thedenverpost--2020-08-05--Rockies’ Jeff Hoffman could see “more critical role” Bud Black says

Jeff Hoffman ’ s place on the Rockies ’ pitching staff has always been a question mark .
Does the 6-foot-5 right-hander have the skills and mentality to finally develop into an effective starting pitcher ?
Or , does his high-velocity fastball and big-bending curveball make him better suited for a prominent role in the bullpen ?
The Rockies are still contemplating that , but Hoffman ’ s performance out of the bullpen Monday night in Colorado ’ s 7-6 win over San Francisco certainly was tantalizing .
Making his first relief appearance since June 23 , 2018 , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2/3 scoreless , hitless innings .
Hoffman , 27 , had one strikeout and one hit batter , and he made the Giants look uncomfortable at the plate .
Hoffman — the ninth overall pick by Toronto in the 2014 draft who came to Colorado in the July 2015 Troy Tulowitzki trade — said coming out of the ‘ pen requires a “ more aggressive ” approach and his goal is to “ attack the zone as much as possible.
” Manager Bud Black was impressed and hinted that Hoffman could be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either as a reliever or , perhaps , as the club ’ s fifth starter .
“ We want Jeff to be aggressive , especially if he ’ s going to pitch in relief , ” manager Bud Black said before Tuesday night ’ s game vs. the Giants at Coors Field .
“ Right now he ’ s in the bullpen , ( but ) if he has more outings like he had last night , you could see him in more critical roles .
It all depends on the consistency and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to throw his fastball high in the zone and pair it with his curve , “ is a whole new ballgame and opens up so many doors.
” Black called Hoffman ’ s fastball-curveball combo “ a devastating combination , ” adding that Hoffman is working to develop a consistent changeup .
“ If he harnesses his changeup , that ’ s three really good pitches , ” Black said .
“ It can really shut down a lineup for an inning or potentially two , with a strikeout in there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quotable .
Hoffman is close friends with left-hander Kyle Freeland , who ’ s off to an excellent start ( 2-0 , 1.50 ) after a difficult 2019 season .
“ Kyle took last year personally , ” Hoffman said .
“ It was something that I feel like really fueled his offseason and fueled his spring training … He never let off the gas.
” Owings loves LoDo .
Utility player Chris Owings started in left field Monday night and got two hits , including a home run that gave Colorado its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit .386 ( 51-for-132 ) with a 1.019 OPS in 42 career games at Coors Field .
“ It ’ s a big outfield and I use the whole field , ” Owings said , explaining his success at Coors .
New Giants manager Gabe Kapler is bucking tradition by not naming his starting pitchers ahead of time .
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has called it “ gamesmanship , ” while Colorado manager Bud Black has held his tongue on the matter .
Gray , who ’ s pitched well in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win , is looking to get on the board vs. the Giants .
He has not pitched well against them in his career , going 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 starts .
In three starts against San Francisco at Coors Field , he ’ s 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA and the Rockies have lost all three games .
Trending : Nolan Arenado hit his 29th career home run against the Giants on Monday night , tying him with Todd Helton for the most by a Rockies batter against the Giants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : As good as the Rockies ’ pitching has been overall , they could use a few more strikeouts .
The staff is averaging 8.33 strikeouts per game , 22nd in the majors .
Pitching probables Thursday : Giants TBD at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland ( 2-0 , 1.50 ) , 1:10 p.m. , ATTRM Friday : Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela ( 2-0 , 2.45 ) at Mariners LHP Yusei Kikuchi ( 0-0 , 4.66 ) , 7:40 p.m. , ATTRM Saturday : Rockies RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez ( 0-0 , 9.00 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 8.31 ) , 7:10 p.m. , ATTRM

Jeff Hoffman’s place on the Rockies’ pitching staff has always been a question mark.
Does the 6-foot-5 right-hander have the skills and mentality to finally develop into an effective starting pitcher? Or, does his high-velocity fastball and big-bending curveball make him better suited for a prominent role in the bullpen?
The Rockies are still contemplating that, but Hoffman’s performance out of the bullpen Monday night in Colorado’s 7-6 win over San Francisco certainly was tantalizing. Making his first relief appearance since June 23, 2018, he picked up the victory after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings. Hoffman, 27, had one strikeout and one hit batter, and he made the Giants look uncomfortable at the plate.
Hoffman — the ninth overall pick by Toronto in the 2014 draft who came to Colorado in the July 2015 Troy Tulowitzki trade — said coming out of the ‘pen requires a “more aggressive” approach and his goal is to “attack the zone as much as possible.”
Manager Bud Black was impressed and hinted that Hoffman could be in line for a more prominent role, either as a reliever or, perhaps, as the club’s fifth starter.
“We want Jeff to be aggressive, especially if he’s going to pitch in relief,” manager Bud Black said before Tuesday night’s game vs. the Giants at Coors Field. “Right now he’s in the bullpen, (but) if he has more outings like he had last night, you could see him in more critical roles. It all depends on the consistency and the strike-throwing.”
Hoffman said that his ability to throw his fastball high in the zone and pair it with his curve, “is a whole new ballgame and opens up so many doors.” Black called Hoffman’s fastball-curveball combo “a devastating combination,” adding that Hoffman is working to develop a consistent changeup.
“If he harnesses his changeup, that’s three really good pitches,” Black said. “It can really shut down a lineup for an inning or potentially two, with a strikeout in there. So that was encouraging last night.”
Quotable. Hoffman is close friends with left-hander Kyle Freeland, who’s off to an excellent start (2-0, 1.50) after a difficult 2019 season.
“Kyle took last year personally,” Hoffman said. “It was something that I feel like really fueled his offseason and fueled his spring training … He never let off the gas.”
Owings loves LoDo. Utility player Chris Owings started in left field Monday night and got two hits, including a home run that gave Colorado its margin of victory. He’s hit .386 (51-for-132) with a 1.019 OPS in 42 career games at Coors Field.
“It’s a big outfield and I use the whole field,” Owings said, explaining his success at Coors.
On Deck
Giants TBD at Rockies RHP Jon Gray (0-0, 2.61 ERA)
6:40 p.m. Wednesday, Coors Field
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
New Giants manager Gabe Kapler is bucking tradition by not naming his starting pitchers ahead of time. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has called it “gamesmanship,” while Colorado manager Bud Black has held his tongue on the matter. Gray, who’s pitched well in two starts but has not collected a win, is looking to get on the board vs. the Giants. He has not pitched well against them in his career, going 1-4 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 starts. In three starts against San Francisco at Coors Field, he’s 0-1 with a 9.95 ERA and the Rockies have lost all three games.
Trending: Nolan Arenado hit his 29th career home run against the Giants on Monday night, tying him with Todd Helton for the most by a Rockies batter against the Giants in Colorado franchise history.
At issue: As good as the Rockies’ pitching has been overall, they could use a few more strikeouts. The staff is averaging 8.33 strikeouts per game, 22nd in the majors.
Pitching probables
Thursday: Giants TBD at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-0, 1.50), 1:10 p.m., ATTRM
Friday: Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-0, 2.45) at Mariners LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 4.66), 7:40 p.m., ATTRM
Saturday: Rockies RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-0, 9.00) at Mariners RHP Kendall Graveman (9-2, 8.31), 7:10 p.m., ATTRM


thedenverpost--2020-08-04--Man shot dead in Denver’s East Colfax neighborhood is identified

A man shot dead in Denver ’ s East Colfax neighborhood on Tuesday morning has been identified .
Khari Johnson @ @ @ @ @ at about 3:55 a.m. in the 1500 block of Valentia Street .
The Denver Office @ @ @ @ @ Johnson , who died of multiple gun shot wounds .
His manner of death is @ @ @ @ @ is ongoing .
Police have not announced an arrest in the case .

A man shot dead in Denver’s East Colfax neighborhood on Tuesday morning has been identified.
Khari Johnson, 23, was shot at about 3:55 a.m. in the 1500 block of Valentia Street. The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner identified Johnson, who died of multiple gun shot wounds. His manner of death is a homicide.
An investigation is ongoing. Police have not announced an arrest in the case.


thedenverpost--2020-08-04--Dallas Stars are 4-0 against Avalanche this season. But the teams haven’t met since Jan. 14

Game 2 of the Avalanche ’ s quest for the Western Conference ’ s No .
1 playoff seed comes Wednesday against the Dallas Stars , and another win at Rogers Place in Edmonton would greatly enhance Colorado ’ s chances .
The thing is , the Avs haven ’ t had much success against the Stars this season — losing all four games , including two beyond regulation .
“ They ’ re obviously a good hockey team ( and ) I think everyone in our room is aware of the troubles we might have had with them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very determined to try to end them tomorrow , ” Avs defenseman Ian Cole said Tuesday after practice .
“ If you want to talk about the law of averages , I guess we ’ re due , right ?
” In the round-robin for conference seeding at the Edmonton bubble , Colorado ( 1-0 , two points ) is coming off Sunday ’ s dramatic , last-second 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues ( 0-1 ) in its opener .
Dallas ( 0-1 ) blew a 3-1 third-period lead Monday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Knights ( 1-0 , two points ) .
The Avs-Stars showdown is the only round-robin game Wednesday in Edmonton .
If teams are tied in points after their three round-robin games , regular-season winning percentage will serve as the tiebreaker .
St. Louis leads at .662 , followed by Colorado ( .657 ) , Vegas ( .606 ) and Dallas ( .594 ) .
So right now , the Avs are in the driver ’ s seat .
Dallas , despite its dominance over Colorado , is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t had a lot of success against them this year .
But we haven ’ t played hockey in four months , ” Avs forward Tyson Jost said .
“ It ’ s practically a new season .
It will be a good test for us .
We ’ re excited for it .
We ’ re confident in our abilities.
” Footnotes .
Avs coach Jared Bednar did not meet with reporters Tuesday but is scheduled to do so Wednesday morning .
… Goalie Pavel Francouz , who served as Philipp Grubauer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start Wednesday based on Bednar ’ s previous comments about rotating his goalies during the round-robin .
… Left winger Matt Nieto , a surprise scratch on Sunday , is expected to return to the lineup against Dallas .
Nieto played in all 70 regular-season games before sitting out Sunday , replaced by Jost , who was the 13th forward during training camp .
… Colorado concludes the round-robin Saturday against Vegas , which plays the Blues on Thursday .
St. Louis has three days off between its first and second games @

