thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Just about any adult can run for coroner in Colorado. Could that change?

In 1857 , a committee with the American Medical Association recommended abolishing the elected coroner ’ s office and replacing it with a system of appointed medical officials .
“ This method of filling the office will be more successful in securing the selection of one having the special attainment demanded for the faithful and intelligent performance of its duties than by popular election , ” the committee wrote .
But 163 years later , a system created in old England and called archaic before the Civil War remains in place across Colorado and in a handful of other states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators to consider how the state can up its standards for an industry that few people want to talk about .
The elected position tasked with investigating the cause and manner of death of everyone from those who die in police custody to people suffering opioid overdoses has virtually no prerequisites in Colorado , leading to situations where 22-year-old recent college graduates can run for the office in major metropolitan areas .
And the job still comes with duties left over from medieval England , such as when an Eastern Plains coroner four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county sheriff ’ s role .
“ In Colorado , essentially our mortuaries and coroners are not regulated , ” said Matt Soper , a Republican state representative from Delta .
Colorado ’ s coroner system gained newfound attention earlier month when authorities raided a Leadville funeral home owned by the Lake County coroner , finding unrefrigerated bodies , unlabeled cremains and mounds of paperwork strewn across the floor .
The coroner , Shannon Kent , previously had been indicted on charges he sent his wife out to death scenes in his place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perjury .
State lawmakers over the years have slowly added more training for coroners after they win election , but the will to overhaul the entire system has been minimal .
Now Soper and a handful of industry professionals are taking another stab at bringing Colorado ’ s coroner and mortuary practices into the 21st century .
“ We need to set the standards higher so we don ’ t get people with little or no credentials into this office , ” said Jill Romann , Douglas County ’ s coroner .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like we ’ re not professionals.
” But not everyone in the industry feels the need for drastic change , particularly in rural areas where recruiting trained forensic pathologists is nearly impossible .
“ At this point , the way our state has it set up seems to be working fairly well , ” said Randy Keller , Fremont County ’ s coroner and president of the Colorado Coroner ’ s Association .
“ We don ’ t get a lot of problems or complaints.
” Colorado ’ s elected coroner system has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year the Centennial State entered the union , but the practice goes back to ninth century England , when the position was created to represent the crown and it dealt with all sorts of things on top of investigating suspicious deaths .
The state Constitution enshrined into law that all 64 counties have an elected coroner , and the requirements are limited : The person must be 18 or older , a U.S. citizen , a resident of the county he or she serves and have no felony convictions .
There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any previous training related to death investigations .
In Pitkin , Denver and Weld counties , however , the coroner or medical examiner is appointed , and all three currently have medical degrees .
Colorado has come a long way from even a decade ago , said Dr. Steven Ayers , Pitkin County ’ s medical examiner and one of three appointed coroners or medical examiners in the state .
His previous experience came in Oklahoma , where doctors conducted death investigations .
And for the first 20 years here , the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is an antiquated system , ” Ayers said .
“ However , Colorado coroners have come a long way in trying professionalize and standardize it.
” New coroners are required to take a one-week , 40-hour training course and within a year become a certified death investigator .
Coroners must also complete yearly continuing education requirements .
But a 9News investigation in 2017 found at least a dozen counties where deputy coroners , who often have to step in when the coroner is unavailable , aren ’ t certified .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Colorado coroners can still occasionally be thrust into strange roles , such as when the former Sedgwick County coroner became the temporary sheriff in 2016 through a seldom-invoked provision in state law after the sheriff was charged with felony sex assault .
Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock spoke to the County Sheriff ’ s of Colorado at the time about changing the law .
“ Nothing came of it , ” he said .
“ We could never find the legislators to do it.
” Why does Colorado still elect coroners ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after one gets elected to be a coroner , there ’ s still nothing to stop virtually any adult from running .
Two years ago , Sydney Ludwick wanted to show just how easy it was to run for coroner in Colorado .
So the 22-year-old environmental activist , who had recently graduated with a biology degree , decided to challenge Romann for her coroner seat in Douglas County .
“ I knew I was unqualified , ” Ludwick said .
When she talked to voters , Ludwick realized that “ the vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people elected coroners .
Even fewer people knew you only had to be 18 and not a felon.
” Running as a Democrat in right-leaning Douglas County , Ludwick figured it was pretty unlikely that she ’ d win .
“ If I did win , I ’ d do my best to fulfill the duties , ” she said .
Romann felt the race encapsulated a problem with how Colorado chooses its coroners .
She has over two decades of experience as a board-certified medicolegal death investigator , conducting some 50,000 death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s very concerning , ” Romann said of the last election .
“ That ’ s why I believe standards have to be raised .
The public doesn ’ t deserve to be put in the middle of someone ’ s inexperience.
” The problem , Romann said , is that more and more people are voting straight-ticket down the ballot for one party or another — regardless of their qualifications .
Ludwick received 36 % of the vote — not enough to seriously challenge Romann , but significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think everyone should be worried , ” Ludwick said about people like her winning a coroner election .
There is another option for investigating deaths , one that has been recommended by medical associations for more than 150 years .
In 1928 , the National Research Council released a report that recommended coroners be abolished and replaced with a medical examiner ’ s office “ headed by a scientifically trained and competent pathologist.
” And in 2009 , the National Academy of Sciences recommended Congress provide funds so state and local jurisdictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These systems are already used in some places , but not others .
Without a national mandate , cities and states around the country have a patchwork of 2,300 different death investigation systems , said Dr. Sally Aiken , president of the National Association of Medical Examiners .
“ The thing about death investigations in the modern era is that a lot of the decisions are medical decisions , ” she said .
Coroners who are not forensic pathologists can not perform autopsies , so they are required with certain deaths to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that could be hours away in rural Colorado .
That ’ s how it is for Jerry Gray , who ’ s been coroner in tiny Hinsdale County since 2002 .
Gray , who has a background as an EMS director , has never been challenged for the job , and deals with only four or five deaths a year .
The medical examiner system simply isn ’ t possible for a place like Hinsdale — year-round population of 850 — considering the doctor who staffs the clinic in Lake City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , Gray said .
“ It might be fine in the Front Range with doctors all over the place , ” he said .
“ But here it just doesn ’ t fly.
” A nationwide shortage of forensic pathologists makes staffing every county with one impossible , Aiken said .
But there are regionalization models that are possible solutions , she said .
As the medical examiner for Spokane County , Washington , Aiken and her staff do autopsies for 14 surrounding counties .
And in New Mexico , counties send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where a chief medical examiner is tasked with investigating all reportable deaths .
Romann said she recognizes that issue for rural Colorado , but says the large metro areas have no excuse .
She ’ s been conferring with other coroners in the area , she said , as they have general discussions about what they want to push for as a larger Colorado Coroners Association — which would then bring it to the legislature .
“ Personally , I believe that metro coroners should meet the higher standard of board-certification as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Keller , the Colorado Coroner ’ s Association president , said there may be a future need in larger communities for slightly more stringent requirements , but that he trusts voters to look at experience when they go to the ballot box .
“ A lot of the time — specifically in more rural counties — it ’ s harder to find people with that experience , ” Keller said .
Is change on the horizon ?
Soper , the Delta lawmaker , become more attuned to laws and regulations surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , in which the owners of a Montrose funeral home allegedly chopped up and sold body parts around the world without families ’ consent .
After hearing from hundreds of victims , Soper spearheaded a bill to make it a felony in Colorado to abuse a corpse .
Since then , he has found regulation and requirements on both coroners and the funeral home industry to be inadequate , he said .
And seven months after Sunset Mesa ’ s owners were indicted by a federal grand jury , news broke of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kent-owned funeral homes in Leadville and Gypsum , another indication for Soper that there ’ s a need for more legislation .
A month before November ’ s elections , Soper met with lobbyists for coroners and morticians to discuss a comprehensive bill that would add further regulations to those industries .
The legislative process is in its early stages , Soper cautioned , as coronavirus issues figure to dominate January ’ s General Session .
But the lawmaker hoped to address a number of concerns in a possible bill , including : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coroners and morticians , adding a test — on par with what prospective lawyers have to take — to show someone is qualified to be a coroner , and adding more teeth to the Department of Regulatory Affairs to handle unlawful funeral homes .
“ Everyone I talked to wants change , ” Soper said .
“ They would like to regulate the professions , but it ’ s having that person who knows the industry help with the law-making process that makes it a real struggle.
” Another problem : Lawmakers don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the topic , Soper has found .
“ There ’ s the classic line in my profession , ” said Aiken , the Washington medical examiner .
“ The dead don ’ t vote .
”

