thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Men promised a woman for Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat. Is that what women want?

In 1993 , when Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg was nominated to the Supreme Court , then-Sen. Joe Biden thanked her for saving his daughter “ from having to be the second woman nominee to the Supreme Court.
” She was confirmed with overwhelming bipartisan support .
Twenty-seven years later , as Ginsburg ’ s death roils the country and injects new uncertainty into an already bitter presidential race , one element is all but certain : The country will soon have a fifth woman appointed to the Supreme Court .
Biden , now the Democratic candidate for president , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appoint the first Black woman to the Court should he have the chance .
President Donald Trump , who is expected to make an actual nomination this week , has made a similar promise .
He , too , plans to name a woman — “ a very talented , very brilliant woman.
” The proclamations from both men about how each would replace Ginsburg , a pioneering force for gender equality on the court , have reflected conspicuous signaling by both parties as they rush to appeal to crucial constituencies before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional political tactic : One way to seek to appeal to women is with women , as surrogates and in positions of power .
But that approach has stirred complicated feelings in women across the country — and it may not be the most effective .
“ Public opinion surveys about political candidates have shown that women have a slight preference for other women , and men have a slight preference for other men , but the more popular response is , ‘ It depends , ’ or , ‘ It doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of Trump ’ s longest-serving aides and a veteran Republican strategist , said in an interview .
“ There is a difference between sharing my gender and the more consequential sharing my values , principles and positions on issues.
” In interviews with voters , lawyers and female leaders across the political spectrum , some women were strongly enthusiastic about the pledges to elevate a woman , some resignedly saw them as flawed but necessary and others harbored concerns of being condescended to and having a significant appointment cheapened .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s crucial , ” said Eileen Letts , a former co-chair of the American Bar Association ’ s commission on diversity and inclusion and a partner at the firm Zuber Lawler .
“ But in the situation of the Supreme Court , one has to be more careful and more vigilant because a woman of certain ideological beliefs may not be the best person for other women.
” Adding to the heated dynamics is the battle over women ’ s reproductive rights that is almost certain to take place .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roe v. Wade , the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide , a galvanizing issue for activists in both parties — especially women , for whom the issue is deeply personal .
Even before Biden secured the Democratic nomination , he promised to name a woman as his vice president and appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court as a way to appeal to the liberal , diverse coalitions within his party as a white man belonging to the Washington establishment .
His commitments were in line with his record : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolved than many colleagues to surround himself with accomplished women , and he still to this day considers the Violence Against Women Act his signature legislative achievement .
Trump and the Republican Party , too , have made pointed appeals in seeking to recast the president ’ s record on gender and race .
At their convention last month , they lined up women to testify that the president was — in private — sensitive and sympathetic , and they stretched to find African Americans who insisted he was not racist .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Democratic nominee , Republicans took aim at Biden ’ s public commitments to appoint women to powerful positions — even if weeks later Trump would designate Ginsburg ’ s seat for someone of her same gender .
“ I don ’ t want a job because of my gender ; I want the job because I ’ m the best person for that position .
That ’ s it , ” Kimberly Guilfoyle , a senior fundraising official for the Trump campaign and former Fox News host , said at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that.
” Yet among Democratic women , the debate over Biden ’ s pledge has been particularly acute as the party wrestles with how to reflect in its leadership the diversity of its base .
Since Trump ’ s election in 2016 , women , young people and minorities have energized the Democratic Party and run for office in historic numbers .
A record number now serve in Congress .
But it was Biden who emerged from a racially diverse field featuring more female candidates than ever , having successfully framed himself as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s explicit promises to elevate women have left some frustrated by what they see as political posturing , wishing he had kept his intentions private and simply named a woman .
“ You should consider men , consider women , and if you think a woman is the best person for the job , then pick her anyway , ” Christina Gatti , a recent college graduate and higher education consultant , said over the weekend , sitting on a bench in New York ’ s Washington Square Park , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The idea that we ’ re just going to pick a woman to appease women is patronizing.
” For others , the emphasis on gender has been bittersweet — a sign of progress but also an indication of how far the country has yet to go for true equality , when women might ascend to positions of power without having a spot earmarked for them .
“ I ’ m not suggesting that one has quotas , ” said Randi Weingarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary to be intentional about diversity because that intentionality changes hearts and minds.
” Sara Nelson , president of the Association of Flight Attendants union , said that Biden ’ s specific focus on elevating a Black woman would ensure that a critical perspective that had never before been reflected on the court would be included in the country ’ s most important legal decisions .
“ It ’ s a follow-through on a broader commitment from Biden to make sure that women ’ s voices are at the table , ” Nelson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that before race and gender , they wanted Ginsburg ’ s successor to share her approach to the law .
“ We always like to see more women at every decision-making table in the country , ” said Stephanie Schriock , president of Emily ’ s List , a group that works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights .
But she said that when it came to elections and political appointments , the focus should be on “ finding the right person ” who is best qualified to protect “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it ’ s really important for everybody that it isn ’ t just about gender , ” she said .
Some liberal women like Gatti were more explicit , saying they would rather see a liberal man in the seat than a woman whose politics were to the right of Ginsburg ’ s .
“ I think she would absolutely prefer someone who maybe didn ’ t identify as a woman but was interested in upholding freedoms for women , ” Alyssa Galella , who works in public relations in Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg ’ s own preference might be .
“ Some people forget that she fought for gender equality overall , ” added Galella , who last year had a quotation of Ginsburg ’ s — “ I am very much alive ” — tattooed on her forearm .
“ She represented men in cases where their rights were trampled on.
” Conservatives have sought to frame the women on Trump ’ s shortlist as in the mold of the liberal icon — at least in terms of their having also forged paths for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think this is an exciting time for women , ” said Carrie Severino , president of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network , a group that has pushed for the confirmation of Trump ’ s appointees to the Supreme Court .
“ These are the kind of women I think who could follow in Justice Ginsburg ’ s own trailblazing footsteps and really make an incredible mark on the court.
” Trump ’ s shortlist includes judges who have delivered staunchly conservative decisions on the bench , like Judge Amy Coney Barrett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7th Circuit , and Judge Barbara Lagoa , an appeals court judge for the 11th Circuit .
During the 2016 race , Trump took the unusual step of releasing a list of specific people he would consider nominating to the Court .
In 2020 , he did so again .
Conway , who managed the 2016 campaign , drew a distinction between Biden ’ s pledge to name a woman and the president ’ s recent one .
“ Biden provided an identity , not an individual , ” Conway said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men and , ironically , of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself.
” Trump , who has significantly trailed Biden among women in recent polls , has vowed to appoint judges who would strike down Roe v. Wade , making it particularly unlikely that liberal women would applaud the president ’ s eventual choice .
“ The question is not a woman versus no women but whether or not a woman represents the views and welfare of most women , ” said Gloria Steinem , a political activist and advocate for women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of achieving parity were guaranteed to inspire some voters and exasperate others , said Catharine A. MacKinnon , the feminist lawyer and political scientist who teaches law at the University of Michigan and at Harvard .
“ They ’ re trying to position themselves in a way that ’ s advantageous , and it ’ s a crapshoot , ” she said of candidates choosing whether or not to flaunt the demographics of a nominee .
MacKinnon said she believed that the foolproof way to transcend the debate was to select a nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sen. Kamala Harris , the woman whom Biden ultimately chose as his running mate after considering a group of candidates from across the Democratic spectrum .
“ I don ’ t think anybody is saying she ’ s there just because she ’ s Black and she ’ s Asian .
”