Game 2 of the Avalanche’s quest for the Western Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed comes Wednesday against the Dallas Stars, and another win at Rogers Place in Edmonton would greatly enhance Colorado’s chances.
The thing is, the Avs haven’t had much success against the Stars this season — losing all four games, including two beyond regulation.
“They’re obviously a good hockey team (and) I think everyone in our room is aware of the troubles we might have had with them in the past and I think everyone is very determined to try to end them tomorrow,” Avs defenseman Ian Cole said Tuesday after practice. “If you want to talk about the law of averages, I guess we’re due, right?”
In the round-robin for conference seeding at the Edmonton bubble, Colorado (1-0, two points) is coming off Sunday’s dramatic, last-second 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues (0-1) in its opener. Dallas (0-1) blew a 3-1 third-period lead Monday in a 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights (1-0, two points).
The Avs-Stars showdown is the only round-robin game Wednesday in Edmonton.
If teams are tied in points after their three round-robin games, regular-season winning percentage will serve as the tiebreaker. St. Louis leads at .662, followed by Colorado (.657), Vegas (.606) and Dallas (.594). So right now, the Avs are in the driver’s seat.
Dallas, despite its dominance over Colorado, is 2-6-2 in its last 10 games.
“Yeah, we haven’t had a lot of success against them this year. But we haven’t played hockey in four months,” Avs forward Tyson Jost said. “It’s practically a new season. It will be a good test for us. We’re excited for it. We’re confident in our abilities.”
Footnotes. Avs coach Jared Bednar did not meet with reporters Tuesday but is scheduled to do so Wednesday morning. … Goalie Pavel Francouz, who served as Philipp Grubauer’s backup Sunday, is scheduled to start Wednesday based on Bednar’s previous comments about rotating his goalies during the round-robin. … Left winger Matt Nieto, a surprise scratch on Sunday, is expected to return to the lineup against Dallas. Nieto played in all 70 regular-season games before sitting out Sunday, replaced by Jost, who was the 13th forward during training camp. … Colorado concludes the round-robin Saturday against Vegas, which plays the Blues on Thursday. St. Louis has three days off between its first and second games.


thedenverpost--2020-08-04--Tiger Woods in a better place heading into this PGA Championship

SAN FRANCISCO — The course is one Tiger Woods knows well and where he has winning memories .
The PGA Championship is a major he has won four times , more than anyone except Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen .
Woods learned last year that brings no guarantee of playing well .
Coming off the deep emotions of a Masters victory that capped his remarkable comeback , Woods lasted only two days at Bethpage Black and missed the cut .
He said Tuesday he ’ s in a much better place at the TPC Harding Park .
Never mind that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tie for 40th at the Memorial — in the last six months because of the COVID-19 pandemic and his own limited schedule .
The biggest difference was showing up on Sunday in the sunshine to play 18 holes at Harding Park , followed by nine holes Monday as fog crept through the cypress trees and the temperature plunged into the 50s .
A year ago , he played 18 holes a week before the PGA Championship and only nine holes in the three days leading to the opening round .
This year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ After I won the Masters , it was a bit of a whirlwind , ” Woods said .
“ We got a chance to go to the White House and meet with our president .
I celebrated winning the Masters for quite some time .
Came to Bethpage and played awful , and felt like Brooks ( Koepka ) beat me by like 30 shots in two days.
” It wasn ’ t that bad .
Koepka pipped him by only 17 and went on to win a second straight Wanamaker Trophy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was going into that PGA , ” Woods said , “ and hopefully , I can put it together this week.
” They were encouraging words , not quite to the level he shared about a few past majors .
Woods said that only three times in the 15 majors he won did he realize “ all I had to do was keep my heartbeat going and I was going to win.
” One was his 12-shot victory in the 1997 Masters .
The others were his 15-shot win at Pebble Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St. Andrews in 2000 .
“ My game was clicking on all cylinders for maybe the week prior .
The week of it , got a little bit better and just had to maintain it the rest of the week , ” he said .
“ Those were the rare exceptions.
” He can ’ t predict how his surgically repaired back will feel tomorrow , much less for an entire week .
And he hasn ’ t competed enough lately to get a true sense of how he will perform .
Woods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the first major without spectators .
The atmosphere is nothing new for players who have been back at work for the last two months on the fan-free PGA Tour .
The stakes are higher now with a major , no matter how silent it might be .
“ The atmosphere will not be the same , and I can say from experience , ” Jon Rahm said .
“ You ’ re coming down the stretch and you ’ re hitting some shots and you don ’ t know what ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know what the people in front of you are doing .
And you ’ re hitting shots into the green and you don ’ t know how close they can be .
It ’ s very odd down the stretch.
” It wasn ’ t anything like that when Woods won at Harding Park in 2005 , beating John Daly in a World Golf Championship that felt like a rock concert with two of the biggest draws in golf — one predictable , the other not so much — in a playoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recalled being half-deaf from the screaming .
And now there are only silent expectations , for him and so many others .
For the second straight year , Koepka comes to Northern California with a chance to win the same major three years in a row , a feat achieved by only six players in the 160-year history of the majors .
He was runner-up at Pebble Beach last summer in the U.S. Open .
Now he ’ s the two-time defending champion for the PGA , and he found some form last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Golf Championship .
“ My game feels like it ’ s in really , really good shape right now , ” he said .
“ Every day is a lot more comfortable .
I ’ m excited .
This is a big-boy golf course.
” Harding Park at 7,251 yards feels long at sea level , with heavy air and marine layer so thick that the sun is a rumor .
The PGA Championship has never been known for its sweaters .
Woods said he was on the range Monday listening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , last week talking about the difference in how far the ball was going .
The cool air can be an issue for Woods , who has had four back surgeries and has struggled at times in the chill .
His back acted up in the cold of Riviera in Los Angeles in February , leading him to take off a few weeks , and then the pandemic shut down golf .
Then again , his back didn ’ t feel right in the July heat of Ohio for a few days .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ game Woods can ’ t control .
“ I know I won ’ t have the same range of motion as I would back home in Florida where it ’ s 95 every day .
That ’ s just the way it is , ” Woods said .
“ I think the weather forecast is supposed to be like this all week — marine layer , cool , windy , and we ’ re all going to have to deal with it .
”

SAN FRANCISCO — The course is one Tiger Woods knows well and where he has winning memories. The PGA Championship is a major he has won four times, more than anyone except Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen.
Woods learned last year that brings no guarantee of playing well.
Coming off the deep emotions of a Masters victory that capped his remarkable comeback, Woods lasted only two days at Bethpage Black and missed the cut.
He said Tuesday he’s in a much better place at the TPC Harding Park.
Never mind that Woods has played only one tournament — a tie for 40th at the Memorial — in the last six months because of the COVID-19 pandemic and his own limited schedule. The biggest difference was showing up on Sunday in the sunshine to play 18 holes at Harding Park, followed by nine holes Monday as fog crept through the cypress trees and the temperature plunged into the 50s.
A year ago, he played 18 holes a week before the PGA Championship and only nine holes in the three days leading to the opening round. This year, his approach appears more serious.
“After I won the Masters, it was a bit of a whirlwind,” Woods said. “We got a chance to go to the White House and meet with our president. I celebrated winning the Masters for quite some time. Came to Bethpage and played awful, and felt like Brooks (Koepka) beat me by like 30 shots in two days.”
It wasn’t that bad. Koepka pipped him by only 17 and went on to win a second straight Wanamaker Trophy.
“My game is better than it was going into that PGA,” Woods said, “and hopefully, I can put it together this week.”
They were encouraging words, not quite to the level he shared about a few past majors. Woods said that only three times in the 15 majors he won did he realize “all I had to do was keep my heartbeat going and I was going to win.”
One was his 12-shot victory in the 1997 Masters. The others were his 15-shot win at Pebble Beach in 2000 and his eight-shot win at St. Andrews in 2000.
“My game was clicking on all cylinders for maybe the week prior. The week of it, got a little bit better and just had to maintain it the rest of the week,” he said. “Those were the rare exceptions.”
He can’t predict how his surgically repaired back will feel tomorrow, much less for an entire week. And he hasn’t competed enough lately to get a true sense of how he will perform.
Woods just knows it will be quiet. This is the first major without spectators. The atmosphere is nothing new for players who have been back at work for the last two months on the fan-free PGA Tour. The stakes are higher now with a major, no matter how silent it might be.
“The atmosphere will not be the same, and I can say from experience,” Jon Rahm said. “You’re coming down the stretch and you’re hitting some shots and you don’t know what’s going on, you don’t know what the people in front of you are doing. And you’re hitting shots into the green and you don’t know how close they can be. It’s very odd down the stretch.”
It wasn’t anything like that when Woods won at Harding Park in 2005, beating John Daly in a World Golf Championship that felt like a rock concert with two of the biggest draws in golf — one predictable, the other not so much — in a playoff. It was so loud that Woods recalled being half-deaf from the screaming.
And now there are only silent expectations, for him and so many others.
For the second straight year, Koepka comes to Northern California with a chance to win the same major three years in a row, a feat achieved by only six players in the 160-year history of the majors. He was runner-up at Pebble Beach last summer in the U.S. Open. Now he’s the two-time defending champion for the PGA, and he found some form last week with a runner-up finish in a World Golf Championship.
“My game feels like it’s in really, really good shape right now,” he said. “Every day is a lot more comfortable. I’m excited. This is a big-boy golf course.”
Harding Park at 7,251 yards feels long at sea level, with heavy air and marine layer so thick that the sun is a rumor. The PGA Championship has never been known for its sweaters. Woods said he was on the range Monday listening to players who were in Memphis, Tennessee, last week talking about the difference in how far the ball was going.
The cool air can be an issue for Woods, who has had four back surgeries and has struggled at times in the chill.
His back acted up in the cold of Riviera in Los Angeles in February, leading him to take off a few weeks, and then the pandemic shut down golf. Then again, his back didn’t feel right in the July heat of Ohio for a few days. That’s one area of his game Woods can’t control.
“I know I won’t have the same range of motion as I would back home in Florida where it’s 95 every day. That’s just the way it is,” Woods said. “I think the weather forecast is supposed to be like this all week — marine layer, cool, windy, and we’re all going to have to deal with it.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-04--Proposed Colorado ballot measure comes up short – waaay short