In 1857, a committee with the American Medical Association recommended abolishing the elected coroner’s office and replacing it with a system of appointed medical officials.
“This method of filling the office will be more successful in securing the selection of one having the special attainment demanded for the faithful and intelligent performance of its duties than by popular election,” the committee wrote.
But 163 years later, a system created in old England and called archaic before the Civil War remains in place across Colorado and in a handful of other states, driving one lawmaker and some death investigators to consider how the state can up its standards for an industry that few people want to talk about.
The elected position tasked with investigating the cause and manner of death of everyone from those who die in police custody to people suffering opioid overdoses has virtually no prerequisites in Colorado, leading to situations where 22-year-old recent college graduates can run for the office in major metropolitan areas. And the job still comes with duties left over from medieval England, such as when an Eastern Plains coroner four years ago was unwittingly thrust into the county sheriff’s role.
“In Colorado, essentially our mortuaries and coroners are not regulated,” said Matt Soper, a Republican state representative from Delta.
Colorado’s coroner system gained newfound attention earlier month when authorities raided a Leadville funeral home owned by the Lake County coroner, finding unrefrigerated bodies, unlabeled cremains and mounds of paperwork strewn across the floor. The coroner, Shannon Kent, previously had been indicted on charges he sent his wife out to death scenes in his place, and later was also charged with perjury.
State lawmakers over the years have slowly added more training for coroners after they win election, but the will to overhaul the entire system has been minimal. Now Soper and a handful of industry professionals are taking another stab at bringing Colorado’s coroner and mortuary practices into the 21st century.
“We need to set the standards higher so we don’t get people with little or no credentials into this office,” said Jill Romann, Douglas County’s coroner. “All they do is make us look like we’re not professionals.”
But not everyone in the industry feels the need for drastic change, particularly in rural areas where recruiting trained forensic pathologists is nearly impossible.
“At this point, the way our state has it set up seems to be working fairly well,” said Randy Keller, Fremont County’s coroner and president of the Colorado Coroner’s Association. “We don’t get a lot of problems or complaints.”
Colorado’s coroner system goes way back
Colorado’s elected coroner system has been in place since 1876, the year the Centennial State entered the union, but the practice goes back to ninth century England, when the position was created to represent the crown and it dealt with all sorts of things on top of investigating suspicious deaths.
The state Constitution enshrined into law that all 64 counties have an elected coroner, and the requirements are limited: The person must be 18 or older, a U.S. citizen, a resident of the county he or she serves and have no felony convictions. There is no requirement to have a medical degree or any previous training related to death investigations.
In Pitkin, Denver and Weld counties, however, the coroner or medical examiner is appointed, and all three currently have medical degrees.
Colorado has come a long way from even a decade ago, said Dr. Steven Ayers, Pitkin County’s medical examiner and one of three appointed coroners or medical examiners in the state. His previous experience came in Oklahoma, where doctors conducted death investigations. And for the first 20 years here, the “coroner system had zero qualifications.”
“It is an antiquated system,” Ayers said. “However, Colorado coroners have come a long way in trying professionalize and standardize it.”
New coroners are required to take a one-week, 40-hour training course and within a year become a certified death investigator. Coroners must also complete yearly continuing education requirements. But a 9News investigation in 2017 found at least a dozen counties where deputy coroners, who often have to step in when the coroner is unavailable, aren’t certified.
While the position has been updated over the years, Colorado coroners can still occasionally be thrust into strange roles, such as when the former Sedgwick County coroner became the temporary sheriff in 2016 through a seldom-invoked provision in state law after the sheriff was charged with felony sex assault.
Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock spoke to the County Sheriff’s of Colorado at the time about changing the law.
“Nothing came of it,” he said. “We could never find the legislators to do it.”
Why does Colorado still elect coroners?
While the state has added additional requirements after one gets elected to be a coroner, there’s still nothing to stop virtually any adult from running.
Two years ago, Sydney Ludwick wanted to show just how easy it was to run for coroner in Colorado. So the 22-year-old environmental activist, who had recently graduated with a biology degree, decided to challenge Romann for her coroner seat in Douglas County.
“I knew I was unqualified,” Ludwick said. When she talked to voters, Ludwick realized that “the vast majority of people didn’t know people elected coroners. Even fewer people knew you only had to be 18 and not a felon.”
Running as a Democrat in right-leaning Douglas County, Ludwick figured it was pretty unlikely that she’d win.
“If I did win, I’d do my best to fulfill the duties,” she said.
Romann felt the race encapsulated a problem with how Colorado chooses its coroners. She has over two decades of experience as a board-certified medicolegal death investigator, conducting some 50,000 death investigations and participating in thousands of autopsies.
“It’s very concerning,” Romann said of the last election. “That’s why I believe standards have to be raised. The public doesn’t deserve to be put in the middle of someone’s inexperience.”
The problem, Romann said, is that more and more people are voting straight-ticket down the ballot for one party or another — regardless of their qualifications.
Ludwick received 36% of the vote — not enough to seriously challenge Romann, but significantly more than Kanye West-level support.
“I think everyone should be worried,” Ludwick said about people like her winning a coroner election.
Medical examiner system
There is another option for investigating deaths, one that has been recommended by medical associations for more than 150 years.
In 1928, the National Research Council released a report that recommended coroners be abolished and replaced with a medical examiner’s office “headed by a scientifically trained and competent pathologist.”
And in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences recommended Congress provide funds so state and local jurisdictions could switch to a medical examiner system.
These systems are already used in some places, but not others. Without a national mandate, cities and states around the country have a patchwork of 2,300 different death investigation systems, said Dr. Sally Aiken, president of the National Association of Medical Examiners.
“The thing about death investigations in the modern era is that a lot of the decisions are medical decisions,” she said.
Coroners who are not forensic pathologists cannot perform autopsies, so they are required with certain deaths to outsource the work to an outside pathologist. And that could be hours away in rural Colorado.
That’s how it is for Jerry Gray, who’s been coroner in tiny Hinsdale County since 2002.
Gray, who has a background as an EMS director, has never been challenged for the job, and deals with only four or five deaths a year.
The medical examiner system simply isn’t possible for a place like Hinsdale — year-round population of 850 — considering the doctor who staffs the clinic in Lake City commutes in from Gunnison, 55 miles away, Gray said.
“It might be fine in the Front Range with doctors all over the place,” he said. “But here it just doesn’t fly.”
A nationwide shortage of forensic pathologists makes staffing every county with one impossible, Aiken said. But there are regionalization models that are possible solutions, she said.
As the medical examiner for Spokane County, Washington, Aiken and her staff do autopsies for 14 surrounding counties. And in New Mexico, counties send bodies to Albuquerque from around the state, where a chief medical examiner is tasked with investigating all reportable deaths.
Romann said she recognizes that issue for rural Colorado, but says the large metro areas have no excuse. She’s been conferring with other coroners in the area, she said, as they have general discussions about what they want to push for as a larger Colorado Coroners Association — which would then bring it to the legislature.
“Personally, I believe that metro coroners should meet the higher standard of board-certification as professional medicolegal death investigators,” Romann said.
Keller, the Colorado Coroner’s Association president, said there may be a future need in larger communities for slightly more stringent requirements, but that he trusts voters to look at experience when they go to the ballot box.
“A lot of the time — specifically in more rural counties — it’s harder to find people with that experience,” Keller said.
Is change on the horizon?
Soper, the Delta lawmaker, become more attuned to laws and regulations surrounding the death industry after the Sunset Mesa case, in which the owners of a Montrose funeral home allegedly chopped up and sold body parts around the world without families’ consent.
After hearing from hundreds of victims, Soper spearheaded a bill to make it a felony in Colorado to abuse a corpse. Since then, he has found regulation and requirements on both coroners and the funeral home industry to be inadequate, he said. And seven months after Sunset Mesa’s owners were indicted by a federal grand jury, news broke of the alleged practices conducted by the Shannon Kent-owned funeral homes in Leadville and Gypsum, another indication for Soper that there’s a need for more legislation.
A month before November’s elections, Soper met with lobbyists for coroners and morticians to discuss a comprehensive bill that would add further regulations to those industries.
The legislative process is in its early stages, Soper cautioned, as coronavirus issues figure to dominate January’s General Session. But the lawmaker hoped to address a number of concerns in a possible bill, including: clarifying who has the authority to investigate coroners and morticians, adding a test — on par with what prospective lawyers have to take — to show someone is qualified to be a coroner, and adding more teeth to the Department of Regulatory Affairs to handle unlawful funeral homes.
“Everyone I talked to wants change,” Soper said. “They would like to regulate the professions, but it’s having that person who knows the industry help with the law-making process that makes it a real struggle.”
Another problem: Lawmakers don’t seem to be passionate about the topic, Soper has found.
“There’s the classic line in my profession,” said Aiken, the Washington medical examiner. “The dead don’t vote.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Thornton warns of looming water shortage that could hamper long-term growth in the northern suburb