The New York Times News Service Syndicate

In 1993, when Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg was nominated to the Supreme Court, then-Sen. Joe Biden thanked her for saving his daughter “from having to be the second woman nominee to the Supreme Court.”
She was confirmed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Twenty-seven years later, as Ginsburg’s death roils the country and injects new uncertainty into an already bitter presidential race, one element is all but certain: The country will soon have a fifth woman appointed to the Supreme Court.
Biden, now the Democratic candidate for president, has pledged to “make history” and appoint the first Black woman to the Court should he have the chance.
President Donald Trump, who is expected to make an actual nomination this week, has made a similar promise. He, too, plans to name a woman — “a very talented, very brilliant woman.”
The proclamations from both men about how each would replace Ginsburg, a pioneering force for gender equality on the court, have reflected conspicuous signaling by both parties as they rush to appeal to crucial constituencies before the election. The pledges draw on a traditional political tactic: One way to seek to appeal to women is with women, as surrogates and in positions of power. But that approach has stirred complicated feelings in women across the country — and it may not be the most effective.
“Public opinion surveys about political candidates have shown that women have a slight preference for other women, and men have a slight preference for other men, but the more popular response is, ‘It depends,’ or, ‘It doesn’t matter,’” Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump’s longest-serving aides and a veteran Republican strategist, said in an interview. “There is a difference between sharing my gender and the more consequential sharing my values, principles and positions on issues.”
In interviews with voters, lawyers and female leaders across the political spectrum, some women were strongly enthusiastic about the pledges to elevate a woman, some resignedly saw them as flawed but necessary and others harbored concerns of being condescended to and having a significant appointment cheapened.
“We need more women in power. It’s crucial,” said Eileen Letts, a former co-chair of the American Bar Association’s commission on diversity and inclusion and a partner at the firm Zuber Lawler. “But in the situation of the Supreme Court, one has to be more careful and more vigilant because a woman of certain ideological beliefs may not be the best person for other women.”
Adding to the heated dynamics is the battle over women’s reproductive rights that is almost certain to take place. A conservative majority on the court could overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, a galvanizing issue for activists in both parties — especially women, for whom the issue is deeply personal.
Even before Biden secured the Democratic nomination, he promised to name a woman as his vice president and appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court as a way to appeal to the liberal, diverse coalitions within his party as a white man belonging to the Washington establishment. His commitments were in line with his record: As a senator, he was more resolved than many colleagues to surround himself with accomplished women, and he still to this day considers the Violence Against Women Act his signature legislative achievement.
Trump and the Republican Party, too, have made pointed appeals in seeking to recast the president’s record on gender and race. At their convention last month, they lined up women to testify that the president was — in private — sensitive and sympathetic, and they stretched to find African Americans who insisted he was not racist.
And seeking to flip accusations of pandering back on the Democratic nominee, Republicans took aim at Biden’s public commitments to appoint women to powerful positions — even if weeks later Trump would designate Ginsburg’s seat for someone of her same gender.
“I don’t want a job because of my gender; I want the job because I’m the best person for that position. That’s it,” Kimberly Guilfoyle, a senior fundraising official for the Trump campaign and former Fox News host, said at the Republican convention. “And he respects that.”
Yet among Democratic women, the debate over Biden’s pledge has been particularly acute as the party wrestles with how to reflect in its leadership the diversity of its base.
Since Trump’s election in 2016, women, young people and minorities have energized the Democratic Party and run for office in historic numbers. A record number now serve in Congress. But it was Biden who emerged from a racially diverse field featuring more female candidates than ever, having successfully framed himself as best positioned to beat Trump.
Now Biden’s explicit promises to elevate women have left some frustrated by what they see as political posturing, wishing he had kept his intentions private and simply named a woman.
“You should consider men, consider women, and if you think a woman is the best person for the job, then pick her anyway,” Christina Gatti, a recent college graduate and higher education consultant, said over the weekend, sitting on a bench in New York’s Washington Square Park, where a vigil had taken place for Ginsburg. “The idea that we’re just going to pick a woman to appease women is patronizing.”
For others, the emphasis on gender has been bittersweet — a sign of progress but also an indication of how far the country has yet to go for true equality, when women might ascend to positions of power without having a spot earmarked for them.
“I’m not suggesting that one has quotas,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, a national union. “But it is necessary to be intentional about diversity because that intentionality changes hearts and minds.”
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants union, said that Biden’s specific focus on elevating a Black woman would ensure that a critical perspective that had never before been reflected on the court would be included in the country’s most important legal decisions.
“It’s a follow-through on a broader commitment from Biden to make sure that women’s voices are at the table,” Nelson said.
Many, though, said that before race and gender, they wanted Ginsburg’s successor to share her approach to the law.
“We always like to see more women at every decision-making table in the country,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily’s List, a group that works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights. But she said that when it came to elections and political appointments, the focus should be on “finding the right person” who is best qualified to protect “the rights of all of us.”
“I think it’s really important for everybody that it isn’t just about gender,” she said.
Some liberal women like Gatti were more explicit, saying they would rather see a liberal man in the seat than a woman whose politics were to the right of Ginsburg’s.
“I think she would absolutely prefer someone who maybe didn’t identify as a woman but was interested in upholding freedoms for women,” Alyssa Galella, who works in public relations in Los Angeles, said of what she imagined Ginsburg’s own preference might be.
“Some people forget that she fought for gender equality overall,” added Galella, who last year had a quotation of Ginsburg’s — “I am very much alive” — tattooed on her forearm. “She represented men in cases where their rights were trampled on.”
Conservatives have sought to frame the women on Trump’s shortlist as in the mold of the liberal icon — at least in terms of their having also forged paths for their gender in the legal profession. “I think this is an exciting time for women,” said Carrie Severino, president of the conservative Judicial Crisis Network, a group that has pushed for the confirmation of Trump’s appointees to the Supreme Court. “These are the kind of women I think who could follow in Justice Ginsburg’s own trailblazing footsteps and really make an incredible mark on the court.”
Trump’s shortlist includes judges who have delivered staunchly conservative decisions on the bench, like Judge Amy Coney Barrett, an appeals court judge for the 7th Circuit, and Judge Barbara Lagoa, an appeals court judge for the 11th Circuit.
During the 2016 race, Trump took the unusual step of releasing a list of specific people he would consider nominating to the Court. In 2020, he did so again. Conway, who managed the 2016 campaign, drew a distinction between Biden’s pledge to name a woman and the president’s recent one.
“Biden provided an identity, not an individual,” Conway said. “His statement would preclude consideration of qualified men and, ironically, of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself.”
Trump, who has significantly trailed Biden among women in recent polls, has vowed to appoint judges who would strike down Roe v. Wade, making it particularly unlikely that liberal women would applaud the president’s eventual choice.
“The question is not a woman versus no women but whether or not a woman represents the views and welfare of most women,” said Gloria Steinem, a political activist and advocate for women’s rights.
Gender-related promises in the name of achieving parity were guaranteed to inspire some voters and exasperate others, said Catharine A. MacKinnon, the feminist lawyer and political scientist who teaches law at the University of Michigan and at Harvard.
“They’re trying to position themselves in a way that’s advantageous, and it’s a crapshoot,” she said of candidates choosing whether or not to flaunt the demographics of a nominee.
MacKinnon said she believed that the foolproof way to transcend the debate was to select a nominee with especially strong credentials. She pointed to Sen. Kamala Harris, the woman whom Biden ultimately chose as his running mate after considering a group of candidates from across the Democratic spectrum.
“I don’t think anybody is saying she’s there just because she’s Black and she’s Asian.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Broncos rookie wideout KJ Hamler, fully healed from hamstring injury, poised for NFL breakout

Sidelined by a hamstring tear for the majority of training camp , Broncos rookie wideout KJ Hamler could be spotted trailing the offense during practices , hunched over a notebook while learning plays by pen and paper .
The second-round draft pick had three catches for 48 yards in his NFL debut last Sunday in Pittsburgh after going through his first significant practice time the week before .
The learning he dedicated himself to while injured helped spur his Week 2 performance .
“ Coach Fangio brought me into his office after I got hurt , and he was like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take this how Drew ( Lock ) approached it ’ ( after a preseason thumb injury last year ) , ” Hamler said .
“ The result was was me being locked-in mentally .
“ During camp , my wide receiver coach ( Zach Azzanni ) made me sit on the sideline , and I would have the script to myself and a whiteboard with me , and I ’ d go through the script and write all the plays out .
I ’ d write every single play two , three times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the same play we went over two weeks ago , I ’ d write it down again.
” Now , as Hamler ’ s role grows alongside fellow rookie Jerry Jeudy in the wake of Courtland Sutton ’ s season-ending knee injury , the former Penn State standout said the game is “ slowing down ” for him .
That should provide a boost as Hamler and Jeudy see more targets , in adding to fellow wideouts Tim Patrick and DaeSean Hamilton .
“ Even though KJ is more of a speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s got good routes too and he can go vertical , ” Jeudy said .
“ His speed can cause a lot of deep plays .
I feel like we complement each other very well.
” Hamler said his hamstring , originally injured as he was making a cut during one of the team ’ s initial camp practices , is completely healed .
“ I was still going through camp and fighting through ( the injury ) , but one day ( on Aug. 20 ) I just couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I found out it was a tear in my hamstring , but I was in the training room every day at 6 o ’ clock in the morning , just trying to get back healthy .
Now it ’ s 100 % — I ’ m feeling great , running great.
” Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was impressed with the “ competitive spirit and toughness ” the 21-year-old showed during his debut , the majority of which came with backup quarterback Jeff Driskel .
“ He ’ s quick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he did what we saw in college when we drafted him , ” Shurmur said .
“ He can be difficult to cover at times one-on-one , and he ’ s fast .
The other thing is , when a rookie gets in there , you worry that the stage is too big for him .
It ’ s not — he ’ s a super competitive guy who was into it and was on top of all of his assignments.
” With Drew Lock ( shoulder injury ) sidelined for multiple weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Broncos will need Hamler to continue to escalate his play as the young speedster appears poised for a breakout .
“ We ’ ve had some key guys go out , so ( Hamler and Jeudy ) will have to grow up quicker than most , ” running back Melvin Gordon said .
“ Those guys have the confidence in themselves to go out and make a play , and they ’ ve got the talent — we saw KJ go out there and do what he do ( on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the ability , and when they get that full swagger where whoever lines up in front of them is ‘ easy work , ’ just like it was in college — when they get that , then it ’ s really going to be on , but it takes reps , just like anything else .
”

