thedenverpost--2020-09-29--Cohorts help limit the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Here’s how two Colorado districts do it

When schools debated how to reopen safely this fall , cohorting was one of the key strategies recommended .
Limiting the contact a group of students is working well at the elementary level , but high schools have been unable or unwilling to create cohorts as envisioned by state public health officials .
The health department ’ s school reopening guidance doesn ’ t specify the optimal number of students that should constitute a cohort , instead leaving the details for districts to decide .
That has led to cohort sizes as large as 1,500 at schools across Colorado — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Therese Pilonetti , institutions unit manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
But the guidelines also do not address how teachers fit into the cohorting model — and that ’ s led to unintended consequences .
Since the semester began in late August , more than a half-dozen Denver-area high schools have been forced to close and move thousands of students to remote learning after just a couple people tested positive for the virus .
Most cite staffing shortages as the reasons they can ’ t host in-person classes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Creek School District , contends that conflicting guidance from the health department leads to an inordinate number of teachers being forced into quarantine .
That ’ s what caused Cherry Creek High School to go remote for two weeks earlier this month , he said .
Westminster High School also recently shut down briefly due to quarantine-related staffing issues .
Because of how the school has modified schedules this semester , two cases of COVID-19 led to 12 teachers being quarantined , per CDPHE guidance .
The school could no longer host in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 , said Principal Kiffany Kiewiet .
On Sept. 25 , one positive student case put seven staff members in quarantine .
Then on Sept. 28 , an additional 18 staff members followed suit after an additional couple cases were detected .
The school moved an entire cohort to remote learning for two weeks — the second time in one month .
“ There ’ s a huge shortage of substitute teachers in Colorado , so we don ’ t have a lot of opportunities for teachers to be in classrooms if that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have stayed in school , but it would not have been a good educational experience for our students , ” Kiewiet said .
“ There ’ s no playbook for this .
Every situation is unique , and we will make decisions based on what ’ s best for our kids and our families every time.
” The Denver Post spoke with Kiewiet and Siegfried to get a feel for the inner workings of cohorting and why it ’ s a challenge in secondary education .
Block scheduling is a common practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even during a typical year it can be a challenge to make sure students enroll in classes that satisfy both their graduation requirements and interests , Siegfried and Kiewiet said .
Pilonetti at the health department said she hoped districts were “ thinking creatively ” about scheduling during this anything but typical semester .
Both Westminster High School and Cherry Creek secondary schools currently operate on hybrid schedules , meaning students are physically in school part time and supplement with virtual classes or assignments .
Still , their approaches look different .
Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District are divided into A and B cohorts , which attend classes in-person two alternating full days each week .
At Westminster High School , cohorts attend school five days per week , either in the mornings from 7:15 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. or in the afternoons from 1:15 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. During the break between cohorts , students can grab their free lunches as they ’ re coming or going and teachers clean their classrooms , Kiewiet said .
One day each week in both districts is dedicated to academic enrichment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers .
Siegfried said the only thing that ’ s changed about the in-person experience this semester is that students are required to wear masks and their classes are smaller .
They still attend five to eight classes each day and move through their schedules like normal .
That ’ s intentional , Siegfried said , if more risky .
About 3,500 ninth- through 12th-graders attend Cherry Creek High School , so when officials reported a COVID-19 outbreak among one cohort , more than 1,700 students and staff were moved to remote learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that experience isn ’ t reshaping how the district does cohorting , Siegfried said , even as extracurricular activities like football start up and offer more opportunities for student mingling .
“ The ideas we received from CDPHE to cohort high schools , honestly , I call that babysitting , ” Siegfried said .
“ You put 30 kids in a classroom and expect them to go through all their classes together , you are eliminating the specific classes those individual students need to meet their greatest potential.
” Instead , Cherry Creek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re in , then by which grade they ’ re in , and finally by which cohort day they attend school , Siegfried said .
Cohort days are generally determined by alphabetical order .
Kiewiet ’ s team at Westminster High School “ took the wheel and tweaked it ” when it comes to class schedules this semester .
The school ’ s roughly 2,300 students take a maximum of three classes per day , compared to six daily during a standard year .
Normally a computer program will design students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Kiewiet tried to slim down class sizes , scheduling became a manual process .
Administrators started by putting students together by their core class requirements and then tried to enroll the groups in similar electives so they would stay together throughout the day .
Westminster High School wasn ’ t able to offer as many electives this year , Kiewiet said , but all classes are under 25 students .
“ We have a lot of ( Career and Technical Education ) classes , Project Lead the Way , AVID , International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so we had a lot of programs we needed to make sure that we kept intact while cohorting students and keeping them in as small of groups as possible.
” Despite dozens of reported COVID-19 cases and at least one school closure , Siegfried called Cherry Creek ’ s cohorting model a success .
He points to a new statistic the district is tracking : student incident rate of positivity , or how many students are considered active cases of COVID-19 .
The rate currently sits at .04 % among the 44,000 kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cherry Creek also has a dedicated , five-person contact tracing team , which is able to quickly assess positive cases and limit potential spread , he said .
The reason so many people have been quarantined is due to what Siegfried calls contradictory language in the health department guidelines .
CDPHE states that when a positive case of COVID-19 is detected , the infected person ’ s entire class must be quarantined in addition to any people determined to have been in close contact with them .
( The health department defines close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 minutes within 6 feet of an infected person . )
Those two things are not the same , especially given cohorting protocols , he said .
“ When I went to substitute , there were kids that sat 30 feet away from each other in a classroom and were never in close contact .
I was never in close contact , ” Siegfried said .
“ CDPHE ’ s guidance does not take that into consideration in our need to quarantine the entire class.
” Kiewiet said cohorting efforts at her school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 despite the recent closure .
While she has no qualms about the health department ’ s quarantine guidelines , she admits they have changed her role as principal .
Instead of bouncing between classes to connect with students , she often spends the days conducting extensive interviews to do contact tracing when positive cases arise .
While neither administrator plans to change their approach to in-person learning right now , both emphasized the need to be able to pivot to remote learning when the circumstances call for it .
Still , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students some semblance of normalcy .
“ The high school experience has become very , very different , ” said Kiewiet .
“ We love our kids and we want them to have as good a high school experience as we could possibly give them , while following all the regulations and rules that were given to us .
”