Thornton has a goal to one day be a city of 260,000 people , living in thousands of houses and apartment buildings across this sprawling suburb north of Denver .
It owns the water to meet that goal .
But city leaders say they are increasingly frustrated by Larimer County ’ s unwillingness to let them build a critical pipeline that would carry the water from the Cache La Poudre River near Fort Collins to Thornton — so much so that they have started alerting developers that the city may have to stop issuing building permits .
The new language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee capacity in its water or wastewater systems for proposed or future developments.
” Among the projects at stake for the state ’ s 6th largest city is dense multi-family housing planned around new N-Line rail stations that just went operational in September .
That ’ s frustrating to Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann , who points to the thousands of acre-feet of water the city owns free and clear in the Cache La Poudre River northwest of Fort Collins — water rights it purchased more than three decades ago .
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our plan — and we should be able to get it , ” the mayor told The Denver Post last week .
“ Why is it taking so long to get what ’ s rightfully ours ?
” The answer goes back to February 2019 , when the Larimer County commissioners unanimously voted to deny Thornton a permit for a 72-mile-long pipeline the city wants to install to carry that water to this suburb of 140,000 .
Jeff Coder , Thornton ’ s deputy city manager of city development , said the denial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ hostage.
” The city has enough water in its portfolio to supply 5,000 additional housing units , he said , or approximately 160,000 residents .
The city ’ s long-term vision is for a population of 240,000 by 2065 .
While no builders have pulled out of the city , Coder said , that day may not be far away .
Maybe as soon as 2024 or 2025 , he said .
“ It ’ s understandably creating a great deal of concern , ” he said .
“ In fairness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our community , we don ’ t want someone who has gone through the approvals process expecting to get a building permit to have us at the last minute tell them we can ’ t because of this water issue.
” We want to prepare people for a worst-case scenario.
” But Gary Wockner , who heads the non-profit Save the Poudre , said Thornton is doing nothing more than trying to “ foment political chaos ” as the pipeline dispute plays out in court .
Thornton ’ s desire to run a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing to improve the Poudre River ’ s health but disrupts those living along the pipeline ’ s right-of-way .
And residents in Larimer County get none of the water being transported , he said .
“ All the benefit would go to Thornton , and all the damage would go to Larimer County , ” Wockner said .
“ What gives them the right to hold Larimer County hostage ?
” The obvious solution , he said , is for Thornton to let its water flow down the Poudre through Fort Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conveyance ” — and take it out further downstream near Windsor , obviating the need for a $ 450 million pipe that will require trenching and burial across 26 miles of Larimer County .
“ They have the right to their water and they can get it , ” Wockner said .
Thornton even presented this scenario as an option for accessing its water a decade ago , Wockner said .
“ The river is already in ecological delay in Fort Collins , ” he said .
“ This is an unbelievable opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an almost unprecedented opportunity to put water back in the river.
” The city counters that allowing its share of water to flow through Fort Collins — and past several water treatment facilities — would severely degrade its quality and cost the city dearly to clean it .
Emily Hunt , deputy infrastructure director for Thornton , said the river option was merely one of a number of alternatives the city put on the table as it was firming up plans to access its water .
“ We specifically picked a site that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we paid reflected that , ” she said .
“ If we wanted a low-quality source that we clean up later , we could have done that and paid less money.
” According to the city , Thornton paid $ 578 million for 289 shares of water and storage rights in the Poudre River , along with $ 92 million for more than 18,000 acres of farmland in Larimer and Weld counties , where it has been sending its Poudre shares by ditch over the last 30 or so years .
But that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sway the commissioners in Larimer County last year .
Outgoing Commissioner Steve Johnson said then that the proposed 48-inch diameter pipe , which would run across the northern edge of Fort Collins to Interstate 25 before turning south toward Thornton , ranked as one of the most contentious issues he had ever seen raised in the county .
But just this past September , the same commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a 1041 permit for the Northern Integrated Supply Project , a controversial $ 1.1 billion water storage initiative that would create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second reservoir out on the eastern plains .
It also involves several water pipelines running through Larimer County .
Thornton recently included the NISP approval in its court filings appealing Larimer County ’ s denial of its pipeline project , citing it as evidence that the commissioners ’ 2019 decision was “ arbitrary and capricious.
” Wockner agrees , calling the Sept. 2 NISP approval “ 100 % sheer hypocrisy ” in light of commissioners ’ decision on Thornton ’ s pipe 18 months prior .
He said both projects should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be held to the same standard — send the water down the river , ” he said .
Commissioner John Kefalas , the lone Democrat on Larimer County ’ s board of commissioners , was the only member of the board to deny both projects .
He declined comment last week , citing “ current litigation.
” David Foster , a land use attorney who has represented developers in Thornton for more than 20 years , said the city ’ s notification to home builders about a potential long-term water shortage is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimist , trusting that the two municipalities will come to a fix over the next few years .
Thornton is also hopeful of eventually getting the permits it needs and is building segments of the pipe outside of Larimer County .
In the meantime , Foster hopes not too much damage is done .
“ There are a lot of people with a lot of money out of pocket right now , ” said Foster , who represents half a dozen developers with residential projects before the city .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s not good for the people of Adams County.
” It ’ s also not good for northern Colorado , said Sam Bailey , vice president of economic development for the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation .
His organization represents a swath of Colorado stretching from Castle Rock to the Wyoming border .
He worries about developers skipping over Thornton and taking their business to nearby cities where future water supply is not an issue .
“ We don ’ t want this issue to be used as an economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , ” Bailey said .
“ A water issue for Thornton is not just a Thornton issue .
It ’ s an issue for surrounding communities too .
There ’ s no benefit to having one community short on resources .
”

Thornton has a goal to one day be a city of 260,000 people, living in thousands of houses and apartment buildings across this sprawling suburb north of Denver.
It owns the water to meet that goal.
But city leaders say they are increasingly frustrated by Larimer County’s unwillingness to let them build a critical pipeline that would carry the water from the Cache La Poudre River near Fort Collins to Thornton — so much so that they have started alerting developers that the city may have to stop issuing building permits.
The new language warns that “the City does not guarantee capacity in its water or wastewater systems for proposed or future developments.”
Among the projects at stake for the state’s 6th largest city is dense multi-family housing planned around new N-Line rail stations that just went operational in September.
That’s frustrating to Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann, who points to the thousands of acre-feet of water the city owns free and clear in the Cache La Poudre River northwest of Fort Collins — water rights it purchased more than three decades ago.
“We have the water — it’s in our plan — and we should be able to get it,” the mayor told The Denver Post last week. “Why is it taking so long to get what’s rightfully ours?”
The answer goes back to February 2019, when the Larimer County commissioners unanimously voted to deny Thornton a permit for a 72-mile-long pipeline the city wants to install to carry that water to this suburb of 140,000. Jeff Coder, Thornton’s deputy city manager of city development, said the denial essentially holds Thornton’s growth plans “hostage.”
The city has enough water in its portfolio to supply 5,000 additional housing units, he said, or approximately 160,000 residents. The city’s long-term vision is for a population of 240,000 by 2065.
While no builders have pulled out of the city, Coder said, that day may not be far away. Maybe as soon as 2024 or 2025, he said.
“It’s understandably creating a great deal of concern,” he said. “In fairness to those who are making significant investments in our community, we don’t want someone who has gone through the approvals process expecting to get a building permit to have us at the last minute tell them we can’t because of this water issue.”
We want to prepare people for a worst-case scenario.”
But Gary Wockner, who heads the non-profit Save the Poudre, said Thornton is doing nothing more than trying to “foment political chaos” as the pipeline dispute plays out in court.
Thornton’s desire to run a pipe through Larimer County not only does nothing to improve the Poudre River’s health but disrupts those living along the pipeline’s right-of-way.
And residents in Larimer County get none of the water being transported, he said.
“All the benefit would go to Thornton, and all the damage would go to Larimer County,” Wockner said. “What gives them the right to hold Larimer County hostage?”
“River as a conveyance”
The obvious solution, he said, is for Thornton to let its water flow down the Poudre through Fort Collins — “use the river as a conveyance” — and take it out further downstream near Windsor, obviating the need for a $450 million pipe that will require trenching and burial across 26 miles of Larimer County.
“They have the right to their water and they can get it,” Wockner said.
Thornton even presented this scenario as an option for accessing its water a decade ago, Wockner said.
“The river is already in ecological decay in Fort Collins,” he said. “This is an unbelievable opportunity to increase flows in the river — an almost unprecedented opportunity to put water back in the river.”
The city counters that allowing its share of water to flow through Fort Collins — and past several water treatment facilities — would severely degrade its quality and cost the city dearly to clean it. Emily Hunt, deputy infrastructure director for Thornton, said the river option was merely one of a number of alternatives the city put on the table as it was firming up plans to access its water.
“We specifically picked a site that was above urban impacts and the price we paid reflected that,” she said. “If we wanted a low-quality source that we clean up later, we could have done that and paid less money.”
According to the city, Thornton paid $578 million for 289 shares of water and storage rights in the Poudre River, along with $92 million for more than 18,000 acres of farmland in Larimer and Weld counties, where it has been sending its Poudre shares by ditch over the last 30 or so years.
But that level of investment wasn’t enough to sway the commissioners in Larimer County last year.
Outgoing Commissioner Steve Johnson said then that the proposed 48-inch diameter pipe, which would run across the northern edge of Fort Collins to Interstate 25 before turning south toward Thornton, ranked as one of the most contentious issues he had ever seen raised in the county.
But just this past September, the same commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a 1041 permit for the Northern Integrated Supply Project, a controversial $1.1 billion water storage initiative that would create Glade Reservoir northwest of Fort Collins and a second reservoir out on the eastern plains.
It also involves several water pipelines running through Larimer County.
Thornton recently included the NISP approval in its court filings appealing Larimer County’s denial of its pipeline project, citing it as evidence that the commissioners’ 2019 decision was “arbitrary and capricious.”
Wockner agrees, calling the Sept. 2 NISP approval “100% sheer hypocrisy” in light of commissioners’ decision on Thornton’s pipe 18 months prior. He said both projects should have been shot down.
“Both pipelines should be held to the same standard — send the water down the river,” he said.
Commissioner John Kefalas, the lone Democrat on Larimer County’s board of commissioners, was the only member of the board to deny both projects. He declined comment last week, citing “current litigation.”
“Not just a Thornton issue”
David Foster, a land use attorney who has represented developers in Thornton for more than 20 years, said the city’s notification to home builders about a potential long-term water shortage is “unusual.”
But Foster remains an optimist, trusting that the two municipalities will come to a fix over the next few years. Thornton is also hopeful of eventually getting the permits it needs and is building segments of the pipe outside of Larimer County.
In the meantime, Foster hopes not too much damage is done.
“There are a lot of people with a lot of money out of pocket right now,” said Foster, who represents half a dozen developers with residential projects before the city. “It’s not good for the people of Thornton, it’s not good for the people of Adams County.”
It’s also not good for northern Colorado, said Sam Bailey, vice president of economic development for the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation. His organization represents a swath of Colorado stretching from Castle Rock to the Wyoming border.
He worries about developers skipping over Thornton and taking their business to nearby cities where future water supply is not an issue.
“We don’t want this issue to be used as an economic development strategy to move projects to another community,” Bailey said. “A water issue for Thornton is not just a Thornton issue. It’s an issue for surrounding communities too. There’s no benefit to having one community short on resources.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Post Premium: Top stories for Nov. 9-15, 2020

