thedenverpost--2020-11-02--Two Thornton police officers cleared of crime in fatal shooting of armed man

Two Thornton police officers who shot and killed an armed man in May will not face any criminal charges for the shooting .
On May 26 , officers Stephen Stroud and John DeHaan shot 48-year-old Thomas Marquez , according to a decision letter from the Adams County District Attorney ’ s Office to interim Thornton Police Chief Cliff Brown .
At about 11 p.m. the night of the shooting , Stroud , who was on duty and in uniform , encountered Marquez in the parking lot of the Thornton Infrastructure Maintenance Center , 12450 Washington St. , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ very bizarre.
” Stroud noticed “ what ( he ) believed to be the grip of a handgun ” in Marquez right pocket .
Stroud , who called for assistance , said Marquez did not heed commands to keep his hands away from his pockets , the letter said .
DeHann arrived and both officers held Marquez at gunpoint , repeating multiple commands that Marquez raise his hands .
“ Marquez is seen and heard making a ‘ guttural yell , ’ drawing his handgun from his right pocket , wheeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his gun towards the officers , ” the letter said .
Stroud ’ s body worn camera was on at the time of the shooting ; DeHann ’ s was not activated .
Investigators used police reports , videos , interviews and photographs , among other documentation and evidence , to reach a conclusion , the letter said .
The officers , fearing for their lives and for each other , fired at Marquez , the letter said .
Marquez , who was armed with a Ruger semi-automatic .22-caliber long barrel handgun , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caliber shell casing was found at the scene .
Stroud reported seeing a muzzle flash from Marquez ’ s gun .
Stroud fired three shots and DeHann nine .
Marquez died at the scene .
At the time of the shooting , he had a .355 blood alcohol level , considered to be a severe rate of intoxication .
“ Under the particular facts of this investigation , the actions ” of the officers “ were legally justified under Colorado law , ” the letter said .
The officers “ were justified in @ @ @ @ @ @

Two Thornton police officers who shot and killed an armed man in May will not face any criminal charges for the shooting.
On May 26, officers Stephen Stroud and John DeHaan shot 48-year-old Thomas Marquez, according to a decision letter from the Adams County District Attorney’s Office to interim Thornton Police Chief Cliff Brown.
At about 11 p.m. the night of the shooting, Stroud, who was on duty and in uniform, encountered Marquez in the parking lot of the Thornton Infrastructure Maintenance Center, 12450 Washington St., according to the letter.
Stroud described Marquez as disoriented and “very bizarre.” Stroud noticed “what (he) believed to be the grip of a handgun” in Marquez right pocket.
Stroud, who called for assistance, said Marquez did not heed commands to keep his hands away from his pockets, the letter said. DeHann arrived and both officers held Marquez at gunpoint, repeating multiple commands that Marquez raise his hands.
“Marquez is seen and heard making a ‘guttural yell,’ drawing his handgun from his right pocket, wheeling around to confront the officers, pointing his gun towards the officers,” the letter said.
Stroud’s body worn camera was on at the time of the shooting; DeHann’s was not activated. Investigators used police reports, videos, interviews and photographs, among other documentation and evidence, to reach a conclusion, the letter said.
The officers, fearing for their lives and for each other, fired at Marquez, the letter said. Marquez, who was armed with a Ruger semi-automatic .22-caliber long barrel handgun, was shot 12 times. A .22 caliber shell casing was found at the scene. Stroud reported seeing a muzzle flash from Marquez’s gun. Stroud fired three shots and DeHann nine.
Marquez died at the scene. At the time of the shooting, he had a .355 blood alcohol level, considered to be a severe rate of intoxication.
“Under the particular facts of this investigation, the actions” of the officers “were legally justified under Colorado law,” the letter said. The officers “were justified in using deadly physical force.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-02--Colorado governor presents optimistic new budget but expects dark days to follow

Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis on Monday presented an optimistic budget request for fiscal year 2021-22 , proposing to restore some “ painful ” cuts made early in the pandemic , add a $ 1.3 billion economic stimulus program and increase the state ’ s reserves in anticipation of tough budget cycles to come .
The $ 35.4 billion proposal for July 1 , 2021 , through June 30 , 2022 , comes at a time of profound economic uncertainty , and one day ahead of an election that portends countless possible budgetary impacts on the state and country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy later this week but he is required by state law to present his budget request on the first Monday in November .
“ This budget , ” Polis said Monday , “ lays the foundation to build a stronger Colorado through key investments in our economic recovery , saving people money on health care , expanding access to education , building climate resiliency and expanding renewable energy to enhance our way of life and to build a Colorado for all where everyone can thrive.
” In the spring , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dramatic , across-the-board cuts necessitated by a precipitous drop-off in revenue , both real and forecast , during the early phase of the pandemic .
Months removed from that process , the governor ’ s budgeting advisers now believe that things are not quite as bad as lawmakers and economic analysts believed they ’ d be when Polis signed the 2020-21 budget into law .
In fact , the governor ’ s office now expects to have about $ 3 billion more for next year than it previously forecast , said Lauren Larson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra money , Polis on Monday touted a $ 1.3 billion “ stimulus and recovery package.
” About $ 168 million of that money , he said , will come from a program announced last week that ’ s expected to deliver a $ 375 , one-time direct payment to some 435,000 Coloradans who ’ ve faced unemployment this year .
The stimulus proposal also calls for $ 105 million in wintertime support for small businesses harmed by capacity restrictions ; $ 220 million to create jobs “ by investing in shovel-ready public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 160 million in broadband investments aimed at improving telehealth systems and educational equity ; and $ 50 million in benefits for vulnerable people , including housing and rental assistance — among other line items .
Polis also is proposing to restore higher education funding to pre-pandemic levels .
It wasn ’ t much to begin with , though ; Colorado has in recent years consistently ranked toward the bottom of the country for higher education spending .
Polis seeks to restore and even increase per-pupil funding at the K-12 level .
The governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million for coronavirus response in Colorado .
He said he hopes for but is not counting on that amount being supplemented by a new round of federal relief .
Colorado is grappling right now with historic , climate change-driven wildfires , and Polis proposes $ 78 million in 2021-22 to prevent and respond to wildfire .
That is a tiny dent in an estimated $ 4.2 billion forestry project backlog in Colorado .
Polis called upon the federal government to make up the deficit , since much of the affected land is federally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s General Fund reserves , from 2.86 % to 10 % .
Expanding the state ’ s rainy day fund , he argues , will help it meet economic challenges to come .
The outlook for 2022-23 is much worse than for the next fiscal year , Larson and Polis both said Monday .
In total , Polis proposes about $ 422 million in budget-item savings , close to $ 150 million of which comes in part from a lower-than-expected capacity to grow behavioral health programs in the state next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced its prison population during the pandemic , and the governor proposes about $ 35 million in Department of Corrections savings for 2021-22 .
The legislature ’ s bipartisan — but Democrat-controlled — Joint Budget Committee will , over a series of meetings that will run well into next year , evaluate the governor ’ s priorities against its own , and the broader legislature is scheduled to weigh in and then pass the 2021-22 budget in the spring .
This year there is extra reason not to read too much into what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fiscal outlook could change considerably , in any number of directions and starting as soon as Tuesday , when four tax- and fee-related ballot measures will be decided .
Depending on results , voters could deliver Polis and the legislature hundreds of millions in additional money or leave them with even less to spend .
“ I am still cautious , as we await the results of ballot initiatives and two additional economic forecasts before the budget is finalized , but the goal is right on : helping people , ” state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who chairs the legislature ’ s Joint Budget Committee , said in an assessment of the governor ’ s proposal .
More significantly , the state ’ s economic forecast is extremely uncertain , and has fluctuated wildly since the coronavirus pandemic began .
The most recent projections from state economic analysts , released in mid-September , show the state ’ s economy clawing back from the pandemic-caused recession ahead of schedule , but virus cases and hospitalizations have risen precipitously in Colorado and nationally since then .