When schools debated how to reopen safely this fall, cohorting was one of the key strategies recommended.
Limiting the contact a group of students is working well at the elementary level, but high schools have been unable or unwilling to create cohorts as envisioned by state public health officials.
The health department’s school reopening guidance doesn’t specify the optimal number of students that should constitute a cohort, instead leaving the details for districts to decide. That has led to cohort sizes as large as 1,500 at schools across Colorado — much bigger than experts anticipated, said Therese Pilonetti, institutions unit manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
But the guidelines also do not address how teachers fit into the cohorting model — and that’s led to unintended consequences. Since the semester began in late August, more than a half-dozen Denver-area high schools have been forced to close and move thousands of students to remote learning after just a couple people tested positive for the virus. Most cite staffing shortages as the reasons they can’t host in-person classes.
Scott Siegfried, superintendent of Cherry Creek School District, contends that conflicting guidance from the health department leads to an inordinate number of teachers being forced into quarantine. That’s what caused almost half the students at Cherry Creek High School to go remote for two weeks earlier this month, he said.
Westminster High School also recently shut down briefly due to quarantine-related staffing issues. Because of how the school has modified schedules this semester, two cases of COVID-19 led to 12 teachers being quarantined, per CDPHE guidance. The school could no longer host in-person learning effectively and closed Sept. 11 to 22, said Principal Kiffany Kiewiet.
On Sept. 25, one positive student case put seven staff members in quarantine. Then on Sept. 28, an additional 18 staff members followed suit after an additional couple cases were detected. The school moved an entire cohort to remote learning for two weeks — the second time in one month.
“There’s a huge shortage of substitute teachers in Colorado, so we don’t have a lot of opportunities for teachers to be in classrooms if that happens. That being said, we could have stayed in school, but it would not have been a good educational experience for our students,” Kiewiet said. “There’s no playbook for this. Every situation is unique, and we will make decisions based on what’s best for our kids and our families every time.”
The Denver Post spoke with Kiewiet and Siegfried to get a feel for the inner workings of cohorting and why it’s a challenge in secondary education.
Cohorting versus “babysitting”
Block scheduling is a common practice among middle and high schools, but even during a typical year it can be a challenge to make sure students enroll in classes that satisfy both their graduation requirements and interests, Siegfried and Kiewiet said.
Pilonetti at the health department said she hoped districts were “thinking creatively” about scheduling during this anything but typical semester.
Both Westminster High School and Cherry Creek secondary schools currently operate on hybrid schedules, meaning students are physically in school part time and supplement with virtual classes or assignments. Still, their approaches look different.
Middle and high schoolers in Cherry Creek School District are divided into A and B cohorts, which attend classes in-person two alternating full days each week. At Westminster High School, cohorts attend school five days per week, either in the mornings from 7:15 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. or in the afternoons from 1:15 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. During the break between cohorts, students can grab their free lunches as they’re coming or going and teachers clean their classrooms, Kiewiet said.
One day each week in both districts is dedicated to academic enrichment or individualized time for students and their teachers.
Siegfried said the only thing that’s changed about the in-person experience this semester is that students are required to wear masks and their classes are smaller. They still attend five to eight classes each day and move through their schedules like normal.
That’s intentional, Siegfried said, if more risky. About 3,500 ninth- through 12th-graders attend Cherry Creek High School, so when officials reported a COVID-19 outbreak among one cohort, more than 1,700 students and staff were moved to remote learning because of quarantine-related staffing issues.
But that experience isn’t reshaping how the district does cohorting, Siegfried said, even as extracurricular activities like football start up and offer more opportunities for student mingling.
“The ideas we received from CDPHE to cohort high schools, honestly, I call that babysitting,” Siegfried said. “You put 30 kids in a classroom and expect them to go through all their classes together, you are eliminating the specific classes those individual students need to meet their greatest potential.”
Instead, Cherry Creek cohorts students first by what classroom they’re in, then by which grade they’re in, and finally by which cohort day they attend school, Siegfried said. Cohort days are generally determined by alphabetical order.
Kiewiet’s team at Westminster High School “took the wheel and tweaked it” when it comes to class schedules this semester. The school’s roughly 2,300 students take a maximum of three classes per day, compared to six daily during a standard year.
Normally a computer program will design students’ schedules based on their academic needs. As Kiewiet tried to slim down class sizes, scheduling became a manual process. Administrators started by putting students together by their core class requirements and then tried to enroll the groups in similar electives so they would stay together throughout the day. Westminster High School wasn’t able to offer as many electives this year, Kiewiet said, but all classes are under 25 students.
“We have a lot of (Career and Technical Education) classes, Project Lead the Way, AVID, International Baccalaureate,” said Kiewiet, “so we had a lot of programs we needed to make sure that we kept intact while cohorting students and keeping them in as small of groups as possible.”
Are the strategies working?
Despite dozens of reported COVID-19 cases and thousands of students’ move to remote learning, Siegfried called Cherry Creek’s cohorting model a success. He points to a new statistic the district is tracking: student incident rate of positivity, or how many students are considered active cases of COVID-19. The rate currently sits at .04% among the 44,000 kids attending in-person classes, he said.
Cherry Creek also has a dedicated, five-person contact tracing team, which is able to quickly assess positive cases and limit potential spread, he said.
The reason so many people have been quarantined is due to what Siegfried calls contradictory language in the health department guidelines. CDPHE states that when a positive case of COVID-19 is detected, the infected person’s entire class must be quarantined in addition to any people determined to have been in close contact with them. (The health department defines close contact as someone who spent more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of an infected person.)
Those two things are not the same, especially given cohorting protocols, he said.
“When I went to substitute, there were kids that sat 30 feet away from each other in a classroom and were never in close contact. I was never in close contact,” Siegfried said. “CDPHE’s guidance does not take that into consideration in our need to quarantine the entire class.”
Kiewiet said cohorting efforts at her school are working to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 despite the recent closure. While she has no qualms about the health department’s quarantine guidelines, she admits they have changed her role as principal. Instead of bouncing between classes to connect with students, she often spends the days conducting extensive interviews to do contact tracing when positive cases arise.
While neither administrator plans to change their approach to in-person learning right now, both emphasized the need to be able to pivot to remote learning when the circumstances call for it. Still, they hope in-person classes can continue and offer students some semblance of normalcy.
“The high school experience has become very, very different,” said Kiewiet. “We love our kids and we want them to have as good a high school experience as we could possibly give them, while following all the regulations and rules that were given to us.”
This story has been updated to reflect that Cherry Creek has not had any schools move fully to remote learning.


thedenverpost--2020-09-29--Broncos Mailbag: Should offense run more no-huddle after two productive drives against Tampa Bay?

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O ’ Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season .
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here .
Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter .
Denver ’ s offensive game plan was initially blown up for 28 minutes or so .
Before the end of the half , though , Jeff Driskel put together a nice drive in a two-minute situation .
Then the second half happened and it looked like the same game plan that didn ’ t work for most of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not stick to up-tempo throws down the field ?
I ’ m not condoning Driskel throwing 50-plus times but it seemed to serve him better than the game plan .
I ’ ve advocated for regular use of the hurry-up offense regardless of what team I ’ m writing about because it tires out a defense ( their personnel has to stay on the field ) and it often results in less-exotic pressures and coverages .
During the two hurry-up drives against Tampa Bay , the Broncos gained 119 yards .
That said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a long drive by the opponent and just like that , your defense is back on the field .
How does a team allow so many sacks ?
The Broncos need a new center and more veterans to guide this team .
It ’ s pretty clear this team needs imploding and not just a rebuild .
Who is getting fired first ?
And will someone please take the checkbook out of John Elway ’ s hands .
Would he still be in charge if the Bowlen family wasn ’ t fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Broncos ’ 13 sacks allowed are tied for second-most in the NFL and they didn ’ t allow any in the Week 1 loss to Tennessee .
Seems like a long time ago , doesn ’ t it ?
The sacks have been possible because Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay have made it a point of sending extra rushers to overtake the Broncos ’ offensive line and make quarterback Jeff Driskel in particular indecisive .
Veteran leadership : The Broncos have a bunch of veteran leaders .
Problem is , most of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Von Miller , receiver Courtland Sutton , cornerback A.J .
Bouye and defensive end Jurrell Casey .
New center : Rookie Lloyd Cushenberry won the job out of training camp and had a clean Week 1 , but has struggled mightily in the last two games .
Austin Schlottmann is the current back-up , but his only NFL regular season experience was last year at guard .
Implode , then rebuild : I ’ m sure some Broncos fans agree with Ann in that being in no man ’ s land ( 6-8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being in championship contention and maybe bottoming out this year will force a floor-to-ceiling rebuild .
People getting fired : If the Broncos had an owner , who knows how they would be reacting during this 0-3 start .
Upset with Elway : Not many general managers can survive four straight years out of the playoffs , even when it follows a Super Bowl title .
The fan base has every reason to be disappointed with the football chief .
Do you think Blake Bortles has a chance to challenge the for starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he has success does he keep the job after Lock comes back ?
No .
Bortles signed last week following Lock ’ s injury and at the time , the thought was he would remain on the roster until Lock was healthy .
But after Driskel ’ s struggles against Tampa Bay , the Broncos ’ best course should be keeping Bortles to be Lock ’ s No .
2 .
If Bortles gets a chance to play and has success , it won ’ t and shouldn ’ t matter — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy .
It would be a hard question now because of all the injuries , but would you fire Vic Fangio if we lose the first four games again ?
I would not fire Fangio or any of the assistant coaches even if they are 0-7 at the bye .
Interim coaches in the NFL don ’ t have a history of turning a team around ; general managers and owners do it in December strictly to get a head start in forming a list of people to contact as soon as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fangio is keeping the team morale up despite the losses and injuries .
As long as the Broncos play hard and scratch out some wins , I think he gets a third season .
Can someone please tell me why the Broncos are having so many problems with making decisions on the right play call ?
It ’ s like the coaches are calling plays not to lose instead of trying to win the game .
We ’ re going back to our same old conversations with the Broncos .
The Broncos need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elway does not have a good touch on picking quarterbacks .
What ’ s wrong with Colin Kaepernick coming in for a tryout ?
The Broncos need a quarterback that can complement the defense .
Not sure about the Broncos having problems calling the right plays because , if anything , the operation has been pretty smooth through three games .
And I disagree with the notion of calling plays not to lose — that wasn ’ t the case in Week 2 at Pittsburgh .
The figurative ship has sailed for Kaepernick-Broncos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in 2016 , but Kaepernick didn ’ t want to take a pay cut .
As far as Elway ’ s quarterback history , it ’ s way too early to give him a grade on picking Lock in 2019 , but he does merit criticism with the organization ’ s choice of a back-up since Driskel couldn ’ t even make it through an entire game in his first relief start .
Hi Ryan , trying to lighten the mood amid our 0-3 start and significant injuries .
I noticed during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the old “ D ” logo in the end zones .
With nearly a third of NFL teams changing or updating their uniforms this year , and the Washington Football Team to get a rebranding as well , are you aware of the Broncos considering any uniform updates ?
I really like how the Broncos added the “ D ” logo to both end zones at Mile High .
The last comments we have on file about the uniforms are from president/CEO Joe Ellis last Dec. 30 .
Ellis said he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue jersey/white trousers combination — the Broncos wore that in this year ’ s home opener , but returning the “ D ” logo to the helmets was not on the table .
What ’ s the latest on Phillip Lindsay ?
It ’ d be nice to get him back in the lineup to inject some much-needed energy into the offense .
And why isn ’ t Vic Fangio and Pat Shurmur playing Royce Freeman more ?
He ’ s been a good change of pace out of the backfield when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last two games because of a turf toe injury sustained in the first half of Week 1 .
He was a limited practice participant last Friday , but I don ’ t expect him to play Thursday against the Jets because the Broncos aren ’ t really practicing this week .
Freeman saw his playing time increase from 16 snaps against Pittsburgh to 24 snaps against Tampa Bay .
His 28-yard catch was the Broncos ’ longest offensive play on Sunday .
Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O ’ Halloran posts his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here .
Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter .

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season.
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here. Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter.
Denver’s offensive game plan was initially blown up for 28 minutes or so. Before the end of the half, though, Jeff Driskel put together a nice drive in a two-minute situation. Then the second half happened and it looked like the same game plan that didn’t work for most of the first half. Why did the coaching staff not stick to up-tempo throws down the field? I’m not condoning Driskel throwing 50-plus times but it seemed to serve him better than the game plan.
— Steve, Forks, Wash.
I’ve advocated for regular use of the hurry-up offense regardless of what team I’m writing about because it tires out a defense (their personnel has to stay on the field) and it often results in less-exotic pressures and coverages.
During the two hurry-up drives against Tampa Bay, the Broncos gained 119 yards.
That said, the negative is going three-and-out immediately after a long drive by the opponent and just like that, your defense is back on the field.
How does a team allow so many sacks? The Broncos need a new center and more veterans to guide this team. It’s pretty clear this team needs imploding and not just a rebuild. Who is getting fired first? And will someone please take the checkbook out of John Elway’s hands. Would he still be in charge if the Bowlen family wasn’t fighting over the team?
— Ann, Superior
Ann has a bunch of questions …
Sacks allowed: The Broncos’ 13 sacks allowed are tied for second-most in the NFL and they didn’t allow any in the Week 1 loss to Tennessee. Seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it? The sacks have been possible because Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay have made it a point of sending extra rushers to overtake the Broncos’ offensive line and make quarterback Jeff Driskel in particular indecisive.
Veteran leadership: The Broncos have a bunch of veteran leaders. Problem is, most of them are hurt, led by outside linebacker Von Miller, receiver Courtland Sutton, cornerback A.J. Bouye and defensive end Jurrell Casey.
New center: Rookie Lloyd Cushenberry won the job out of training camp and had a clean Week 1, but has struggled mightily in the last two games. Austin Schlottmann is the current backup, but his only NFL regular-season experience was last year at guard.
Implode, then rebuild: I’m sure some Broncos fans agree with Ann in that being in no man’s land (6-8 wins) doesn’t lead to being in championship contention and maybe bottoming out this year will force a floor-to-ceiling rebuild.
People getting fired: If the Broncos had an owner, who knows how they would be reacting during this 0-3 start.
Upset with Elway: Not many general managers can survive four straight years out of the playoffs, even when it follows a Super Bowl title. The fan base has every reason to be disappointed with the football chief.
Do you think Blake Bortles has a chance to challenge for the starting job until Drew Lock is back? If he has success does he keep the job after Lock comes back?
— Colin, San Antonio
No. Bortles signed last week following Lock’s injury and at the time, the thought was he would remain on the roster until Lock was healthy. But after Driskel’s struggles against Tampa Bay, the Broncos’ best course should be keeping Bortles to be Lock’s No. 2.
If Bortles gets a chance to play and has success, it won’t and shouldn’t matter — Lock will get his spot back when healthy.
It would be a hard question now because of all the injuries, but would you fire Vic Fangio if we lose the first four games again?
— Kirk, Fort Collins
I would not fire Fangio or any of the assistant coaches even if they are 0-7 at the bye.
Interim coaches in the NFL don’t have a history of turning a team around; general managers and owners do it in December strictly to get a head start in forming a list of people to contact as soon as the season is over.
The key for Fangio is keeping the team morale up despite the losses and injuries. As long as the Broncos play hard and scratch out some wins, I think he gets a third season.
Can someone please tell me why the Broncos are having so many problems with making decisions on the right play call? It’s like the coaches are calling plays not to lose instead of trying to win the game. We’re going back to our same old conversations with the Broncos. The Broncos need new leadership in the front office. Elway does not have a good touch on picking quarterbacks. What’s wrong with Colin Kaepernick coming in for a tryout? The Broncos need a quarterback that can complement the defense.
— Sam Jones, Fairfield, Calif.
Not sure about the Broncos having problems calling the right plays because, if anything, the operation has been pretty smooth through three games. And I disagree with the notion of calling plays not to lose — that wasn’t the case in Week 2 at Pittsburgh.
The figurative ship has sailed for Kaepernick-Broncos — Elway wanted to trade for him back in 2016, but Kaepernick didn’t want to take a pay cut.
As far as Elway’s quarterback history, it’s way too early to give him a grade on picking Lock in 2019, but he does merit criticism with the organization’s choice of a backup since Driskel couldn’t even make it through an entire game in his first relief start.
Hi Ryan, trying to lighten the mood amid our 0-3 start and significant injuries. I noticed during our home opener the new inclusion of the old “D” logo in the end zones. With nearly a third of NFL teams changing or updating their uniforms this year, and the Washington Football Team to get a rebranding as well, are you aware of the Broncos considering any uniform updates?
— Melissa Dillingham, Littleton
I really like how the Broncos added the “D” logo to both end zones at Mile High.
The last comments we have on file about the uniforms are from president/CEO Joe Ellis last Dec. 30.
Ellis said he’s a “big fan” of the blue jersey/white trousers combination — the Broncos wore that in this year’s home opener, but returning the “D” logo to the helmets was not on the table.
What’s the latest on Phillip Lindsay? It’d be nice to get him back in the lineup to inject some much-needed energy into the offense. And why isn’t Vic Fangio and Pat Shurmur playing Royce Freeman more? He’s been a good change of pace out of the backfield when they actually use him.
— Mark, Arvada
Lindsay has missed the last two games because of a turf toe injury sustained in the first half of Week 1. He was a limited practice participant last Friday, but I don’t expect him to play Thursday against the Jets because the Broncos aren’t really practicing this week.
Freeman saw his playing time increase from 16 snaps against Pittsburgh to 24 snaps against Tampa Bay. His 28-yard catch was the Broncos’ longest offensive play on Sunday.
Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season.
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here. Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter.


thedenverpost--2020-09-29--“One of the last of the Greatest Generation”: Colorado woman who volunteered for the Navy in World W

“One of the last of the Greatest Generation”: Colorado woman who volunteered for the Navy in World War II dies at 102

Rosanna H. Gravely was one of the last of her kind — a female World War II veteran — and on Monday she was buried in her uniform at Fort Logan National Cemetery after a short military funeral .
Four people sat on benches as a representative of American Legion Post 103 presided over a service that included a 21-gun salute and taps for the 102-year-old widow , who did not have children or grandchildren .
Two Navy members folded the American flag that draped Gravely ’ s casket and presented it to the couple who had become her adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bechtold .
“ She ’ s one of the last of the Greatest Generation , ” Gayle Bechtold said after the service .
It ’ s difficult to determine whether there are other female World War II Naval veterans living in Colorado .
But one thing military historians know is there are not many left anywhere .
Of the 350,000 women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the war , about 14,500 are alive , according to a May report from the Pew Research Center .
And the U.S. Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300,000 American World War II veterans alive , about 245 would die daily between September 2019 and September 2020 .
That calculation was made before the novel coronavirus arrived on U.S. soil , the Pew report said .
Gravely died in her sleep on Sept. 17 after suffering from dementia for several years .
She was born Feb. 14 , 1918 , in Camden , N.J. , and survived the Spanish flu as an infant , according to her obituary .
In 1943 , she signed up for the Navy ’ s female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Voluntary Emergency Service , or WAVES .
Most WAVES volunteers worked in clerical jobs to free men for combat duty .
“ It was the high point of her life , unquestionably , ” Gayle Bechtold said .
Gravely served in WAVES from March 1943 to December 1945 and in the Navy Reserves from March 1948 to January 1954 , according to her citation with the Women in Military Service for America .
During her time , she achieved the rank of yeoman first class while serving in Washington , D.C. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her stories included descriptions of being one of the few women on board a ship , the nervousness of being a young , petite woman supervising 50 other women in Hawaii and sailing on a hospital ship and seeing the wounded on board .
“ She always told me , ‘ If people could see what I saw on that ship , there wouldn ’ t be any more wars , ’ ” Pam Bechtold said .
Gravely met her husband Robert , a Naval cartographer , while in Hawaii .
They were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 .
“ I see World War II as a breakthrough for women but she never talked about it that way or used the word ‘ feminist , ’ ” Gayle Bechtold said .
“ She just did her job .
”

Rosanna H. Gravely was one of the last of her kind — a female World War II veteran — and on Monday she was buried in her uniform at Fort Logan National Cemetery after a short military funeral.
Four people sat on benches as a representative of American Legion Post 103 presided over a service that included a 21-gun salute and taps for the 102-year-old widow, who did not have children or grandchildren.
Two Navy members folded the American flag that draped Gravely’s casket and presented it to the couple who had become her adopted family in Colorado — Gayle and Pam Bechtold.
“She’s one of the last of the Greatest Generation,” Gayle Bechtold said after the service.
It’s difficult to determine whether there are other female World War II Naval veterans living in Colorado. But one thing military historians know is there are not many left anywhere.
Of the 350,000 women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the war, about 14,500 are alive, according to a May report from the Pew Research Center. And the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs projected that of the estimated 300,000 American World War II veterans alive, about 245 would die daily between September 2019 and September 2020. That calculation was made before the novel coronavirus arrived on U.S. soil, the Pew report said.
Gravely died in her sleep on Sept. 17 after suffering from dementia for several years. She was born Feb. 14, 1918, in Camden, N.J., and survived the Spanish flu as an infant, according to her obituary. In 1943, she signed up for the Navy’s female reserve corps, known as Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service, or WAVES. Most WAVES volunteers worked in clerical jobs to free men for combat duty.
“It was the high point of her life, unquestionably,” Gayle Bechtold said.
Gravely served in WAVES from March 1943 to December 1945 and in the Navy Reserves from March 1948 to January 1954, according to her citation with the Women in Military Service for America. During her time, she achieved the rank of yeoman first class while serving in Washington, D.C., Hawaii, San Francisco and Illinois.
Her stories included descriptions of being one of the few women on board a ship, the nervousness of being a young, petite woman supervising 50 other women in Hawaii and sailing on a hospital ship and seeing the wounded on board.
“She always told me, ‘If people could see what I saw on that ship, there wouldn’t be any more wars,’ ” Pam Bechtold said.
Gravely met her husband Robert, a Naval cartographer, while in Hawaii. They were married for 63 years before he died in 2017.
“I see World War II as a breakthrough for women but she never talked about it that way or used the word ‘feminist,’ ” Gayle Bechtold said. “She just did her job.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-29--Denver coffee shop prices rose by as much as 50% during the pandemic — here’s why