A decade ago , many thought the University of Colorado was abandoning a sinking ship when it decided to flee the Big 12 for the then-Pac-10 .
Texas ’ outsized influence over the Buffaloes ’ longtime conference rubbed many members the wrong way , and it felt like only a matter of time before that fissure splintered the Big 12 into pieces .
The Pac-10 , headed by an ambitious new commissioner , Larry Scott , talked of a 16-school superconference spanning from the coast to the plains .
It couldn ’ t have looked more stable by comparison .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself with premier academic institutions such as UCLA , UC-Berkeley , USC and Stanford that also matched its more liberal culture , felt natural .
It also felt safe .
Fast forward a decade later , and things haven ’ t quite played out as many imagined back in June 2010 .
To begin with , that 16-team superconference never happened .
Despite the departures of CU , Nebraska , Texas A & M and Missouri , the Big 12 ’ s remaining members coalesced around Texas and Oklahoma ( because they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia joined the mix ( because the conference needed 10 members ) , and the Big 12 name lived on ( because branding ) .
As for that enterprising commissioner everyone was so fond of on the coast ?
Well , Scott bungled the launch of the Pac-12 Network , saddled the conference with disproportionately high overhead costs ( including his own salary ) , and struck a media rights deal with ESPN and FOX that was quickly surpassed by its peers .
All of which conspired to put the Pac-12 ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of revenue and resources — a reality that culminated for CU with the loss of football coach Mel Tucker after one season to a much bigger paycheck from Michigan State of the Big Ten .
With the “ Joining the Pac ” series , The Denver Post sports department looked back at the reasons behind CU ’ s decision 10 years ago , examined what has happened in the intervening years and attempted to answer one question : Are the Buffs better off than they were in 2010 ?
The CU Buffs opted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Are they better off than they were in 2010 ?
• PART IV : Culture and rivals in the Pac-12 , coming Tuesday • PART V : What the future holds for CU , coming Wednesday Five don ’ t-miss stories from last week Fear of economic ruin makes Colorado leaders hesitant to issue stay-at-home order as COVID-19 spreads uncontrolled When Gov .
Jared Polis issued a statewide stay-at-home order in March , he did so with the knowledge that federal coronavirus relief — including $ 1,200 checks , $ 600 weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would buoy a wide range of Coloradans facing economic ruin and all that can come with it : hunger , housing instability , mental health crises , joblessness .
Read More… • Colorado tightens COVID-19 restrictions in 12 more counties as infections , hospitalizations reach new levels • Colorado could receive up to 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by year ’ s end , Polis says Democrats will control CU ’ s Board of Regents for the first time in 41 years .
What do they hope to accomplish ?
When Nolbert Chavez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color made the trek to the University of Colorado ’ s Boulder campus on a snowy night 20 years ago to talk diversity , equity and inclusion , the crew was met by faculty and students — but there was no leadership in sight .
Read More… • Coloradans elect first Muslim , first African immigrant to state legislature Homebuilders in metro Denver on track for an unexpectedly stellar year , despite pandemic Facing a slim inventory of existing homes for sale , Denver buyers are snapping up new homes at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebound so strong that it has caught local builders off guard .
Read More… • Denver ’ s historic Larimer Square could be sold to North Carolina real estate firm Just about any adult can run for coroner in Colorado .
Could that change ?
In 1857 , a committee with the American Medical Association recommended abolishing the elected coroner ’ s office and replacing it with a system of appointed medical officials .
But 163 years later , a system created in old England and called archaic before the Civil War remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of other states , driving one lawmaker and some death investigators to consider how the state can up its standards for an industry that few people want to talk about .
Read More… How to interpret Colorado ’ s mixed messaging about dining out right now This week , Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis sent a strong message to Coloradans : “ Colorado I love you , ” he wrote on his social media accounts , “ but you have to cancel your social plans the next few weeks.
” That message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 p.m. curfew .
Read More… See more great photos like this on The Denver Post ’ s Instagram account .
FULL STORY : “ We just did it ” : Meet two Colorado women who answered the call to serve their country during wartime

A decade ago, many thought the University of Colorado was abandoning a sinking ship when it decided to flee the Big 12 for the then-Pac-10.
Texas’ outsized influence over the Buffaloes’ longtime conference rubbed many members the wrong way, and it felt like only a matter of time before that fissure splintered the Big 12 into pieces. The Pac-10, headed by an ambitious new commissioner, Larry Scott, talked of a 16-school superconference spanning from the coast to the plains. It couldn’t have looked more stable by comparison.
That CU would look west, aligning itself with premier academic institutions such as UCLA, UC-Berkeley, USC and Stanford that also matched its more liberal culture, felt natural. It also felt safe.
Fast forward a decade later, and things haven’t quite played out as many imagined back in June 2010.
To begin with, that 16-team superconference never happened.
Despite the departures of CU, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Missouri, the Big 12’s remaining members coalesced around Texas and Oklahoma (because they had no choice), TCU and West Virginia joined the mix (because the conference needed 10 members), and the Big 12 name lived on (because branding).
As for that enterprising commissioner everyone was so fond of on the coast? Well, Scott bungled the launch of the Pac-12 Network, saddled the conference with disproportionately high overhead costs (including his own salary), and struck a media rights deal with ESPN and FOX that was quickly surpassed by its peers.
All of which conspired to put the Pac-12’s members at a competitive disadvantage in terms of revenue and resources — a reality that culminated for CU with the loss of football coach Mel Tucker after one season to a much bigger paycheck from Michigan State of the Big Ten.
With the “Joining the Pac” series, The Denver Post sports department looked back at the reasons behind CU’s decision 10 years ago, examined what has happened in the intervening years and attempted to answer one question: Are the Buffs better off than they were in 2010?
— Matt Schubert, The Denver Post
RELATED:
PART II: How lagging Pac-12 revenue affects CU
How lagging Pac-12 revenue affects CU PART III: Recruiting and the California gold rush, coming Monday
Recruiting and the California gold rush, coming Monday PART IV: Culture and rivals in the Pac-12, coming Tuesday
Culture and rivals in the Pac-12, coming Tuesday PART V: What the future holds for CU, coming Wednesday
Five don’t-miss stories from last week
When Gov. Jared Polis issued a statewide stay-at-home order in March, he did so with the knowledge that federal coronavirus relief — including $1,200 checks, $600 weekly unemployment benefits and small business loans — would buoy a wide range of Coloradans facing economic ruin and all that can come with it: hunger, housing instability, mental health crises, joblessness. Read More…
MORE COVID-19 COVERAGE:
When Nolbert Chavez and a group of fellow Colorado legislators of color made the trek to the University of Colorado’s Boulder campus on a snowy night 20 years ago to talk diversity, equity and inclusion, the crew was met by faculty and students — but there was no leadership in sight. Read More…
MORE POLITICS COVERAGE:
Facing a slim inventory of existing homes for sale, Denver buyers are snapping up new homes at the fastest pace in the country, a rebound so strong that it has caught local builders off guard. Read More…
RELATED:
In 1857, a committee with the American Medical Association recommended abolishing the elected coroner’s office and replacing it with a system of appointed medical officials. But 163 years later, a system created in old England and called archaic before the Civil War remains in place across Colorado and in a handful of other states, driving one lawmaker and some death investigators to consider how the state can up its standards for an industry that few people want to talk about. Read More…
This week, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis sent a strong message to Coloradans: “Colorado I love you,” he wrote on his social media accounts, “but you have to cancel your social plans the next few weeks.” That message came days after Denver County declared a 10 p.m. curfew. Read More…
Photo of the week
See more great photos like this on The Denver Post’s Instagram account.
FULL STORY: “We just did it”: Meet two Colorado women who answered the call to serve their country during wartime


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Deadline for Top Workplaces 2021 nominations extended

The deadline to nominate businesses for The Denver Post ’ s Top Workplaces 2021 contest has been extended to Dec. @ @ @ @ @ about 150 companies have signed up to have their employees take the Top Workplaces survey @ @ @ @ @ or more employees in Colorado — public , private , nonprofit or governmental — is @ @ @ @ @ are evaluated by their employees using a 24-question survey conducted by Energage , The Post @ @ @ @ @ Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 53 markets and surveyed more than 2 @ @ @ @ @ 7,000 organizations in the past year .
In The Post ’ s 2020 contest , @ @ @ @ @ of 240 companies surveyed .
More than 55,200 survey responses were received .
To nominate @ @ @ @ @ denverpost.com/nominate or call 303-261-8253 .

The deadline to nominate businesses for The Denver Post’s Top Workplaces 2021 contest has been extended to Dec. 18.
So far, about 150 companies have signed up to have their employees take the Top Workplaces survey.
Any organization with 50 or more employees in Colorado — public, private, nonprofit or governmental — is eligible to participate.
Workplaces are evaluated by their employees using a 24-question survey conducted by Energage, The Post’s research partner. Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 53 markets and surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 7,000 organizations in the past year.
In The Post’s 2020 contest, 150 winners were recognized out of 240 companies surveyed. More than 55,200 survey responses were received.
To nominate your company, go to denverpost.com/nominate or call 303-261-8253.