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Monday presented an optimistic budget request for fiscal year 2021-22, proposing to restore some “painful” cuts made early in the pandemic, add a $1.3 billion economic stimulus program and increase the state’s reserves in anticipation of tough budget cycles to come.
The $35.4 billion proposal for July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, comes at a time of profound economic uncertainty, and one day ahead of an election that portends countless possible budgetary impacts on the state and country. Polis will know more about the state’s economy later this week but he is required by state law to present his budget request on the first Monday in November.
“This budget,” Polis said Monday, “lays the foundation to build a stronger Colorado through key investments in our economic recovery, saving people money on health care, expanding access to education, building climate resiliency and expanding renewable energy to enhance our way of life and to build a Colorado for all where everyone can thrive.”
In the spring, the state legislature finalized the current budget with dramatic, across-the-board cuts necessitated by a precipitous drop-off in revenue, both real and forecast, during the early phase of the pandemic. Months removed from that process, the governor’s budgeting advisers now believe that things are not quite as bad as lawmakers and economic analysts believed they’d be when Polis signed the 2020-21 budget into law.
In fact, the governor’s office now expects to have about $3 billion more for next year than it previously forecast, said Lauren Larson, budget director for Polis.
Anticipating extra money, Polis on Monday touted a $1.3 billion “stimulus and recovery package.” About $168 million of that money, he said, will come from a program announced last week that’s expected to deliver a $375, one-time direct payment to some 435,000 Coloradans who’ve faced unemployment this year.
The stimulus proposal also calls for $105 million in wintertime support for small businesses harmed by capacity restrictions; $220 million to create jobs “by investing in shovel-ready public works and infrastructure projects”; $160 million in broadband investments aimed at improving telehealth systems and educational equity; and $50 million in benefits for vulnerable people, including housing and rental assistance — among other line items.
Polis also is proposing to restore higher education funding to pre-pandemic levels. It wasn’t much to begin with, though; Colorado has in recent years consistently ranked toward the bottom of the country for higher education spending. Polis seeks to restore and even increase per-pupil funding at the K-12 level.
The governor also proposes to set aside $200 million for coronavirus response in Colorado. He said he hopes for but is not counting on that amount being supplemented by a new round of federal relief.
Colorado is grappling right now with historic, climate change-driven wildfires, and Polis proposes $78 million in 2021-22 to prevent and respond to wildfire. That is a tiny dent in an estimated $4.2 billion forestry project backlog in Colorado. Polis called upon the federal government to make up the deficit, since much of the affected land is federally managed.
Polis proposes to dramatically increase the state’s General Fund reserves, from 2.86% to 10%. Expanding the state’s rainy day fund, he argues, will help it meet economic challenges to come. The outlook for 2022-23 is much worse than for the next fiscal year, Larson and Polis both said Monday.
In total, Polis proposes about $422 million in budget-item savings, close to $150 million of which comes in part from a lower-than-expected capacity to grow behavioral health programs in the state next year. The state’s has reduced its prison population during the pandemic, and the governor proposes about $35 million in Department of Corrections savings for 2021-22.
The legislature’s bipartisan — but Democrat-controlled — Joint Budget Committee will, over a series of meetings that will run well into next year, evaluate the governor’s priorities against its own, and the broader legislature is scheduled to weigh in and then pass the 2021-22 budget in the spring.
This year there is extra reason not to read too much into what Polis released Monday. The state’s fiscal outlook could change considerably, in any number of directions and starting as soon as Tuesday, when four tax- and fee-related ballot measures will be decided. Depending on results, voters could deliver Polis and the legislature hundreds of millions in additional money or leave them with even less to spend.
“I am still cautious, as we await the results of ballot initiatives and two additional economic forecasts before the budget is finalized, but the goal is right on: helping people,” state Rep. Daneya Esgar, a Pueblo Democrat who chairs the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, said in an assessment of the governor’s proposal.
More significantly, the state’s economic forecast is extremely uncertain, and has fluctuated wildly since the coronavirus pandemic began. The most recent projections from state economic analysts, released in mid-September, show the state’s economy clawing back from the pandemic-caused recession ahead of schedule, but virus cases and hospitalizations have risen precipitously in Colorado and nationally since then.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Guest Commentary: Colorado State University launches “Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Rights.” in search

Guest Commentary: Colorado State University launches “Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Rights.” in search of civil discourse

Most Americans don ’ t like the way we talk to each other these days , but no one seems to know how to fix it .
The Colorado State University System proposes we start at the most obvious point : Let ’ s talk about it .
In that spirit , the CSU System launched a new initiative this fall : Your Voice .
Your Vote .
Your Rights .
The idea is to focus on free speech and civic discourse and encourage people to get engaged , vote , and better understand their hard-won rights .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other .
Let ’ s talk about free speech , and what the experience of free speech feels like in real life .
Why does it matter ?
A Pew Research study last year documented what most of us already know : Political discourse in this country has become increasingly negative , hyperbolic , and less based in reality .
But the problem isn ’ t just with candidates debating on a stage or families discussing the election ; the negativity and frustration have spilled over into our ability to talk publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nuanced topics , i.e .
pretty much everything that matters to our communities and society .
During my years as a university president , I had a short answer for those who wanted the institution to make someone else stop saying something dumb or offensive : “ You really don ’ t want the university president – or any authority figure – deciding who gets to talk and who doesn ’ t. ” Heading down that road means giving up , once and for all , on the American experiment , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is still something that most of us want to see preserved .
When speech is offensive , harmful , and morally wrong – which it can be – the Constitution and 250 years of constitutional law tell us that the best and most powerful counter to it is more speech .
But how does that feel , in real life , to an 18-year-old confronting racist speech on a campus where they already struggled to feel safe ?
How does it feel to descendants of the Nazi Holocaust when a swastika is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it feel to an older white guy who ’ s dedicated his life to teaching to be told that nothing he has to contribute matters anymore ?
How does it feel to the invited campus speaker who finds herself shouted down in an auditorium by people with opposing views ?
Each of these situations potentially could lead to demands that someone be punished , silenced , sanctioned .
And honestly , looking at specific circumstances , I could make a personal argument for doing so in nearly every case – because sometimes these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of humanity , of fundamental decency , of basic right and wrong .
But then , I think about the beauty of that First Amendment to the Constitution – the amendment that ensured civil rights marchers of the 1960s had a voice under the law that state and local governments wanted to deny them .
The amendment that in the 1990s allowed CSU ’ s women ’ s softball team to fight for equitable treatment – the beginnings of a transformation ( including a landmark lawsuit ) that led CSU to become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The amendment that gave people the OK to challenge me and the status quo when I was a campus president , in their drive to make the university better .
Free speech is the heart of higher education , and universities have a unique and important role to play in leading tough conversations around critical societal issues .
That ’ s the nature of what we do – we argue about ideas , we debate theories , we recognize that truth can be malleable , evolving along with the research and knowledge we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in actuality ; we don ’ t always function as a model of civil and respectful discourse .
But no institution in our society is as suited to attempt to repair our broken discourse as a university .
For all these reasons , we invite Coloradans to join in Your Voice .
Your Vote .
Your Rights – and to spend time thinking about what these deeply held American values really mean to us today .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or mail .

Most Americans don’t like the way we talk to each other these days, but no one seems to know how to fix it. The Colorado State University System proposes we start at the most obvious point: Let’s talk about it.
In that spirit, the CSU System launched a new initiative this fall: Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Rights. The idea is to focus on free speech and civic discourse and encourage people to get engaged, vote, and better understand their hard-won rights. Let’s talk about how we talk to each other. Let’s talk about free speech, and what the experience of free speech feels like in real life.
Why does it matter? A Pew Research study last year documented what most of us already know: Political discourse in this country has become increasingly negative, hyperbolic, and less based in reality. But the problem isn’t just with candidates debating on a stage or families discussing the election; the negativity and frustration have spilled over into our ability to talk publicly and productively about all sorts of sensitive and nuanced topics, i.e. pretty much everything that matters to our communities and society.
During my years as a university president, I had a short answer for those who wanted the institution to make someone else stop saying something dumb or offensive: “You really don’t want the university president – or any authority figure – deciding who gets to talk and who doesn’t.” Heading down that road means giving up, once and for all, on the American experiment, which, with all its struggles and disappointments, is still something that most of us want to see preserved. When speech is offensive, harmful, and morally wrong – which it can be – the Constitution and 250 years of constitutional law tell us that the best and most powerful counter to it is more speech.
But how does that feel, in real life, to an 18-year-old confronting racist speech on a campus where they already struggled to feel safe? How does it feel to descendants of the Nazi Holocaust when a swastika is scrawled on the sidewalk? How does it feel to an older white guy who’s dedicated his life to teaching to be told that nothing he has to contribute matters anymore? How does it feel to the invited campus speaker who finds herself shouted down in an auditorium by people with opposing views?
Each of these situations potentially could lead to demands that someone be punished, silenced, sanctioned. And honestly, looking at specific circumstances, I could make a personal argument for doing so in nearly every case – because sometimes these situations cut deep and inflame my sense of humanity, of fundamental decency, of basic right and wrong.
But then, I think about the beauty of that First Amendment to the Constitution – the amendment that ensured civil rights marchers of the 1960s had a voice under the law that state and local governments wanted to deny them. The amendment that in the 1990s allowed CSU’s women’s softball team to fight for equitable treatment – the beginnings of a transformation (including a landmark lawsuit) that led CSU to become a model of Title IX compliance nationwide. The amendment that gave people the OK to challenge me and the status quo when I was a campus president, in their drive to make the university better.
Free speech is the heart of higher education, and universities have a unique and important role to play in leading tough conversations around critical societal issues. That’s the nature of what we do – we argue about ideas, we debate theories, we recognize that truth can be malleable, evolving along with the research and knowledge we exist to conduct. We sometimes fail in actuality; we don’t always function as a model of civil and respectful discourse. But no institution in our society is as suited to attempt to repair our broken discourse as a university.
For all these reasons, we invite Coloradans to join in Your Voice. Your Vote. Your Rights – and to spend time thinking about what these deeply held American values really mean to us today.
Dr. Tony Frank is chancellor, Colorado State University system
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Michael Bennet says he won’t be Joe Biden’s education secretary

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said Monday that he doesn ’ t want to be education secretary — a job he @ @ @ @ @ last Democratic president — if Joe Biden is elected president this week .
In an @ @ @ @ @ and former superintendent of Denver Public Schools said “ no ” when asked if he @ @ @ @ @ , which former President Barack Obama considered nominating him for after the 2008 election .
@ @ @ @ @ and Bennet was appointed U.S. senator .
He won reelection in 2010 and 2016 and @ @ @ @ @ run again in 2022 .
“ My plan is to run for reelection to the @ @ @ @ @ s what I ’ m going to do , ” Bennet said .
Bennet ’ @ @ @ @ @ speculation about his political future .
He fell far short in a presidential run this @ @ @ @ @ about his desire to leave the Senate , an institution he considers to be dysfunctional @ @ @