Maybe you ’ re keenly aware of the struggles facing your favorite neighborhood restaurants or bars during the pandemic .
But have you noticed the changes brewing behind the counter at your local coffee shop ?
Over the last six months , a handful of independent cafes with locations around Denver have raised their prices for a single cup .
Some of these businesses are rounding up to the nearest dollar , while others are increasing costs to customers by up to 50 % .
There ’ s a good reason for that .
At a time when the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coffee shops are taking a stand ( and getting national attention along the way ) .
Owners and employees of these businesses say it ’ s time the hidden costs of coffee come out .
So the question is : What are you really paying for when you buy a cup of coffee for almost five bucks ?
Kaitlyn Bates works as the director of retail operations and also behind the counter as a barista at Huckleberry Roasters .
She says the reasoning for her shop ’ s pandemic “ price bump ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is threefold .
First , her employers had to lay off nearly 90 % of their staff six months ago , she said .
Like most other small businesses , theirs wasn ’ t prepared to financially weather a pandemic , “ and we want to be able to survive things like this happening again , ” Bates said .
Second , Huckleberry pays for health benefits , sick leave and time off for its employees , and it needs to continue offering that now .
“ And lastly , we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coffee and products from are paid what is deserved , too , ” she said .
Once customers understand that “ increased prices aren ’ t just going in the pocket of one person , they are fine paying more , ” Bates added .
But she acknowledges that other customers haven ’ t warmed to the shift : “ Of course there were some unhappy people who left , ” she said .
Another Denver-based shop , Amethyst Coffee , took the movement a step further by increasing prices to $ 4.75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tipping altogether , in order to bring all employees up to a wage equivalent of $ 50,000 a year .
Following the change in May , barista Winn deBurlo said he has noticed a similar show of support , overall .
Tipping is just “ a system of wage suppression , ” deBurlo said .
“ It is … structured to capture the value that workers create and turn it into profit for owners.
” Back when Amethyst first opened in 2015 , its owners fought hard to justify their $ 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to their Instagram .
Five years later , their new price of $ 4.75 likely won ’ t be the last , they say .
Others in the industry are fighting to maintain coffee prices to avoid discouraging customers during an already uncertain time .
Queen City Collective Coffee ’ s owners Luke and Scott Byington say they ’ ve discussed raising prices but are doing what they can to keep their coffee at $ 3 a cup .
“ Coffee at the end of the day is always going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s ever going to be at the level of a fine wine or something like that.
” To manage their costs , the Byingtons rely on direct trade with producers around the world and good relationships with landlords here in Denver .
They make sure members of their small team earn at least $ 20 an hour — including tips — if not $ 30 or more .
And , for now , they take health care on a case-by-case basis , asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need help .
“ Is it a long-term , sustainable thing ?
Who knows , ” Scott said of the model .
“ And is it something that can be copied and pasted from one business to another ?
Probably not.
” Because of variations in rent , debt and other business-specific financials , it can be hard to generalize the true cost of a cup of coffee , the Byingtons warn .
But they can pay farmers at a rate well above coffee ’ s commodity price , and then continue that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think a lot more power is starting to be handed to producers now , ” Scott said .
“ They are starting to feel the empowerment of this movement.
” To bring the empowerment full circle , shops like Little Owl Coffee in Denver take their employees directly to the source , offering “ origin ” trips to places like Central and South America as incentives for employees .
Little Owl also provides health benefits , continuing education and quarterly profit sharing , according to founder Seanna Forey , whose staff makes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tips .
Like Queen City , Little Owl hasn ’ t raised its prices above $ 3 a cup during the pandemic .
“ It ’ s been really , really tough , but we just decided not to rock the boat , ” Forey said .
Still , her business is growing , with a new roasting space and another cafe on the way downtown .
“ The entire ( Little Owl ) philosophy is having our customers feel one-hundred-percent comfortable , but even before that … our focus is really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I grew up in a restaurant family and had worked as a waitress , and I realized that if I really wanted to have something sustainable , that was the only way that I could see it.
” When Forey opened Little Owl seven years ago , her goal was to approach coffee from a “ hospitality perspective.
” Now , she says , there ’ s an entire community of like-minded coffee businesses in Denver and “ so many real careers ” for workers who want to stay in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to customers to decide through that first purchase of the day which companies to support .
“ And we really try , ” Forey said .
“ It ’ s hard because we ’ re so small , but we really try to show people when they start with us that they can have a path forward.
” Subscribe to our food newsletter , Stuffed , to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox .

Maybe you’re keenly aware of the struggles facing your favorite neighborhood restaurants or bars during the pandemic. But have you noticed the changes brewing behind the counter at your local coffee shop?
Over the last six months, a handful of independent cafes with locations around Denver have raised their prices for a single cup. Some of these businesses are rounding up to the nearest dollar, while others are increasing costs to customers by up to 50%.
There’s a good reason for that. At a time when the entire hospitality industry is collapsing, these independent coffee shops are taking a stand (and getting national attention along the way). Owners and employees of these businesses say it’s time the hidden costs of coffee come out.
So the question is: What are you really paying for when you buy a cup of coffee for almost five bucks?
Kaitlyn Bates works as the director of retail operations and also behind the counter as a barista at Huckleberry Roasters. She says the reasoning for her shop’s pandemic “price bump” to $4.50 for a 12-ounce brew is threefold.
First, her employers had to lay off nearly 90% of their staff six months ago, she said. Like most other small businesses, theirs wasn’t prepared to financially weather a pandemic, “and we want to be able to survive things like this happening again,” Bates said.
Second, Huckleberry pays for health benefits, sick leave and time off for its employees, and it needs to continue offering that now.
“And lastly, we want to make sure that those we source our coffee and products from are paid what is deserved, too,” she said. Once customers understand that “increased prices aren’t just going in the pocket of one person, they are fine paying more,” Bates added.
But she acknowledges that other customers haven’t warmed to the shift: “Of course there were some unhappy people who left,” she said.
Another Denver-based shop, Amethyst Coffee, took the movement a step further by increasing prices to $4.75 for a small coffee while doing away with tipping altogether, in order to bring all employees up to a wage equivalent of $50,000 a year. Following the change in May, barista Winn deBurlo said he has noticed a similar show of support, overall.
Tipping is just “a system of wage suppression,” deBurlo said. “It is … structured to capture the value that workers create and turn it into profit for owners.”
Back when Amethyst first opened in 2015, its owners fought hard to justify their $3 price tag on a cup of coffee, according to their Instagram. Five years later, their new price of $4.75 likely won’t be the last, they say.
Not one-size-fits-all
Others in the industry are fighting to maintain coffee prices to avoid discouraging customers during an already uncertain time.
Queen City Collective Coffee’s owners Luke and Scott Byington say they’ve discussed raising prices but are doing what they can to keep their coffee at $3 a cup.
“Coffee at the end of the day is always going to be a commodity,” Scott Byington said. “I don’t think it’s ever going to be at the level of a fine wine or something like that.”
To manage their costs, the Byingtons rely on direct trade with producers around the world and good relationships with landlords here in Denver. They make sure members of their small team earn at least $20 an hour — including tips — if not $30 or more. And, for now, they take health care on a case-by-case basis, asking employees to come to them if they need help.
“Is it a long-term, sustainable thing? Who knows,” Scott said of the model. “And is it something that can be copied and pasted from one business to another? Probably not.”
Because of variations in rent, debt and other business-specific financials, it can be hard to generalize the true cost of a cup of coffee, the Byingtons warn. But they can pay farmers at a rate well above coffee’s commodity price, and then continue that practice down the line.
“I think a lot more power is starting to be handed to producers now,” Scott said. “They are starting to feel the empowerment of this movement.”
To bring the empowerment full circle, shops like Little Owl Coffee in Denver take their employees directly to the source, offering “origin” trips to places like Central and South America as incentives for employees.
Little Owl also provides health benefits, continuing education and quarterly profit sharing, according to founding partner Seanna Forey Carrelo, whose staff makes on average $27-$34 per hour with tips.
Like Queen City, Little Owl hasn’t raised its prices above $3 a cup during the pandemic. “It’s been really, really tough, but we just decided not to rock the boat,” Forey Carrelo said. Still, alongside partners Corey Wall and Mike Sinon, she’s growing the business — with a new roasting space and another cafe on the way downtown.
“The entire (Little Owl) philosophy is having our customers feel one-hundred-percent comfortable, but even before that … our focus is really our team first,” she said. “I grew up in a restaurant family and had worked as a waitress, and I realized that if I really wanted to have something sustainable, that was the only way that I could see it.”
When Little Owl opened seven years ago, its goal was to approach coffee from a “hospitality perspective.” Now, Forey Carrelo says, there’s an entire community of like-minded coffee businesses in Denver and “so many real careers” for workers who want to stay in the industry long-term. Then it’s up to customers to decide through that first purchase of the day which companies to support.
“And we really try,” she said. “It’s hard because we’re so small, but we really try to show people when they start with us that they can have a path forward.”
Subscribe to our food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-09-29--Health on wheels: Tricked-out RVs deliver addiction treatment to Colorado’s rural communities