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Urban Peak provides much-needed respite for youth struggling with homelessness

Kadejah Venable ’ s experience with Urban Peak , a Denver nonprofit that helps young people experiencing or facing imminent homelessness , was life-altering for the 24-year-old mom .
What had become a life on the streets , with regular check-ins with a probation officer , has transformed into a situation where Venable has her own place and now holds a job with Urban Peak as a peer navigator .
In between , she lived in the organization ’ s shelter in south Denver and then in one of Urban Peak ’ s 68 units it offers in three apartment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed my life all around and showed me how much I need community in my life , ” she said .
Kelsey Antun , assistant director of programs at Urban Peak , said Venable is one of approximately 1,100 youth between the ages of 15 and 24 that the organization serves annually .
“ For our young folks , so many of them do a good job of blending in and not being seen , ” Antun said .
“ They hide themselves pretty well.
” But their needs are very real , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ place to start ” amid a disrupted and sometimes traumatic life — one often without stable housing or job prospects , she said .
“ They are still trying to figure out who they are , ” Antun said .
Urban Peak , founded in 1988 , is a part of The Denver Post Community Foundation ’ s Season to Share program .
Besides its short- and long-term apartment units , the organization runs a 40-person homeless shelter on South Acoma Street that addresses young people ’ s more immediate needs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ north of downtown Denver where 40 to 50 youth swing through on a daily basis .
The center serves hot meals and provides lockers to keep belongings safe .
It also has laundry facilities and showers and young people can use the center ’ s Stout Street location as a place to pick up mail .
The drop-in center also has a medical services coordinator , and a dental van pays a visit every other week .
Antun said educational services are offered , along with classes on life skills and employment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ services as we can in-house to connect those dots , ” she said .
Antun said Urban Peak doesn ’ t just wait for young people to come to them .
The organization , with 85 employees , also has a street outreach arm that goes to the places — libraries or the bus station , for example — where young people without a home tend to congregate in Denver .
Venable said it was a relief coming out of the shadows with Urban Peak ’ s help .
She hopes more people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is a population that a lot of people don ’ t want to acknowledge , ” she said .
“ It ’ s something we need to put an emphasis on more .
”

“It changed me 360.”
Kadejah Venable’s experience with Urban Peak, a Denver nonprofit that helps young people experiencing or facing imminent homelessness, was life-altering for the 24-year-old mom.
What had become a life on the streets, with regular check-ins with a probation officer, has transformed into a situation where Venable has her own place and now holds a job with Urban Peak as a peer navigator. In between, she lived in the organization’s shelter in south Denver and then in one of Urban Peak’s 68 units it offers in three apartment buildings in the city.
“It changed my life all around and showed me how much I need community in my life,” she said.
Kelsey Antun, assistant director of programs at Urban Peak, said Venable is one of approximately 1,100 youth between the ages of 15 and 24 that the organization serves annually.
“For our young folks, so many of them do a good job of blending in and not being seen,” Antun said. “They hide themselves pretty well.”
But their needs are very real, and Urban Peak represents for them a “place to start” amid a disrupted and sometimes traumatic life — one often without stable housing or job prospects, she said.
“They are still trying to figure out who they are,” Antun said.
Urban Peak, founded in 1988, is a part of The Denver Post Community Foundation’s Season to Share program. Besides its short- and long-term apartment units, the organization runs a 40-person homeless shelter on South Acoma Street that addresses young people’s more immediate needs.
It also has a drop-in center just north of downtown Denver where 40 to 50 youth swing through on a daily basis. The center serves hot meals and provides lockers to keep belongings safe. It also has laundry facilities and showers and young people can use the center’s Stout Street location as a place to pick up mail.
The drop-in center also has a medical services coordinator, and a dental van pays a visit every other week. Antun said educational services are offered, along with classes on life skills and employment.
“We try to bring as many services as we can in-house to connect those dots,” she said.
Antun said Urban Peak doesn’t just wait for young people to come to them. The organization, with 85 employees, also has a street outreach arm that goes to the places — libraries or the bus station, for example — where young people without a home tend to congregate in Denver.
Venable said it was a relief coming out of the shadows with Urban Peak’s help. She hopes more people facing similar challenges get the same assistance.
“This is a population that a lot of people don’t want to acknowledge,” she said. “It’s something we need to put an emphasis on more.”
URBAN PEAK
Address: 2100 Stout St., Denver, CO 80205
In operation since: 1988
Number of employees: 85 full time
Annual budget: $5.7 million


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Improving Investor Behavior: Legacy – the power of time and good behavior

Investing requires one belief above all others : that generally , the world will be a better place in the future than it is today .
It ’ s a disposition that is often at odds with daily news , political banter , and sometimes our belief system .
Yet as investors , we desire to be a part of something that grows over time and rewards those who participate .
This perspective drives a desire I often see among my multigenerational clientele — to leave a legacy .
Legacy usually means different things to different people .
For some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their children to pursue a course of work or study independent of income .
For others , it means sharing the value of a dollar : what someone had to do to earn it , protect it , and grow it over time .
Still , others find it ’ s a legacy of giving , ensuring that they help care for and participate in the community to generate the wealth .
But creating a legacy requires more than diligent savings and optimism .
It is a statement of values , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next that defines the “ why ” behind financial assets .
Handing over a considerable savings account without this understanding is often detrimental , and sometimes downright damaging .
Reflecting on examples , both those I ’ ve worked with and those from history , I am reminded of the book “ Fortune ’ s Children : The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt , ” written by a family member of one of the wealthiest Americans ever , Cornelius Vanderbilt ( 1794-1887 ) .
It is said that his wealth was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his empire , he would have claimed one in every 10 $ 20 bills at the time .
He was likely the first centimillionaire with more than $ 100 million .
That amount adjusted at today ’ s inflation rate would be some $ 220 billion .
His son William K. Vanderbilt ( 1848-1920 ) doubled the fortune to $ 440 Billion in the first 10 years of his inheritance .
Then , like many families who follow a similar pattern , not a single family member of the Vanderbilt ’ s was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were bypassed by the likes of the Rockefellers , the Carnegies , the Fords , and the Fricks , to name just a few .
Fifty years after William ’ s death , one of his descendants died broke .
In 1973 , 120 of the descendants of Cornelius Vanderbilt gathered at Vanderbilt University for the first family reunion , and not one of them was a millionaire .
The story is rather tragic because one of the financially largest American legacies evaporated in less than 100 years .
It is hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If you ’ re anything like me , you ’ d like to build and offer a meaningful legacy to the next generation .
My viewpoint of legacy is that wealth , if properly managed , ought to flow like a river , widening , deepening , getting more robust and powerful as it falls through generations .
Over time that river has the power to shape something as significant and impressive as the Grand Canyon .
That ’ s why we call our approach the Riverkeeper ’ s Formula .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Thrift – A discipline of living on less than you earn .
• Investment – Building ownership of businesses and assets that generate rising , repeatable cash flow .
• Personal Values – An understanding of family values that drives the continued growth and protection of those assets for future generations .
This simple formula acts as a three-legged stool .
Without one leg , the stool falls over .
People who love their family , who love their children , and especially their grandchildren , understand the value of leaving a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandchildren about the family values you want them to know .
You have lived those values .
Name them and remind your family of them .
It is a way to share your love .
Those families who do not have children , find a charity or a cause to share your legacy .
Think about yourself as the Riverkeeper for your family .
Like all rivers , a trickle can become a force that , with time and persistence , carves a landscape as deep as the Grand Canyon .
Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather be guided by faith .
Putting money to work begins the magic of compounding and creating a snowball : earnings on top of earnings .
The magic of compound interest , both in terms of accumulation and compounding , increases your income and adds to the flow of your river .
Tend to your river .
Protect it , grow it , and pass its care on to the next generation .
This is how you create a legacy for generations to come .
Steve Booren is the founder of Prosperion Financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author of “ Intelligent Investing : Your Guide to a Growing Retirement Income , ” published in March 2019 .

Investing requires one belief above all others: that generally, the world will be a better place in the future than it is today. It’s a disposition that is often at odds with daily news, political banter, and sometimes our belief system. Yet as investors, we desire to be a part of something that grows over time and rewards those who participate.
This perspective drives a desire I often see among my multigenerational clientele — to leave a legacy. Legacy usually means different things to different people. For some, it means leaving the financial resources for their children to pursue a course of work or study independent of income. For others, it means sharing the value of a dollar: what someone had to do to earn it, protect it, and grow it over time. Still, others find it’s a legacy of giving, ensuring that they help care for and participate in the community to generate the wealth.
But creating a legacy requires more than diligent savings and optimism. It is a statement of values, a transfer of understanding from one generation to the next that defines the “why” behind financial assets. Handing over a considerable savings account without this understanding is often detrimental, and sometimes downright damaging.
Reflecting on examples, both those I’ve worked with and those from history, I am reminded of the book “Fortune’s Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt,” written by a family member of one of the wealthiest Americans ever, Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1887). It is said that his wealth was so grand that if he cashed in his empire, he would have claimed one in every 10 $20 bills at the time. He was likely the first centimillionaire with more than $100 million. That amount adjusted at today’s inflation rate would be some $220 billion. His son William K. Vanderbilt (1848-1920) doubled the fortune to $440 Billion in the first 10 years of his inheritance.
Then, like many families who follow a similar pattern, not a single family member of the Vanderbilt’s was among the richest in America. They were bypassed by the likes of the Rockefellers, the Carnegies, the Fords, and the Fricks, to name just a few. Fifty years after William’s death, one of his descendants died broke. In 1973, 120 of the descendants of Cornelius Vanderbilt gathered at Vanderbilt University for the first family reunion, and not one of them was a millionaire. The story is rather tragic because one of the financially largest American legacies evaporated in less than 100 years. It is hard to fathom how it could have happened.
If you’re anything like me, you’d like to build and offer a meaningful legacy to the next generation. My viewpoint of legacy is that wealth, if properly managed, ought to flow like a river, widening, deepening, getting more robust and powerful as it falls through generations. Over time that river has the power to shape something as significant and impressive as the Grand Canyon. That’s why we call our approach the Riverkeeper’s Formula. It’s based on three key ideas:
Thrift – A discipline of living on less than you earn. Investment – Building ownership of businesses and assets that generate rising, repeatable cash flow. Personal Values – An understanding of family values that drives the continued growth and protection of those assets for future generations.
This simple formula acts as a three-legged stool. Without one leg, the stool falls over. People who love their family, who love their children, and especially their grandchildren, understand the value of leaving a legacy. Write to your children and grandchildren about the family values you want them to know. You have lived those values. Name them and remind your family of them. It is a way to share your love. Those families who do not have children, find a charity or a cause to share your legacy.
Think about yourself as the Riverkeeper for your family. Like all rivers, a trickle can become a force that, with time and persistence, carves a landscape as deep as the Grand Canyon. Don’t be driven by fear, but rather be guided by faith. Putting money to work begins the magic of compounding and creating a snowball: earnings on top of earnings. The magic of compound interest, both in terms of accumulation and compounding, increases your income and adds to the flow of your river.
Tend to your river. Protect it, grow it, and pass its care on to the next generation. This is how you create a legacy for generations to come.
Steve Booren is the founder of Prosperion Financial Advisors in Greenwood Village. He is the author of “Intelligent Investing: Your Guide to a Growing Retirement Income,” published in March 2019.