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said Monday that he doesn’t want to be education secretary — a job he was considered for under the last Democratic president — if Joe Biden is elected president this week.
In an interview, the Denver Democrat and former superintendent of Denver Public Schools said “no” when asked if he was interested in the job, which former President Barack Obama considered nominating him for after the 2008 election.
Obama instead chose Arne Duncan and Bennet was appointed U.S. senator. He won reelection in 2010 and 2016 and said Monday that he will run again in 2022.
“My plan is to run for reelection to the Senate, and that’s what I’m going to do,” Bennet said.
Bennet’s response should tamp down speculation about his political future. He fell far short in a presidential run this year, leading to questions about his desire to leave the Senate, an institution he considers to be dysfunctional and broken.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--8 things Colorado voters need to know on Election Day

While election officials in Colorado are already reporting record turnout leading up to the Nov. 3 presidential election , they ’ re still expecting a last-minute push of voters Tuesday .
Here are eight things Colorado voters need to know on Election Day : 1 : You can register to vote and vote at the same time until 7 this evening .
Colorado allows same-day voter registration .
Voters can register online at govotecolorado.gov or in person at several locations including polling centers .
Additional information can be found online at sos.state.co.us .
2 : It ’ s too late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received after 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 will not be counted , even if they ’ re postmarked earlier .
Instead , voters should rely on 24-hour drop boxes in each county .
Ballots can also be dropped off at county clerk offices .
3 : Your local county clerk has a list of drop boxes .
Each county clerk in Colorado lists the locations of ballot drop boxes online .
The Secretary of State ’ s Office also can also pinpoint drop box locations online at sos.state.co.us .
4 : Your clerk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locations and their hours .
Like drop boxes , each county clerk ’ s website will list the locations and operating hours of in-person voting locations .
The Secretary of State ’ s website also includes a search function to display the same information .
Here is The Denver Post ’ s election guide .
6 : You can track your ballot ’ s progress .
New this year , each of Colorado ’ s 64 counties will use a system called BallotTrax .
If voters register with an email address they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accepted by county clerks .
Voters can also opt into the program at colorado.ballottrax.net .
7 : You can fix problems with your ballot electronically .
Inevitably , some ballots are set aside each election because a signature is missing or doesn ’ t match old signatures on file .
A new program launched statewide this year , allows voters to cure , or fix , those problems by text .
If your ballot is not accepted by county clerks you will be notified by mail .
That notification will include directions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
8 : Complete results will not be available Tuesday night .
With the massive turnout expected , Colorado election officials are also noting that it will take some time — likely days — before full election results are available .
While local and statewide winners might become clear quickly , the national results in the presidential race might take longer .
As always , states won ’ t certify official results until weeks after Election Day , after military and overseas ballots arrive , ballots set aside for signature mismatches and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials finish necessary reviews and recounts .

While election officials in Colorado are already reporting record turnout leading up to the Nov. 3 presidential election, they’re still expecting a last-minute push of voters Tuesday. Here are eight things Colorado voters need to know on Election Day:
1: You can register to vote and vote at the same time until 7 this evening.
Colorado allows same-day voter registration. Voters can register online at govotecolorado.gov or in person at several locations including polling centers. Additional information can be found online at sos.state.co.us.
2: It’s too late to mail your ballot back.
Ballots received after 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 will not be counted, even if they’re postmarked earlier. Instead, voters should rely on 24-hour drop boxes in each county. Ballots can also be dropped off at county clerk offices.
3: Your local county clerk has a list of drop boxes.
Each county clerk in Colorado lists the locations of ballot drop boxes online. The Secretary of State’s Office also can also pinpoint drop box locations online at sos.state.co.us.
4: Your clerk also has a list of in-person voting locations and their hours.
Like drop boxes, each county clerk’s website will list the locations and operating hours of in-person voting locations. The Secretary of State’s website also includes a search function to display the same information.
5: It’s a packed ballot; don’t dive in unprepared.
Here is The Denver Post’s election guide.
6: You can track your ballot’s progress.
New this year, each of Colorado’s 64 counties will use a system called BallotTrax. If voters register with an email address they will receive notifications when their ballots are received and accepted by county clerks. Voters can also opt into the program at colorado.ballottrax.net.
7: You can fix problems with your ballot electronically.
Inevitably, some ballots are set aside each election because a signature is missing or doesn’t match old signatures on file. A new program launched statewide this year, allows voters to cure, or fix, those problems by text. If your ballot is not accepted by county clerks you will be notified by mail. That notification will include directions to fix the error through your smartphone.
8: Complete results will not be available Tuesday night.
With the massive turnout expected, Colorado election officials are also noting that it will take some time — likely days — before full election results are available. While local and statewide winners might become clear quickly, the national results in the presidential race might take longer. As always, states won’t certify official results until weeks after Election Day, after military and overseas ballots arrive, ballots set aside for signature mismatches and other deficiencies are resolved, and after county officials finish necessary reviews and recounts.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations surge to highest level since late April, accelerating faster th

Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations surge to highest level since late April, accelerating faster than state’s models predicted

More Coloradans were hospitalized for COVID-19 on Monday than at any time since late April , as the state ’ s modelers warned that reality keeps proving their projections for this fall weren ’ t pessimistic enough .
At the state ’ s peak , on April 14 , 888 people were hospitalized statewide with confirmed cases of COVID-19 , according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
On Monday , 755 people were hospitalized with the virus .
That ’ s the highest number since April 30 — and a more than 400 % increase since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also rose last week , with 13,799 infections reported during the week ending Sunday .
It was the second week in a row with more than 10,000 new cases , after delayed reports were added to the week of Oct. 25 .
The percentage of tests coming back positive over the last three days exceeded 9 % , meaning the increase in cases can ’ t simply be attributed to more people getting tested , and the state may be missing infections .
The goal is to keep that positivity rate below 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceed the April peak in the second week of November , but new hospitalizations have continued to rise faster than expected , said Beth Carlton , an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health .
COVID-19 hospitalizations may exceed the peak this week , she said .
“ We keep hoping things will turn around , ” she said .
“ If anything , the numbers look slightly worse.
” The model , developed by the state health department and the School of Public Health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beds in January , but that didn ’ t account for the rate of new hospitalizations accelerating .
Hospital capacity isn ’ t the only concern , though , Carlton said .
As more people are infected , it becomes harder to trace everyone ’ s contacts , meaning more people could unknowingly go on to infect others , she said .
Gov .
Jared Polis held off on issuing any new state orders in response to the worsening conditions , but said he met with White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to residents to avoid socializing with people from other households for at least a few weeks .
“ We are seeing very alarming , concerning trends in Colorado , ” Polis said .
“ Three days in a row with more than 2,500 cases .
Remember , six weeks ago we had 300 and 400 cases a day.
” Coronavirus deaths were at their highest level since mid-June , with 49 reported in the week ending Oct. 25 .
Reports can take up to two weeks to come in , so last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 .
It ’ s not clear why this wave is so much more severe than one that followed Independence Day , but public fatigue , lack of leadership at the national level and the changing seasons could be factors , Carlton said .
The continued growth in infections could make traditional Thanksgiving gatherings particularly dangerous , especially if older and younger people are mixing , Carlton said .
It ’ s safest to avoid gathering indoors , especially if not everyone will wear a mask , she said .
“ Interacting with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

More Coloradans were hospitalized for COVID-19 on Monday than at any time since late April, as the state’s modelers warned that reality keeps proving their projections for this fall weren’t pessimistic enough.
At the state’s peak, on April 14, 888 people were hospitalized statewide with confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. On Monday, 755 people were hospitalized with the virus. That’s the highest number since April 30 — and a more than 400% increase since the beginning of September.
New cases also rose last week, with 13,799 infections reported during the week ending Sunday. It was the second week in a row with more than 10,000 new cases, after delayed reports were added to the week of Oct. 25.
The percentage of tests coming back positive over the last three days exceeded 9%, meaning the increase in cases can’t simply be attributed to more people getting tested, and the state may be missing infections. The goal is to keep that positivity rate below 5%.
A model projected Colorado could exceed the April peak in the second week of November, but new hospitalizations have continued to rise faster than expected, said Beth Carlton, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health. COVID-19 hospitalizations may exceed the peak this week, she said.
“We keep hoping things will turn around,” she said. “If anything, the numbers look slightly worse.”
The model, developed by the state health department and the School of Public Health, projected Colorado could run out of intensive-care beds in January, but that didn’t account for the rate of new hospitalizations accelerating.
Hospital capacity isn’t the only concern, though, Carlton said. As more people are infected, it becomes harder to trace everyone’s contacts, meaning more people could unknowingly go on to infect others, she said.
Gov. Jared Polis held off on issuing any new state orders in response to the worsening conditions, but said he met with White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx on Monday, and she appealed to residents to avoid socializing with people from other households for at least a few weeks.
“We are seeing very alarming, concerning trends in Colorado,” Polis said. “Three days in a row with more than 2,500 cases. Remember, six weeks ago we had 300 and 400 cases a day.”
Coronavirus deaths were at their highest level since mid-June, with 49 reported in the week ending Oct. 25. Reports can take up to two weeks to come in, so last week’s total likely will rise from 23.
It’s not clear why this wave is so much more severe than one that followed Independence Day, but public fatigue, lack of leadership at the national level and the changing seasons could be factors, Carlton said.
The continued growth in infections could make traditional Thanksgiving gatherings particularly dangerous, especially if older and younger people are mixing, Carlton said. It’s safest to avoid gathering indoors, especially if not everyone will wear a mask, she said.
“Interacting with people right now is very risky,” she said.
Denver Post reporter Alex Burness contributed to this report.
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thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Denver apartment rent declines outpacing suburbs and state overall