Advocates of a proposed Colorado ballot measure for expunging nonviolent criminal offenses only turned in 255 signatures to the Secretary @ @ @ @ @ by the petition deadline Monday .
They needed at least 124,632 to qualify , raising @ @ @ @ @ submitted signatures at all .
Designated representatives Stephen and Paul Ball did not return requests @ @ @ @ @ .
The deficit made it an easy call for elections officials to deem the petition @ @ @ @ @ ballot measure called for a process that would allow individuals who completed their criminal sentences @ @ @ @ @ or were granted clemency to expunge their records within a certain period of time .
@ @ @ @ @ time a group submitted signatures far below the number required to qualify .
At the @ @ @ @ @ organizers of an effort to recall President Leroy Garcia , a Pueblo Democrat , needed @ @ @ @ @ a vote , the last of a summer of failed recall attempts against Democrats .
@ @ @ @

Advocates of a proposed Colorado ballot measure for expunging nonviolent criminal offenses only turned in 255 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office by the petition deadline Monday.
They needed at least 124,632 to qualify, raising the question of why organizers submitted signatures at all. Designated representatives Stephen and Paul Ball did not return requests for comment Monday and Tuesday.
The deficit made it an easy call for elections officials to deem the petition insufficient Monday.
The proposed ballot measure called for a process that would allow individuals who completed their criminal sentences, were not convicted, or were granted clemency to expunge their records within a certain period of time.
This is not the first time a group submitted signatures far below the number required to qualify. At the end of last year, organizers of an effort to recall President Leroy Garcia, a Pueblo Democrat, needed needed 13,506 signatures to force a vote, the last of a summer of failed recall attempts against Democrats. They submitted four.


thedenverpost--2020-08-05--Firefighters discover 5 bodies in Denver home that burned overnight

Firefighters discovered five bodies after responding to a burning home in northeast Denver overnight , and fire investigators are now @ @ @ @ @ the cause of the blaze , the Denver Fire Department announced via Twitter on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ reported around 2:40 a.m .
Firefighters arriving at the home at 5312 N. Truckee St. @ @ @ @ @ fire ” and discovered the fatalities inside the house , fire department officials said .
@ @ @ @ @ in a tweet that its officers and members of the Homicide Unit “ will be @ @ @ @ @ support in this matter.
” A news conference is scheduled for 7 a.m .
This @ @ @ @ @ will be updated .

One by one, members of Colorado’s Senegalese community arrived in Green Valley Ranch. They came from down the street, across town and as far as away as the mountains, carrying water and folding chairs. They hugged, they talked quietly, they wept as fire investigators walked through the scorched rubble that once housed a young family.
And despite the oppressive Denver sun, the community would not budge.
They came to support their brother, their friend, their community after an overnight house fire killed Djibril Diol, his wife, daughter, sister and niece. Denver police opened a homicide investigation, saying there was evidence the 2:40 a.m. Wednesday fire was intentionally set. Three other residents managed to jump from the second story and survived without life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.
But community members on Wednesday were left with a question nobody could answer: Why?
“What would our community do to be a target?” Ousman Ba said.
The fire was reported after a Denver police officer in the area noticed smoke, and neighbors started calling 911.
Police were first on scene and tried to save people, but the flames and heat were too intense, said Capt. Greg Pixley, spokesman for the Denver Fire Department.
“Officers quickly determined there were people in the home,” Joe Montoya, chief of the Denver Police Department’s investigations division, said at a morning news conference. “There was a valiant effort to try to pull people from the home. They were unable to save some of the individuals that perished in the fire.”
Diol and his family immigrated from Senegal in recent years, and they were staying at the 5312 N. Truckee St. home with another family until they could find their own, Ba said. That’s what this community does, he said. They look out for one another.
Diol was an engineer with Kiewit working on the I-70 project, Ibrahim Ndiaye, a friend, said. His wife and sister worked at Amazon. Diol loved soccer and his family. Friday was Eid, a holy day for their community, and Ndiaye said his friend went house to house to give greetings.
“He was a good person, a good worker and a good Muslim,” Diol’s brother, Abou Djibril, said.
Papa Dia, executive director of the African Leadership Group, would not speculate why the house may have been targeted, but he said their community needs support.
“We are part of Colorado,” he said. “We are citizens. We want to contribute.”
Throughout the day, more and more people showed up. Neighbors brought over tents and folding chairs. Others offered iced coffee and snacks for community members who sat in groups and talked for hours.
“We don’t want to go home because then we’ll just be thinking about it,” Ndiaye said. “When something hits one person, it hits everybody.”
Mohamed Ly, who knew the family, drove from Summit County after hearing the news. “You can die anytime,” he said. “You just have to keep doing what you can do till it’s time.”
In the afternoon, dozens of people congregated silently behind yellow police tape to watch officials carry the bodies from inside the house.
Ba created a fundraiser so the family could have a proper funeral and pay for other costs, raising nearly $7,000 in the first few hours.
Police and fire investigators did not report what started the fire or what motive someone would have for burning the house. Montoya said they have evidence of arson.
Fire investigators will work with the Denver Police Department’s homicide unit to determine “the true story of this fire,” Pixley said.
No injuries were reported among firefighters or responding police officers.
The fire itself was intense, Pixley said. He credited firefighters with preventing it from spreading farther into the neighborhood, though two adjacent homes had significant damage from the heat.
This is the scene last night, shot by Cydnee Johnson outside her home pic.twitter.com/OSc49yYssm — Sam Tabachnik (@sam_tabachnik) August 5, 2020
“This is a devastating time for Denver, for this community, and our hearts and our prayers go out to this community,” Pixley said. “We really want people to understand that we do feel for them right now.”
.


thedenverpost--2020-08-05--Lebanese confront devastation after massive Beirut explosion that left at least 100 dead