Sidelined by a hamstring tear for the majority of training camp, Broncos rookie wideout KJ Hamler could be spotted trailing the offense during practices, hunched over a notebook while learning plays by pen and paper.
The second-round draft pick had three catches for 48 yards in his NFL debut last Sunday in Pittsburgh after going through his first significant practice time the week before. The learning he dedicated himself to while injured helped spur his Week 2 performance.
“Coach Fangio brought me into his office after I got hurt, and he was like, ‘You’ve got to take this how Drew (Lock) approached it’ (after a preseason thumb injury last year),” Hamler said. “The result was was me being locked-in mentally.
“During camp, my wide receiver coach (Zach Azzanni) made me sit on the sideline, and I would have the script to myself and a whiteboard with me, and I’d go through the script and write all the plays out. I’d write every single play two, three times … Even in meetings, if if was the same play we went over two weeks ago, I’d write it down again.”
Now, as Hamler’s role grows alongside fellow rookie Jerry Jeudy in the wake of Courtland Sutton’s season-ending knee injury, the former Penn State standout said the game is “slowing down” for him. That should provide a boost as Hamler and Jeudy see more targets, in adding to fellow wideouts Tim Patrick and DaeSean Hamilton.
“Even though KJ is more of a speed guy (than myself), he’s got good routes too and he can go vertical,” Jeudy said. “His speed can cause a lot of deep plays. I feel like we complement each other very well.”
Hamler said his hamstring, originally injured as he was making a cut during one of the team’s initial camp practices, is completely healed.
“I was still going through camp and fighting through (the injury), but one day (on Aug. 20) I just couldn’t tolerate it anymore,” Hamler said. “I found out it was a tear in my hamstring, but I was in the training room every day at 6 o’clock in the morning, just trying to get back healthy. Now it’s 100% — I’m feeling great, running great.”
Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was impressed with the “competitive spirit and toughness” the 21-year-old showed during his debut, the majority of which came with backup quarterback Jeff Driskel.
“He’s quick, and he’s shifty, and he did what we saw in college when we drafted him,” Shurmur said. “He can be difficult to cover at times one-on-one, and he’s fast. The other thing is, when a rookie gets in there, you worry that the stage is too big for him. It’s not — he’s a super competitive guy who was into it and was on top of all of his assignments.”
With Drew Lock (shoulder injury) sidelined for multiple weeks on top of Sutton’s absence, the Broncos will need Hamler to continue to escalate his play as the young speedster appears poised for a breakout.
“We’ve had some key guys go out, so (Hamler and Jeudy) will have to grow up quicker than most,” running back Melvin Gordon said. “Those guys have the confidence in themselves to go out and make a play, and they’ve got the talent — we saw KJ go out there and do what he do (on Sunday)…. They have the confidence and the ability, and when they get that full swagger where whoever lines up in front of them is ‘easy work,’ just like it was in college — when they get that, then it’s really going to be on, but it takes reps, just like anything else.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Coloradans borrowing at a high rate to make ends meet

Colorado residents are turning to credit cards and personal loans at the second-highest rate in the country as they struggle to make it through the pandemic , a study from LendingTree reports .
About 42.1 % of Colorado residents surveyed had borrowed money the past seven days to meet immediate expenses , according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey .
Only the District of Columbia ranked higher with 44.9 % of residents borrowing to make ends meet .
Of those who borrowed to meet living expenses in Colorado , 26.7 % reported relying on credit cards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends and family .
Colorado ’ s economy was strong going into the downturn and has bounced back faster , as shown by a rapid decline in its unemployment rate .
Nor have the state ’ s COVID-19 outbreaks been as severe as those seen in other states .
So why all the borrowing ?
One explanation is that Colorado consumers relied heavily on their credit cards before the recession , making them more inclined to use them when income fell short .
Metro Denver residents must also deal with some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning they don ’ t have as much to spare after covering the mortgage and rent .
“ There are quite a few lower-income Colorado individuals and families that rely on credit card debts frequently to cover expenses , ” said Charles Brennan , deputy director of research at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy .
The CCLP studies self-sufficiency , or the ability of households to meet basic living costs based on the income available to them .
About 27 % of residents didn ’ t make enough to cover basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one way they cover the gap is by borrowing , Brennan said .
Matt Schulz , LendingTree ’ s chief credit analyst , said in comments accompanying the report that added debt isn ’ t just a financial issue , but one that can impact mental health during what is already a stressful time .
Consumers who lack a budget should make one to better understand how much money is coming in and going out .
If they are struggling to repay debt , they should reach out to their lenders to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a temporary pause in payments .
They should also visit annualcreditreport.com to track precisely how much debt they have accumulated .
Once limited to one free credit report per reporting agency per year , the website now offers a free report each week through April 2021 .
Pay off your cards each month if you can , and try to find ways to boost your income if you can ’ t , Schulz said .
But either way , borrowers shouldn ’ t beat themselves up .
“ A lot of the normal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window during times like these .
Yes , good credit is important , as is avoiding debt .
However , keeping food on the table and keeping the lights on for your family is more important , ” he said .

Colorado residents are turning to credit cards and personal loans at the second-highest rate in the country as they struggle to make it through the pandemic, a study from LendingTree reports.
About 42.1% of Colorado residents surveyed had borrowed money the past seven days to meet immediate expenses, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. Only the District of Columbia ranked higher with 44.9% of residents borrowing to make ends meet.
Of those who borrowed to meet living expenses in Colorado, 26.7% reported relying on credit cards, while 15.4% reported borrowing from friends and family.
Colorado’s economy was strong going into the downturn and has bounced back faster, as shown by a rapid decline in its unemployment rate. Nor have the state’s COVID-19 outbreaks been as severe as those seen in other states.
So why all the borrowing? One explanation is that Colorado consumers relied heavily on their credit cards before the recession, making them more inclined to use them when income fell short. Metro Denver residents must also deal with some of the highest housing costs outside either coast, meaning they don’t have as much to spare after covering the mortgage and rent.
“There are quite a few lower-income Colorado individuals and families that rely on credit card debts frequently to cover expenses,” said Charles Brennan, deputy director of research at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.
The CCLP studies self-sufficiency, or the ability of households to meet basic living costs based on the income available to them. About 27% of residents didn’t make enough to cover basic costs prior to the pandemic, and one way they cover the gap is by borrowing, Brennan said.
Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief credit analyst, said in comments accompanying the report that added debt isn’t just a financial issue, but one that can impact mental health during what is already a stressful time.
Consumers who lack a budget should make one to better understand how much money is coming in and going out. If they are struggling to repay debt, they should reach out to their lenders to see what relief is available, such as a temporary pause in payments.
They should also visit annualcreditreport.com to track precisely how much debt they have accumulated. Once limited to one free credit report per reporting agency per year, the website now offers a free report each week through April 2021.
Pay off your cards each month if you can, and try to find ways to boost your income if you can’t, Schulz said. But either way, borrowers shouldn’t beat themselves up.
“A lot of the normal rules of personal finance go out the window during times like these. Yes, good credit is important, as is avoiding debt. However, keeping food on the table and keeping the lights on for your family is more important,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Guest commentary: Funding immigrant defense promotes justice and a strong legal system