STERLING — Tonja Jimenez is far from the only person driving an RV down Colorado ’ s rural highways .
But unlike the other rigs , her 34-foot-long motor home is equipped as an addiction treatment clinic on wheels , bringing lifesaving treatment to the northeastern corner of the state , where patients with substance use disorders are often left to fend for themselves .
As in many states , access to addiction treatment remains a challenge in Colorado , so a new state program has transformed six RVs into mobile clinics to reach isolated farming communities and remote mountain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they ’ ve become more crucial : During the coronavirus pandemic , even as brick-and-mortar addiction clinics have closed or stopped taking new patients , these six-wheeled clinics have kept going , except for a pit stop this summer for air conditioning repair .
Their health teams perform in-person testing and counseling .
And as broadband access isn ’ t always a given in these rural spots , the RVs also provide a telehealth bridge to the medical providers back in the big cities .
Working from afar , these providers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever-present risk of overdose , an especially looming concern amid the isolation and stress of the pandemic .
Mobile health clinics have been around for years , bringing vision tests , asthma treatment and dentistry to places without adequate care .
But using health care on wheels to treat addiction isn ’ t as common .
Nor is equipping such motor homes with telehealth capability that expands the reach of prescribing providers to treat hard-to-reach patients in these hard-to-reach rural areas .
“ We really believe we bring treatment to our patients and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at , ” said Donna Goldstrom , clinical director for Front Range Clinic , a Fort Collins practice that operates four of the RVs .
“ So meeting them where they ’ re at physically is not a long leap from meeting them where they ’ re at motivationally and psychologically.
” Each RV has a nurse , a counselor and a peer specialist who has personal experience with addiction — and all had to be trained to drive a vehicle that size .
“ I never thought when I went to nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , ” Christi Couron , a licensed practical nurse , said as she pumped 52 gallons of diesel fuel into the motor home she works on with Jimenez .
The crew has driven their RV more than 30,000 miles since January , much of it viewed through a cracked windshield courtesy of a summer afternoon hailstorm .
Four days a week , they ply the roads from Greeley to the smaller towns near the Nebraska border , as the view goes from mile-high to miles-wide .
On a dusty lot outside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the peer specialist , activates the leveling jacks to balance the RV , and the team readies the unit for the day ’ s slate of patients .
The passenger-side captain ’ s chair flips around to face a table where Jimenez will check in patients .
The tabletop is crowded with a printer , a scanner , a laptop and a label-maker .
Underneath lie a box of specimen cups and a gallon of windshield washer fluid .
The vehicle now has plenty of masks and cleaning supplies on hand , too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to the RV ’ s snug bathroom to provide a urine sample .
With test strips built into the sides of the cup , results show instantly whether any of 13 categories of drugs — from opiates to antidepressants — are in the urine .
The sample is later dropped off at a lab to confirm the results and determine which specific drug is involved .
The results help the team understand how best to treat the patients and make sure they use the prescriptions they ’ re given .
Patients then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the back , where they connect via video to a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in a brick-and-mortar clinic .
If all goes well , the provider will send over a prescription for Suboxone ( a combination medicine containing buprenorphine , which reduces cravings for opioids ) or for Vivitrol ( a monthly injectable version of naltrexone , which blocks opioid receptors ) .
Once the staffers have the prescription in hand , the RV nurse can give those Vivitrol shots directly and distribute Narcan , a medication that will reverse an opioid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a local pharmacy .
Patients also can drop used needles into a sharps container for disposal , but the staffers are not allowed to distribute clean needles .
Some patients will talk with counselor Nicky McLean in a room just large enough to fit a table and two chairs .
Within minutes , a couple , who asked not to be identified by name because of the stigma surrounding addiction , arrive early for their appointments .
They ’ ve brought the staff homemade chicken enchiladas .
They had been spending $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street , and their lives and finances were a wreck .
He lost his house .
She needs clean urine tests to see her son .
The couple started their addiction treatment only three weeks earlier , after he learned about the RV clinic from a friend .
They no longer have a car , so they walked a half-hour to get to their appointment .
“ We would ’ ve done anything to get our drugs , ” she said .
“ Walking 30 minutes to get better , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve finished , another patient is at the door .
Spencer Nash , 29 , has been using opioids since he was 18 .
Nine years ago , when his wife got pregnant , the couple decided to get clean , driving two hours each way , six days a week , to a methadone clinic in Fort Collins .
Now , he walks to the RV , outside the halfway house where he lives , to get his Suboxone prescription .
A few years ago , Robert Werthwein , director of Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard about a project using RVs for addiction treatment in rural upstate New York .
He thought it would work in his state , too .
The agency crunched the numbers to see which regions recorded the highest levels of opioid prescriptions and overdoses but lacked addiction treatment .
“ We hear too often that in rural Colorado and the mountain regions of Colorado they don ’ t have the same access to services as the Denver metro and the Front Range regions , ” Werthwein said .
The state secured a $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His team brought in health care providers , such as Front Range Clinic , to staff and operate the RVs .
Once the RVs were ready , the staff had to be trained to drive them , which necessitated “ a couple of repairs , ” Werthwein said .
The vehicles first started rolling out in December , eventually serving six regions — and in a seventh area , a place where narrow mountain roads precluded a large RV , one of Werthwein ’ s teams travels by SUV .
In some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been less than thrilled , feeling the RVs would attract drug users to their town .
“ We ’ re hoping to address stigma , not just from a public standpoint , but we ’ re hoping to show providers ‘ there is a demand in your community for medication-assisted treatment , ’ ” Werthwein said .
Once the federal grant runs out in September 2022 , Front Range Clinic and the other mobile unit operators will inherit and continue to operate the RVs , billing Medicaid and private insurance as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RV crew ’ s 1 p.m. departure time in Sterling approached , one patient remained .
The woman , who asked that her name not be published because she didn ’ t want to be publicly identified as a drug user , arrived at the mobile clinic without an appointment .
But they couldn ’ t take her as a new patient without a urine sample .
For two hours , she was in and out of the bathroom , drinking bottles of water , but unable to fill the little plastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the staffers could hear her crying and cursing at herself .
With the battery power on the RV winding down , they coaxed her out of the bathroom .
Perhaps tomorrow would work better , they told her .
She could continue to rehydrate through the night and then meet the mobile unit at its next stop , Fort Morgan , some 45 minutes away .
The next day , she was still unable to produce a urine sample , whether because of dehydration from her substance use or simply nerves .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RV returned to Sterling the next week , but she never showed up .
Kaiser Health News ( KHN ) is a national health policy news service .
It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