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Could Denver make another run at record warmth this week?

Colorado is well known for its abrupt weather swings , and another one is set to take place in the coming days .
The cold , winter-like winds and mountain snow of this weekend will soon be another distant memory .
As winds shift to a milder , southwesterly direction and the sunshine returns , temperatures in northeast Colorado will be propelled 10 to 20 degrees above normal over the next several days .
This translates into a stretch of highs in the middle to upper 60s for Denver and the urban corridor .
This latest November warm-up is being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a high amplitude pattern .
The jet stream across the United States is becoming quite wavy this week .
The big dip in the jet stream will be sending a shot of winter-like chill into the eastern states , while a large ridge builds over the Rockies .
The Front Range will be under the crest of this high-pressure ridge at midweek .
This is when the warm pattern will start to reach its peak , and when some thermometers could surpass the 70-degree mark once again .
Normal highs this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whenever highs start approaching 20 degrees above normal , you need to begin thinking about records being in jeopardy .
Here are the current records to beat in Denver later this week : The outstanding records for Wednesday and Thursday look to be well out of reach .
If the warmth lingers into Friday , the current record high of 72° could easily be challenged .

Colorado is well known for its abrupt weather swings, and another one is set to take place in the coming days. The cold, winter-like winds and mountain snow of this weekend will soon be another distant memory.
As winds shift to a milder, southwesterly direction and the sunshine returns, temperatures in northeast Colorado will be propelled 10 to 20 degrees above normal over the next several days. This translates into a stretch of highs in the middle to upper 60s for Denver and the urban corridor.
This latest November warm-up is being driven by something that meteorologists refer to as a high amplitude pattern. The jet stream across the United States is becoming quite wavy this week. The big dip in the jet stream will be sending a shot of winter-like chill into the eastern states, while a large ridge builds over the Rockies.
The Front Range will be under the crest of this high-pressure ridge at midweek. This is when the warm pattern will start to reach its peak, and when some thermometers could surpass the 70-degree mark once again.
Normal highs this time of year are in the lower 50s. Whenever highs start approaching 20 degrees above normal, you need to begin thinking about records being in jeopardy.
Here are the current records to beat in Denver later this week:
Wed. Nov. 18: 78°, 2008
Thu. Nov. 19: 79°, 1989
Fri. Nov. 20: 72°, 2006
The outstanding records for Wednesday and Thursday look to be well out of reach. If the warmth lingers into Friday, the current record high of 72° could easily be challenged.


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Kiszla: Ten years after joining Pac-12, Buffs look as out of place as Ralphie wearing a Speedo on th

Kiszla: Ten years after joining Pac-12, Buffs look as out of place as Ralphie wearing a Speedo on the beach

You can put a buffalo in a Speedo , but can ’ t make Ralphie look at home on the beach .
Ten years ago , the University of Colorado sold a century of athletic tradition for a spot in the Pac-12 .
A decade later , the Buffs find themselves in a hairy situation , with no meaningful rival in a league struggling to maintain its prestige in the big-money sports of football and men ’ s basketball .
Mike Bohn was the CU athletic director in 2010 .
He was also Jed Clampett , relentlessly selling the idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ought to be .
Swimming pools .
Movie stars .
Goodbye , Stillwater .
Hello , Hollywood .
We were told the Pac-12 had become a better cultural fit for Colorado .
And maybe that was the definition of progress in a Rocky Mountain state that preferred to be recognized for aerospace and LoDo nightlife , even if it meant disavowing its hardscrabble past of ore-digging and cowboy bars .
“ It was never about any disrespect to any member of the Big 12 .
It was more about that fundamental positioning and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Bohn told my Denver Post colleague Sean Keeler .
Ten years ago , I argued long and hard with Bohn that paying a multimillion-dollar exit fee to forsake neighbors in the Big 12 was a mistake unlikely to pay dividends for CU on the field , the court or in the athletic department ’ s bank account .
A decade later , anyone willing to take an honest look can see a Speedo emblazoned with a Pac-12 logo still looks wrong on Ralphie .
I was lectured 10 years ago that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Pac-12 , because the Buffs were not only sick and tired of seeing Kansas State suit up and play C-prep students but those greedy Texas Longhorns always grabbed an unfairly big piece of financial pie .
And one more thing : A regional sports network , promoted by slick-talking Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott , would have CU rolling in dough .
Well , other than trips to Palo Alto , Calif. , being a whole lot more scenic than hitting the road for Manhattan , Kan. , how ’ s that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Since 2011 , K-State not only recruited current Broncos offensive lineman and Wiggins High School alum Dalton Risner right out from under CU ’ s nose , those dastardly Wildcats have made eight bowl appearances to the Buffs ’ one .
And should we mention the Big 12 put in excess of $ 38 million in the coffers of K-State ’ s athletic department compared to the $ 32.2 million Colorado took home from the Pac-12 during fiscal year 2018-2019 ?
Or would that be cruel ?
That ’ s how the folly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been privately cursed though the years from inside the CU athletic department .
Whether it was former CU football coach Mike MacIntyre griping that having Colorado regularly kick off conference games after 8 p.m. was a disservice to his athletes ’ academic health , or the fact a worthy Heisman Trophy campaign for the brilliant 2015 season of Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey got lost in the dead of night , it ’ s hard to argue the Pac-12 has had the best interest of its student-athletes at heart in a shameless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel really entrenched in the Pac-12 , ” current CU athletic director Rick George insists .
Bill McCartney became the greatest coach in CU history by picking a fight with the Big Red from Nebraska and winning a national championship in 1990 .
He turned Boulder into a football beacon luring top-flight recruits from Texas to California , including Alfred Williams and Eric Bieniemy , who won national championship rings .
A decade ago , however , the Buffs wearied of roaming the plains .
So they doubled down on monetizing out-of-state tuition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get in Stanford and checked into the Hotel California , lured by the shimmering lights dangled by Scott , who somehow keeps his job .
Since 2011 , Oregon is the only team in a league that touts itself the Conference of Champions that has appeared in the Final Four .
The Ducks are also the lone Pac-12 football team to play in the national championship game during that time frame .
A decade ago , McCartney swore to me the move would be a bonanza for the CU football program .
Ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a boondoggle .
That 1990 national championship seems like a long time ago for the University of California at Boulder .

You can put a buffalo in a Speedo, but can’t make Ralphie look at home on the beach.
Ten years ago, the University of Colorado sold a century of athletic tradition for a spot in the Pac-12.
A decade later, the Buffs find themselves in a hairy situation, with no meaningful rival in a league struggling to maintain its prestige in the big-money sports of football and men’s basketball.
Mike Bohn was the CU athletic director in 2010. He was also Jed Clampett, relentlessly selling the idea that Californy was the place the Buffs ought to be. Swimming pools. Movie stars. Goodbye, Stillwater. Hello, Hollywood.
We were told the Pac-12 had become a better cultural fit for Colorado. And maybe that was the definition of progress in a Rocky Mountain state that preferred to be recognized for aerospace and LoDo nightlife, even if it meant disavowing its hardscrabble past of ore-digging and cowboy bars.
“It was never about any disrespect to any member of the Big 12. It was more about that fundamental positioning and the profile of CU in the West,” Bohn told my Denver Post colleague Sean Keeler.
Ten years ago, I argued long and hard with Bohn that paying a multimillion-dollar exit fee to forsake neighbors in the Big 12 was a mistake unlikely to pay dividends for CU on the field, the court or in the athletic department’s bank account.
A decade later, anyone willing to take an honest look can see a Speedo emblazoned with a Pac-12 logo still looks wrong on Ralphie.
I was lectured 10 years ago that CU had little choice but to bolt for the Pac-12, because the Buffs were not only sick and tired of seeing Kansas State suit up and play C-prep students but those greedy Texas Longhorns always grabbed an unfairly big piece of financial pie.
And one more thing: A regional sports network, promoted by slick-talking Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, would have CU rolling in dough.
Well, other than trips to Palo Alto, Calif., being a whole lot more scenic than hitting the road for Manhattan, Kan., how’s that working out for you, Buffs?
Since 2011, K-State not only recruited current Broncos offensive lineman and Wiggins High School alum Dalton Risner right out from under CU’s nose, those dastardly Wildcats have made eight bowl appearances to the Buffs’ one.
And should we mention the Big 12 put in excess of $38 million in the coffers of K-State’s athletic department compared to the $32.2 million Colorado took home from the Pac-12 during fiscal year 2018-2019? Or would that be cruel?
The Pac-12 Network Debacle.
That’s how the folly of Scott’s regional sports network has been privately cursed though the years from inside the CU athletic department.
Whether it was former CU football coach Mike MacIntyre griping that having Colorado regularly kick off conference games after 8 p.m. was a disservice to his athletes’ academic health, or the fact a worthy Heisman Trophy campaign for the brilliant 2015 season of Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey got lost in the dead of night, it’s hard to argue the Pac-12 has had the best interest of its student-athletes at heart in a shameless pursuit of TV revenue.
“We feel really entrenched in the Pac-12,” current CU athletic director Rick George insists.
Entrenched? Or stuck?
Bill McCartney became the greatest coach in CU history by picking a fight with the Big Red from Nebraska and winning a national championship in 1990. He turned Boulder into a football beacon luring top-flight recruits from Texas to California, including Alfred Williams and Eric Bieniemy, who won national championship rings.
A decade ago, however, the Buffs wearied of roaming the plains. So they doubled down on monetizing out-of-state tuition from SoCal students without the grades to get in Stanford and checked into the Hotel California, lured by the shimmering lights dangled by Scott, who somehow keeps his job.
Since 2011, Oregon is the only team in a league that touts itself the Conference of Champions that has appeared in the Final Four. The Ducks are also the lone Pac-12 football team to play in the national championship game during that time frame.
A decade ago, McCartney swore to me the move would be a bonanza for the CU football program.
Ten years later, the deal seems more like a boondoggle.
That 1990 national championship seems like a long time ago for the University of California at Boulder.