Gritty North Oakland Street in Aurora doesn ’ t look like the kind of place where justice meets its match .
But across from the self-storage and facing a row of battered warehouses , guards parade migrants into courtrooms where judges decide if they will be allowed to remain in the United States .
Whether newcomers to the United States asking for asylum or green-card holders with decades in Colorado , most will not have a lawyer walk into court with them .
Unlike the criminal justice system , immigration courts in the United States don ’ t guarantee lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can hire one .
But except for a small number of people who are too mentally ill to defend themselves , people who can ’ t come up with the money are usually out of luck .
In Denver , like most cities , free or low-cost legal aid is in short supply for people trying to fend off deportation , especially if they are detained .
At the Aurora private prison that holds people on behalf of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency , the federal government ’ s immigration law-enforcement unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deportation are forced to stand alone in front of a judge .
Three out of four of Aurora ’ s immigration prisoners don ’ t have a lawyer when their opportunity comes to ask an immigration judge for release .
This is a high-stakes scene in which the government ’ s prosecutor lobs accusations against a person with no reason to understand the rules of courtroom battles and an immigration judge parses detailed legal codes .
Legally , this is allowed because the Aurora facility isn ’ t used to punish migrants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s just where the government keeps people who it doesn ’ t trust to show up to court or avoid trouble .
But the concrete walls that surround the prison , topped with concertina wire , reveal the reality of confinement .
In 2017 , Colorado resident Kamyar Samimi died there after four decades in the United States .
Last year , a government oversight agency revealed that employees of the private prison corporation that owns and operates the facility under contract with ICE were handcuffing people even when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A room with sky-high walls and a partially covered roof counted as outdoor recreation .
To Congress , justice for migrants held in Aurora doesn ’ t require lawyers .
To courts , a stacked deck in legal hearings is an acceptable feature of due process .
To me , this is a stain on the legitimacy of immigration law .
As a lawyer , I know that a client ’ s path to life in the United States is often found deep in the nuances of federal laws .
As a professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts use is as important as the laws they apply .
In the years after returning from prosecuting high-ranking Nazis at Nuremberg , I remind them , Justice Robert Jackson wrote , “ due process of law is not for the sole benefit of an accused .
It is the best insurance for the Government itself against those blunders which leave lasting stains on a system of justice.
” Supporting people who are facing life-altering legal problems helps all of us because high-stakes decisions should only result from fair processes .
Fortunately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York , lopsided justice has become intolerable .
Instead of sending migrants into immigration courtrooms with the legal equivalent of a blindfold , roughly three dozen communities in 16 states use local money to boost the quality of justice .
Since 2018 , Denver has been among them .
With the support of Denver taxpayers and private donors , local nonprofits , including the University of Denver , where I work , have helped migrants navigate immigration laws .
In this moment of exceptional trauma when ordinary people carry extraordinary burdens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m proud to live in a community committed to improving the quality of justice in our immigration courts .
César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández is a professor at the University of Denver College of Law and author of “ Migrating to Prison : America ’ s Obsession with Locking Up Immigrants.
” To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

Gritty North Oakland Street in Aurora doesn’t look like the kind of place where justice meets its match. But across from the self-storage and facing a row of battered warehouses, guards parade migrants into courtrooms where judges decide if they will be allowed to remain in the United States. Whether newcomers to the United States asking for asylum or green-card holders with decades in Colorado, most will not have a lawyer walk into court with them.
Unlike the criminal justice system, immigration courts in the United States don’t guarantee lawyers. People who can afford a lawyer can hire one. But except for a small number of people who are too mentally ill to defend themselves, people who can’t come up with the money are usually out of luck. In Denver, like most cities, free or low-cost legal aid is in short supply for people trying to fend off deportation, especially if they are detained.
At the Aurora private prison that holds people on behalf of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, the federal government’s immigration law-enforcement unit, most migrants trying to fend off deportation are forced to stand alone in front of a judge. Three out of four of Aurora’s immigration prisoners don’t have a lawyer when their opportunity comes to ask an immigration judge for release. This is a high-stakes scene in which the government’s prosecutor lobs accusations against a person with no reason to understand the rules of courtroom battles and an immigration judge parses detailed legal codes.
Legally, this is allowed because the Aurora facility isn’t used to punish migrants. As far as the law is concerned, it’s just where the government keeps people who it doesn’t trust to show up to court or avoid trouble. But the concrete walls that surround the prison, topped with concertina wire, reveal the reality of confinement. In 2017, Colorado resident Kamyar Samimi died there after four decades in the United States. Last year, a government oversight agency revealed that employees of the private prison corporation that owns and operates the facility under contract with ICE were handcuffing people even when the agency’s rules prohibited it. A room with sky-high walls and a partially covered roof counted as outdoor recreation.
To Congress, justice for migrants held in Aurora doesn’t require lawyers. To courts, a stacked deck in legal hearings is an acceptable feature of due process. To me, this is a stain on the legitimacy of immigration law. As a lawyer, I know that a client’s path to life in the United States is often found deep in the nuances of federal laws.
As a professor, I teach students that the process courts use is as important as the laws they apply. In the years after returning from prosecuting high-ranking Nazis at Nuremberg, I remind them, Justice Robert Jackson wrote, “due process of law is not for the sole benefit of an accused. It is the best insurance for the Government itself against those blunders which leave lasting stains on a system of justice.” Supporting people who are facing life-altering legal problems helps all of us because high-stakes decisions should only result from fair processes.
Fortunately, alternative paths exist. From Dallas to New York, lopsided justice has become intolerable. Instead of sending migrants into immigration courtrooms with the legal equivalent of a blindfold, roughly three dozen communities in 16 states use local money to boost the quality of justice. Since 2018, Denver has been among them. With the support of Denver taxpayers and private donors, local nonprofits, including the University of Denver, where I work, have helped migrants navigate immigration laws.
In this moment of exceptional trauma when ordinary people carry extraordinary burdens, funding immigrant defense remains necessary. I’m proud to live in a community committed to improving the quality of justice in our immigration courts.
César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández is a professor at the University of Denver College of Law and author of “Migrating to Prison: America’s Obsession with Locking Up Immigrants.”
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Ask Amy: Women gone gray can be silver “vixens”

Dear Amy : Because of salons being closed during the pandemic , I was able to see the true color of my hair for the first time in decades .
I love my natural salt-and-pepper hair color and decided to grow out my hair .
I ’ m very happy with my choice of not putting itchy chemicals on my head and saving time and money at the salons .
I joined with ( online ) groups with women who are also going through this transformation .
Ninety-eight percent of the women look better in their real hair color , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , my mate , family , and friends are supportive .
Unfortunately , the women in these groups and I have all received negative comments from the people in our lives , and even from strangers .
People tell us : “ You ’ re going to look old ; you ’ re letting yourself go ; I ’ ll pay for you to have your hair dyed ; no man will ever date you ; nobody will hire you… ” and so forth .
I would never think to criticize someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinions to myself .
Don ’ t people realize how hurtful these comments are ?
Do they really think their negative comments are helpful ?
Why can ’ t women be silver foxes like men are ?
Dear My Hair : Yes , women CAN be silver foxes – and silver hair is definitely chic .
When it comes to unsolicited comments about your looks , you have a legitimate beef .
However , understand that when you join an online group whose sole focus is to commiserate about hair color , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of time discussing how people look .
You yourself have chosen to declare that “ 98 percent of women look better in their real hair color , ” which is a subjective and superficial value judgment .
Aren ’ t you now harshly judging people who choose to dye their hair ?
( Full disclosure : I ’ ve been dyeing my own hair – at home – for over 20 years . )
I ’ m going to take a stab at guessing that many of these negative comments are coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , we would all be free to make choices about our bodies and clothing without running the gauntlet of unsolicited comments , but we make these choices to please ourselves ( and often , others ) .
And people in general are social , communal budinskis .
You need only to decide how to respond .
To a stranger : “ Umm , do I know you ?
Why are you sharing your opinion with me ?
” To a friend/family member : “ I think I look great , and honestly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me.
” Dear Amy : My husband and I believe that we have lost a friend of 30-plus years because of differing opinions about safety in this pandemic .
We had been invited to a surprise birthday party for “ Barb ” at a local restaurant , and before sending my RSVP , I checked with the venue to see how many people might be there , and whether it would be inside or outside .
Answer : “ 50 people , inside.
” Nope , not me .
We are both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues .
I need to know that there is an effective vaccine , or at least be assured that the medical community has learned much more about treating the illness successfully .
We have not eaten inside a restaurant since mid-March .
To double-check , I asked Barb ’ s sister , who was organizing the surprise party , and if there is any chance that they might switch to an outdoor venue .
Barb has her own health issues , and I wondered if a crowded indoor party would be her preference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I heard from another friend that Barb was not speaking to me anymore .
Barb texted me one word : “ Goodbye.
” I ’ m not sure what comes next .
Any ideas ?
Dear Befuddled : I sincerely hope that “ Barb ” didn ’ t send her cryptic text because she became ill with this disease that has taken so many lives .
As of this writing , a “ spreader event ” – a wedding in Maine – has infected 147 people with COVID .
Three people have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 65 guests .
You made the right choice .
You should respond to Barb : “ Your message is very cryptic .
Why are you saying ‘ Goodbye ?
’ ” Dear Amy : “ Blindsided ” wrote about her relationship with a ( retired ) gentleman who always made her travel several hours to visit him , even though he was retired , and she was still working .
I hope she runs , Amy .
Thank you for telling her that she deserves better .
Dear Been There : When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Blindsided ” will exit .