By Markian Hawryluk
STERLING — Tonja Jimenez is far from the only person driving an RV down Colorado’s rural highways. But unlike the other rigs, her 34-foot-long motor home is equipped as an addiction treatment clinic on wheels, bringing lifesaving treatment to the northeastern corner of the state, where patients with substance use disorders are often left to fend for themselves.
As in many states, access to addiction treatment remains a challenge in Colorado, so a new state program has transformed six RVs into mobile clinics to reach isolated farming communities and remote mountain hamlets. And, in recent months, they’ve become more crucial: During the coronavirus pandemic, even as brick-and-mortar addiction clinics have closed or stopped taking new patients, these six-wheeled clinics have kept going, except for a pit stop this summer for air conditioning repair.
Their health teams perform in-person testing and counseling. And as broadband access isn’t always a given in these rural spots, the RVs also provide a telehealth bridge to the medical providers back in the big cities. Working from afar, these providers can prescribe medicine to fight addiction and the ever-present risk of overdose, an especially looming concern amid the isolation and stress of the pandemic.
Mobile health clinics have been around for years, bringing vision tests, asthma treatment and dentistry to places without adequate care. But using health care on wheels to treat addiction isn’t as common. Nor is equipping such motor homes with telehealth capability that expands the reach of prescribing providers to treat hard-to-reach patients in these hard-to-reach rural areas.
“We really believe we bring treatment to our patients and we meet them where they’re at,” said Donna Goldstrom, clinical director for Front Range Clinic, a Fort Collins practice that operates four of the RVs. “So meeting them where they’re at physically is not a long leap from meeting them where they’re at motivationally and psychologically.”
Each RV has a nurse, a counselor and a peer specialist who has personal experience with addiction — and all had to be trained to drive a vehicle that size.
“I never thought when I went to nursing school that I’d be doing this,” Christi Couron, a licensed practical nurse, said as she pumped 52 gallons of diesel fuel into the motor home she works on with Jimenez.
The crew has driven their RV more than 30,000 miles since January, much of it viewed through a cracked windshield courtesy of a summer afternoon hailstorm. Four days a week, they ply the roads from Greeley to the smaller towns near the Nebraska border, as the view goes from mile-high to miles-wide.
Don a mask, pee in a cup
On a dusty lot outside a halfway house in Sterling, Jimenez, the peer specialist, activates the leveling jacks to balance the RV, and the team readies the unit for the day’s slate of patients. The passenger-side captain’s chair flips around to face a table where Jimenez will check in patients. The tabletop is crowded with a printer, a scanner, a laptop and a label-maker. Underneath lie a box of specimen cups and a gallon of windshield washer fluid. The vehicle now has plenty of masks and cleaning supplies on hand, too.
After patients check in, they go to the RV’s snug bathroom to provide a urine sample. With test strips built into the sides of the cup, results show instantly whether any of 13 categories of drugs — from opiates to antidepressants — are in the urine. The sample is later dropped off at a lab to confirm the results and determine which specific drug is involved. The results help the team understand how best to treat the patients and make sure they use the prescriptions they’re given.
Patients then head to a small exam room in the back, where they connect via video to a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in a brick-and-mortar clinic.
If all goes well, the provider will send over a prescription for Suboxone (a combination medicine containing buprenorphine, which reduces cravings for opioids) or for Vivitrol (a monthly injectable version of naltrexone, which blocks opioid receptors). Once the staffers have the prescription in hand, the RV nurse can give those Vivitrol shots directly and distribute Narcan, a medication that will reverse an opioid overdose. Suboxone prescriptions must be called into a local pharmacy.
Patients also can drop used needles into a sharps container for disposal, but the staffers are not allowed to distribute clean needles. Some patients will talk with counselor Nicky McLean in a room just large enough to fit a table and two chairs.
Within minutes, a couple, who asked not to be identified by name because of the stigma surrounding addiction, arrive early for their appointments. They’ve brought the staff homemade chicken enchiladas. They had been spending $8,000 a month buying OxyContin on the street, and their lives and finances were a wreck. He lost his house. She needs clean urine tests to see her son. The couple started their addiction treatment only three weeks earlier, after he learned about the RV clinic from a friend.
They no longer have a car, so they walked a half-hour to get to their appointment.
“We would’ve done anything to get our drugs,” she said. “Walking 30 minutes to get better, it’s worth it.”
Even before they’ve finished, another patient is at the door. Spencer Nash, 29, has been using opioids since he was 18. Nine years ago, when his wife got pregnant, the couple decided to get clean, driving two hours each way, six days a week, to a methadone clinic in Fort Collins. Now, he walks to the RV, outside the halfway house where he lives, to get his Suboxone prescription.
Filling the gaps
A few years ago, Robert Werthwein, director of Colorado’s Office of Behavioral Health, heard about a project using RVs for addiction treatment in rural upstate New York. He thought it would work in his state, too. The agency crunched the numbers to see which regions recorded the highest levels of opioid prescriptions and overdoses but lacked addiction treatment.
“We hear too often that in rural Colorado and the mountain regions of Colorado they don’t have the same access to services as the Denver metro and the Front Range regions,” Werthwein said. The state secured a $10 million federal grant for the program. His team brought in health care providers, such as Front Range Clinic, to staff and operate the RVs.
Once the RVs were ready, the staff had to be trained to drive them, which necessitated “a couple of repairs,” Werthwein said. The vehicles first started rolling out in December, eventually serving six regions — and in a seventh area, a place where narrow mountain roads precluded a large RV, one of Werthwein’s teams travels by SUV.
In some communities, the local doctors and others have been less than thrilled, feeling the RVs would attract drug users to their town.
“We’re hoping to address stigma, not just from a public standpoint, but we’re hoping to show providers ‘there is a demand in your community for medication-assisted treatment,’” Werthwein said.
Once the federal grant runs out in September 2022, Front Range Clinic and the other mobile unit operators will inherit and continue to operate the RVs, billing Medicaid and private insurance as they do now for the appointments.
As the RV crew’s 1 p.m. departure time in Sterling approached, one patient remained. The woman, who asked that her name not be published because she didn’t want to be publicly identified as a drug user, arrived at the mobile clinic without an appointment. But they couldn’t take her as a new patient without a urine sample. For two hours, she was in and out of the bathroom, drinking bottles of water, but unable to fill the little plastic cup. Through the bathroom door, the staffers could hear her crying and cursing at herself.
With the battery power on the RV winding down, they coaxed her out of the bathroom. Perhaps tomorrow would work better, they told her. She could continue to rehydrate through the night and then meet the mobile unit at its next stop, Fort Morgan, some 45 minutes away.
The next day, she was still unable to produce a urine sample, whether because of dehydration from her substance use or simply nerves. They asked her to come back again when the RV returned to Sterling the next week, but she never showed up.
Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-09-29--Ask Amy: Stressful layoff stresses a marriage

Dear Amy : My husband was recently laid off from a company he ’ d worked at for 15 years .
He also recently had surgery .
He also has high blood pressure .
While I am the primary income earner , if his income is not replaced , it will require us to make changes in some key expenses .
I have tried to give him time to process this , even though I am the kind of person who ( for good or bad ) moves straight into solutions .
It has been eight weeks since the layoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening that looks interesting , or try to talk about him networking , he asks me not to , saying it increases his stress .
I think he wants me to just trust him to work through this .
I do trust him , but I feel this is something we should work through together .
I have suggestions that could help , since I have gone through a job transition before and he has not .
Not talking stresses me out .
In our 20-year marriage , we ’ ve struggled with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and working through something together .
I say I ’ m trying to help , and he says it ’ s hurting him .
What do I do ?
Dear Spouse : If you want to completely paralyze an easily paralyzed person , then the thing to do is to push , push , push .
You know that you are trying to help him , but this is not the help he needs right now .
You are a proactive self-starter .
He is not .
This doesn ’ t mean that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move , but he will not do this on your direction or timeline .
Yes , offering up ideas and solutions is your idea of being a good team member , but another way to emotionally support someone is to say , “ You ’ ve got this , and I ’ ve got your back.
” I ’ m suggesting that you do something that will be very hard for you .
Stop .
Stop coaching and prompting .
Stop asking .
Try this for a week .
After that , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up a time each week for a “ family meeting , ” where you open up your finances , see where you stand , and where he can share his latest efforts with you .
He should volunteer this information .
If he doesn ’ t , do your best to resist your desire to press him .
A lower-stress part-time seasonal job ( or volunteering for a local cause ) might be the best way for him to recover his health and self-esteem and kick-start his job search .
Dear Amy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a friend ’ s daughter got married at an outside location with only immediate family present .
I have no ill feelings that we weren ’ t included .
My issue is this : My wife — on behalf of both of us — sent a generous check to the new bride and groom as a wedding present .
A few weeks later , the bride called my wife to thank her for the money .
The bride asked my wife to extend their thanks to me , as well .
Is this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t heard a word from the bride .
I ’ m also upset that they didn ’ t send a thank you card .
Dear Slighted : Given the very high volume of questions I receive on this topic , I ’ d say that if this couple received a gift and then actually reached out to acknowledge and thank the giver ( even over the phone ) , they should get a parade .
I think your nose is really out of joint because the bride didn ’ t thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your wife sent the check “ on behalf of both of us.
” She accepted the thanks “ on behalf ” of both of you .
If you had sent the check on behalf of your wife and yourself , you would have been thanked primarily and personally .
Unfortunately , just as young couples don ’ t seem to write notes often enough , maybe older men don ’ t take responsibility for gift-giving often enough .
Dear Amy : Responding to the question from “ Let it Be , ” one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decade is the realization that not reconciling with those who hurt you ( or you have hurt ) leaves deep scars and regrets that never go away .
I have tried to reach out to people in my past in order to reconcile and forgive .
What saddens me most is to find out that person is gone forever , and I will never have a chance to reconcile the relationship .
Dear Experienced : It takes personal courage to attempt a reconciliation .
Good for you .

Dear Amy: My husband was recently laid off from a company he’d worked at for 15 years. He also recently had surgery. He also has high blood pressure.
While I am the primary income earner, if his income is not replaced, it will require us to make changes in some key expenses.
I have tried to give him time to process this, even though I am the kind of person who (for good or bad) moves straight into solutions.
It has been eight weeks since the layoff, and when I forward a job opening that looks interesting, or try to talk about him networking, he asks me not to, saying it increases his stress.
I think he wants me to just trust him to work through this.
I do trust him, but I feel this is something we should work through together. I have suggestions that could help, since I have gone through a job transition before and he has not. Not talking stresses me out.
In our 20-year marriage, we’ve struggled with the difference between micromanaging or interfering — and working through something together.
I say I’m trying to help, and he says it’s hurting him. What do I do?
— Stress-inducing Spouse
Dear Spouse: If you want to completely paralyze an easily paralyzed person, then the thing to do is to push, push, push.
You know that you are trying to help him, but this is not the help he needs right now.
You are a proactive self-starter. He is not. This doesn’t mean that he is incapable of making his next move, but he will not do this on your direction or timeline.
Yes, offering up ideas and solutions is your idea of being a good team member, but another way to emotionally support someone is to say, “You’ve got this, and I’ve got your back.”
I’m suggesting that you do something that will be very hard for you. Stop. Stop coaching and prompting. Stop asking. Try this for a week. After that, you could suggest that you and your husband set up a time each week for a “family meeting,” where you open up your finances, see where you stand, and where he can share his latest efforts with you. He should volunteer this information. If he doesn’t, do your best to resist your desire to press him.
A lower-stress part-time seasonal job (or volunteering for a local cause) might be the best way for him to recover his health and self-esteem and kick-start his job search.
Dear Amy: Because of the current pandemic, a friend’s daughter got married at an outside location with only immediate family present.
I have no ill feelings that we weren’t included.
My issue is this: My wife — on behalf of both of us — sent a generous check to the new bride and groom as a wedding present.
A few weeks later, the bride called my wife to thank her for the money. The bride asked my wife to extend their thanks to me, as well.
Is this the new normal?
I personally haven’t heard a word from the bride. I’m also upset that they didn’t send a thank you card.
— Slighted
Dear Slighted: Given the very high volume of questions I receive on this topic, I’d say that if this couple received a gift and then actually reached out to acknowledge and thank the giver (even over the phone), they should get a parade.
I think your nose is really out of joint because the bride didn’t thank you separately.
However, you state that your wife sent the check “on behalf of both of us.” She accepted the thanks “on behalf” of both of you.
If you had sent the check on behalf of your wife and yourself, you would have been thanked primarily and personally.
Unfortunately, just as young couples don’t seem to write notes often enough, maybe older men don’t take responsibility for gift-giving often enough.
Dear Amy: Responding to the question from “Let it Be,” one good thing about being in my seventh decade is the realization that not reconciling with those who hurt you (or you have hurt) leaves deep scars and regrets that never go away.
I have tried to reach out to people in my past in order to reconcile and forgive. What saddens me most is to find out that person is gone forever, and I will never have a chance to reconcile the relationship.
— Experienced
Dear Experienced: It takes personal courage to attempt a reconciliation. Good for you.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-09-29--Colorado sees drug overdoses rise with coronavirus-related stress