BEIRUT — Residents of Beirut confronted a scene of utter devastation on Wednesday , a day after a massive explosion at the port rippled across the Lebanese capital , killing at least 100 people , wounding thousands and leaving entire city blocks flooded with glass and rubble .
Smoke was still rising from the port , where a towering building of silos was half destroyed , spilling out mounds of grain .
Hangars around it were completely toppled .
Much of the downtown area was littered with damaged vehicles and debris that had rained down from the shattered facades of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Cross said at least 100 people were killed and more than 4,000 were wounded .
George Kettaneh said the toll could rise further .
It was unclear what caused the blast , which appeared to have been triggered by a fire and struck with the force of an earthquake .
It was the most powerful explosion ever seen in the city , which was split in half by the 1975-1990 civil war and has endured conflicts with neighboring Israel and periodic bombings and terror attacks .
Scores of people were missing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help locating loved ones .
An Instagram page called “ Locating Victims Beirut ” sprang up with photos of missing people , and radio presenters read the names of missing or wounded people throughout the night .
Many residents moved in with friends or relatives after their apartments were damaged and treated their own injuries because hospitals were overwhelmed .
Lebanon was already on the brink of collapse amid a severe economic crisis that has ignited mass protests in recent months .
Its health system is confronting a coronavirus surge , and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as people flooded into hospitals .
There was no evidence the explosion was an attack .
Instead , many Lebanese blamed it on decades of corruption and poor governance by the entrenched political class that has ruled the tiny Mediterranean country since the civil war .
Saint George University Hospital , one of the major private hospitals in Beirut which had been receiving COVID-19 patients , was out of commission Wednesday after suffering major damage .
A physician who identified himself as Dr. Emile said 16 staff and patients , including four nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to give his last name out of privacy concerns .
The blast also wounded a number of U.N. peacekeepers stationed in the area .
Bangladesh said 21 members of its Navy were wounded , one critically .
Italy , one of the top contributors to the UNIFIL mission , said one of its soldiers was wounded .
Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi told a local TV station that it appeared the blast was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship impounded in 2013 .
Explosives experts and video footage suggested the ammonium nitrate may have been ignited by a fire at what appeared to be a nearby warehouse containing fireworks .
Ammonium nitrate is a common ingredient in fertilizer as well as explosives .
It was used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 , when a truck bomb containing 2,180 kilograms ( 4,800 pounds ) of fertilizer and fuel oil ripped through a federal building , killing 168 people and wounding hundreds more .
Security forces cordoned off the port area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help clear away debris .
A young man begged troops to allow him to enter and search for his father , who has been missing since the blast occurred .
He was directed to a port official who wrote down his details .
In Beirut ’ s hard-hit Achrafieh district , civil defense workers and soldiers were working on locating missing people and clearing the rubble .
At least one man was still pinned under stones from an old building that had collapsed .
Volunteers hooked him up to an oxygen tank to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free his leg .
The blast severely damaged numerous apartment buildings , potentially leaving large numbers of people homeless at a time when many Lebanese have lost their jobs and seen their savings evaporate because of a currency crisis .
The explosion also raises concerns about how Lebanon will continue to import nearly all of its vital goods with its main port devastated .
Prime Minister Hassan Diab , in a short televised speech , appealed for international aid , saying : “ We are witnessing a real catastrophe.
” He reiterated his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will pay the price , without commenting on the cause .
There is also the issue of food security in Lebanon , a tiny country already hosting over 1 million Syrians displaced by that country ’ s nearly decade-long civil war .
Drone footage shot Wednesday by The Associated Press showed that the blast tore open a cluster of towering grain silos , dumping their contents into the debris and earth thrown up by the blast .
Some 80 % of Lebanon ’ s wheat supply is imported , according to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the country ’ s grain was stored at the now-destroyed silos .
Lebanon ’ s state-run National News Agency quoted Raoul Nehme , the minister of economy and trade , as saying that all the wheat stored at the facility had been “ contaminated ” and couldn ’ t be used .
But he insisted Lebanon had enough wheat for its immediate needs and would import more .
Several countries have pledged aid in the aftermath of the blast , with even Israel offering humanitarian assistance .
The two countries have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel fought a 2006 war with the Hezbollah militant group .
Lebanon ’ s economic crisis is rooted in decades of systemic corruption by political factions that exploit public institutions for the benefit of their supporters .
Decades after the civil war , residents endure frequent power outages and poor public services .
Lebanese have held mass protests calling for sweeping political change since last autumn but few of their demands have been met as the economic situation has steadily worsened .
Beirut ’ s port and the customs authority are notoriously corrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are controlled by Lebanon ’ s political factions , including Hezbollah .

BEIRUT — Residents of Beirut confronted a scene of utter devastation on Wednesday, a day after a massive explosion at the port rippled across the Lebanese capital, killing at least 100 people, wounding thousands and leaving entire city blocks flooded with glass and rubble.
Smoke was still rising from the port, where a towering building of silos was half destroyed, spilling out mounds of grain. Hangars around it were completely toppled. Much of the downtown area was littered with damaged vehicles and debris that had rained down from the shattered facades of buildings.
An official with the Lebanese Red Cross said at least 100 people were killed and more than 4,000 were wounded. George Kettaneh said the toll could rise further.
It was unclear what caused the blast, which appeared to have been triggered by a fire and struck with the force of an earthquake. It was the most powerful explosion ever seen in the city, which was split in half by the 1975-1990 civil war and has endured conflicts with neighboring Israel and periodic bombings and terror attacks.
Scores of people were missing, with relatives pleading on social media for help locating loved ones. An Instagram page called “Locating Victims Beirut” sprang up with photos of missing people, and radio presenters read the names of missing or wounded people throughout the night. Many residents moved in with friends or relatives after their apartments were damaged and treated their own injuries because hospitals were overwhelmed.
Lebanon was already on the brink of collapse amid a severe economic crisis that has ignited mass protests in recent months. Its health system is confronting a coronavirus surge, and there were concerns the virus could spread further as people flooded into hospitals.
There was no evidence the explosion was an attack. Instead, many Lebanese blamed it on decades of corruption and poor governance by the entrenched political class that has ruled the tiny Mediterranean country since the civil war.
Saint George University Hospital, one of the major private hospitals in Beirut which had been receiving COVID-19 patients, was out of commission Wednesday after suffering major damage. A physician who identified himself as Dr. Emile said 16 staff and patients, including four nurses, died in the blast. He declined to give his last name out of privacy concerns.
The blast also wounded a number of U.N. peacekeepers stationed in the area. Bangladesh said 21 members of its Navy were wounded, one critically. Italy, one of the top contributors to the UNIFIL mission, said one of its soldiers was wounded.
Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi told a local TV station that it appeared the blast was caused by the detonation of more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in a warehouse ever since it was confiscated from a cargo ship impounded in 2013.
Explosives experts and video footage suggested the ammonium nitrate may have been ignited by a fire at what appeared to be a nearby warehouse containing fireworks.
Ammonium nitrate is a common ingredient in fertilizer as well as explosives. It was used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, when a truck bomb containing 2,180 kilograms (4,800 pounds) of fertilizer and fuel oil ripped through a federal building, killing 168 people and wounding hundreds more.
Security forces cordoned off the port area on Wednesday as a bulldozer entered to help clear away debris. A young man begged troops to allow him to enter and search for his father, who has been missing since the blast occurred. He was directed to a port official who wrote down his details.
In Beirut’s hard-hit Achrafieh district, civil defense workers and soldiers were working on locating missing people and clearing the rubble. At least one man was still pinned under stones from an old building that had collapsed. Volunteers hooked him up to an oxygen tank to help him breathe while others tried to free his leg.
The blast severely damaged numerous apartment buildings, potentially leaving large numbers of people homeless at a time when many Lebanese have lost their jobs and seen their savings evaporate because of a currency crisis. The explosion also raises concerns about how Lebanon will continue to import nearly all of its vital goods with its main port devastated.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab, in a short televised speech, appealed for international aid, saying: “We are witnessing a real catastrophe.” He reiterated his pledge that those responsible for the disaster will pay the price, without commenting on the cause.
There is also the issue of food security in Lebanon, a tiny country already hosting over 1 million Syrians displaced by that country’s nearly decade-long civil war.
Drone footage shot Wednesday by The Associated Press showed that the blast tore open a cluster of towering grain silos, dumping their contents into the debris and earth thrown up by the blast. Some 80% of Lebanon’s wheat supply is imported, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department.
Estimates suggest some 85% of the country’s grain was stored at the now-destroyed silos.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency quoted Raoul Nehme, the minister of economy and trade, as saying that all the wheat stored at the facility had been “contaminated” and couldn’t be used. But he insisted Lebanon had enough wheat for its immediate needs and would import more.
Several countries have pledged aid in the aftermath of the blast, with even Israel offering humanitarian assistance. The two countries have been in conflict for decades, and Israel fought a 2006 war with the Hezbollah militant group.
Lebanon’s economic crisis is rooted in decades of systemic corruption by political factions that exploit public institutions for the benefit of their supporters. Decades after the civil war, residents endure frequent power outages and poor public services.
Lebanese have held mass protests calling for sweeping political change since last autumn but few of their demands have been met as the economic situation has steadily worsened.
Beirut’s port and the customs authority are notoriously corrupt. Like nearly all public institutions, they are controlled by Lebanon’s political factions, including Hezbollah.


thedenverpost--2020-08-05--Uber driver kicks passenger out for refusing to put on her mask after claiming she has COVID-19

An Uber driver kicked a passenger out their vehicle after the woman took off her mask , started coughing and @ @ @ @ @ on .
The Uber driver , who asked to remain anonymous , says he picked @ @ @ @ @ 6 a.m. on Tuesday in Denver .
He said she got in the car with @ @ @ @ @ she started coughing and took it off once she was inside .
“ You know @ @ @ @ @ , you should probably have a mask , especially since it ’ s the law @ @ @ @ @ , ” he can be heard saying in the dash camera video .
The woman @ @ @ @ @ be faintly heard saying she ’ s not sick .
Then the driver asks if @ @ @ @ @ things escalate when she says , “ Yep , sure do , ” while the @ @ @ @ @ the full story from our partners at thedenverchannel.com .
Join our Facebook group for the @ @ @ @ @ Colorado .