Dear Amy: Because of salons being closed during the pandemic, I was able to see the true color of my hair for the first time in decades. I love my natural salt-and-pepper hair color and decided to grow out my hair. I’m very happy with my choice of not putting itchy chemicals on my head and saving time and money at the salons.
I joined with (online) groups with women who are also going through this transformation. Ninety-eight percent of the women look better in their real hair color, versus their dyed hair.
Luckily for me, my mate, family, and friends are supportive. Unfortunately, the women in these groups and I have all received negative comments from the people in our lives, and even from strangers. People tell us: “You’re going to look old; you’re letting yourself go; I’ll pay for you to have your hair dyed; no man will ever date you; nobody will hire you…” and so forth.
I would never think to criticize someone’s appearance. I keep those opinions to myself. Don’t people realize how hurtful these comments are? Do they really think their negative comments are helpful? Why can’t women be silver foxes like men are?
— My Hair, My Choice
Dear My Hair: Yes, women CAN be silver foxes – and silver hair is definitely chic.
When it comes to unsolicited comments about your looks, you have a legitimate beef. However, understand that when you join an online group whose sole focus is to commiserate about hair color, you’re going to spend a certain amount of time discussing how people look.
You yourself have chosen to declare that “98 percent of women look better in their real hair color,” which is a subjective and superficial value judgment. Aren’t you now harshly judging people who choose to dye their hair? (Full disclosure: I’ve been dyeing my own hair – at home – for over 20 years.)
I’m going to take a stab at guessing that many of these negative comments are coming from other women. In a perfect world, we would all be free to make choices about our bodies and clothing without running the gauntlet of unsolicited comments, but we make these choices to please ourselves (and often, others). And people in general are social, communal budinskis.
You need only to decide how to respond. To a stranger: “Umm, do I know you? Why are you sharing your opinion with me?” To a friend/family member: “I think I look great, and honestly, that’s all that matters to me.”
Dear Amy: My husband and I believe that we have lost a friend of 30-plus years because of differing opinions about safety in this pandemic.
We had been invited to a surprise birthday party for “Barb” at a local restaurant, and before sending my RSVP, I checked with the venue to see how many people might be there, and whether it would be inside or outside. Answer: “50 people, inside.”
Nope, not me. We are both over 73 and I have multiple health issues. I need to know that there is an effective vaccine, or at least be assured that the medical community has learned much more about treating the illness successfully. We have not eaten inside a restaurant since mid-March.
To double-check, I asked Barb’s sister, who was organizing the surprise party, and if there is any chance that they might switch to an outdoor venue. Barb has her own health issues, and I wondered if a crowded indoor party would be her preference.
A week after the party, I heard from another friend that Barb was not speaking to me anymore. Barb texted me one word: “Goodbye.”
I’m not sure what comes next. Any ideas?
— Befuddled
Dear Befuddled: I sincerely hope that “Barb” didn’t send her cryptic text because she became ill with this disease that has taken so many lives.
As of this writing, a “spreader event” – a wedding in Maine – has infected 147 people with COVID. Three people have died. This wedding was held indoors, with 65 guests.
You made the right choice.
You should respond to Barb: “Your message is very cryptic. Why are you saying ‘Goodbye?’”
Dear Amy: “Blindsided” wrote about her relationship with a (retired) gentleman who always made her travel several hours to visit him, even though he was retired, and she was still working.
I hope she runs, Amy. Thank you for telling her that she deserves better.
— Been There
Dear Been There: When she really believes in her own worth, “Blindsided” will exit.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Rockies eliminated from playoff contention with 4-0 loss at Diamondbacks

The Rockies have been eliminated from playoff contention after a 4-0 loss Friday in the first game of a doubleheader at the Diamondbacks .
Arizona starting pitcher Zac Gallen stymied Colorado with 10 strikeouts and Rockies frustration boiled over in the fourth inning when designated hitter Matt Kemp got ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Jim Reynolds .
Colorado will aim to regain its composure in the second game of Friday ’ s seven-inning doubleheader in the desert .
Arizona broke Game 1 open with two outs in the third when Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela gave up a first-pitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mistake snowballed .
He walked Diamondbacks outfielder Kole Calhoun on six pitches before infielder Eduardo Escobar blasted a two-run triple to give Arizona a commanding 3-0 lead .
Senzatela later loaded the bases in the fifth inning and the Rockies trailed 4-0 after a David Peralta single .
Colorado reliever Carlos Estevez entered from the bullpen and retired the side with no further Arizona damage .
Yency Almonte also escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth .
The Rockies ’ stagnant offense proved unable to respond despite their leadoff hitters reaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innings .
Colorado ( 25-32 ) stranded eight on base and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position .
This story will be updated .

The Rockies’ faint playoff hopes faded away Friday after a doubleheader sweep by the Diamondbacks, 4-0 and 11-5, as a miserable Colorado season nears its end.
Two seven-inning debacles in the desert showcased the Rockies’ wide array of issues.
Game 1: Colorado batters combined to strike out 11 times, left eight men on base, and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Game 2: Rockies’ starting pitcher Antonio Santos gets blasted for six runs on five hits and was pulled with two outs in the first inning. Colorado’s long day reinforced its season-long mantra of being unable to put all the right pieces together at the same time.
The Rockies began the year with an MLB-leading 11-3 record.
They’ve since lost 30 of 44 games and dropped to 25-33 on the season.
“It’s frustrating and disappointing,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We just couldn’t get anything going these last 30 games it seemed like. Whether it was offensively or maybe some bigger outs out of the bullpen, we just couldn’t seem to win three, four, and five in a row. It was just a little bit too choppy, especially in the past three weeks.”
Arizona’s offensive explosion in the second half of Friday’s doubleheader was predictable with Colorado short on quality arms. Santos, in only his third career MLB appearance, filled the role of No. 5 starter with Jon Gray’s season done (shoulder) and a rotating cast of pitchers unable to solidify the final spot in the rotation.
“We’ve got to find a reliable fifth starter,” Black said. “Keep us in there and not let the game get out of hand. … If you were going to say (starting pitching) was a strength of our club this year, it was especially those three guys (Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela) and a number of Jon’s outings. For the most part, those guys gave us a chance every night to win a ballgame.”
Senzatela took the Game 1 loss on Friday, but outside of a disastrous three-run third, he was mostly solid in his final start of 2020. Senzatela finished the year with a bounce-back ERA (3.44) as compared to a year ago (6.71).
“I feel like it was a good season for me,” Senzatela said. “I’m still working hard to put myself in a better situation for next year.”
The Rockies close out their season with two more games at the Diamondbacks on Saturday and Sunday.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Pack of Porsches pulled over in Gilpin County for speeding 80 mph in 40 mph zone

Ten alleged speeders were pulled over at the same time in Gilpin County doing 80 mph in a 40 mph @ @ @ @ @ Colorado State Patrol .
All the lead foot drivers appear to have been driving Porsches @ @ @ @ @ of the Colorado State Patrol described one of the vehicles stopped as a “ pace @ @ @ @ @ issued Thursday .
The state patrol asks drivers to slow down and be safe .

