thedenverpost--2020-05-21--Colorado hits 5,000-a-day testing threshold as confirmed coronavirus cases surpass 23,000

Colorado health officials on Thursday reported 1,310 people who had contracted COVID-19 have died since the new coronavirus was first confirmed in the state , and that death-certificate data shows 1,062 fatalities were directly due to the virus .
That ’ s an increase of 11 deaths of people with the virus and 61 more fatalities from COVID-19 over the previous day ’ s tallies , though it doesn ’ t mean the deaths all occurred in one day .
There ’ s a lag in reporting deaths to the state health department — particularly death-certificate data .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Environment revamped the way it reports deaths related to the new coronavirus , listing the total number of fatalities in which the person had the virus as well as the number of deaths that have been directly attributed to COVID-19 on a death certificate .
There have been 4,037 people hospitalized since the outbreak first was confirmed in the state in early March , though only 445 people were hospitalized with symptoms of the illness as of Thursday afternoon , state data shows .
At least 54 people since Wednesday either went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of care , like a rehabilitation facility .
Additionally , as of Thursday , there were 330 critical care ventilators being used across the state , down from 463 a month ago , according to state data .
To date , 23,191 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19 , the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus , though health officials have said the true number is closer to 167,000 .
Officials recorded 5,187 tests on Thursday as the state ramps up its capabilities to better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — 91 tests per 100,000 people per day — has improved drastically since the beginning of the pandemic but falls short of the 152-per-100,000 daily number that health experts say is necessary to safely monitor the outbreak .
Much of the testing has been focused on senior living facilities and other care homes , though Gov .
Jared Polis on Monday announced that anybody in the state showing COVID-19 symptoms can now get tested for free .
Officials have confirmed outbreaks at 256 contained facilities across the state , including nursing homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven more than the previous day .
The state health department announces new totals daily of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases based on what ’ s reported up from Colorado ’ s counties ; though the deaths and positive test results may be announced on a particular day , they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state .

Colorado health officials on Thursday reported 1,310 people who had contracted COVID-19 have died since the new coronavirus was first confirmed in the state, and that death-certificate data shows 1,062 fatalities were directly due to the virus.
That’s an increase of 11 deaths of people with the virus and 61 more fatalities from COVID-19 over the previous day’s tallies, though it doesn’t mean the deaths all occurred in one day. There’s a lag in reporting deaths to the state health department — particularly death-certificate data.
On Friday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment revamped the way it reports deaths related to the new coronavirus, listing the total number of fatalities in which the person had the virus as well as the number of deaths that have been directly attributed to COVID-19 on a death certificate.
There have been 4,037 people hospitalized since the outbreak first was confirmed in the state in early March, though only 445 people were hospitalized with symptoms of the illness as of Thursday afternoon, state data shows. At least 54 people since Wednesday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care, like a rehabilitation facility.
Additionally, as of Thursday, there were 330 critical care ventilators being used across the state, down from 463 a month ago, according to state data.
To date, 23,191 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus, though health officials have said the true number is closer to 167,000.
Officials recorded 5,187 tests on Thursday as the state ramps up its capabilities to better track the virus. The testing rate — 91 tests per 100,000 people per day — has improved drastically since the beginning of the pandemic but falls short of the 152-per-100,000 daily number that health experts say is necessary to safely monitor the outbreak.
Much of the testing has been focused on senior living facilities and other care homes, though Gov. Jared Polis on Monday announced that anybody in the state showing COVID-19 symptoms can now get tested for free. Officials have confirmed outbreaks at 256 contained facilities across the state, including nursing homes, jails and factories. That’s seven more than the previous day.
The state health department announces new totals daily of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases based on what’s reported up from Colorado’s counties; though the deaths and positive test results may be announced on a particular day, they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state.


thedenverpost--2020-05-21--Colorado nursing homes to test all employees weekly to try to avert coronavirus outbreaks