An Uber driver kicked a passenger out their vehicle after the woman took off her mask, started coughing and refused to put it back on.
The Uber driver, who asked to remain anonymous, says he picked up the passenger just before 6 a.m. on Tuesday in Denver.
He said she got in the car with a mask on, but she started coughing and took it off once she was inside.
“You know in this day and age, you should probably have a mask, especially since it’s the law and you’re sick,” he can be heard saying in the dash camera video.
The woman in the back seat can be faintly heard saying she’s not sick. Then the driver asks if she has COVID-19, and things escalate when she says, “Yep, sure do,” while the camera is rolling.
Read the full story from our partners at thedenverchannel.com.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-08-05--Aurora police chief says department culture has been “reset” but acknowledges uphill battle ahead

Aurora ’ s new police chief says the internal culture of the embattled police department she now leads has been reset , but acknowledges that she and her officers face an uphill battle to regain community trust .
Vanessa Wilson on Monday took the permanent chief position amid calls for immediate changes to policing as well as community demands to defund the department .
Protesters thrust the Aurora Police Department into the national spotlight by demanding a reckoning of the death of Elijah McClain — who died after being violently arrested by three Aurora officers and injected with ketamine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept the spotlight on the department .
For example , Wilson was once again tweeting an apology for the actions of her officers minutes before city leaders announced her selection as chief Monday night .
She apologized to an innocent family whose children on Sunday were held at gun point , made to lie on the ground and handcuffed during a bungled traffic stop of a car officers thought was stolen , but wasn ’ t .
“ I will say that we ’ ve made several high-profile mistakes , ” Wilson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what to expect of me , they know what the expectations are and that I ’ ll listen to the community and give them a voice .
I think the culture ’ s been reset .
I think everyone in this agency wants to move forward and regain the trust of the community.
” Wilson ’ s candidacy for the position and selection as chief has been met with mixed reactions from city council , community members and the two unions at the department .
The chief ’ s statement of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from some community leaders .
“ I don ’ t know how that ’ s possible , ” said Topazz McBride , a pastor at Restoration Christian Fellowship and member of the city ’ s Community Police Task Force .
“ How did that happen , was there some sort of magic wand ?
How were they reset in the last month ?
” Omar Montgomery , president of the Aurora branch of the NAACP and former mayoral candidate , said the department needs to make immediate changes to address an ever-widening chasm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m generally the one who says let ’ s give something time to work , ” Montgomery said .
“ But I ’ m at the point now that we need expedited reform .
It ’ s not that the task force and the commissions are not working , it ’ s that they ’ re not working fast enough.
” “ It ’ s like a veil over our city because we ’ re constantly having to deal with these issues with the police department , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the four candidates for chief , said she recognizes she ’ ll never fully understand what it ’ s like to be a person of color but that she ’ s committed to reaching out to communities of color to help her make changes .
“ We recognize our failures , ” she said .
“ We recognize things need to change .
I know it ’ s hard to be patient and I know people are angry , but if they ’ d give us an opportunity I think we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an uphill battle , but we ’ re committed to doing the right thing.
” Sometimes doing the right thing means firing officers for misconduct , Wilson said .
She acknowledged that there may be some in the department who disagree with some of her six firings since Jan. 1 , but said others have thanked her for some of the dismissals .
One of the firings caused the Aurora Police Association , one of the department ’ s two unions , to state she was unfit to become chief .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police , supported Wilson ’ s hiring , according to The Aurora Sentinel .
McBride said she thought having a Black man in the position would have been beneficial to connecting with the Black community , but that none of the three Black candidates were right for job and that Wilson was the best candidate .
“ I think that we would be in a better position if we had the right Black man in that role , given all the racial divide and the reactivity from the Aurora PD to our community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The department ) has just been so aggressive and abrasive , and it has lacked sensitivity.
” Montgomery said he wasn ’ t surprised Wilson was selected as chief , but said she now needed to act immediately to back up her promises with actions .
She also needs to address the lack of diversity in the department , especially at the highest ranks , he said .
Of the 16 sworn members of the executive leadership team listed on the department ’ s website , there is only one Black person — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate for chief — and Wilson is the only woman .
Despite some goodwill Wilson has built over the years , there are some in the Aurora community that are cautious about her appointment , Montgomery said .
“ Anything the NAACP has asked of her , in terms of research and data and hard questions , she ’ s done a good job with , ” he said .
“ We have to move beyond questions and see what change is going to take place.
” Whatever changes occur must address the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s officers , McBride said .
The protests and calls for change will not end because people — especially Black people — continue to be killed , injured and traumatized by police , she said .
“ This is an iceberg that is so weighted underneath the surface , there ’ s so much that people don ’ t even know about , ” McBride said .
“ And that ’ s not just in Aurora , that ’ s across the board .
And if that ’ s just the bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the things we don ’ t know about .
”

Aurora’s new police chief says the internal culture of the embattled police department she now leads has been reset, but acknowledges that she and her officers face an uphill battle to regain community trust.
Vanessa Wilson on Monday took the permanent chief position amid calls for immediate changes to policing as well as community demands to defund the department. Protesters thrust the Aurora Police Department into the national spotlight by demanding a reckoning of the death of Elijah McClain — who died after being violently arrested by three Aurora officers and injected with ketamine. A series of controversies since then has kept the spotlight on the department.
For example, Wilson was once again tweeting an apology for the actions of her officers minutes before city leaders announced her selection as chief Monday night. She apologized to an innocent family whose children on Sunday were held at gun point, made to lie on the ground and handcuffed during a bungled traffic stop of a car officers thought was stolen, but wasn’t.
“I will say that we’ve made several high-profile mistakes,” Wilson said Tuesday. “I know my officers know what to expect of me, they know what the expectations are and that I’ll listen to the community and give them a voice. I think the culture’s been reset. I think everyone in this agency wants to move forward and regain the trust of the community.”
Wilson’s candidacy for the position and selection as chief has been met with mixed reactions from city council, community members and the two unions at the department. The chief’s statement of the culture being reset was met with skepticism from some community leaders.
“I don’t know how that’s possible,” said Topazz McBride, a pastor at Restoration Christian Fellowship and member of the city’s Community Police Task Force. “How did that happen, was there some sort of magic wand? How were they reset in the last month?”
Omar Montgomery, president of the Aurora branch of the NAACP and former mayoral candidate, said the department needs to make immediate changes to address an ever-widening chasm between officers and the community.
“I’m generally the one who says let’s give something time to work,” Montgomery said. “But I’m at the point now that we need expedited reform. It’s not that the task force and the commissions are not working, it’s that they’re not working fast enough.”
“It’s like a veil over our city because we’re constantly having to deal with these issues with the police department,” he said.
Wilson, the only white person of the four candidates for chief, said she recognizes she’ll never fully understand what it’s like to be a person of color but that she’s committed to reaching out to communities of color to help her make changes.
“We recognize our failures,” she said. “We recognize things need to change. I know it’s hard to be patient and I know people are angry, but if they’d give us an opportunity I think we’ve made some progress. I know we have an uphill battle, but we’re committed to doing the right thing.”
Sometimes doing the right thing means firing officers for misconduct, Wilson said. She acknowledged that there may be some in the department who disagree with some of her six firings since Jan. 1, but said others have thanked her for some of the dismissals.
One of the firings caused the Aurora Police Association, one of the department’s two unions, to state she was unfit to become chief. The other union, the Fraternal Order of Police, supported Wilson’s hiring, according to The Aurora Sentinel.
McBride said she thought having a Black man in the position would have been beneficial to connecting with the Black community, but that none of the three Black candidates were right for job and that Wilson was the best candidate.
“I think that we would be in a better position if we had the right Black man in that role, given all the racial divide and the reactivity from the Aurora PD to our community,” McBride said. “(The department) has just been so aggressive and abrasive, and it has lacked sensitivity.”
Montgomery said he wasn’t surprised Wilson was selected as chief, but said she now needed to act immediately to back up her promises with actions. She also needs to address the lack of diversity in the department, especially at the highest ranks, he said. Of the 16 sworn members of the executive leadership team listed on the department’s website, there is only one Black person — Marcus Dudley Jr., the other internal candidate for chief — and Wilson is the only woman.
Despite some goodwill Wilson has built over the years, there are some in the Aurora community that are cautious about her appointment, Montgomery said.
“Anything the NAACP has asked of her, in terms of research and data and hard questions, she’s done a good job with,” he said. “We have to move beyond questions and see what change is going to take place.”
Whatever changes occur must address the empathy and cultural awareness of the department’s officers, McBride said. The protests and calls for change will not end because people — especially Black people — continue to be killed, injured and traumatized by police, she said.
“This is an iceberg that is so weighted underneath the surface, there’s so much that people don’t even know about,” McBride said. “And that’s not just in Aurora, that’s across the board. And if that’s just the bit that we can see, how scary are the things we don’t know about.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-05--What we know now about COVID-19: Recovery is hard, masks help, children can be carriers and more