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Larry Scott has CU Buffs, Pac-12 peers playing the long game. But will it pay off?

Editor ’ s note : Part of a series looking back at CU ’ s decision to join the Pac-12 a decade ago .
Larry Scott is banking on the long game .
Banking that a pot of gold , in the form of media dollars , will be landing in the laps of the CU Buffs and their Pac-12 peers as soon as 2023 .
Or 2024 .
All he asks is that conference members keep hanging in there , keep gripping to that ledge .
Even as the coronavirus threatens to take an aluminum bat to each finger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is on the ( COVID ) crisis in front of us , and the health and safety of our student-athletes , ” Scott , the Pac-12 ’ s commissioner , told The Denver Post recently .
“ But more broadly , we ’ ve been very focused on ( any ) short-term and long-term efforts we can make to put our schools in the best position possible to financially compete.
” Which was a problem even before COVID-19 wrecked the sports landscape .
Colorado received approximately $ 32.2 million in revenue distributed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a USA Today report from this past July .
But that number is dwarfed by what former Big 12 peers Nebraska ( $ 55.6 million ) and Texas A & M ( $ 45.3 million ) received from the Big Ten and SEC , respectively , during that same period .
And the numbers for 2020 , given the impact of the coronavirus , aren ’ t expected to be kind , either .
With the failure of the Pac-12 Network to deliver as promised over the past decade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national imprint , Scott has come under increased pressure within league circles .
Not helping his case is the fact he ’ s the highest-paid commissioner in college sports , making upwards of $ 5.4 million a year — a number Scott argues is justified by his dual roles as both the conference ’ s commissioner and chief executive of the Pac-12 Network .
Making matters worse from a public relations standpoint is that Scott green-lit $ 4 million in performance bonuses for himself and other league executives after the pandemic hit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those came before a second round of furloughs and layoffs that affected roughly half the employees at the league ’ s San Francisco headquarters , decimating both the conference ’ s digital team and the Pac-12 Network .
( Some of the furloughed employees have since been brought back to prepare for the basketball season . )
Of course , Scott has never been shy about compensation .
Or ambition .
It was the former professional tennis player and chairman of the Women ’ s Tennis Association who announced , 10 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanding to 16 schools .
The conference eventually plucked CU from the Big 12 and Utah from the Mountain West in June 2010 .
Nearly a year later in May 2011 , Scott helped shepherd a 12-year , $ 3 billion broadcasting rights deal with ESPN and Fox — the largest deal of its kind at the time for a collegiate conference .
But as bright as the future appeared then for Scott , the Pac-12 and its TV plans , it didn ’ t take long for dark clouds to form on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sins for a CEO : overpromising and underdelivering , both of which happened with the Pac 12 Network .
The network was birthed in July 2011 .
About five months later , Scott signed an 11-year lease on a 70,000-square-foot space of pricy downtown San Francisco real estate to house the network and league offices .
While the Big Ten Network partnered with FOX and the SEC Network with ESPN , Scott opted to run and distribute the Pac-12 Network independently — a decision that to date has backfired .
At its 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 48 million homes .
The best estimates are that it ’ s actually seen in fewer than 20 million homes nationwide .
Despite Scott repeatedly touting the channel ’ s independence as a strength , few are buying that line anymore .
“ No media company wanted to partner with the Pac-12 ( at the outset ) … we weren ’ t wanted , ” a league official told the Oregonian recently , asking for anonymity to protect their job .
Fast forward a decade later , and Scott still has yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which reached 16.3 million homes in 2019 .
The channel was also dropped from AT & T ’ s U-verse in December 2018 .
League athletic directors were told the Pac-12 Network could bring in as much as $ 3 million to $ 10 million in annual revenue per school , according to a 2019 investigation by the Mercury News ’ Jon Wilner .
But that figure had only maxed out to $ 2.67 million as of 2018 , according to league sources in the report .
Moreover , internal records showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just $ 9.7 million total for each conference member , and that ’ s without subtracting what schools needed to pay in order to buy back local broadcast rights .
More recently , the conference ’ s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has come under scrutiny , as the league followed the Big Ten in canceling its fall football season in early August , then backtracked a month later after the Big Ten did the same .
Scott called the conference ’ s deal with Quidel Corporation — one he did not reveal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership — to implement daily testing a “ game changer.
” But two weeks into the coronavirus-shortened season , four games have already been canceled .
“ I don ’ t know how Larry Scott still has a job , I really don ’ t , ” ESPN/SEC Network commentator Paul Finebaum said .
“ He ’ s become a punch line .
I don ’ t know exactly how much of the lack of success for ( Pac-12 ) programs across the board can be laid at his feet .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surely , that can be laid at his footsteps.
” Scott ’ s salary , and reported $ 2.5 million bonus this year , has drawn the wrong kind of attention for a league that consistently underperforms in relation to its Power 5 peers in the two biggest revenue sports — football and men ’ s basketball .
So , too , does the cost of the league ’ s headquarters and network , which were rented for $ 6.9 million in 2019 , with another $ 11.7 million deferred .
By comparison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.5 million and the SEC $ 1 million for annual rent at offices in Rosemont , Ill. , and Birmingham , Ala. , respectively .
None of which helps the commissioner exude much sympathy from the Buffs ’ fan base .
Alex Passett , president of the Forever Buffs Kansas City alumni club , provided a simple example of the frustrations he and other CU alums feel , especially if they live outside the league ’ s footprint .
Passett said only three sports bars in the greater Kansas City region , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , make the Pac-12 Network available for game-watch parties .
On a scale of 1-5 , with “ 5 ” being best , the CU alum said he ’ d grade Scott ’ s performance “ as a 2.
” “ And it really boils down to the fact , for 10 years , CU has been promised money , and fans and alums have been promised DirecTV , ” Passett said .
“ And neither thing has been delivered.
” Scott , meanwhile , continues to preach patience .
The Pac-12 ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cable-and-satellite services that haven ’ t embraced the league have also been hemorrhaging subscribers as fans increasingly turn to streaming services .
The conference has contracts with two such providers , Sling and fuboTV , and has had talks with digital giants such as Amazon and Facebook in regards to future media rights .
“ Long-term , we feel we ’ re very well-placed with all our television rights coming up in 2024 , and the value of college sports — football and basketball in particular — continue to rise , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel very , very good about our competitive position.
” CU fans will believe it when they can see it .
And just like with the Pac-12 Network , it ’ s easier said than done .