Ten alleged speeders were pulled over at the same time in Gilpin County doing 80 mph in a 40 mph zone, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
All the lead foot drivers appear to have been driving Porsches.
Pro tip-if you and your 9 buddies get caught at 80+ in a 40 zone, all of you get tickets. And because it takes a LONG time to write 10 tickets, your dinner plans get messed up. Better, we think, than injuring or killing someone because of your selfish behavior. Please slow down. pic.twitter.com/h1rN7bTtGN — CSP Gaming (@CSP_Gaming) September 25, 2020
Master Trooper Gary Cutler of the Colorado State Patrol described one of the vehicles stopped as a “pace car.”
The tickets were issued Thursday. The state patrol asks drivers to slow down and be safe.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Judge removes Trump’s public lands boss for serving unlawfully for 424 days

BILLINGS , Mont .
— A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump ’ s leading steward of public lands has been serving unlawfully , blocking him from continuing in the position in the latest pushback against the administration ’ s practice of filling key positions without U.S. Senate approval .
U.S .
Interior Department Bureau of Land Management acting director William Perry Pendley served unlawfully for 424 days without being confirmed to the post by the Senate as required under the Constitution , U.S. District Judge Brian Morris determined .
The ruling came after Montana ’ s Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a longtime Colorado resident , saying the former oil industry attorney was illegally overseeing an agency that manages almost a quarter-billion acres of land , primarily in the U.S. West .
“ Today ’ s ruling is a win for the Constitution , the rule of law , and our public lands , ” Gov .
Steve Bullock said Friday .
Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers from Western states also cheered the judge ’ s move after urging for months that Pendley be removed .
The ruling will be immediately appealed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He called it “ an outrageous decision that is well outside the bounds of the law , ” and he said the Obama administration had similarly filled key posts at the agency with temporary authorizations .
It was not immediately clear if the administration will try to keep Pendley atop the bureau pending the appeal .
The land bureau regulates activities ranging from mining and oil extraction to livestock grazing and recreation .
Under Trump , it has been at the forefront in the administration ’ s drive to loosen environmental restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development on public lands .
Pendley has been one of several senior officials in the Trump administration running federal agencies and departments despite not having gone before the Senate for the confirmation hearings that are required for top posts .
Last month , the Government Accountability Office , a bipartisan congressional watchdog , said acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and his acting deputy , Ken Cuccinelli , were improperly serving and ineligible to run the agency under the Vacancy Reform Act .
The two have been at the forefront of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump agencies have defended the skipped deadlines for Senate hearings for administration nominees , saying that the senior officials involved were carrying out the duties of their acting position but were not actually filling that position , and thus did not require a hearing and votes before the Senate .
Pendley had been formally nominated by Trump to direct the land bureau in July , after being given temporary authorizations to the acting position several times by Interior Sec .
David Bernhardt .
But the nomination was withdrawn earlier this month after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , potentially disrupting key U.S. Senate races in Montana , where Bullock is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Steve Daines , and Colorado , where Republican Sen. Cory Gardner is being challenged by former Gov .
John Hickenlooper .
Pendley continued to hang on to the post despite the withdrawal , under an arrangement that Pendley himself set up months ago .
In a May 22 order , Pendley made his own position , deputy director , the bureau ’ s top post while the director ’ s office is vacant .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s actions included approval of two sweeping land resource management plans in Montana that would open 95 % of federal land in the state to oil and gas development , attorneys for Bullock contended in court filings .
Administration officials had insisted in public statements and court filings that Pendley was not in fact the acting director , but rather “ exercising the authority of the director.
” Morris rejected the administration ’ s argument saying they were “ evasive and undermine the constitutional system of checks and balances.
” “ Under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president could ignore their constitutional appointment responsibility indefinitely and instead delegate authority directly or through cabinet secretaries to unconfirmed appointed officials .
Such an arrangement could last for an entire presidential administration .
In fact , the case before the Court presents that scenario , ” he wrote .
The bureau ’ s holdings are sweeping , with nearly 1 out of every 10 acres nationally under its dominion , mostly across the U.S. West .
Pendley was a longtime industry attorney and property rights advocate from Wyoming who had called for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joining the Trump administration .
After joining the government , he declared that his past support for selling public lands was irrelevant because his boss , Bernhardt , opposes the wholesale sale of public lands .
Trump ’ s actions to bypass the confirmation process has raised serious questions about the legitimacy of people in acting roles .
The GOP-led Senate typically is falling short of the votes needed from its ranks to confirm some of Trump ’ s choices .
But as Trump bypassed the chamber , chipping away at its advise-and-consent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed the acting positions to stand .
Shortly after the GAO questioned the DHS officials , Trump formally nominated Wolf to the secretary post .
A hearing was held last week in the Senate on his nomination , but it ’ s unlikely Wolf will be confirmed before the election .
Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer contributed from Oklahoma City and Lisa Mascaro from Washington .

BILLINGS, Mont. — A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s leading steward of public lands has been serving unlawfully, blocking him from continuing in the position in the latest pushback against the administration’s practice of filling key positions without U.S. Senate approval.
U.S. Interior Department Bureau of Land Management acting director William Perry Pendley served unlawfully for 424 days without being confirmed to the post by the Senate as required under the Constitution, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris determined.
The ruling came after Montana’s Democratic governor in July sued to remove Pendley, a longtime Colorado resident, saying the former oil industry attorney was illegally overseeing an agency that manages almost a quarter-billion acres of land, primarily in the U.S. West.
“Today’s ruling is a win for the Constitution, the rule of law, and our public lands,” Gov. Steve Bullock said Friday. Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers from Western states also cheered the judge’s move after urging for months that Pendley be removed.
The ruling will be immediately appealed, according to Interior Department spokesman Conner Swanson. He called it “an outrageous decision that is well outside the bounds of the law,” and he said the Obama administration had similarly filled key posts at the agency with temporary authorizations.
It was not immediately clear if the administration will try to keep Pendley atop the bureau pending the appeal.
The land bureau regulates activities ranging from mining and oil extraction to livestock grazing and recreation. Under Trump, it has been at the forefront in the administration’s drive to loosen environmental restrictions for oil and gas drilling and other development on public lands.
Pendley has been one of several senior officials in the Trump administration running federal agencies and departments despite not having gone before the Senate for the confirmation hearings that are required for top posts.
Last month, the Government Accountability Office, a bipartisan congressional watchdog, said acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and his acting deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, were improperly serving and ineligible to run the agency under the Vacancy Reform Act. The two have been at the forefront of administration initiatives on immigration and law enforcement.
Trump agencies have defended the skipped deadlines for Senate hearings for administration nominees, saying that the senior officials involved were carrying out the duties of their acting position but were not actually filling that position, and thus did not require a hearing and votes before the Senate.
Pendley had been formally nominated by Trump to direct the land bureau in July, after being given temporary authorizations to the acting position several times by Interior Sec. David Bernhardt.
But the nomination was withdrawn earlier this month after the confirmation process threatened to become contentious, potentially disrupting key U.S. Senate races in Montana, where Bullock is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Steve Daines, and Colorado, where Republican Sen. Cory Gardner is being challenged by former Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Pendley continued to hang on to the post despite the withdrawal, under an arrangement that Pendley himself set up months ago. In a May 22 order, Pendley made his own position, deputy director, the bureau’s top post while the director’s office is vacant.
After establishing that succession order, Pendley’s actions included approval of two sweeping land resource management plans in Montana that would open 95% of federal land in the state to oil and gas development, attorneys for Bullock contended in court filings.
Administration officials had insisted in public statements and court filings that Pendley was not in fact the acting director, but rather “exercising the authority of the director.”
Morris rejected the administration’s argument saying they were “evasive and undermine the constitutional system of checks and balances.”
“Under the federal defendant’s theory, a president could ignore their constitutional appointment responsibility indefinitely and instead delegate authority directly or through cabinet secretaries to unconfirmed appointed officials. Such an arrangement could last for an entire presidential administration. In fact, the case before the Court presents that scenario,” he wrote.
The bureau’s holdings are sweeping, with nearly 1 out of every 10 acres nationally under its dominion, mostly across the U.S. West.
Pendley was a longtime industry attorney and property rights advocate from Wyoming who had called for the government to sell its public lands before joining the Trump administration.
After joining the government, he declared that his past support for selling public lands was irrelevant because his boss, Bernhardt, opposes the wholesale sale of public lands.
Trump’s actions to bypass the confirmation process has raised serious questions about the legitimacy of people in acting roles.
The GOP-led Senate typically is falling short of the votes needed from its ranks to confirm some of Trump’s choices. But as Trump bypassed the chamber, chipping away at its advise-and-consent role, the Republican leadership has also allowed the acting positions to stand.
Shortly after the GAO questioned the DHS officials, Trump formally nominated Wolf to the secretary post. A hearing was held last week in the Senate on his nomination, but it’s unlikely Wolf will be confirmed before the election.
___
Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer contributed from Oklahoma City and Lisa Mascaro from Washington.
___
Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter: @matthewbrownap


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Denver police officers face federal lawsuit for arresting the wrong woman