It ’ s been more than seven months since China first reported a cluster of unexplained cases of pneumonia , and we ’ re still learning how the novel coronavirus spreads and what we can do to defeat it .
The situation with COVID-19 is both better and worse than we knew a few months ago , because many people experience mild symptoms and some report no symptoms .
The good news is that that means the odds any particular person who gets the virus will be hospitalized or die are lower than we originally thought .
The bad news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , putting others at risk of serious illness or death .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates as much as 40 % of spread could be happening before people develop symptoms , which makes the virus particularly difficult to contain .
The Denver Post put together this guide of what we do and don ’ t know about COVID-19 .
This information will evolve as scientists keep studying the new coronavirus .
While some people feel better within a week or two , others struggle with symptoms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A study by CDC researchers found about one-fifth of people they surveyed between ages 18 and 34 still had symptoms more than two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19 .
About one-third of middle-aged people had lingering symptoms , as did about half of adults older than 50 .
The most common complaints were fatigue , body aches and a lingering cough .
Even people who report they never experienced symptoms can show signs of lung damage , though that may be temporary , experts say .
It ’ s not entirely clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others don ’ t .
One theory is that some people ’ s immune systems overreact and continue to damage tissues after the virus is gone .
Another is that the virus may hide out in the body and continue to cause damage .
It ’ s also possible that there could be some explanation , or that both the immune system and the virus could play a role .
Some treatments appear to work , others disappoint Patients who were hospitalized with the virus in Colorado in May had a better chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March .
It ’ s possible that differences in patients ’ underlying health could be a factor , but Colorado hospital leaders think that growing knowledge about the virus has also helped .
One thing we ’ ve learned is that patients with low oxygen levels , but who don ’ t feel starved for air and aren ’ t showing signs of cognitive trouble , sometimes do better with less-invasive supports like oxygen masks than if they ’ re placed on a ventilator .
Ventilators can be lifesaving for some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which carries its own risks , and some people ’ s lungs are damaged when oxygen is forced in .
Only one medication , a steroid called dexamethasone , reduced the odds of dying for the sickest patients , according to a large British study .
A review of drug research published in The British Medical Journal found it also could reduce the odds patients would progress to needing a ventilator .
Remdisivir , an antiviral drug , has been shown to reduce the time until patients have recovered enough to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not clear that it reduces the odds of dying from COVID-19 .
Hydroxychloroquine appears to have been a bust for COVID-19 , with studies finding it didn ’ t reduce the odds of dying for severely ill patients , or reduce the odds of needing supplemental oxygen or a ventilator for those who were moderately sick .
Trials also haven ’ t found any evidence that it reduces the odds of developing the disease if a person has already been exposed to the virus .
Studies are ongoing to determine whether taking it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected .
Masks aren ’ t perfect , but they help An analysis of 30 studies published by the journal Lancet found mask-wearing was associated with a reduced risk of infection , though the benefit was greatest when using a medical-grade mask .
Another study , in Health Affairs , found that states that adopted mask mandates saw declines in new cases faster than states that didn ’ t .
It ’ s not clear if homemade masks benefit the wearer , by blocking droplets from other people who might be infected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community by keeping the wearer from exhaling droplets that infect others .
Medical-grade masks can block transmission in both directions .
The virus could spread through the air , but how often does it ?
The World Health Organization initially thought the virus primarily spread through the large droplets produced when people cough or sneeze , which quickly fall after expulsion .
Under that scenario , the biggest risk would be being close to someone who ’ s spewing droplets , or touching something they touched after covering their coughs .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepted that the virus may be spreading in much smaller drops , called aerosols , that we produce when speaking .
Aerosols can stay in the air for almost 15 minutes indoors , raising the possibility that merely being in a shared space with a person who has the virus could lead to spread .
We don ’ t know if the virus often spreads that way in real-world settings , though , because factors like ventilation can make a big difference in how long aerosols stick around .
Children can get infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus ?
Some early studies suggested people under 20 are less likely to get infected and spread the virus than adults .
Other studies , like one in South Korea , found kids who are 10 or older can be as contagious as adults .
That raises the possibility that kids can infect others , but weren ’ t being identified because they had mild symptoms and were less likely to be tested .
Real-world examples have raised concerns that kids can transmit the virus more efficiently than previously believed .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than half of the 600 people present tested positive for the virus , after testing negative before they arrived .
Children younger than 10 were no less likely than older teens and young-adult counselors to test positive , according to The New York Times .
Some child care centers were able to operate in coronavirus hotspots without developing clusters of cases , but it ’ s not clear if their experiences can be scaled up .
In some centers , each adult spent time with a “ pod ” of nine children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not feasible in most classrooms as schools begin to reopen .
Antibodies fade , but we don ’ t know what that means Antibodies to the virus can disappear within a few months , but it ’ s not clear how long immunity might last afterward — or if it develops at all .
Antibodies are just one part of the immune system ’ s defense , so it ’ s possible people who got the virus ( or a vaccine , when one becomes available ) will be protected after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it hasn ’ t been proven that people with COVID-19 develop immunity , so you don ’ t want to abandon precautions just yet , even if you already got sick .
Some people may have gotten the virus twice , but experts say that ’ s unlikely to be a common problem .
It ’ s still unclear how long the virus can linger in the body , and whether people who continue to test positive weeks after infection can pass it to others .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

It’s been more than seven months since China first reported a cluster of unexplained cases of pneumonia, and we’re still learning how the novel coronavirus spreads and what we can do to defeat it.
The situation with COVID-19 is both better and worse than we knew a few months ago, because many people experience mild symptoms and some report no symptoms.
The good news is that that means the odds any particular person who gets the virus will be hospitalized or die are lower than we originally thought.
The bad news is that those people can unknowingly spread the virus, putting others at risk of serious illness or death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates as much as 40% of spread could be happening before people develop symptoms, which makes the virus particularly difficult to contain.
The Denver Post put together this guide of what we do and don’t know about COVID-19. This information will evolve as scientists keep studying the new coronavirus.
Recovery isn’t simple
While some people feel better within a week or two, others struggle with symptoms of the virus for a month or longer. A study by CDC researchers found about one-fifth of people they surveyed between ages 18 and 34 still had symptoms more than two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19. About one-third of middle-aged people had lingering symptoms, as did about half of adults older than 50. The most common complaints were fatigue, body aches and a lingering cough.
Even people who report they never experienced symptoms can show signs of lung damage, though that may be temporary, experts say.
It’s not entirely clear why some people have lingering symptoms and others don’t. One theory is that some people’s immune systems overreact and continue to damage tissues after the virus is gone. Another is that the virus may hide out in the body and continue to cause damage. It’s also possible that there could be some explanation, or that both the immune system and the virus could play a role.
Some treatments appear to work, others disappoint
Patients who were hospitalized with the virus in Colorado in May had a better chance of surviving than those who got sick in March. It’s possible that differences in patients’ underlying health could be a factor, but Colorado hospital leaders think that growing knowledge about the virus has also helped.
One thing we’ve learned is that patients with low oxygen levels, but who don’t feel starved for air and aren’t showing signs of cognitive trouble, sometimes do better with less-invasive supports like oxygen masks than if they’re placed on a ventilator. Ventilators can be lifesaving for some people, but they also require heavy sedation, which carries its own risks, and some people’s lungs are damaged when oxygen is forced in.
Only one medication, a steroid called dexamethasone, reduced the odds of dying for the sickest patients, according to a large British study. A review of drug research published in The British Medical Journal found it also could reduce the odds patients would progress to needing a ventilator.
Remdisivir, an antiviral drug, has been shown to reduce the time until patients have recovered enough to leave the hospital, but it’s not clear that it reduces the odds of dying from COVID-19.
Hydroxychloroquine appears to have been a bust for COVID-19, with studies finding it didn’t reduce the odds of dying for severely ill patients, or reduce the odds of needing supplemental oxygen or a ventilator for those who were moderately sick. Trials also haven’t found any evidence that it reduces the odds of developing the disease if a person has already been exposed to the virus.
Studies are ongoing to determine whether taking it before exposure reduces the odds of getting infected.
Masks aren’t perfect, but they help
An analysis of 30 studies published by the journal Lancet found mask-wearing was associated with a reduced risk of infection, though the benefit was greatest when using a medical-grade mask. Another study, in Health Affairs, found that states that adopted mask mandates saw declines in new cases faster than states that didn’t.
It’s not clear if homemade masks benefit the wearer, by blocking droplets from other people who might be infected, or if they only reduce spread in the community by keeping the wearer from exhaling droplets that infect others. Medical-grade masks can block transmission in both directions.
The virus could spread through the air, but how often does it?
The World Health Organization initially thought the virus primarily spread through the large droplets produced when people cough or sneeze, which quickly fall after expulsion. Under that scenario, the biggest risk would be being close to someone who’s spewing droplets, or touching something they touched after covering their coughs.
More recently, however, they’ve accepted that the virus may be spreading in much smaller drops, called aerosols, that we produce when speaking. Aerosols can stay in the air for almost 15 minutes indoors, raising the possibility that merely being in a shared space with a person who has the virus could lead to spread. We don’t know if the virus often spreads that way in real-world settings, though, because factors like ventilation can make a big difference in how long aerosols stick around.
Children can get infected, but how well do they spread the virus?
Some early studies suggested people under 20 are less likely to get infected and spread the virus than adults. Other studies, like one in South Korea, found kids who are 10 or older can be as contagious as adults. That raises the possibility that kids can infect others, but weren’t being identified because they had mild symptoms and were less likely to be tested.
Real-world examples have raised concerns that kids can transmit the virus more efficiently than previously believed. At a small camp in Georgia, more than half of the 600 people present tested positive for the virus, after testing negative before they arrived. Children younger than 10 were no less likely than older teens and young-adult counselors to test positive, according to The New York Times.
Some child care centers were able to operate in coronavirus hotspots without developing clusters of cases, but it’s not clear if their experiences can be scaled up. In some centers, each adult spent time with a “pod” of nine children, according to NPR — a ratio that’s not feasible in most classrooms as schools begin to reopen.
Antibodies fade, but we don’t know what that means
Antibodies to the virus can disappear within a few months, but it’s not clear how long immunity might last afterward — or if it develops at all. Antibodies are just one part of the immune system’s defense, so it’s possible people who got the virus (or a vaccine, when one becomes available) will be protected after they fade. On the other hand, it hasn’t been proven that people with COVID-19 develop immunity, so you don’t want to abandon precautions just yet, even if you already got sick.
Some people may have gotten the virus twice, but experts say that’s unlikely to be a common problem. It’s still unclear how long the virus can linger in the body, and whether people who continue to test positive weeks after infection can pass it to others.
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thedenverpost--2020-08-05--Rockies’ Nolan Arenado continues playing Giants killer