Larry Scott is banking on the long game.
Banking that a pot of gold, in the form of media dollars, will be landing in the laps of the CU Buffs and their Pac-12 peers as soon as 2023. Or 2024. All he asks is that conference members keep hanging in there, keep gripping to that ledge. Even as the coronavirus threatens to take an aluminum bat to each finger.
“Our primary focus right now is on the (COVID) crisis in front of us, and the health and safety of our student-athletes,” Scott, the Pac-12’s commissioner, told The Denver Post recently. “But more broadly, we’ve been very focused on (any) short-term and long-term efforts we can make to put our schools in the best position possible to financially compete.”
Which was a problem even before COVID-19 wrecked the sports landscape.
Colorado received approximately $32.2 million in revenue distributed from the Pac-12 for the 2019 fiscal year, according to a USA Today report from this past July. But that number is dwarfed by what former Big 12 peers Nebraska ($55.6 million) and Texas A&M ($45.3 million) received from the Big Ten and SEC, respectively, during that same period.
And the numbers for 2020, given the impact of the coronavirus, aren’t expected to be kind, either.
With the failure of the Pac-12 Network to deliver as promised over the past decade, and conference football teams rarely making a national imprint, Scott has come under increased pressure within league circles. Not helping his case is the fact he’s the highest-paid commissioner in college sports, making upwards of $5.4 million a year — a number Scott argues is justified by his dual roles as both the conference’s commissioner and chief executive of the Pac-12 Network.
Making matters worse from a public relations standpoint is that Scott green-lit $4 million in performance bonuses for himself and other league executives after the pandemic hit, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Those came before a second round of furloughs and layoffs that affected roughly half the employees at the league’s San Francisco headquarters, decimating both the conference’s digital team and the Pac-12 Network. (Some of the furloughed employees have since been brought back to prepare for the basketball season.)
Of course, Scott has never been shy about compensation. Or ambition.
It was the former professional tennis player and chairman of the Women’s Tennis Association who announced, 10 years ago, that the then-Pac-10 would consider expanding to 16 schools. The conference eventually plucked CU from the Big 12 and Utah from the Mountain West in June 2010.
Nearly a year later in May 2011, Scott helped shepherd a 12-year, $3 billion broadcasting rights deal with ESPN and Fox — the largest deal of its kind at the time for a collegiate conference.
But as bright as the future appeared then for Scott, the Pac-12 and its TV plans, it didn’t take long for dark clouds to form on the horizon.
Pac-12 Network troubles
There are two cardinal sins for a CEO: overpromising and underdelivering, both of which happened with the Pac 12 Network.
The network was birthed in July 2011. About five months later, Scott signed an 11-year lease on a 70,000-square-foot space of pricy downtown San Francisco real estate to house the network and league offices.
While the Big Ten Network partnered with FOX and the SEC Network with ESPN, Scott opted to run and distribute the Pac-12 Network independently — a decision that to date has backfired. At its 2012 launch, the league promised a reach of 48 million homes. The best estimates are that it’s actually seen in fewer than 20 million homes nationwide.
Despite Scott repeatedly touting the channel’s independence as a strength, few are buying that line anymore.
“No media company wanted to partner with the Pac-12 (at the outset) … we weren’t wanted,” a league official told the Oregonian recently, asking for anonymity to protect their job.
Fast forward a decade later, and Scott still has yet to reach a distribution agreement with DirecTV, which reached 16.3 million homes in 2019. The channel was also dropped from AT&T’s U-verse in December 2018.
League athletic directors were told the Pac-12 Network could bring in as much as $3 million to $10 million in annual revenue per school, according to a 2019 investigation by the Mercury News’ Jon Wilner. But that figure had only maxed out to $2.67 million as of 2018, according to league sources in the report. Moreover, internal records showed network revenues from 2014-2018 added up to just $9.7 million total for each conference member, and that’s without subtracting what schools needed to pay in order to buy back local broadcast rights.
More recently, the conference’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has come under scrutiny, as the league followed the Big Ten in canceling its fall football season in early August, then backtracked a month later after the Big Ten did the same. Scott called the conference’s deal with Quidel Corporation — one he did not reveal to athletic directors prior to announcing the partnership — to implement daily testing a “game changer.” But two weeks into the coronavirus-shortened season, four games have already been canceled.
“I don’t know how Larry Scott still has a job, I really don’t,” ESPN/SEC Network commentator Paul Finebaum said. “He’s become a punch line. I don’t know exactly how much of the lack of success for (Pac-12) programs across the board can be laid at his feet. But there’s a lot of it, surely, that can be laid at his footsteps.”
Wrong kind of attention
Scott’s salary, and reported $2.5 million bonus this year, has drawn the wrong kind of attention for a league that consistently underperforms in relation to its Power 5 peers in the two biggest revenue sports — football and men’s basketball.
So, too, does the cost of the league’s headquarters and network, which were rented for $6.9 million in 2019, with another $11.7 million deferred. By comparison, the Big Ten reportedly pays $1.5 million and the SEC $1 million for annual rent at offices in Rosemont, Ill., and Birmingham, Ala., respectively.
None of which helps the commissioner exude much sympathy from the Buffs’ fan base. Alex Passett, president of the Forever Buffs Kansas City alumni club, provided a simple example of the frustrations he and other CU alums feel, especially if they live outside the league’s footprint. Passett said only three sports bars in the greater Kansas City region, a market with a population of 2.34 million, make the Pac-12 Network available for game-watch parties.
On a scale of 1-5, with “5” being best, the CU alum said he’d grade Scott’s performance “as a 2.”
“And it really boils down to the fact, for 10 years, CU has been promised money, and fans and alums have been promised DirecTV,” Passett said. “And neither thing has been delivered.”
Scott, meanwhile, continues to preach patience. The Pac-12’s current broadcast deals expire in 2024. Cable-and-satellite services that haven’t embraced the league have also been hemorrhaging subscribers as fans increasingly turn to streaming services. The conference has contracts with two such providers, Sling and fuboTV, and has had talks with digital giants such as Amazon and Facebook in regards to future media rights.
“Long-term, we feel we’re very well-placed with all our television rights coming up in 2024, and the value of college sports — football and basketball in particular — continue to rise,” Scott said. “Long-term, we feel very, very good about our competitive position.”
CU fans will believe it when they can see it. And just like with the Pac-12 Network, it’s easier said than done.


thedenverpost--2020-11-17--Colorado Gov. Jared Polis plans to call special legislative session on COVID-19 relief

Colorado state lawmakers are preparing for Gov .
Jared Polis to call a special session focused on COVID-19 relief .
Top Democratic officials in both chambers of the statehouse say they and the governor ’ s office have been in talks for weeks on a possible special session , and that the failure of Congress to pass any recent federal stimulus package has added urgency to those talks of late .
The governor is expected to announce this move as early as Tuesday .
His office did not immediately respond Monday night to a request for comment .
Senate Majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special session is “ likely ” at this point , “ given the ( COVID-19 ) surge and the impact it ’ s having not just on families , but small businesses.
” Special sessions must be limited to a narrow set of topics .
Fenberg and House Speaker KC Becker , D-Boulder , said they expect those topics would include housing , child care and small business relief .
“ With this rise in COVID cases we are anticipating that there are tough times ahead for Coloradans , ” Becker said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping Congress would do more .
Without Congress stepping in , we ’ re talking about how and where and when we step in .
We ’ ve had several of those conversations with the governor ’ s office .
We started talking to Republicans more about it today.
” In a statement Monday evening , Senate GOP spokesman Sage Naumann said , “ We are just learning of the possibility of a special session and can confirm that these conversations are occurring .
We will have more to share in the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control both chambers of the legislature , and Polis is also a Democrat .
Polis can , as governor , suspend certain state statutes , but his executive power is limited , even in a state of emergency .
The legislature can make new laws and also has oversight of General Fund spending in the state .
The legislature ’ s regular session is slated to open Jan. 13 .
At that point , new members will join , but a special session will feature current members , including those who are term-limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not clear yet when , exactly , the legislature would begin the special session .
Lawmakers told The Post that those talks were still ongoing as of Monday/

Colorado state lawmakers are preparing for Gov. Jared Polis to call a special session focused on COVID-19 relief.
Top Democratic officials in both chambers of the statehouse say they and the Democratic governor’s office have been in talks for weeks on a possible special session, and that the failure of Congress to pass a new federal stimulus package has added urgency to those talks of late.
Polis is expected to announce the move as early as Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, said a special session is “likely” at this point, “given the (COVID-19) surge and the impact it’s having not just on families, but small businesses.”
The governor’s office, asked about the possibility of a special session, released this statement from Polis and Democratic legislative leaders: “Legislative leaders and the Governor’s office have been having productive conversations on how we can step up to help provide additional relief to Colorado businesses and hardworking families during these challenging times.”
Special sessions must be limited to a narrow set of topics. Fenberg and House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, said they expect those topics to include housing, child care and small business relief.
“With this rise in COVID cases we are anticipating that there are tough times ahead for Coloradans,” Becker said. “We’ve been obviously hoping Congress would do more. Without Congress stepping in, we’re talking about how and where and when we step in. We’ve had several of those conversations with the governor’s office. We started talking to Republicans more about it today.”
In a statement Monday evening, Senate GOP spokesman Sage Naumann said, “We are just learning of the possibility of a special session and can confirm that these conversations are occurring. We will have more to share in the coming days as we learn more.”
Democrats control both chambers of the legislature.
As governor, Polis can suspend certain state statutes, but his executive power is limited, even in a state of emergency. The legislature can make new laws and also has oversight of general fund spending.
A special session held this year would include lawmakers who were term-limited or otherwise not reelected. Members elected earlier this month will take office in January, when the next legislative session will begin.
It’s not yet clear when the special session would begin, lawmakers told The Post.


thedenverpost--2020-11-17--Body recovered from Clear Creek Reservoir where canoe capsized with two teens

Divers recovered a body from the water at Clear Creek Reservoir State Wildlife Area on Monday following a two-day search for a teenager who went missing from a capsized canoe .
The body , recovered by divers from the Pueblo County Sheriff ’ s Search and Rescue Team , will be identified by the Chaffee County Coroner ’ s office .
At about 5 p.m. Saturday , officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife began search-and-rescue efforts at the 407-acre lake , about 15 miles north of Buena Vista , after a report of two boys being tossed in the water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a CPW news release .
The pair had been duck hunting .
The father of one boy , who arrived on scene at about the same time as CPS officers , swam out to the canoe and “ was able to grab one of the boys , ” the release said .
As he struggled in 33-degree water and 20 mph winds , CPW officers Kevin Madler and Zach Baker “ entered the water to save both the man and boy.
” First responders were unable to find the other boy .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boat ensued , including the use of sonar , until about 4 a.m. Sunday , CPW said .
An underwater drone with sonar lights and a video camera was brought in on Sunday morning and efforts continue until dusk Sunday .
At about 12:30 p.m. on Monday , a body was discovered in water about 25 feet deep and 270 yards from shore .
“ We offer our condolences to the family of this young man , ” said Jim Aragon , a CPW area wildlife manager , in the release .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragically .
This was a terrible accident .
”

Divers recovered a body from the water at Clear Creek Reservoir State Wildlife Area on Monday following a two-day search for a teenager who went missing from a capsized canoe.
News Update: CPW search team locates body in Clear Creek Reservoir where a teen duck hunter was reported missing Saturday night. https://t.co/oQgMNKmEME pic.twitter.com/XasJwh01ve — CPW SE Region (@CPW_SE) November 16, 2020
The body, recovered by divers from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, will be identified by the Chaffee County Coroner’s office.
At about 5 p.m. Saturday, officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife began search-and-rescue efforts at the 407-acre lake, about 15 miles north of Buena Vista, after a report of two boys being tossed in the water when their canoe flipped, according to a CPW news release. The pair had been duck hunting.
The father of one boy, who arrived on scene at about the same time as CPS officers, swam out to the canoe and “was able to grab one of the boys,” the release said. As he struggled in 33-degree water and 20 mph winds, CPW officers Kevin Madler and Zach Baker “entered the water to save both the man and boy.”
First responders were unable to find the other boy. A search with jet skis and a rescue boat ensued, including the use of sonar, until about 4 a.m. Sunday, CPW said. An underwater drone with sonar lights and a video camera was brought in on Sunday morning and efforts continue until dusk Sunday.
At about 12:30 p.m. on Monday, a body was discovered in water about 25 feet deep and 270 yards from shore.
“We offer our condolences to the family of this young man,” said Jim Aragon, a CPW area wildlife manager, in the release. “We hate seeing a life lost so tragically. This was a terrible accident.”