he was told.
By the end of a long weekend going back and forth, Colorado officials told the company they wouldn’t pay for these masks.
As global supply chains froze in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, inundated by demand that suppliers and manufacturers could never meet, Colorado was forced to rely on methods of procurement state officials never could have dreamed up.
The story of the New Jersey doctor is one of several situations state officials had to carefully negotiate as they forged through this chaotic new world of procurement, said Pat Meyers, Colorado’s constrained critical supply lead on the Innovation Response Team, who relayed the tale.
And as the state navigated the global supply chain and its myriad new actors — some with good intentions, others less so — it had to also figure out how to get supplies from the federal government. With the new coronavirus sending hundreds of people to the hospital every day, emergency management officials were desperately trying to acquire more ventilators needed for the sickest COVID-19 patients.
Internal emails obtained by The Denver Post show the state’s top emergency officials expressing exasperation at the lack of transparency from their federal partners, as they wondered why their orders kept getting canceled or ripped from their fingertips.
Meanwhile, some Colorado hospitals and nursing homes say they’re paying premiums of up to 1,500% for their needed supplies, with some orders backlogged until the fall.
Fighting for ventilators
In early April, Polis went on CNN and accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency of swooping in on an order for 500 ventilators, lamenting that it’s hard enough battling other states for resources, let alone the federal government. FEMA officials vehemently denied taking supplies earmarked for Colorado or any other states.
But emails between Colorado’s director of emergency management and FEMA’s regional leader — first obtained by government watchdog group Accountable.US, and independently obtained and reviewed by The Denver Post through the Colorado Open Records Act — show state leader’s frustrations with the government’s alleged intrusion on their orders.
“Lot of questions by our administration,” Kevin Klein, Colorado’s director for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, wrote in an April 6 email to Lee dePalo, FEMA’s regional head. “The governor got off the phone with the CEO of Zoll (a medical device company) who told him that FEMA preempted our purchase.”
Klein then referenced a New York Times story, which reported that FEMA was taking shipments and deciding where they should go on a county-by-county basis.
“No transparency,” Klein wrote. “No communication with the states. Kept us out there fighting for supplies. It may have been effective 6 weeks ago, but now? What is really going on?”
In a separate email, dePalo told Klein that Colorado’s orders were in the queue, but “the priority hasn’t gone beyond the most impacted areas right now.” He also relayed to Klein that FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor told him that “we are not at a point where we can meet demand with vents” — ventilators — “still on the shelf.”
On April 8, Klein wrote to dePalo that “FEMA commandeered the shipments” for an order of 1 million N95 masks, in addition to the 200 ventilators.
“We were counting on those,” Klein wrote. “Those are the 3rd and 4th orders canceled. Can we get together and get clarity on how we are going to be supplied particularly with PPE?”
The Times reported that the Trump administration initially pushed for states to procure their own protective gear, but a new hybrid effort divided between the federal government, local officials and private health care companies was leading to confusion and allegations of confiscation — with Colorado serving as a prime example.
The desperation for ventilators in early April came as the state neared its peak hospitalization numbers, with some 200 people being admitted to the hospital each day. Despite modeling, no one really knew how many ventilators Colorado hospitals would need. Images from New York City, where hospitals were overrun by COVID-19 patients, startled public health officials and governors across the country.
On April 2, Polis sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, pleading with the Trump administration to send 10,000 ventilators.
But the state never did run out of ventilators, and the governor’s stay at home order and other social distancing efforts helped flatten the curve and prevented a shortage of ICU beds. As of Friday, with COVID-19 hospitalizations steadily falling, Colorado hospitals still had 790 of its 1,088 critical-use ventilators available.
FEMA has repeatedly denied seizing supplies from Colorado or other states, clarifying that federal government requirements are put ahead of other orders to assist areas most in need of supplies.
In a statement, dePalo said the effort to provide supplies during the pandemic “has been challenging, especially early on given limited supplies. At times, the supplies were acquired in a ‘just in time’ setting given the unprecedented situation.”
He added that his team was in constant contact with Colorado’s leadership, and that the state’s response to the virus has been “commendable and prevented medical facilities from being overwhelmed beyond capacity.”
Fraud, price gouging and waiting on shipments
Meanwhile, as state officials were trying to figure out where their ventilators had gone, the Innovation Response Team was sifting through leads on masks, gowns, gloves and other hospital supplies from this new network of vendors.
All of this was a novel concept for the state, which never before had bought these supplies in bulk. In normal times, hospitals and first responders purchase these items through their normal supply chains. The state wasn’t in the business of buying ventilators or personal protection equipment.
All of a sudden that changed.
And as global demanded skyrocketed, the state found that companies were using that to their advantage. Some suppliers, like the company Meyers described, wanted payment up front, before anything arrived.
That type of agreement — which the Polis administration says it stayed away from — caused some states to briefly lose tens of million of dollars when their products never showed up.
Take Blue Flame Medical, a company started during the epidemic by a pair of former Republican operatives. They said they could get the highly coveted N95 masks, and Colorado officials were interested. They negotiated for a week, but Blue Flame was asking for money up front and their prices were high, Meyers said.
Ultimately, Colorado passed.
Soon after, the Washington Post reported that the Department of Justice had launched an investigation into Blue Flame after multiple states said they paid the company for equipment they never received. California lost a $457 million deposit in one deal, though the state ultimately recouped the money.
Fraudulent practices and price gauging are rampant, the Polis administration, hospitals and nursing homes have found. Some companies charge up to $7 per N95 masks. They normally go for 80 cents.
The administration says it’s arrived at a stable place when it comes to reliable vendors, and that the supply chain is evening out — though it’s still not perfect.
As of last week, Colorado had spent $73.5 million on purchase orders for more than 23 million medical masks, face shields, gowns and gloves, as well as 750 ventilators, according to the governor’s office. These supplies are in addition to those provided to the state by FEMA or from the Strategic National Stockpile.
In a statement, Colorado’s Office of Emergency Management affirmed its strong relationship with FEMA, saying it had received 100 ventilators and millions of other pieces of personal protection equipment from the federal agency since the virus was confirmed the state in early March.
“FEMA continues to provide critical support to the state of Colorado by helping to secure resources for our COVID-19 response as well as technical assistance directly to the State Emergency Operations Center,” said Mike Willis, director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management. “These partnerships were developed through planning efforts, exercises and response to past disasters.”
Hospitals and nursing homes, however, still are fighting for the supplies they need.
Scott Bunker, supply chain director at Gunnison Valley Hospital, said in order to fill the gap between need and allocation quantities, all hospitals are paying a 700% to 1,500% markup for personal protective equipment through third-party vendors.
Aspen Valley Hospital is still waiting on orders it put in two months ago, hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Slaughter said in an email. At the same time, some of their suppliers have changed production or temporarily closed, she said, leading to back orders that could reach all the way to November.
The end results of this widespread supply chain uncertainty were underscored in the recent experience of the Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Center outside Fort Morgan. The nursing home, which has seen some of the most devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, tried to order gowns, masks and sanitizing wipes through a Connecticut company that previously specialized in graphic design.
But the order for desperately needed supplies instead blew up into a national blame-game, with the CEO of the nursing home accusing the Connecticut company of deception, the company blaming FEMA, and the federal agency saying Chinese companies were using it as a scapegoat for their inability to fill orders.
Ultimately, the nursing home never got its supplies.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.