Nolan Arenado loves playing against the San Francisco Giants .
Why not ?
When he steps on the field or into the batter ’ s box , he ’ s a human highlight reel waiting to happen .
* The “ Tarp Play ” in 2015 in San Francisco that ranks as one of the greatest defensive plays in Rockies history .
* His walk-off home run on Father ’ s Day 2017 at Coors Field in which Arenado delivered his first career cycle with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Rockies a 7-5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night , Arenado ripped starter Kevin Gausman ’ s first pitch of the sixth inning over the left-field wall in Colorado ’ s 5-2 victory over the Giants .
It was Arenado ’ s 30th career home run vs. San Francisco , the most ever by a Rockies player vs. the Giants .
Arenado came into the game tied with Colorado icon Todd Helton at 29 .
Remember , Helton played 17 seasons , Arenado is in his eighth .
* Arenado has hit a homer in one of every 17.38 at-bats vs. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14th-best of mark of all-time ( minimum 500 at-bats ) .
Of the 13 players ahead of Arenado on the list , eight are Hall of Famers : Mike Schmidt , Billy Williams , Frank Robinson , Eddie Mathews , Ralph Kiner , Stan Musial , Roy Campanella and Hack Wilson .
Asked why he plays so well against the Giants , Arenado said he didn ’ t have a reason .
Then he proceeded to rattle off a bunch of reasons : “ I don ’ t know .
I really don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always said this .
Coming up when I was a rookie ( in 2013 ) , it was the Giants who were the team .
They would go to the World Series and win it every other year , it seemed .
They were in a different category .
They were so good and so elite and you knew they were always going to be there .
“ San Francisco , when I was first coming up … it was daunting going there and we didn ’ t win a series forever .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is but there was always motivation .
It ’ s like going to L.A. now .
You get excited , because of the energy in San Fran and the energy in L.A.
It ’ s always super fun to play against them .
And for some reason , our games here against the Giants are always kind of crazy .
But I really don ’ t know , I ’ m just happy I ’ m doing it .
”

Nolan Arenado loves playing against the San Francisco Giants. Why not? When he steps on the field or into the batter’s box, he’s a human highlight reel waiting to happen.
Snapshots:
* The “Tarp Play” in 2015 in San Francisco that ranks as one of the greatest defensive plays in Rockies history.
* His walk-off home run on Father’s Day 2017 at Coors Field in which Arenado delivered his first career cycle with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Rockies a 7-5 victory over the Giants.
* Tuesday night, Arenado ripped starter Kevin Gausman’s first pitch of the sixth inning over the left-field wall in Colorado’s 5-2 victory over the Giants. It was Arenado’s 30th career home run vs. San Francisco, the most ever by a Rockies player vs. the Giants. Arenado came into the game tied with Colorado icon Todd Helton at 29. Remember, Helton played 17 seasons, Arenado is in his eighth.
* Arenado has hit a homer in one of every 17.38 at-bats vs. the Giants, which ranks as the 14th-best of mark of all-time (minimum 500 at-bats). Of the 13 players ahead of Arenado on the list, eight are Hall of Famers: Mike Schmidt, Billy Williams, Frank Robinson, Eddie Mathews, Ralph Kiner, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella and Hack Wilson.
Asked why he plays so well against the Giants, Arenado said he didn’t have a reason. Then he proceeded to rattle off a bunch of reasons:
“I don’t know. I really don’t know. But I have always said this. Coming up when I was a rookie (in 2013), it was the Giants who were the team. They would go to the World Series and win it every other year, it seemed. They were in a different category. They were so good and so elite and you knew they were always going to be there.
“San Francisco, when I was first coming up … it was daunting going there and we didn’t win a series forever.
“So I don’t know what it is but there was always motivation. It’s like going to L.A. now. You get excited, because of the energy in San Fran and the energy in L.A. It’s always super fun to play against them. And for some reason, our games here against the Giants are always kind of crazy. But I really don’t know, I’m just happy I’m doing it.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-05--Denver airport’s terminal renovation is running low on cash, putting key upgrades at risk