Two Denver police officers and Denver Health Medical Center face a federal lawsuit for misidentifying a hospitalized woman as a burglary suspect , leading the woman to be mistakenly detained for nearly 48 hours for a crime she didn ’ t commit .
“ Plaintiff was not the correct suspect in this incident , and Defendants would have known this if they had have followed basic police procedure , ” the lawsuit filed Friday by attorney Sean Simeson states .
Two Denver police officers responded to a reported burglary and assault call in the early morning of Aug. 3 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security guard at the scene told officers Don Whyde and Brian Long that the female suspect had been taken to a hospital .
Whyde erroneously traveled to Denver Health Medical Center , even though the suspect was transported to St. Joseph Hospital , according to the lawsuit and Denver Department of Public Safety documents .
At Denver Health , he asked a charge nurse for a white woman who had been transported from downtown .
The charge nurse took him to a woman ’ s room , where he arrested the woman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the woman wasn ’ t the suspect and instead had been hospitalized after being at a bar and possibly being drugged , the lawsuit states .
A bystander at the bar called 911 after noticing the woman acting strange .
The Denver Post is not naming the woman as she did not commit a crime and is a possible victim of sexual assault .
At 4:30 a.m. , the woman was transported to jail , but the nurse at the facility sent her back to the hospital for more treatment .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s and then back to Denver Health for a sexual assault exam before being returned to jail .
The woman told a nurse in the emergency room that she did not remember four or five hours of the previous night and that she was being charged with a crime she did not commit , the lawsuit states .
Police didn ’ t realize they arrested the wrong woman until a detective noticed the surveillance footage from the burglary showed a blonde female suspect and that the arrested woman had dark hair .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bond on Aug. 4 , 2019 , and charges were dropped two days later .
The nurse violated the hospital ’ s policy for working with law enforcement and verifying patients ’ identities , the lawsuit alleges .
Public safety officials last year ruled that Whyde and Long did not follow police protocols and both officers served unpaid 10-day suspensions .

Two Denver police officers and Denver Health Medical Center face a federal lawsuit for misidentifying a hospitalized woman as a burglary suspect, leading the woman to be mistakenly detained for nearly 48 hours for a crime she didn’t commit.
“Plaintiff was not the correct suspect in this incident, and Defendants would have known this if they had have followed basic police procedure,” the lawsuit filed Friday by attorney Sean Simeson states.
Two Denver police officers responded to a reported burglary and assault call in the early morning of Aug. 3, 2019, in downtown Denver. A security guard at the scene told officers Don Whyde and Brian Long that the female suspect had been taken to a hospital.
Whyde erroneously traveled to Denver Health Medical Center, even though the suspect was transported to St. Joseph Hospital, according to the lawsuit and Denver Department of Public Safety documents. At Denver Health, he asked a charge nurse for a white woman who had been transported from downtown.
The charge nurse took him to a woman’s room, where he arrested the woman and handcuffed her to her hospital bed.
But the woman wasn’t the suspect and instead had been hospitalized after being at a bar and possibly being drugged, the lawsuit states. A bystander at the bar called 911 after noticing the woman acting strange. The Denver Post is not naming the woman as she did not commit a crime and is a possible victim of sexual assault.
At 4:30 a.m., the woman was transported to jail, but the nurse at the facility sent her back to the hospital for more treatment. The woman was then moved to St. Joseph’s and then back to Denver Health for a sexual assault exam before being returned to jail. The woman told a nurse in the emergency room that she did not remember four or five hours of the previous night and that she was being charged with a crime she did not commit, the lawsuit states.
Police didn’t realize they arrested the wrong woman until a detective noticed the surveillance footage from the burglary showed a blonde female suspect and that the arrested woman had dark hair.
The woman was released from jail on bond on Aug. 4, 2019, and charges were dropped two days later.
The nurse violated the hospital’s policy for working with law enforcement and verifying patients’ identities, the lawsuit alleges.
Public safety officials last year ruled that Whyde and Long did not follow police protocols and both officers served unpaid 10-day suspensions.


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Emergency order prohibits alcohol sales in Boulder bars, restaurants after 10 p.m.

Boulder on Friday issued an emergency order prohibiting alcohol sales at bars , restaurants and clubs after 10 p.m. in response to the city ’ s increase in coronavirus cases .
The order went into effect at 5 p.m. Friday and will last through noon Oct. 8 , according to a news release from the city , but it could be further amended or extended .
The order applies to 199 businesses within the city , restricting alcohol sales “ to end consumers for on-premises consumption between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. , ” the release states .
New cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three weeks in Boulder County , with “ the vast majority due to transmission among people aged 18-22 , particularly those attending the University of Colorado Boulder and living in the University Hill neighborhood , ” the release states .
If cases continue to rise , the county is at risk of moving from Safer-at-Home level 2 restrictions to Safer-at-Home level 3 restrictions .
The biggest differences between Safer-at-Home level 2 and Safer-at-Home level 3 is that the latter would mandate bars be closed , would drop most facilities ’ allowable capacity from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit gyms would to virtual classes or outdoor classes with no more than 10 people and would suggest schools move to remote or hybrid learning models .
Boulder Valley plans to bring kindergarten through second-grade students back for in-person learning four days each week and third- through twelfth-grad special education students two days per week starting Tuesday , while St. Vrain Valley students will have the option to learn in person two days per week starting Oct. 5 .
“ Alcohol can play a big part in social gatherings , ” City Manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are hoping this order will help curb the current case increase we are seeing among younger members of the community .
We understand that this order may be frustrating for bars and restaurants that sell alcohol , but the intent is to prevent the city from reverting to Safer at Home Level 3 , which would place a further burden on local businesses.
” Boulder County Public Health on Thursday issued an order halting gatherings for Boulder residents between the ages of 18 and 22 and issued stay-at-home orders to more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to slow the coronavirus spread .
The city ’ s alcohol sales order “ is intended to slow the increasing spread of coronavirus among young people in Boulder .
This order was not meant to address behavior inside homes , ” city spokesperson Shannon Aulabaugh said .
Public health spokesperson Chana Goussetis said the department also hopes the order helps slow the virus “ by reducing opportunities for folks to gather and be in close proximity , which makes it easy for the virus to spread.
” But for bar and restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ is just another nail in the coffin , ” said Boulder liquor licensing attorney Mike Laszlo .
“ So much of sales of alcohol , for bars especially , come in weekends : Thursday , Friday , Saturday , ” he said .
“ The state already had an 11 p.m. curfew , now 10 p.m. is definitely going to hurt businesses.
” Laszlo said he ’ s fearful what will happen to bars and restaurants in the future .
“ I know how seriously they ’ re taking this pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trying hard to do everything right .
They are going to go out of business … We think it ’ s bad now , wait until next year.
” When the county was under state stay-at-home orders in the spring months as the virus unfolded , some CU Boulder students still threw parties .
Boulder police over the St. Patrick ’ s Day weekend say they received about 20 noise or party complaints and issued at least four nuisance party violations .
In May , students held graduation parties on the Hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ educational approach.
” “ We continue to take an educational approach to this , rather than issue violations , ” Boulder Police Department spokesperson Laurie Ogden told the Daily Camera at the time .
CU Boulder on Wednesday shifted to remote learning to curb the coronavirus spread on campus — the same day Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment declared a coronavirus outbreak at the university .
The data , updated Wednesday , shows 12 staff members and 1,198 attendees , or students , had tested positive for the virus .