Apartment rents in Denver are declining at a much faster clip than the rest of the metro area and the state overall , and the pandemic is likely why , according to the October Rent Report from Apartment List .
The median monthly rent on a two-bedroom apartment in Denver was $ 1,560 , down 0.8 % from September and 5.2 % from a year ago .
Aurora apartment rents , by contrast , are up 0.7 % over the past year , according to the report .
Rent growth is softening across other metro markets , but not at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ median rent on a two-bedroom apartment in Broomfield was down 2.1 % year-over-year to $ 1,970 , while Lone Tree rents were down 1.3 % to $ 2,050 , Arvada rents dropped 1.2 % to $ 1,420 , and Englewood rents fell 0.8 % to $ 1,580 .
Besides Aurora , annual rent increases are still at play in Thornton , up 1.7 % ; Parker , up 1.5 % ; Westminster , up 1 % ; and Littleton , up 0.3 % .
“ We ’ re finding that central cities are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterparts all across the country , ” said Igor Popov , chief economist with Apartment List .
San Francisco apartment rents are down 21.7 % since the pandemic started in March and New York rents are off 15.3 % .
Other core cities with double-digit declines in median rents include Seattle ; Boston ; San Jose , Calif. , and Washington , D.C .
Apartment rents are rising at the fastest pace in Boise , Idaho ; Toledo , Ohio ; Chesapeake , Va. ; Greensboro , N.C. , and Reno , Nev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.4 % over the past year , and are down 1.7 % in Colorado .
Fort Collins rents are down 2 % , while Colorado Springs rents are up 5.1 % , the survey found .
“ Relatively fewer renters have been moving to the Denver metro for new jobs due to a mix of recession and remote work impacts .
At the same time , the secondary cities in the region have gotten a boost in demand , ” Popov said .
For most of the past decade , developers focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The units tended to be smaller , but the trade-off was that they were close to attractions .
But with many venues closed and more people working from home because of the pandemic , the focus has shifted to lower density and more living space .
“ I definitely think this will start to affect development , albeit with a lag .
Feels like the key buzzword of the last decade was ‘ walkability ’ and with the pandemic there just haven ’ t been the same number of places to walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Apartment rents in Denver are declining at a much faster clip than the rest of the metro area and the state overall, and the pandemic is likely why, according to the October Rent Report from Apartment List.
The median monthly rent on a two-bedroom apartment in Denver was $1,560, down 0.8% from September and 5.2% from a year ago. Aurora apartment rents, by contrast, are up 0.7% over the past year, according to the report.
Rent growth is softening across other metro markets, but not at the pace seen in Denver. The median rent on a two-bedroom apartment in Broomfield was down 2.1% year-over-year to $1,970, while Lone Tree rents were down 1.3% to $2,050, Arvada rents dropped 1.2% to $1,420, and Englewood rents fell 0.8% to $1,580.
Besides Aurora, annual rent increases are still at play in Thornton, up 1.7%; Parker, up 1.5%; Westminster, up 1%; and Littleton, up 0.3%.
“We’re finding that central cities are seeing much steeper declines than their suburban counterparts all across the country,” said Igor Popov, chief economist with Apartment List.
San Francisco apartment rents are down 21.7% since the pandemic started in March and New York rents are off 15.3%. Other core cities with double-digit declines in median rents include Seattle; Boston; San Jose, Calif., and Washington, D.C.
Apartment rents are rising at the fastest pace in Boise, Idaho; Toledo, Ohio; Chesapeake, Va.; Greensboro, N.C., and Reno, Nev.
Nationally, median apartment rents fell 1.4% over the past year, and are down 1.7% in Colorado. Fort Collins rents are down 2%, while Colorado Springs rents are up 5.1%, the survey found.
“Relatively fewer renters have been moving to the Denver metro for new jobs due to a mix of recession and remote work impacts. At the same time, the secondary cities in the region have gotten a boost in demand,” Popov said.
For most of the past decade, developers focused on building luxury high-rise apartments in downtown areas. The units tended to be smaller, but the trade-off was that they were close to attractions.
But with many venues closed and more people working from home because of the pandemic, the focus has shifted to lower density and more living space.
“I definitely think this will start to affect development, albeit with a lag. Feels like the key buzzword of the last decade was ‘walkability’ and with the pandemic there just haven’t been the same number of places to walk to I suppose,” Popov said.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Why some Denver restaurants aren’t closed, but they’re not open either

When Jake and Jennifer Linzinmeir closed their Blake Street restaurant Jovanina ’ s Broken Italian in early July , they said they always planned on coming back .
Jovanina ’ s has been open for less than two years in Denver , but over the past two decades , the Linzinmeirs have operated restaurants in mountain resort towns , where it ’ s not unusual for businesses to shutter every year during the off-season .
“ We ’ re pretty used to opening and closing , so it wasn ’ t that intimidating for us , ” Jake Linzinmeir said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very expensive to start and stop.
” But with COVID-19 cases on the rise , and a restaurant setup that accommodates indoor seating only and serves family-style meals , the Linzinmeirs decided to board up the windows at Jovanina ’ s , where they also own the business ’ real estate .
They told customers they ’ d be back in a few months , hoping to buy some time and more knowledge about the novel coronavirus .
“ We ’ re committing in November to say , ‘ All right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor dining as ( the state and city ) will give us , and focusing on creating a delivery that we ’ re proud of , and then starting to do a lot of manufacturing , ’ ” Linzinmeir explained last week .
RELATED : What dining outside in Denver will look ( and feel like ) this winter He and Jennifer announced that their Denver restaurant will reopen on Thursday , Nov. 5 , just as another wave of COVID-19 cases has swept Colorado , Denver County has limited restaurant seating to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more restaurants around the city are shuttering temporarily .
Among those closed for now are Broadway Market , The Way Back , Brightmarten , Earnest Hall , Shanty Supper Club and Bar Helix .
And while some , like Broadway Market and The Way Back , plan to reopen by spring , others , such as Earnest Hall and Shanty Supper Club , have yet to announce a reopening timeline .
Brightmarten is closing its Bonnie Brae dining room while still offering limited takeout .
If the Linzinmeirs and Jovanina ’ s are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could very well pick back up by spring or sooner if they figure out another , temporary business model .
When it reopens this week , Jovanina ’ s space will start to look and act more like a “ mini Eataly , ” Linzinmeir explained .
Shelves positioned between tables will display pickled foods , sauces , pastas and other items for purchase .
The Linzinmeirs hope to eventually sell these manufactured goods via subscription service and through retailers , such as Whole Foods .
“ We ’ re looking for other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there if we can ’ t do indoor dining , ” Linzinmeir said .
Not all restaurants have the ability to close temporarily and figure out a new business model , however .
Especially if they ’ re still paying rent .
On Monday , Bar Helix owner Kendra Anderson announced that her restaurant has been evicted from its space on Larimer Street .
Anderson said she had temporarily closed her business in order to transition from an outdoor summer setup to a new indoor one when she received the order to vacate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to consider how hard my team and I have worked for the past eight months to comply with all COVID-19-related restrictions , come up with multiple pivot concepts and have our finances continually fall short , ” Anderson said in a release .
In response to the eviction , her team has started a GoFundMe account to try to raise $ 25,000 “ to help Bar Helix meet its rental and other financial obligations required to reopen , ” the release said .
It ’ s a last-ditch effort that Anderson says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation .
“ I was very tentative , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve never asked for that type of support before , so it ’ s very uncomfortable .
Truly it was a response to people who reached out and asked , ‘ How can we help ?
’ ” So she started the fundraiser to save her bar , and said whatever money is raised will go toward reopening in the same location or elsewhere .
When she closed the outdoor bar in the beginning of October , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a winter endeavor work .
“ But I need a minute , ” Anderson said of executing it .
Subscribe to our food newsletter , Stuffed , to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox .

When Jake and Jennifer Linzinmeir closed their Blake Street restaurant Jovanina’s Broken Italian in early July, they said they always planned on coming back.
Jovanina’s has been open for less than two years in Denver, but over the past two decades, the Linzinmeirs have operated restaurants in mountain resort towns, where it’s not unusual for businesses to shutter every year during the off-season.
“We’re pretty used to opening and closing, so it wasn’t that intimidating for us,” Jake Linzinmeir said. Though he added, “It is very expensive to start and stop.”
But with COVID-19 cases on the rise, and a restaurant setup that accommodates indoor seating only and serves family-style meals, the Linzinmeirs decided to board up the windows at Jovanina’s, where they also own the business’ real estate.
They told customers they’d be back in a few months, hoping to buy some time and more knowledge about the novel coronavirus.
“We’re committing in November to say, ‘All right, we’re opening for as much indoor dining as (the state and city) will give us, and focusing on creating a delivery that we’re proud of, and then starting to do a lot of manufacturing,’ ” Linzinmeir explained last week.
RELATED: What dining outside in Denver will look (and feel like) this winter
He and Jennifer announced that their Denver restaurant will reopen on Thursday, Nov. 5, just as another wave of COVID-19 cases has swept Colorado, Denver County has limited restaurant seating to 25% capacity, and more and more restaurants around the city are shuttering temporarily.
Among those closed for now are Broadway Market, The Way Back, Brightmarten, Earnest Hall, Shanty Supper Club and Bar Helix. And while some, like Broadway Market and The Way Back, plan to reopen by spring, others, such as Earnest Hall and Shanty Supper Club, have yet to announce a reopening timeline. Brightmarten is closing its Bonnie Brae dining room while still offering limited takeout.
If the Linzinmeirs and Jovanina’s are any indication, these temporarily closed restaurants could very well pick back up by spring or sooner if they figure out another, temporary business model.
When it reopens this week, Jovanina’s space will start to look and act more like a “mini Eataly,” Linzinmeir explained. Shelves positioned between tables will display pickled foods, sauces, pastas and other items for purchase. The Linzinmeirs hope to eventually sell these manufactured goods via subscription service and through retailers, such as Whole Foods.
“We’re looking for other channels to send who we are out there if we can’t do indoor dining,” Linzinmeir said.
Not all restaurants have the ability to close temporarily and figure out a new business model, however. Especially if they’re still paying rent.
On Monday, Bar Helix owner Kendra Anderson announced that she has 30 days to pay the default on her lease or vacate the Larimer Street space. Anderson said she had temporarily closed her business in order to transition from an outdoor summer setup to a new indoor one when she received the order to vacate.
“It’s truly heartbreaking to consider how hard my team and I have worked for the past eight months to comply with all COVID-19-related restrictions, come up with multiple pivot concepts and have our finances continually fall short,” Anderson said in a release.
In response to the notice, her team has started a GoFundMe account to try to raise $25,000 “to help Bar Helix meet its rental and other financial obligations required to reopen,” the release said. It’s a last-ditch effort that Anderson says she never imagined she would take in this situation.
“I was very tentative,” she said. “I’ve never asked for that type of support before, so it’s very uncomfortable. Truly it was a response to people who reached out and asked, ‘How can we help?’ ”
So she started the fundraiser to save her bar, and said whatever money is raised will go toward reopening in the same location or elsewhere. When she closed the outdoor bar in the beginning of October, she started planning around 10 different ways to make a winter endeavor work.
“But I need a minute,” Anderson said of executing it.
Updated Nov. 3 at 9:25 a.m.The following updated information has been added to this article: Because of this developing story, the status of Bar Helix’s eviction has changed. Kendra Anderson has 30 days to pay her lease default or vacate the building on Larimer Street.
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thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Broncos Mailbag: How much does offense miss receiver Courtland Sutton?

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O ’ Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season .
Submit questions to Ryan here .
Do you think Jerry Jeudy is being held back by quarterback play , elite secondaries , or both ?
— Daniel , Cresskill , N.J .
I don ’ t think Jeudy has been held back at all considering how tough the transition to the NFL generally is for rookie receivers .
Through seven games , he has 23 catches for 359 yards and one touchdown .
That said , the quarterback instability until Drew Lock ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But Sunday ’ s win over the Chargers could be the lift-off point for Jeudy .
Jeudy was targeted 10 times ( season high ) and caught four passes ( second-most this year ) for 73 yards ( season high ) .
Seven games into the season , the picture may be crystallizing for Jeudy in terms of routes the Broncos want him to run and the coverages he is seeing on every play .
Do the new COVID protocols regarding fans in the stadium change the mindset of a player when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season when everything was normal ?
How has that affected players ’ game day mentality ?
— Maria England , Phoenix Interesting question .
I talked to a few Broncos players before the season about the potential for having no fans in the stadium .
The consensus : It will be more bizarre on the road , where the boos actually pump up some players , but once the game starts , it will be business as usual ( home and away ) .
Through eight weeks of games , I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from home-field advantage being minimal .
For teams on the road , they don ’ t have to mess with silent snap counts and don ’ t have to worry about crowd noise-producing false starts .
The Broncos ’ offense has been called for only two false start penalties in three road games .
In four games at Mile High , the Broncos ’ opponents have committed only two false start penalties .
One of Drew Lock ’ s struggles this season has been hitting receivers down the sideline , especially in jump-ball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misses Courtland Sutton ’ s size , physicality and catch radius .
Now that Sunday ’ s win keeps Denver very much alive for a wild card , do you see the possibility of the team trying to add another big-bodied receiver before the trade deadline ?
Are there any realistic candidates ?
— Steve , Forks Losing Sutton impacted the offense as much as the defense losing outside linebacker Von Miller … and maybe more .
Miller ’ s absence has been felt , but Bradley Chubb is returning to his 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last four games ) .
Minus Sutton , though , the Broncos lost their best receiver and best offensive play-maker , capable of turning every iffy pass into a touchdown or third-down conversion .
Tim Patrick is big target , but he ’ s more of a perimeter receiver and does his best work outside the red zone .
The trade deadline is Tuesday .
On Monday , coach Vic Fangio said he hasn ’ t had any trade conversations with general manager John Elway .
As of Monday night , the names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s John Ross and the New York Giants ’ Golden Tate .
The Broncos should just stand pat , hope Jeudy and fellow rookie KJ Hamler continue to develop and wait for Patrick to return from his hamstring injury .
Through three quarters Sunday , Drew Lock was thoroughly outplayed by Justin Herbert .
Obviously , the fourth quarter could be big for Lock taking another step .
What do you think he needs to do in the second half of this season to convince the Broncos they have their guy ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Aurora Lock through three quarters on Sunday — 12-of-23 passing for 92 yards and one interception .
Lock in the fourth quarter — 14-of-18 passing for 155 yards and three touchdowns .
The touchdowns matched his career high for an entire game ( last December at Houston ) .
Herbert was fun to watch because he has a rocket arm , moves around the pocket well and showed good awareness .
The Chargers have a keeper .
The Broncos should feel they have a keeper at the end of the year if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) shows progress in the red zone and on third down ; and c ) helps the Broncos to a record that merits Elway and Co. believing they should move forward with him .
Is management convinced already ?
Only they know , but I ’ m sure they feel better about Lock today than they did at halftime Sunday .
Do you think the Broncos will hold on to Shelby Harris after this season ?
He seems like a valuable veteran for the team , but so did Derek Wolfe .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be an interesting offseason subplot .
When last season ended , everybody — including myself and Harris — thought he would be moving to another team via multi-year contract .
But the market didn ’ t develop and Harris stayed with the Broncos on a one-year deal and he has helped himself through seven games with 23 tackles , 2 1/2 sacks and three pass break-ups .
Harris has the one trait Fangio covets in his defensive players : Versatility .
He can play end and nose tackle .
He can play first/second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s durable .
The 2021 Broncos ’ defensive line depth chart includes nose tackle Mike Purcell , end Dre ’ Mont Jones and current rookie McTelvin Agim .
Everybody else is a free agent or in the case of Jurrell Casey , has a big cap number .
That makes Harris valuable to the Broncos in the future .

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season. Submit questions to Ryan here.
Do you think Jerry Jeudy is being held back by quarterback play, elite secondaries, or both?
— Daniel, Cresskill, N.J.
I don’t think Jeudy has been held back at all considering how tough the transition to the NFL generally is for rookie receivers. Through seven games, he has 23 catches for 359 yards and one touchdown.
That said, the quarterback instability until Drew Lock’s return probably did play a part. But Sunday’s win over the Chargers could be the lift-off point for Jeudy.
Jeudy was targeted 10 times (a season high) and caught four passes (second-most this year) for 73 yards (a season high). Seven games into the season, the picture may be crystallizing for Jeudy in terms of routes the Broncos want him to run and the coverages he is seeing on every play.
Do the new COVID protocols regarding fans in the stadium change the mindset of a player when they enter on game day vs last season when everything was normal? How has that affected players’ game-day mentality?
— Maria England, Phoenix
Interesting question. I talked to a few Broncos players before the season about the potential for having no fans in the stadium.
The consensus: It will be more bizarre on the road, where the boos actually pump up some players, but once the game starts, it will be business as usual (home and away). Through eight weeks of games, I’ve found that to be the case aside from home-field advantage being minimal.
For teams on the road, they don’t have to mess with silent snap counts and don’t have to worry about crowd noise-producing false starts.
The Broncos’ offense has been called for only two false start penalties in three road games. In four games at Mile High, the Broncos’ opponents have committed only two false start penalties.
One of Drew Lock’s struggles this season has been hitting receivers down the sideline, especially in jump-ball situations. It seems like he definitely misses Courtland Sutton’s size, physicality and catch radius. Now that Sunday’s win keeps Denver very much alive for a wild card, do you see the possibility of the team trying to add another big-bodied receiver before the trade deadline? Are there any realistic candidates?
— Steve, Forks
Losing Sutton impacted the offense as much as the defense losing outside linebacker Von Miller … and maybe more. Miller’s absence has been felt, but Bradley Chubb is returning to his 2018 form (5 1/2 sacks in the last four games).
Minus Sutton, though, the Broncos lost their best receiver and best offensive play-maker, capable of turning every iffy pass into a touchdown or third-down conversion.
Tim Patrick is big target, but he’s more of a perimeter receiver and does his best work outside the red zone.
The trade deadline is Tuesday. On Monday, coach Vic Fangio said he hasn’t had any trade conversations with general manager John Elway.
As of Monday night, the names in the NFL rumor mill include Cincinnati’s John Ross and the New York Giants’ Golden Tate. The Broncos should just stand pat, hope Jeudy and fellow rookie KJ Hamler continue to develop and wait for Patrick to return from his hamstring injury.
Through three quarters Sunday, Drew Lock was thoroughly outplayed by Justin Herbert. Obviously, the fourth quarter could be big for Lock taking another step. What do you think he needs to do in the second half of this season to convince the Broncos they have their guy? Is management already convinced?
— Joe, Aurora
Lock through three quarters on Sunday — 12-of-23 passing for 92 yards and one interception.
Lock in the fourth quarter — 14-of-18 passing for 155 yards and three touchdowns. The touchdowns matched his career high for an entire game (last December at Houston).
Herbert was fun to watch because he has a rocket arm, moves around the pocket well and showed good awareness. The Chargers have a keeper.
The Broncos should feel they have a keeper at the end of the year if Lock a) stays healthy; b) shows progress in the red zone and on third down; and c) helps the Broncos to a record that merits Elway and Co. believing they should move forward with him.
Is management convinced already? Only they know, but I’m sure they feel better about Lock today than they did at halftime Sunday.
Do you think the Broncos will hold on to Shelby Harris after this season? He seems like a valuable veteran for the team, but so did Derek Wolfe.
— Jeff, Centennial
Harris is going to be an interesting offseason subplot. When last season ended, everybody — including myself and Harris — thought he would be moving to another team via multi-year contract.
But the market didn’t develop and Harris stayed with the Broncos on a one-year deal and he has helped himself through seven games with 23 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and three pass break-ups.
Harris has the one trait Fangio covets in his defensive players: Versatility. He can play end and nose tackle. He can play first/second down and third down. And he’s durable.
The 2021 Broncos’ defensive line depth chart includes nose tackle Mike Purcell, end Dre’Mont Jones and current rookie McTelvin Agim. Everybody else is a free agent or in the case of Jurrell Casey, has a big cap number. That makes Harris valuable to the Broncos in the future.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Trump, Biden cede stage to voters for Election Day verdict