Denver International Airport ’ s marquee terminal renovation is headed for a severe budget crunch that threatens to leave core components of the project — including new upper-level security screening areas — unfinished or significantly curtailed , according to emails obtained exclusively by The Denver Post .
Construction resumed on the first phase of the Great Hall project in March under a new team of contractors following DIA ’ s decision last year to boot its original project partners on the troubled project .
But just $ 170 million of the project ’ s $ 770 million budget remains for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ relocation and the reconfiguration of some airlines ’ check-in areas .
That figure was cited in an email sent this summer by Jason Chu , a United Airlines representative who wrote on behalf of DIA ’ s major airlines , responding to airport cost-cutting ideas .
When The Post requested Chu ’ s email and others under the Colorado Open Records Act , DIA blacked out the amount of project money remaining and most project-related details .
The Post later obtained an unredacted version of Chu ’ s email through sources with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , airport officials confirmed that the $ 170 million projection is current and said they are still in the process of deciding what to cut .
The money that ’ s left is just a quarter of the $ 720 million that DIA and its new contractors estimate it would take to complete the remaining phases under the project ’ s wildly over-budget original design .
DIA ’ s leaders said earlier this year that some changes and reductions in scope would be necessary — and the pandemic has added new considerations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ running significantly shorter than CEO Kim Day and other officials have previously acknowledged publicly .
“ It hasn ’ t been until recently that we ’ ve really been able to drill down to the 170 number , ” Cristal DeHerrera , DIA ’ s chief of staff , told The Post on Tuesday .
“ Do we wish it were more ?
Yeah , I wish it was more .
But it ’ s not , and ( we ) have to deal with that reality.
” The Great Hall project was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screening , modernize the massive 1990s-era building and accommodate millions more passengers each year .
After the project ran aground , DIA this summer sought feedback on potential reductions from its largest carriers — United , Southwest and Frontier — which are helping to pay for the project through their airport fees .
Chu , who works in United ’ s corporate real estate office , wrote to DIA and project officials on June 24 to convey the major airlines ’ response to proposals floated by DIA to rein in the project ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a meeting the prior week .
The group pushed back on several elements , with Chu writing that the airlines foresaw , in the potential plan , the likelihood for “ confusing and potentially restricted passenger flows , ” cramped quarters and an “ overall diminished passenger experience.
” His email suggests a choice between reconfiguring and expanding check-in areas for all airlines , as the carriers want , and building at least one of two planned security screening areas on the north end of the upper level , replacing some ticket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modern screening equipment , as DIA had planned , Chu expressed concern that that new checkpoint might reuse “ old technology.
” DIA has faced pressure from Denver City Council members to follow through on the security relocation plans because of the vulnerability of the two existing main-floor checkpoints , which sit on Level 5 beneath open upper-level balconies in the tented atrium .
The email suggests , however , that some main-floor screening is likely to remain .
The airlines , long skeptical of the security plans , even urged DIA to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and , for the time being , to install “ fortification ” above the existing screening areas to save money .
Otherwise , the plan risks shortchanging some airlines that have smaller footprints at DIA — starting with Frontier — by leaving them at old , against-the-wall ticketing counters .
Only Southwest and United are guaranteed to get spacious , modular check-in areas dominated by self-service kiosks because their zones are part of the funded Phase 1 work .
The extent of the project shortfall was unsettling to City Councilman Kevin Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee and has pressed DIA to focus on the project ’ s core components .
But he said Tuesday that he would be loath to support more money for the project , preferring to refocus project spending as much as possible .
“ For me , this project was made essential because of the security concerns about having both north and south areas so openly exposed from Level 6 , ” he said .
“ That ’ s something that has to be 100 % relocated .
… We can ’ t finish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 priority in the mission , which was securing the passenger screening areas.
” The project has long faced financial questions from the council .
On Tuesday , DeHerrera said DIA remains committed to Day ’ s promise to keep costs within the confines of the original $ 650 million project budget , plus a $ 120 million contingency fund that provided an extra cushion for unforeseen costs , changes and mandates .
DeHerrera says August is likely to be a key month for discussions with the airlines .
Both sides have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said , declining to identify specifics .
“ I wouldn ’ t say that they ’ re in conflict with each other , ” DeHerrera said .
“ It ’ s all about the mix .
… We want to make sure we ’ re enhancing security .
We want to make sure we ’ re being thoughtful about airline growth .
Even though we ’ re going through COVID , COVID will be over at some point , and they ’ re going to need to grow — and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ?
” That said , the coronavirus pandemic has brought new financial uncertainty by halting years of fast-growing passenger traffic at the nation ’ s fifth-busiest airport , a self-supporting city enterprise that ’ s normally flush with cash .
The pandemic also has prompted discussions about how the terminal project should account for passengers ’ changing behavior and expectations , DeHerrera said .
The Post initially hit a roadblock as it sought details on the status of the project via a public records request for emails exchanged in late June .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ details from emails and related documents on CORA provisions that allow the withholding of deliberations about pending decisions as well as confidential commercial and financial information .
But the redactions went so far as to include Chu ’ s opinions and comments , even though he ’ s not an airport employee or consultant .
Attempts to discuss details about the talks with Chu and other airline representatives , whom DIA has asked to keep them confidential , were not successful .
The revelation that so little money remains for the project comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial officer , Gisela Shanahan — who had deep involvement with the Great Hall project — will leave that job Aug. 10 .
She told The Post that she felt comfortable leaving because the airport has solid overall financial plans and that she intends to spend more time with her family .
Day , who has overseen the airport since 2008 , has marshaled several big projects , often attracting controversy .
Less than a year after construction began on the Great Hall project in mid-2018 it was already running behind schedule and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Great Hall Partners , which had a long-term public-private partnership agreement , for months over questions about weak existing floor concrete , the airport ’ s many design directives and the contractors ’ own claims before Day and Mayor Michael Hancock terminated the international consortium ’ s contract in August 2019 .
The lengthy breakup process reaped nearly $ 184 million in termination payments for Great Hall Partners , led by Madrid-based Ferrovial Airports .
DIA says it counted about $ 139 million against the project budget because that sum covered the fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drew on its reserves for the remaining $ 45 million , which was considered nonproject costs .
Most of that was for contractually required compensation of Great Hall Partners ’ equity investors for their expected returns over the life of the 34-year partnership agreement .
DIA retook control of the project and put the kibosh on the plan to have a private partner oversee expanded food and retail concessions in the terminal for decades to come , a component designed as a revenue generator .
The City Council approved new design , management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the restarted work in February — including up to $ 195 million for Phase 1 ’ s lead contractor , Hensel Phelps .
The estimate that $ 170 million remains takes into account that spending .
Despite the pandemic , DIA ’ s expansion continues .
In a separate project , the airport is spending about $ 2 billion on its three concourses to add 39 new gates requested by the airlines and to upgrade the existing facilities .
That work has gone more smoothly , and DIA has sought in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as getting back on track .
In early July , it launched a long-promised online dashboard that shows the restarted chugging along on nearly all measures , including hitting its first milestone weeks early .
The first phase is expected to be done in late 2021 , about the time the entire project should have been finished under the original schedule .
Michael Sheehan , DIA ’ s senior vice president for special projects , said Tuesday that sometime in 2023 is now looking like a good bet — depending on how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Denver International Airport’s marquee terminal renovation is headed for a severe budget crunch that threatens to leave core components of the project — including new upper-level security screening areas — unfinished or significantly curtailed, according to emails obtained exclusively by The Denver Post.
Construction resumed on the first phase of the Great Hall project in March under a new team of contractors following DIA’s decision last year to boot its original project partners on the troubled project. But just $170 million of the project’s $770 million budget remains for later phases, including the security checkpoints’ relocation and the reconfiguration of some airlines’ check-in areas.
That figure was cited in an email sent this summer by Jason Chu, a United Airlines representative who wrote on behalf of DIA’s major airlines, responding to airport cost-cutting ideas. When The Post requested Chu’s email and others under the Colorado Open Records Act, DIA blacked out the amount of project money remaining and most project-related details. The Post later obtained an unredacted version of Chu’s email through sources with access to it.
Pressed this week, airport officials confirmed that the $170 million projection is current and said they are still in the process of deciding what to cut.
The money that’s left is just a quarter of the $720 million that DIA and its new contractors estimate it would take to complete the remaining phases under the project’s wildly over-budget original design.
DIA’s leaders said earlier this year that some changes and reductions in scope would be necessary — and the pandemic has added new considerations. But the email revealed that money was running significantly shorter than CEO Kim Day and other officials have previously acknowledged publicly.
“It hasn’t been until recently that we’ve really been able to drill down to the 170 number,” Cristal DeHerrera, DIA’s chief of staff, told The Post on Tuesday. “Do we wish it were more? Yeah, I wish it was more. But it’s not, and (we) have to deal with that reality.”
The Great Hall project was launched three years ago to improve security screening, modernize the massive 1990s-era building and accommodate millions more passengers each year. After the project ran aground, DIA this summer sought feedback on potential reductions from its largest carriers — United, Southwest and Frontier — which are helping to pay for the project through their airport fees.
Chu, who works in United’s corporate real estate office, wrote to DIA and project officials on June 24 to convey the major airlines’ response to proposals floated by DIA to rein in the project’s costs, as outlined to them in a meeting the prior week. The group pushed back on several elements, with Chu writing that the airlines foresaw, in the potential plan, the likelihood for “confusing and potentially restricted passenger flows,” cramped quarters and an “overall diminished passenger experience.”
His email suggests a choice between reconfiguring and expanding check-in areas for all airlines, as the carriers want, and building at least one of two planned security screening areas on the north end of the upper level, replacing some ticket counters. Instead of bringing in more modern screening equipment, as DIA had planned, Chu expressed concern that that new checkpoint might reuse “old technology.”
DIA has faced pressure from Denver City Council members to follow through on the security relocation plans because of the vulnerability of the two existing main-floor checkpoints, which sit on Level 5 beneath open upper-level balconies in the tented atrium. The email suggests, however, that some main-floor screening is likely to remain.
The airlines, long skeptical of the security plans, even urged DIA to “address Security as a separate project” and, for the time being, to install “fortification” above the existing screening areas to save money.
Otherwise, the plan risks shortchanging some airlines that have smaller footprints at DIA — starting with Frontier — by leaving them at old, against-the-wall ticketing counters. Only Southwest and United are guaranteed to get spacious, modular check-in areas dominated by self-service kiosks because their zones are part of the funded Phase 1 work.
The extent of the project shortfall was unsettling to City Councilman Kevin Flynn, who chairs the business and aviation committee and has pressed DIA to focus on the project’s core components. But he said Tuesday that he would be loath to support more money for the project, preferring to refocus project spending as much as possible.
“For me, this project was made essential because of the security concerns about having both north and south areas so openly exposed from Level 6,” he said. “That’s something that has to be 100% relocated. … We can’t finish this project without completing the No. 1 priority in the mission, which was securing the passenger screening areas.”
Sticking to $770 million limit
The project has long faced financial questions from the council. On Tuesday, DeHerrera said DIA remains committed to Day’s promise to keep costs within the confines of the original $650 million project budget, plus a $120 million contingency fund that provided an extra cushion for unforeseen costs, changes and mandates.
DeHerrera says August is likely to be a key month for discussions with the airlines. Both sides have made their “really strong preferences” clear, she said, declining to identify specifics.
“I wouldn’t say that they’re in conflict with each other,” DeHerrera said. “It’s all about the mix. … We want to make sure we’re enhancing security. We want to make sure we’re being thoughtful about airline growth. Even though we’re going through COVID, COVID will be over at some point, and they’re going to need to grow — and how do we build the terminal that supports that?”
That said, the coronavirus pandemic has brought new financial uncertainty by halting years of fast-growing passenger traffic at the nation’s fifth-busiest airport, a self-supporting city enterprise that’s normally flush with cash. The pandemic also has prompted discussions about how the terminal project should account for passengers’ changing behavior and expectations, DeHerrera said.
The Post initially hit a roadblock as it sought details on the status of the project via a public records request for emails exchanged in late June.
DIA based its extensive redactions of project-related details from emails and related documents on CORA provisions that allow the withholding of deliberations about pending decisions as well as confidential commercial and financial information. But the redactions went so far as to include Chu’s opinions and comments, even though he’s not an airport employee or consultant.
Attempts to discuss details about the talks with Chu and other airline representatives, whom DIA has asked to keep them confidential, were not successful.
The revelation that so little money remains for the project comes a week after DIA confirmed its chief financial officer, Gisela Shanahan — who had deep involvement with the Great Hall project — will leave that job Aug. 10. She told The Post that she felt comfortable leaving because the airport has solid overall financial plans and that she intends to spend more time with her family.
Day, who has overseen the airport since 2008, has marshaled several big projects, often attracting controversy.
Less than a year after construction began on the Great Hall project in mid-2018, it was already running behind schedule and over budget. DIA officials battled with Great Hall Partners, which had a long-term public-private partnership agreement, for months over questions about weak existing floor concrete, the airport’s many design directives and the contractors’ own claims before Day and Mayor Michael Hancock terminated the international consortium’s contract in August 2019.
Breakup payments factor into dwindling funding
The lengthy breakup process reaped nearly $184 million in termination payments for Great Hall Partners, led by Madrid-based Ferrovial Airports.
DIA says it counted about $139 million against the project budget because that sum covered the fired contractors’ actual costs, but it drew on its reserves for the remaining $45 million, which was considered nonproject costs. Most of that was for contractually required compensation of Great Hall Partners’ equity investors for their expected returns over the life of the 34-year partnership agreement.
DIA retook control of the project and put the kibosh on the plan to have a private partner oversee expanded food and retail concessions in the terminal for decades to come, a component designed as a revenue generator.
The City Council approved new design, management and construction contracts totaling $331 million for the restarted work during the fall and winter — including up to $195 million for Phase 1’s lead contractor, Hensel Phelps. The estimate that $170 million remains takes into account that expected spending.
Despite the pandemic, DIA’s expansion continues. In a separate project, the airport is spending about $2 billion on its three concourses to add 39 new gates requested by the airlines and to upgrade the existing facilities.
That work has gone more smoothly, and DIA has sought in recent months to portray the Great Hall project as getting back on track. In early July, it launched a long-promised online dashboard that shows the restarted Phase 1 chugging along on nearly all measures, including hitting its first milestone weeks early.
The first phase is expected to be done in late 2021, about the time the entire project should have been finished under the original schedule. Michael Sheehan, DIA’s senior vice president for special projects, said Tuesday that sometime in 2023 is now looking like a good bet — depending on how much of the project the airport can afford.