Boulder on Friday issued an emergency order prohibiting alcohol sales at bars, restaurants and clubs after 10 p.m. in response to the city’s increase in coronavirus cases.
The order went into effect at 5 p.m. Friday and will last through noon Oct. 8, according to a news release from the city, but it could be further amended or extended. The order applies to 199 businesses within the city, restricting alcohol sales “to end consumers for on-premises consumption between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.,” the release states.
New cases have been on the rise for nearly three weeks in Boulder County, with “the vast majority due to transmission among people aged 18-22, particularly those attending the University of Colorado Boulder and living in the University Hill neighborhood,” the release states.
If cases continue to rise, the county is at risk of moving from Safer-at-Home level 2 restrictions to Safer-at-Home level 3 restrictions.
The biggest differences between Safer-at-Home level 2 and Safer-at-Home level 3 is that the latter would mandate bars be closed, would drop most facilities’ allowable capacity from 50% to 25% and would limit gyms would to virtual classes or outdoor classes with no more than 10 people and would suggest schools move to remote or hybrid learning models.
Boulder Valley plans to bring kindergarten through second-grade students back for in-person learning four days each week and third- through twelfth-grad special education students two days per week starting Tuesday, while St. Vrain Valley students will have the option to learn in person two days per week starting Oct. 5.
“Alcohol can play a big part in social gatherings,” City Manager Jane Brautigam stated in the release. “We are hoping this order will help curb the current case increase we are seeing among younger members of the community. We understand that this order may be frustrating for bars and restaurants that sell alcohol, but the intent is to prevent the city from reverting to Safer at Home Level 3, which would place a further burden on local businesses.”
Boulder County Public Health on Thursday issued an order halting gatherings for Boulder residents between the ages of 18 and 22 and issued stay-at-home orders to more than 30 University Hill residences in an effort to slow the coronavirus spread.
The city’s alcohol sales order “is intended to slow the increasing spread of coronavirus among young people in Boulder. This order was not meant to address behavior inside homes,” city spokesperson Shannon Aulabaugh said.
Public health spokesperson Chana Goussetis said the department also hopes the order helps slow the virus “by reducing opportunities for folks to gather and be in close proximity, which makes it easy for the virus to spread.”
But for bar and restaurant owners, the city’s order “is just another nail in the coffin,” said Boulder liquor licensing attorney Mike Laszlo.
“So much of sales of alcohol, for bars especially, come in weekends: Thursday, Friday, Saturday,” he said. “The state already had an 11 p.m. curfew, now 10 p.m. is definitely going to hurt businesses.”
Laszlo said he’s fearful what will happen to bars and restaurants in the future.
“I know how seriously they’re taking this pandemic,” he said. “These restaurants are trying hard to do everything right. They are going to go out of business … We think it’s bad now, wait until next year.”
When the county was under state stay-at-home orders in the spring months as the virus unfolded, some CU Boulder students still threw parties.
Boulder police over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend say they received about 20 noise or party complaints and issued at least four nuisance party violations.
In May, students held graduation parties on the Hill, and officials chose to take an “educational approach.”
“We continue to take an educational approach to this, rather than issue violations,” Boulder Police Department spokesperson Laurie Ogden told the Daily Camera at the time.
CU Boulder on Wednesday shifted to remote learning to curb the coronavirus spread on campus — the same day Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment declared a coronavirus outbreak at the university. The data, updated Wednesday, shows 12 staff members and 1,198 attendees, or students, had tested positive for the virus.


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--Defense moves to split trial in Aidan Atkinson case

Defense attorneys have asked a judge to separate the trial for sex assault charges against Aidan Atkinson from his other charges , which today were revealed to relate to allegations that Atkinson recorded a sexual encounter without consent .
According to jail records Atkinson , 18 , was initially charged with three charges of sexual assault , one charge of attempted sexual assault , and five charges of unlawful sexual contact as a juvenile after investigators say he sexually assaulted multiple young women on a party bus in September 2018 .
Prosecutors later added more charges to the case that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a remote motions hearing Friday attorneys said the charges were related to sexual exploitation allegations that happened at a private residence three months after the party bus incident .
Atkinson is scheduled for a nine-day trial starting Nov. 9 .
But at a motions hearing Friday , Atkinson ’ s attorney Lara Mars Baker indicated she had filed a motion to sever the sex assault and sexual exploitation case , arguing that the charges stemmed from different alleged incidents .
Prosecutors argued that the nature of both offenses allowed them to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Judge Ingrid Bakke said she will review that motion and rule at a later time .
Other motions addressed Friday touched on issues of evidence , search warrants and expert testimony .
Baker also pointed out during arguments that one of the witnesses in the case , who she described as the “ heart ” of many of the sex assault charges , might not be able to testify due to COVID-related travel issues , and asked that prosecutors say whether that would impact which charges ultimately went to trial .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Baker said , noting that Atkinson , formerly a star quarterback for Fairview High School , lost his scholarship to play college football at Northwestern University as a result of the case .
Chief Trial Deputy Catrina Weigel said the witness still wants to testify , and prosecutors would make a decision when they were required to because of the fluid nature of coronavirus restrictions .
“ Who knows where we ’ re going to be in 30 days on anything ?
” Weigel said .
At least some of the charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was on a party bus for homecoming in 2018 .
She said she became too drunk to stand and sat next to Atkinson , who began to sexually touch her .
The girl said she told Atkinson to stop and that others saw what was happening but did not intervene , and the girl said Atkinson ’ s behavior continued at a restaurant .
While the Daily Camera does not typically name juvenile defendants , it is naming Atkinson because of the serious nature of the allegations and the fact that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he was 18 at the time .

Defense attorneys have asked a judge to separate the trial for sex assault charges against Aidan Atkinson from his other charges, which today were revealed to relate to allegations that Atkinson recorded a sexual encounter without consent.
According to jail records Atkinson, 18, was initially charged with three charges of sexual assault, one charge of attempted sexual assault, and five charges of unlawful sexual contact as a juvenile after investigators say he sexually assaulted multiple young women on a party bus in September 2018.
Prosecutors later added more charges to the case that had not been made public, but during a remote motions hearing Friday attorneys said the charges were related to sexual exploitation allegations that happened at a private residence three months after the party bus incident.
Atkinson is scheduled for a nine-day trial starting Nov. 9. But at a motions hearing Friday, Atkinson’s attorney Lara Mars Baker indicated she had filed a motion to sever the sex assault and sexual exploitation case, arguing that the charges stemmed from different alleged incidents.
Prosecutors argued that the nature of both offenses allowed them to be tried at the same time.
Boulder District Judge Ingrid Bakke said she will review that motion and rule at a later time. Other motions addressed Friday touched on issues of evidence, search warrants and expert testimony.
Baker also pointed out during arguments that one of the witnesses in the case, who she described as the “heart” of many of the sex assault charges, might not be able to testify due to COVID-related travel issues, and asked that prosecutors say whether that would impact which charges ultimately went to trial.
“Our client is sitting here paralyzed,” Baker said, noting that Atkinson, formerly a star quarterback for Fairview High School, lost his scholarship to play college football at Northwestern University as a result of the case.
Chief Trial Deputy Catrina Weigel said the witness still wants to testify, and prosecutors would make a decision when they were required to because of the fluid nature of coronavirus restrictions.
“Who knows where we’re going to be in 30 days on anything?” Weigel said.
Atkinson remains free on a personal recognizance bond.
At least some of the charges stem from a student who told officials she was on a party bus for homecoming in 2018. She said she became too drunk to stand and sat next to Atkinson, who began to sexually touch her.
The girl said she told Atkinson to stop and that others saw what was happening but did not intervene, and the girl said Atkinson’s behavior continued at a restaurant.
While the Daily Camera does not typically name juvenile defendants, it is naming Atkinson because of the serious nature of the allegations and the fact that his initial arrest and charges were public record because he was 18 at the time.


thedenverpost--2020-09-25--3 Douglas County high schools move to remote learning after quarantines create staff shortage

Three high schools in Douglas County School District have closed for two weeks following multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 .
Approximately 4,000 students between Douglas County High School and Castle View High School will begin virtual classes on Sept. 28 , the school district informed families Friday .
They follow more than 2,300 students at Mountain Vista High School , who transitioned to remote education Tuesday .
The announcements came after two people at Douglas County High , two people at Mountain Vista and one person at Castle View recently tested positive for the virus .
In letters to families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional ” cases in the schools .
Spokeswoman Paula Hans could not immediately confirm how many total cases have been reported in each facility .
The move to virtual learning is primarily due to a shortage of substitutes needed to fill in for staff who are quarantined , Hans said .
More than two dozen staff members at Douglas County High and Mountain Vista are currently in quarantine , the district told families .
Students who are learning remotely but were not exposed or required to quarantine may still participate in athletics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing list of districts to transition entire student bodies online due to COVID-19 .
Earlier this month , more than 1,500 Cherry Creek High School students went remote following an outbreak in one educational cohort .
Jefferson Jr./Sr .
High School in Edgewater and Heritage High School in Littleton also temporarily moved online , citing staffing issues related to COVID-19 quarantines .

Three high schools in Douglas County School District have closed for two weeks following multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Approximately 4,000 students between Douglas County High School and Castle View High School will begin virtual classes on Sept. 28, the school district informed families Friday. They follow more than 2,300 students at Mountain Vista High School, who transitioned to remote education Tuesday.
The announcements came after two people at Douglas County High, two people at Mountain Vista and one person at Castle View recently tested positive for the virus. In letters to families, the district noted these were “additional” cases in the schools. Spokeswoman Paula Hans could not immediately confirm how many total cases have been reported in each facility.
The move to virtual learning is primarily due to a shortage of substitutes needed to fill in for staff who are quarantined, Hans said. More than two dozen staff members at Douglas County High and Mountain Vista are currently in quarantine, the district told families.
Students who are learning remotely but were not exposed or required to quarantine may still participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities.
Douglas County joins a growing list of districts to transition entire student bodies online due to COVID-19. Earlier this month, more than 1,500 Cherry Creek High School students went remote following an outbreak in one educational cohort. Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School in Edgewater and Heritage High School in Littleton also temporarily moved online, citing staffing issues related to COVID-19 quarantines.