WASHINGTON — After a campaign marked by rancor and fear , Americans on Tuesday decide between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden , selecting a leader to steer a nation battered by a surging pandemic that has killed more than 231,000 people , cost millions their jobs and reshaped daily life .
Nearly 100 million Americans voted early , and now it falls to Election Day voters to finish the job , ending a campaign that was upended by the coronavirus and defined by tensions over who could best address it .
Each candidate declared the other fundamentally unfit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and facing foundational questions about racial justice and economic fairness .
Biden entered Election Day with multiple paths to victory while Trump , playing catch-up in a number of battleground states , had a narrower but still feasible road to clinch 270 Electoral College votes .
Control of the Senate was at stake , too : Democrats needed to net three seats if Biden captured the White House to gain control of all of Washington for the first time in a decade .
The House was expected to remain under Democratic control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus to cast ballots as they chose between two starkly different visions of America for the next four years .
The record-setting early vote — and legal skirmishing over how it will be counted — drew unsupported allegations of fraud from Trump , who refused to guarantee he would honor the election ’ s result .
Fighting to the end for every vote , Biden was headed to Philadelphia and his native Scranton on Tuesday as part of a closing get-out-the-vote effort before awaiting election results in his hometown of Wilmington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Kamala Harris , was visiting Detroit , a heavily Black city in battleground Michigan .
Both of their spouses were headed out , too , as the Democrats reached for a clear victory .
Trump , after a morning appearance on his favored network , Fox News Channel , planned to visit his campaign headquarters in Virginia .
He invited hundreds of supporters to an election night party in the East Room of the White House .
The hard-fought campaign left voters on both sides eager to move on .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Starlet Holden , a 26-year-old medical biller from New York City , who planned to vote for Biden but spoke for many on both sides of the campaign .
On their final full day on the campaign trail , Trump and Biden broke sharply over the mechanics of the vote itself while visiting the most fiercely contested battleground , Pennsylvania .
The Republican president threatened legal action to block the counting of ballots received after Election Day .
If Pennsylvania ballot counting takes several days , as is allowed , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen like you have never seen.
” In fact , there are roughly 20 states that allow mail-in ballots received after Election Day to be counted — up to nine days and longer in some states .
Litigation has centered on just a few where states have made changes in large part due to the coronavirus .
Biden told voters in Pennsylvania that the very fabric of the nation was at stake and offered his own election as the firmest rebuke possible to a president who he said had spent “ four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tomorrow ’ s the beginning of a new day .
Tomorrow we can put an end to a president that ’ s left hardworking Americans out in the cold !
” Biden said in Pittsburgh .
“ If you elect me as president , I ’ m gon na act to heal this country.
” Trump argued , at a stop in Wisconsin , that Biden was “ not what our country needs.
” He added : “ This isn ’ t about — yeah , it is about me , I guess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For Trump , the election stood as a judgment on his four years in office , a term in which he bent Washington to his will , challenged faith in its institutions and changed how America was viewed across the globe .
In a country divided along lines of race and class , he often acted as an insurgent against the very government he led , undercutting its scientists and bureaucracy and doing battle with the media .
The nation braced for what was to come — and a result that might not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-scale fence was erected around the White House .
And in downtowns ranging from New York to Denver to Minneapolis , workers boarded up businesses lest the vote lead to unrest of the sort that broke out earlier this year amid protests over racial inequality .
Just a short walk from the White House , for block after block , stores had their windows and doors covered .
Some kept just a front door open , hoping to attract a little business .
Both candidates voted early , but first lady Melania Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near Mar-a-Lago , the couple ’ s estate in Palm Beach , Florida .
The candidates blitzed through the battleground states on Monday , with Biden also pushing into Ohio , a state once thought to be safe for Trump .
The president , for his part , packed in five rallies , Air Force One streaking across the sky as he drew crowds in North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin and then back in Michigan again .
His finale stretched past midnight in Grand Rapids , where he had also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It marked the end of an era in American politics , one in part defined by the massive and exuberant gatherings that the president continued to hold despite warnings from his government ’ s own public health experts to avoid crowds during the pandemic .
The next president will inherit an anxious nation , reeling from a once-in-a-century heath crisis that has closed schools and businesses and that is worsening as the weather turns cold .
Trump in Grand Rapids insisted anew that the nation was “ rounding the turn ” on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force , broke with the president and joined a chorus of Trump administration scientists sounding the alarm about the current spike in infections .
“ We are entering the most concerning and most deadly phase of this pandemic , ” Birx wrote in a memo distributed to top administration officials .
She added that the nation was not implementing “ balanced ” measures needed to slow the spread of the virus .
One recipient confirmed the contents that were initially reported Monday by The Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , which has largely been a referendum of Trump ’ s handling of the virus .
In Concord , New Hampshire , 70-year-old Linda Eastman said she was giving her vote to Trump , saying , “ Maybe he wasn ’ t perfect with the coronavirus , but I think he did the best that he could with what he had.
” In Virginia Beach , it was a vote for Biden from 54-year-old Gabriella Cochrane , who said she thought the former vice president would “ surround himself with the brightest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The challenge of counting a record-setting early vote added a layer of uncertainty to an election marked by suspicions fueled by an incumbent who has consistently trailed in the polls .
Trump , in Pennsylvania , zeroed in on the state ’ s process to count mail-in votes that arrive after Election Day , vowing that “ we ’ re going in with our lawyers ” as soon as the polls close .
He tweeted — without evidence — that “ violence in the street ” could follow the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to count the votes arriving after Tuesday .
Trump offered himself to voters as the same outsider he first pitched to voters four years ago , insisting he ’ s still not a politician .
Presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces , he repeatedly tried to portray Biden , who is considered a moderate Democrat , as a tool of extreme leftists .
Biden , for his part , cast Trump as an incompetent leader in a time of crisis , trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s failures in containing the virus and on other matters to the everyday lives of Americans .
Jaffe reported from Pittsburgh .
Miller reported from Grand Rapids , Mich. Associated Press writers Will Weissert in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report .