COLORADO SPRINGS , Colo. — Drug overdose deaths have increased in Colorado amid the coronavirus pandemic .
About 130 people died of overdoses in May across the state , nearly doubling the average from recent years , The Gazette reported .
State health department data reported 73 deaths in 2019 , 79 in 2018 and 64 in 2017 .
Mental Health Center of Denver President Dr. Carl Clark said the pattern of overdose deaths is “ predictable ” and is likely to get worse as the pandemic continues .
“ There are certain things that we know that happen with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9/11 or if the stock market crashes , ” Clark said .
“ Anxiety goes up , depression goes up , suicides go up , and people ’ s use of substances goes up.
” As the pandemic added stress for those in recovery , outreach programs and medical providers struggled to help with in-person meetings limited to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and state funding cut .
In Colorado , substance use treatment and prevention services , behavioral and mental health services saw a $ 20 million cut in funding as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had people hospitalized for psychiatric issues .
We have had people in life-threatening situations .
We had people in our community die .
So I can not give up , ” Natural Highs Founder and Executive Director Avani Dilger said .
“ I am too aware of what the fallout is .
I ’ m also too aware of what we can do to help people.
” Nature Highs , the Boulder-based program , is designed to help teens with addiction and find alternatives to drugs .
It serves more than 2,000 teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of its volunteer staff during the pandemic .
Stout Street Foundation , an in-patient rehabilitation program , was also affected by the pandemic even though it doesn ’ t rely on state funding .
The Foundation ’ s primary program is a therapeutic community where 100 participants live and work together , officials said .
It went under lockdown in February and remains virtual to limit the spread of COVID-19 .
Foundation Development Director Carrie Packard said loneliness and boredom have become a big challenge .
“ Normally September is the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more stuff , ” Packard said .
“ We go to Elitch ’ s , the haunted house when it opens at the end of the month , we go there .
But it ’ s hard because those are just — they ’ re off-limits right now.
” Financially , many providers have suffered because of the pandemic , said Jose Esquibel , associate director of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention .
The state Office of Behavioral Health will receive a $ 41.6 million federal grant over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
“ This crisis continues to move rapidly , especially now with the conditions of social and personal stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic , ” Esquibel said .
“ The new federal State Opioid Response funding is very welcome and is the largest pool of funds dedicated to addressing the impacts of the opioid crisis in Colorado.
” He added : “ We still have as much as a decade of work ahead of us in bending the arc of the opioid crisis .
”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Drug overdose deaths have increased in Colorado amid the coronavirus pandemic.
About 130 people died of overdoses in May across the state, nearly doubling the average from recent years, The Gazette reported. State health department data reported 73 deaths in 2019, 79 in 2018 and 64 in 2017.
Mental Health Center of Denver President Dr. Carl Clark said the pattern of overdose deaths is “predictable” and is likely to get worse as the pandemic continues.
“There are certain things that we know that happen with a stressful event like a pandemic or 9/11 or if the stock market crashes,” Clark said. “Anxiety goes up, depression goes up, suicides go up, and people’s use of substances goes up.”
As the pandemic added stress for those in recovery, outreach programs and medical providers struggled to help with in-person meetings limited to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and state funding cut.
In Colorado, substance use treatment and prevention services, behavioral and mental health services saw a $20 million cut in funding as the state tax revenue plunged.
“We had people hospitalized for psychiatric issues. We have had people in life-threatening situations. We had people in our community die. So I cannot give up,” Natural Highs Founder and Executive Director Avani Dilger said. “I am too aware of what the fallout is. I’m also too aware of what we can do to help people.”
Nature Highs, the Boulder-based program, is designed to help teens with addiction and find alternatives to drugs. It serves more than 2,000 teens and families a year, but lost all of its volunteer staff during the pandemic.
Stout Street Foundation, an in-patient rehabilitation program, was also affected by the pandemic even though it doesn’t rely on state funding.
The Foundation’s primary program is a therapeutic community where 100 participants live and work together, officials said. It went under lockdown in February and remains virtual to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Foundation Development Director Carrie Packard said loneliness and boredom have become a big challenge.
“Normally September is the best month because you get to do so much more stuff,” Packard said. “We go to Elitch’s, the haunted house when it opens at the end of the month, we go there. But it’s hard because those are just — they’re off-limits right now.”
Financially, many providers have suffered because of the pandemic, said Jose Esquibel, associate director of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention.
The state Office of Behavioral Health will receive a $41.6 million federal grant over the next two years to tackle the opioid crisis.
“This crisis continues to move rapidly, especially now with the conditions of social and personal stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Esquibel said. “The new federal State Opioid Response funding is very welcome and is the largest pool of funds dedicated to addressing the impacts of the opioid crisis in Colorado.”
He added: “We still have as much as a decade of work ahead of us in bending the arc of the opioid crisis.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Rockies’ David Dahl undergoes surgery on right shoulder

Rockies outfielder David Dahl underwent surgery on his aching right shoulder Tuesday and the plan is that he will be ready to go for spring training 2021 .
The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffery Dugas at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Birmingham , Ala .
The surgery cleaned up a tear and fraying in the labrum .
Dugas also removed a small bone spur and removed the bursa sac .
According to a Dugas , it was a “ small cleanup.
” Coming off an all-star season in 2019 , hopes were high that Dahl would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lineup , but the shoulder injury bothered him since January and landed him on the injured list near the end of the season .
Dahl , 26 , said because he ’ s spent so much of his career being injured , he decided not to report the injury when he began throwing in January .
“ I figured that I ’ d been on the ( IL ) a lot , and I needed to figure this thing out on my own and push through this , ” Dahl said .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work and he struggled throughout the season .
“ I ’ m really frustrated .
Obviously , stuff keeps happening , ” Dahl said earlier this month .
“ I feel like I put the work in and I work hard .
Hopefully , good things will happen eventually .
You ’ ve just got to keep going and get through it .
“ Because I know I can be a good player .
I know I ’ ve had success while I ’ ve been up here .
It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the field .
But I ’ ve got to really sit down the offseason and kind of figure out what I need to do as far as figuring out my body.
” Dahl appeared in a career-high 100 games in 2019 , hitting .302 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs but a high-ankle sprain ended his season on Aug. 3 .
Dahl played in 24 games this season but had just 99 plate appearances .
He hit .183 ( 17-for-93 ) with no home runs , two doubles and two triples @

Rockies outfielder David Dahl underwent surgery on his aching right shoulder Tuesday and the plan is that he will be ready to go for spring training 2021.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Jeffery Dugas at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Birmingham, Ala.
The surgery cleaned up a tear and fraying in the labrum. Dugas also removed a small bone spur and removed the bursa sac. According to Dugas, it was a “small cleanup.”
Dahl’s rehab is expected to begin immediately.
Coming off an all-star season in 2019, hopes were high that Dahl would become a force in Colorado’s lineup, but the shoulder injury bothered him since January and landed him on the injured list near the end of the season.
Dahl, 26, said because he’s spent so much of his career being injured, he decided not to report the injury when he began throwing in January.
“I figured that I’d been on the (IL) a lot, and I needed to figure this thing out on my own and push through this,” Dahl said.
But Dahl’s plan didn’t work and he struggled throughout the season.
“I’m really frustrated. Obviously, stuff keeps happening,” Dahl said earlier this month. “I feel like I put the work in and I work hard. Hopefully, good things will happen eventually. You’ve just got to keep going and get through it.
“Because I know I can be a good player. I know I’ve had success while I’ve been up here. It’s a matter of availability and being out there on the field. But I’ve got to really sit down the offseason and kind of figure out what I need to do as far as figuring out my body.”
Dahl appeared in a career-high 100 games in 2019, hitting .302 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs but a high-ankle sprain ended his season Aug. 3.
Dahl played in 24 games this season but had just 99 plate appearances. He hit .183 (17-for-93) with no home runs, two doubles and two triples.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Colorado leaders warn of the risks of a COVID slide as school enrollment lags