Jonathan Lemire, Zeke Miller, Alexandra Jaffe

WASHINGTON — After a campaign marked by rancor and fear, Americans on Tuesday decide between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, selecting a leader to steer a nation battered by a surging pandemic that has killed more than 231,000 people, cost millions their jobs and reshaped daily life.
Nearly 100 million Americans voted early, and now it falls to Election Day voters to finish the job, ending a campaign that was upended by the coronavirus and defined by tensions over who could best address it. Each candidate declared the other fundamentally unfit to lead a nation grappling with COVID-19 and facing foundational questions about racial justice and economic fairness.
Biden entered Election Day with multiple paths to victory while Trump, playing catch-up in a number of battleground states, had a narrower but still feasible road to clinch 270 Electoral College votes. Control of the Senate was at stake, too: Democrats needed to net three seats if Biden captured the White House to gain control of all of Washington for the first time in a decade. The House was expected to remain under Democratic control.
Voters braved long lines and the threat of the virus to cast ballots as they chose between two starkly different visions of America for the next four years. The record-setting early vote — and legal skirmishing over how it will be counted — drew unsupported allegations of fraud from Trump, who refused to guarantee he would honor the election’s result.
Fighting to the end for every vote, Biden was headed to Philadelphia and his native Scranton on Tuesday as part of a closing get-out-the-vote effort before awaiting election results in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. His running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, was visiting Detroit, a heavily Black city in battleground Michigan. Both of their spouses were headed out, too, as the Democrats reached for a clear victory.
Trump, after a morning appearance on his favored network, Fox News Channel, planned to visit his campaign headquarters in Virginia. He invited hundreds of supporters to an election night party in the East Room of the White House.
The hard-fought campaign left voters on both sides eager to move on.
“I just want it to be done,” said Starlet Holden, a 26-year-old medical biller from New York City, who planned to vote for Biden but spoke for many on both sides of the campaign.
On their final full day on the campaign trail, Trump and Biden broke sharply over the mechanics of the vote itself while visiting the most fiercely contested battleground, Pennsylvania.
The Republican president threatened legal action to block the counting of ballots received after Election Day. If Pennsylvania ballot counting takes several days, as is allowed, Trump claimed without evidence that “cheating can happen like you have never seen.”
In fact, there are roughly 20 states that allow mail-in ballots received after Election Day to be counted — up to nine days and longer in some states. Litigation has centered on just a few where states have made changes in large part due to the coronavirus.
Biden told voters in Pennsylvania that the very fabric of the nation was at stake and offered his own election as the firmest rebuke possible to a president who he said had spent “four years dividing us at every turn.”
“Tomorrow’s the beginning of a new day. Tomorrow we can put an end to a president that’s left hardworking Americans out in the cold!” Biden said in Pittsburgh. “If you elect me as president, I’m gonna act to heal this country.”
Trump argued, at a stop in Wisconsin, that Biden was “not what our country needs.” He added: “This isn’t about — yeah, it is about me, I guess, when you think about it.”
For Trump, the election stood as a judgment on his four years in office, a term in which he bent Washington to his will, challenged faith in its institutions and changed how America was viewed across the globe. In a country divided along lines of race and class, he often acted as an insurgent against the very government he led, undercutting its scientists and bureaucracy and doing battle with the media.
The nation braced for what was to come — and a result that might not be known for days.
A new anti-scale fence was erected around the White House. And in downtowns ranging from New York to Denver to Minneapolis, workers boarded up businesses lest the vote lead to unrest of the sort that broke out earlier this year amid protests over racial inequality.
Just a short walk from the White House, for block after block, stores had their windows and doors covered. Some kept just a front door open, hoping to attract a little business.
Both candidates voted early, but first lady Melania Trump was set to cast her ballot Tuesday near Mar-a-Lago, the couple’s estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
The candidates blitzed through the battleground states on Monday, with Biden also pushing into Ohio, a state once thought to be safe for Trump. The president, for his part, packed in five rallies, Air Force One streaking across the sky as he drew crowds in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and then back in Michigan again.
His finale stretched past midnight in Grand Rapids, where he had also held his last rally in 2016. It marked the end of an era in American politics, one in part defined by the massive and exuberant gatherings that the president continued to hold despite warnings from his government’s own public health experts to avoid crowds during the pandemic.
The next president will inherit an anxious nation, reeling from a once-in-a-century heath crisis that has closed schools and businesses and that is worsening as the weather turns cold.
Trump in Grand Rapids insisted anew that the nation was “rounding the turn” on the virus. But Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, broke with the president and joined a chorus of Trump administration scientists sounding the alarm about the current spike in infections.
“We are entering the most concerning and most deadly phase of this pandemic,” Birx wrote in a memo distributed to top administration officials. She added that the nation was not implementing “balanced” measures needed to slow the spread of the virus. One recipient confirmed the contents that were initially reported Monday by The Washington Post.
The pandemic has shadowed the campaign, which has largely been a referendum of Trump’s handling of the virus.
In Concord, New Hampshire, 70-year-old Linda Eastman said she was giving her vote to Trump, saying, “Maybe he wasn’t perfect with the coronavirus, but I think he did the best that he could with what he had.”
In Virginia Beach, it was a vote for Biden from 54-year-old Gabriella Cochrane, who said she thought the former vice president would “surround himself with the brightest and the best” to fight the pandemic.
The challenge of counting a record-setting early vote added a layer of uncertainty to an election marked by suspicions fueled by an incumbent who has consistently trailed in the polls.
Trump, in Pennsylvania, zeroed in on the state’s process to count mail-in votes that arrive after Election Day, vowing that “we’re going in with our lawyers” as soon as the polls close. He tweeted — without evidence — that “violence in the street” could follow the Supreme Court’s decision to grant an extension to count the votes arriving after Tuesday.
Trump offered himself to voters as the same outsider he first pitched to voters four years ago, insisting he’s still not a politician. Presenting himself as the last barrier protecting an American way of life under siege from radical forces, he repeatedly tried to portray Biden, who is considered a moderate Democrat, as a tool of extreme leftists.
Biden, for his part, cast Trump as an incompetent leader in a time of crisis, trying to connect what he saw as the president’s failures in containing the virus and on other matters to the everyday lives of Americans.
Jaffe reported from Pittsburgh. Miller reported from Grand Rapids, Mich. Associated Press writers Will Weissert in Washington and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Column: Broncos, Saints both defend teammate, unlike Cowboys

DENVER — You can almost hear Mike McCarthy saying , “ That ’ s what I ’ m talking about !
” The lack of any sort of on-field response to Washington linebacker Jon Bostic ’ s dirty hit on quarterback Andy Dalton didn ’ t sit well with the Dallas Cowboys coach in Week 7 .
No retaliation .
No pushes or shoves .
No jumping in to protect Dalton or stand up for him .
Now , of course the NFL doesn ’ t encourage tit-for-tat antics , but McCarthy believes in the heat of the moment it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that .
“ We speak all the time about playing for one another , protecting one another , ” McCarthy said after Dalton was knocked from the game and Bostic was ejected .
“ That was definitely probably not the response that you would expect.
” Fast forward to Sunday when the Denver Broncos overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 on rookie KJ Hamler ’ s first career touchdown catch , a 1-yard grab from Drew Lock .
One official waived off the catch .
Another raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was determined Hamler got his butt down inbounds .
Tie game .
Then , Brandon McManus ’ extra point capped the comeback .
The Chargers were flagged on the extra point for lining up seven players on one side of the center , but before the call was explained and declined , Los Angeles nose tackle Linval Joseph spun Broncos center Patrick Morris , injuring the practice squad call-up ’ s right arm .
The chippiness seemed to be a culmination of several things : The hard-luck Chargers thought they held on for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Albert Okwuegbunam was incomplete on fourth-and-4 from the Los Angeles 18 , but Brandon Facyson was whistled for pass interference , giving the Broncos the ball at the 1 with a second left .
Then , the Chargers thought Hamler tumbled out of the end zone before landing inbounds , which one official indicated before the touchdown was confirmed .
When it was over , the Chargers had blown leads of 16 points or more in four consecutive games , an NFL record .
“ Division rival , close game , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding , “ We weren ’ t too happy with 22′s hit on Buster , ” referencing safety Kareem Jackson ’ s unflagged blasting of running back Troymaine Pope in the second half .
“ You ’ re just launching with your head .
That ’ s not how you play football anymore .
“ We wanted to get that call .
It is what it is .
Got to keep playing .
It gets chippy .
At the end of the game , I wasn ’ t on the field for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happened there.
” Broncos tackle Calvin Anderson was there , and he jumped to his teammate ’ s defense , going after Joseph in a scuffle that drew in several others but mostly involved pushing and shoving and grabbing and holding .
Shortly after Broncos coach Vic Fangio revealed on Monday that Morris suffered an arm injury when he was tossed to the ground after the PAT , Anderson tweeted an explanation for jumping into the fray himself .
“ My boy Pat finally gets called up for a game yesterday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets grabbed by the neck while he ’ s on a knee and slammed to the ground , which injures him , ” Anderson wrote .
He included a clip of the extra point , which shows the incident .
“ I ’ ll never watch something weak like that happen to a defenseless teammate and not defend him , ” Anderson added .
Amen , McCarthy must be thinking .
• Broncos Mailbag : How much does offense miss receiver Courtland Sutton ?
• Broncos ’ first-half struggles continue to weigh down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Keeler vs. O ’ Halloran : Was Pat Shurmur the right choice to develop Drew Lock ?
• After Further Review : Key defensive plays made Broncos comeback victory possible The fisticuffs that really drew the league ’ s attention came in Chicago , where Bears receiver Javon Wims was suspended two games Monday for punching Saints safety C.J .
Gardner-Johnson in the third quarter of New Orleans ’ 26-23 win .
Wims appeared to tap Gardner-Johnson , who had his back turned , and then hauled off a right-handed sucker punch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by several more shots to his face mask .
Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins jumped on Wims and soon players from both teams rushed in to break up the ruckus .
Wims emerged from the pileup clapping and smiling as he was ejected and escorted to his locker room .
“ We talked to him and told him that ’ s not how things go here , ” Bears coach Matt Nagy said .

DENVER — You can almost hear Mike McCarthy saying, “That’s what I’m talking about!”
The lack of any sort of on-field response to Washington linebacker Jon Bostic’s dirty hit on quarterback Andy Dalton didn’t sit well with the Dallas Cowboys coach in Week 7.
No retaliation. No pushes or shoves. No jumping in to protect Dalton or stand up for him. Now, of course the NFL doesn’t encourage tit-for-tat antics, but McCarthy believes in the heat of the moment it’s all for one and all of that.
“We speak all the time about playing for one another, protecting one another,” McCarthy said after Dalton was knocked from the game and Bostic was ejected. “That was definitely probably not the response that you would expect.”
Fast forward to Sunday when the Denver Broncos overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 on rookie KJ Hamler’s first career touchdown catch, a 1-yard grab from Drew Lock.
One official waived off the catch. Another raised his hands. After consulting, it was determined Hamler got his butt down inbounds. Tie game. Then, Brandon McManus’ extra point capped the comeback.
The Chargers were flagged on the extra point for lining up seven players on one side of the center, but before the call was explained and declined, Los Angeles nose tackle Linval Joseph spun Broncos center Patrick Morris, injuring the practice squad call-up’s right arm.
The chippiness seemed to be a culmination of several things:
The hard-luck Chargers thought they held on for the win when Lock’s pass to Albert Okwuegbunam was incomplete on fourth-and-4 from the Los Angeles 18, but Brandon Facyson was whistled for pass interference, giving the Broncos the ball at the 1 with a second left.
Then, the Chargers thought Hamler tumbled out of the end zone before landing inbounds, which one official indicated before the touchdown was confirmed. When it was over, the Chargers had blown leads of 16 points or more in four consecutive games, an NFL record.
“Division rival, close game,” Chargers running back Justin Jackson explained, adding, “We weren’t too happy with 22′s hit on Buster,” referencing safety Kareem Jackson’s unflagged blasting of running back Troymaine Pope in the second half. “You’re just launching with your head. That’s not how you play football anymore.
“We wanted to get that call. It is what it is. Got to keep playing. It gets chippy. At the end of the game, I wasn’t on the field for that, so I don’t know what happened there.”
Broncos tackle Calvin Anderson was there, and he jumped to his teammate’s defense, going after Joseph in a scuffle that drew in several others but mostly involved pushing and shoving and grabbing and holding.
Shortly after Broncos coach Vic Fangio revealed on Monday that Morris suffered an arm injury when he was tossed to the ground after the PAT, Anderson tweeted an explanation for jumping into the fray himself.
“My boy Pat finally gets called up for a game yesterday and after the game is won, he gets grabbed by the neck while he’s on a knee and slammed to the ground, which injures him,” Anderson wrote.
He included a clip of the extra point, which shows the incident.
“I’ll never watch something weak like that happen to a defenseless teammate and not defend him,” Anderson added.
“Ever.”
Amen, McCarthy must be thinking.
The fisticuffs that really drew the league’s attention came in Chicago, where Bears receiver Javon Wims was suspended two games Monday for punching Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the third quarter of New Orleans’ 26-23 win.
Wims appeared to tap Gardner-Johnson, who had his back turned, and then hauled off a right-handed sucker punch to Gardner-Johnson’s helmet, followed by several more shots to his face mask.
Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins jumped on Wims and soon players from both teams rushed in to break up the ruckus. Wims emerged from the pileup clapping and smiling as he was ejected and escorted to his locker room.
“We talked to him and told him that’s not how things go here,” Bears coach Matt Nagy said.


thedenverpost--2020-11-03--Ask Amy: Woman wonders why men “hit” on her

Dear Amy : I am a middle-aged , happily married woman with a wonderful husband .
We have a relationship that others spend their lives trying to find , and we are both extremely grateful for our many blessings .
I am not social , and I am not conscious of my appearance .
I never wear makeup .
I am a jeans and T-shirt type of woman .
Also , I ’ m a bit overweight .
Given all of that , why do men continually try to hit on me and chat me up ?
I grew up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of having platonic male friends of all types throughout my life .
I talk about my wonderful life and relationship with my husband , and it doesn ’ t seem to stop these men from hitting on me .
What am I doing wrong ?
And … why me ?
— Sick of Being Hit Upon Dear Sick : You are not doing anything wrong .
Your crime is to attempt to move through the world , minding your own business .
Women who are “ girly ” and wear makeup and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit on .
Women who wear jeans and T-shirts are also not asking to be hit on .
Women jogging , riding bicycles , walking their dogs or talking with their friends are not asking to be hit on .
I have a caveat , however .
I grew up in chilly New England where people tend not to speak to people they don ’ t already know .
But I spend part of each year in New Orleans , a city where people are so outgoing and gosh-darned friendly that it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strange men will call out and comment about hair , clothing , or urge me to “ smile more , ” rudely intruding into my comfort zone .
But occasionally they are also only saying , “ Hello !
” It can be hard to decode the difference between someone being friendly and someone trying to “ chat you up.
” In my view , you should never get far enough in conversation with a strange man to wax on about your wonderful husband .
Men who hit on random women are pulling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t care if you are married .
Dear Amy : I am 32 and single .
I lead a pretty fulfilling life .
I do work that I love .
I ’ m close to my parents and have a really tight , small group of friends .
Over the past couple of years more and more of my cousins and friends have gotten married and now , people who are younger than me are about to be married as well .
I honestly do not “ want ” to be married ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
However , lately I can ’ t help but feel that everyone else is “ growing up ” and moving on , while I am stuck .
I am worried that there will soon be a time when I might regret not being more committed to finding a partner .
I haven ’ t met or dated anyone interesting in a long while , and importantly , haven ’ t felt the urge to go out and find someone .
Should I more proactively seek out a partner ?
Dear Wanting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy and doing well , you wonder if you are supposed to want what others in your age group want .
But there is no one way to do life .
There are people who seem to map out every move and proceed as if following a script .
The challenge is to write your own .
Given the fairly consistent divorce statistics , there is a technical term for around half of the weddings you are witnessing .
It ’ s called : First Marriage .
My point is that a wedding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Knowing who you are , doing work you love , having happy and healthy relationships is .
You may go through phases where you are eager to engage in a special partner-relationship , and when those times come you should fire up the matching machine , get out there and meet people .
Dear Amy : “ In a Quandary ” described his godson ’ s decision to sell a train set he had given to the boy several years ago .
Many years ago , I gave my daughter-in-law a ring my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was disappointed when she sold the ring for a down payment on a piano for my grandchildren .
Today , all five of the grandchildren play the piano beautifully , and two of them are professional musicians .
What joy that ring has brought to many people !
Dear Learned : Your daughter-in-law let that ring sing .
Well done !

Dear Amy: I am a middle-aged, happily married woman with a wonderful husband. We have a relationship that others spend their lives trying to find, and we are both extremely grateful for our many blessings.
I am not social, and I am not conscious of my appearance.
I never wear makeup. I am a jeans and T-shirt type of woman. Also, I’m a bit overweight.
Given all of that, why do men continually try to hit on me and chat me up?
I grew up with two older brothers and have a history of having platonic male friends of all types throughout my life.
I guess I don’t fit the typically “girly” stereotypes.
I talk about my wonderful life and relationship with my husband, and it doesn’t seem to stop these men from hitting on me.
What am I doing wrong? And … why me?
— Sick of Being Hit Upon
Dear Sick: You are not doing anything wrong. Your crime is to attempt to move through the world, minding your own business.
Women who are “girly” and wear makeup and feminine clothing are not asking to be hit on. Women who wear jeans and T-shirts are also not asking to be hit on. Women jogging, riding bicycles, walking their dogs or talking with their friends are not asking to be hit on.
I have a caveat, however. I grew up in chilly New England where people tend not to speak to people they don’t already know. But I spend part of each year in New Orleans, a city where people are so outgoing and gosh-darned friendly that it is almost off-putting. And yes, oftentimes strange men will call out and comment about hair, clothing, or urge me to “smile more,” rudely intruding into my comfort zone. But occasionally they are also only saying, “Hello!” It can be hard to decode the difference between someone being friendly and someone trying to “chat you up.”
In my view, you should never get far enough in conversation with a strange man to wax on about your wonderful husband. Men who hit on random women are pulling a power play: they don’t care if you are married.
Dear Amy: I am 32 and single. I lead a pretty fulfilling life. I do work that I love. I’m close to my parents and have a really tight, small group of friends.
Over the past couple of years more and more of my cousins and friends have gotten married and now, people who are younger than me are about to be married as well.
I honestly do not “want” to be married (if it happens, it happens!). However, lately I can’t help but feel that everyone else is “growing up” and moving on, while I am stuck. I am worried that there will soon be a time when I might regret not being more committed to finding a partner.
I haven’t met or dated anyone interesting in a long while, and importantly, haven’t felt the urge to go out and find someone.
Should I more proactively seek out a partner?
— Wanting to Want
Dear Wanting to Want: Even though you are happy and doing well, you wonder if you are supposed to want what others in your age group want.
But there is no one way to do life. There are people who seem to map out every move and proceed as if following a script. The challenge is to write your own.
Given the fairly consistent divorce statistics, there is a technical term for around half of the weddings you are witnessing. It’s called: First Marriage. My point is that a wedding is not a prescription for happy-ever-after. Knowing who you are, doing work you love, having happy and healthy relationships is.
You may go through phases where you are eager to engage in a special partner-relationship, and when those times come you should fire up the matching machine, get out there and meet people.
Dear Amy: “In a Quandary” described his godson’s decision to sell a train set he had given to the boy several years ago.
Many years ago, I gave my daughter-in-law a ring my husband had given to me.
I was disappointed when she sold the ring for a down payment on a piano for my grandchildren.
Today, all five of the grandchildren play the piano beautifully, and two of them are professional musicians. What joy that ring has brought to many people!
— Learned my Lesson
Dear Learned: Your daughter-in-law let that ring sing. Well done!
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)