With the deadline looming for school districts across Colorado to count their students , state and education leaders put out a call to parents and guardians Tuesday in hopes of finding the thousands of kids at risk of falling behind academically .
While the state does not yet have 2020-21 enrollment figures , districts have begun to notice significant declines .
Denver Public Schools — the state ’ s largest district with more than 93,000 students — expects a 1 % to 2 % decrease in enrollment this year when it turns in its final numbers Thursday , Superintendent Susana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ d have fewer kids this year than we had had in the past , ” she said .
“ What we are finding right now , though , is that the numbers are lower everywhere , so it ’ s not a case of kids leaving Denver , for example , and going to Jeffco or Cherry Creek.
” Aurora Public Schools ’ 2020-21 enrollment is down about 5 % , or 1,664 students , compared to last academic year , according to district spokesman Corey Christiansen .
Gov .
Jared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in local schools , even if the format being offered amid the pandemic isn ’ t ideal .
According to the Colorado Department of Education , about 73 % of school districts were offering an in-person learning option as of mid-September , although the majority were small and rural districts that accounted for just 37 % of students in the state .
In a recent meeting with the Colorado House Education Committee , commissioner of education Katy Anthes warned of what she called the COVID slide , “ an achievement slide as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who aren ’ t engaging in their classes due to the pandemic .
Regardless of whether parents don ’ t feel comfortable sending their kids back in-person yet or are dissatisfied with remote learning , it ’ s imperative that children continue their education somehow , Polis said — especially given how abruptly the spring semester ended .
“ Our schools and school districts are already working hard to catch students up , and that ’ s impossible to do if students are not enrolled and attending some form of school , whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Polis said .
“ What we ’ re worried about is kids who aren ’ t doing either.
” Declines in enrollment are not unique to Colorado .
According to USA Today , districts nationwide have reported fewer students returning to public schools .
Polis said he expects some parents are homeschooling their kids , but he cautioned them to think long term .
“ Don ’ t think you ’ re homeschooling because you ’ re giving your kid a book and leaving them alone all day , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go back to school in the future and don ’ t want them to have a major deficit when they do.
” Lower student counts have implications for schools ’ finances , too , because districts receive funding based on their per-pupil tally annually on Oct. 1 .
For this academic year , the average allocation is projected to be $ 8,480 per student .
When students leave a district , the money goes with them .
Polis announced Tuesday that the state has placed 40 new AmeriCorps members in some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families get their children enrolled and engaged in school .

With the deadline looming for school districts across Colorado to count their students, state and education leaders put out a call to parents and guardians Tuesday in hopes of finding the thousands of kids at risk of falling behind academically.
While the state does not yet have 2020-21 enrollment figures, districts have begun to notice significant declines. Denver Public Schools — the state’s largest district with more than 93,000 students — expects a 1% to 2% decrease in enrollment this year when it turns in its final numbers Thursday, Superintendent Susana Cordova said.
“We definitely anticipated we’d have fewer kids this year than we had had in the past,” she said. “What we are finding right now, though, is that the numbers are lower everywhere, so it’s not a case of kids leaving Denver, for example, and going to Jeffco or Cherry Creek.”
Aurora Public Schools’ 2020-21 enrollment is down about 5%, or 1,664 students, compared to last academic year, according to district spokesman Corey Christiansen.
Gov. Jared Polis urged families to register their children in local schools, even if the format being offered amid the pandemic isn’t ideal. According to the Colorado Department of Education, about 73% of school districts were offering an in-person learning option as of mid-September, although the majority were small and rural districts that accounted for just 37% of students in the state.
In a recent meeting with the Colorado House Education Committee, commissioner of education Katy Anthes warned of what she called the COVID slide, “an achievement slide as well as an opportunity slide” among students who aren’t engaging in their classes due to the pandemic.
Regardless of whether parents don’t feel comfortable sending their kids back in-person yet or are dissatisfied with remote learning, it’s imperative that children continue their education somehow, Polis said — especially given how abruptly the spring semester ended.
“Our schools and school districts are already working hard to catch students up, and that’s impossible to do if students are not enrolled and attending some form of school, whether it’s online or in person,” Polis said. “What we’re worried about is kids who aren’t doing either.”
Declines in enrollment are not unique to Colorado. According to USA Today, districts nationwide have reported fewer students returning to public schools. Polis said he expects some parents are homeschooling their kids, but he cautioned them to think long term.
“Don’t think you’re homeschooling because you’re giving your kid a book and leaving them alone all day,” he said. “Your kid will likely go back to school in the future and don’t want them to have a major deficit when they do.”
Lower student counts have implications for schools’ finances, too, because districts receive funding based on their per-pupil tally annually on Oct. 1. For this academic year, the average allocation is projected to be $8,480 per student. When students leave a district, the money goes with them.
Polis announced Tuesday that the state has placed 40 new AmeriCorps members in some of the highest-needs schools around the state to help families get their children enrolled and engaged in school.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Rep. Ken Buck and Colorado secretary of state trade Twitter barbs

U.S. Rep. Ken Buck , R-Windsor , and the Colorado secretary of state traded barbs on social media Tuesday afternoon in the latest escalation between Republicans and Democrat Jena Griswold as the fall election approaches .
The conflict began after a CBS4 Denver story over the weekend inaccurately suggested that a mailing list for mailers asking Coloradans to vote — a mailing list that included dead people — was connected to the same mailing list from which ballots are sent out .
The article was amplified by conservative influencers before CBS4 News Director Tim Wieland took it off the station @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarifying story Monday .
“ Reports that the Colorado Secretary of State ’ s office mailed voter registration postcards to non-citizens and deceased individuals are deeply concerning , ” Buck wrote on Twitter as he shared the conservative outlet Brietbart ’ s version of the original story .
“ We must get to the bottom of this.
” Buck is also chair of the Colorado Republican Party , which sent out an email Tuesday calling the weekend report concerning and asking Griswold to release the full list of addresses to which the postcards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the security of Colorado ’ s election system , but I need to hear more about the source of this problem , so we can assure Coloradans that there isn ’ t more to this story than originally reported , ” Buck said in the statement .
“ Russia doesn ’ t have to worry about spreading election misinformation in Colorado , ” Griswold wrote .
Buck “ is doing it for them.
” “ I ’ m surprised you haven ’ t tried to send ballots to Russians trying to register @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buck tweeted back .
“ Ballots aren ’ t sent to anyone ‘ trying to register to vote , ’ ” Griswold responded .
“ That ’ s the disconnect and why you ’ re spreading election misinformation @ BuckForColorado .
Happy to explain how Colorado elections work and voting qualifications – let me know.
” Buck ’ s name will appear on the ballot this year as he runs for re-election in the Fourth Congressional District .

U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor, and the Colorado secretary of state traded barbs on social media Tuesday afternoon in the latest escalation between Republicans and Democrat Jena Griswold as the fall election approaches.
The conflict began after a CBS4 Denver story over the weekend inaccurately suggested that a mailing list for mailers asking Coloradans to vote — a mailing list that included dead people — was connected to the same mailing list from which ballots are sent out. The article was amplified by conservative influencers before CBS4 News Director Tim Wieland took it off the station’s website Sunday and published a clarifying story Monday.
I am removing a story from the @CBSDenver web site which suggested that a mailer asking people in Colorado to register to vote was connected to the state voter rolls. A tweet with a link to the story has been removed. (1/4) — Tim Wieland (@CBS4Tim) September 27, 2020
“Reports that the Colorado Secretary of State’s office mailed voter registration postcards to non-citizens and deceased individuals are deeply concerning,” Buck wrote on Twitter as he shared the conservative outlet Brietbart’s version of the original story. “We must get to the bottom of this.”
Reports that the Colorado Secretary of State’s office mailed voter registration postcards to non-citizens and deceased individuals are deeply concerning. We must get to the bottom of this.https://t.co/WI68I50AuT — Ken Buck (@BuckForColorado) September 29, 2020
Buck is also chair of the Colorado Republican Party, which sent out an email Tuesday calling the weekend report concerning and asking Griswold to release the full list of addresses to which the postcards were mailed.
“I am confident in the security of Colorado’s election system, but I need to hear more about the source of this problem, so we can assure Coloradans that there isn’t more to this story than originally reported,” Buck said in the statement.
But Griswold shot back at Buck’s tweet.
“Russia doesn’t have to worry about spreading election misinformation in Colorado,” Griswold wrote. Buck “is doing it for them.”
Russia doesn't have to worry about spreading election misinformation in Colorado. @buckforColorado is doing it for them. https://t.co/m0d0zFQFD1 https://t.co/njPfRlA4e7 — Jena Griswold (@JenaGriswold) September 29, 2020
“I’m surprised you haven’t tried to send ballots to Russians trying to register them to vote in Colorado,” Buck tweeted back.
Ballots aren’t sent to anyone “trying to register to vote.” That's the disconnect and why you're spreading election misinformation @BuckForColorado. Happy to explain how Colorado elections work and voting qualifications – let me know. https://t.co/3ATDJNDvzi — Jena Griswold (@JenaGriswold) September 29, 2020
“Ballots aren’t sent to anyone ‘trying to register to vote,’” Griswold responded. “That’s the disconnect and why you’re spreading election misinformation @BuckForColorado. Happy to explain how Colorado elections work and voting qualifications – let me know.”
Buck’s name will appear on the ballot this year as he runs for re-election in the Fourth Congressional District.