All people working in Colorado nursing homes and other residential health facilities will be tested weekly for the new coronavirus for at least eight weeks , a new effort by the state to try to prevent more outbreaks like those that already have taken an outsized toll .
Testing all employees regularly is an important step toward keeping the virus out of nursing homes , said Doug Farmer , president and CEO of the Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living , which represents long-term care facilities .
The plan is to start testing at the state ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the smaller ones , he said .
“ I think it will be more meaningful , more useful ” than just testing people who have symptoms or a known exposure , he said .
“ We welcome this mass-testing approach.
” Some residents also will be tested , but only if they ’ ve left their facility to get medical care , Farmer said .
Because of restrictions meant to prevent the virus from spreading , residents aren ’ t leaving for family events or social outings like they once did .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a community , residents who haven ’ t left aren ’ t likely to be infected , he said .
More than half of all Coloradans who have died of the new virus lived in some sort of residential health center , such as a nursing home or assisted living facility .
The state is providing $ 4.2 million to Colorado State University to pay for testing kits and the costs of processing them .
CSU will test about 30 small to medium-sized facilities , while the state will handle the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the university ’ s Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging .
They will train existing staff at the facilities to conduct the tests themselves , she said .
“ That kind of minimizes the risk of bringing more outside people into these facilities , ” she said .
The repeated rounds of testing will build on a pilot project that tested staff who didn ’ t have symptoms in five facilities , Ehrhart said .
In those five facilities , they found that about 13 % of employees without symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — had the virus .
The pilot project found that identifying asymptomatic staff and asking them to stay home “ significantly reduced ” the virus ’ spread through a facility , she said .
“ At first we weren ’ t sure it would , that if the cat ’ s out of the bag it ’ s too late , ” she said .
The eight-week project will generate more data that researchers can use to figure out if the current recommended practices for controlling the virus in facilities are effective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s economy is increasing infections among health care workers , Ehrhart said .
About 20,000 people work in Colorado ’ s 227 nursing homes , caring for about 17,000 residents , according to the American Health Care Association .
It estimated testing all residents and employees once could cost about $ 5.5 million , but that assumes a cost of $ 150 per test , which is higher than the rates offered at some Denver hospitals .
The state has made several changes to its testing plans for facilities without known outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado Unified Command Center announced it was creating a task force on residential facilities and “ rapid response ” teams to help facilities that had outbreaks .
It also planned to test 1,900 staff members and residents at six homes without any known cases .
About a week later , the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said it would modify how it handles testing , following an outbreak at Broomfield Skilled Nursing Facility .
The home reported 22 residents and staff members who had tested negative during a testing day on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next two weeks .
There ’ s no proof the testing day spread the virus , but the state decided to start sending smaller teams to train each facility ’ s staff about how to collect samples “ out of an abundance of caution , ” health department spokesman Ian Dickson said .
That means fewer outsiders entering each facility , and has the side benefit of allowing the state ’ s workforce to visit more homes in the same amount of time , he said .
“ We plan to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will coordinate closely with the entities doing the testing to ensure protocols are followed , ” Dickson said .

All people working in Colorado nursing homes and other residential health facilities will be tested weekly for the new coronavirus for at least eight weeks, a new effort by the state to try to prevent more outbreaks like those that already have taken an outsized toll.
Testing all employees regularly is an important step toward keeping the virus out of nursing homes, said Doug Farmer, president and CEO of the Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living, which represents long-term care facilities.
The plan is to start testing at the state’s largest homes and gradually expand it to the smaller ones, he said.
“I think it will be more meaningful, more useful” than just testing people who have symptoms or a known exposure, he said. “We welcome this mass-testing approach.”
Some residents also will be tested, but only if they’ve left their facility to get medical care, Farmer said. Because of restrictions meant to prevent the virus from spreading, residents aren’t leaving for family events or social outings like they once did. If the virus isn’t circulating in a community, residents who haven’t left aren’t likely to be infected, he said.
More than half of all Coloradans who have died of the new virus lived in some sort of residential health center, such as a nursing home or assisted living facility.
The state is providing $4.2 million to Colorado State University to pay for testing kits and the costs of processing them. CSU will test about 30 small to medium-sized facilities, while the state will handle the other homes, said Dr. Nicole Ehrhart, director of the university’s Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging. They will train existing staff at the facilities to conduct the tests themselves, she said.
“That kind of minimizes the risk of bringing more outside people into these facilities,” she said.
The repeated rounds of testing will build on a pilot project that tested staff who didn’t have symptoms in five facilities, Ehrhart said. In those five facilities, they found that about 13% of employees without symptoms — 60 out of 454 people tested — had the virus. The pilot project found that identifying asymptomatic staff and asking them to stay home “significantly reduced” the virus’ spread through a facility, she said.
“At first we weren’t sure it would, that if the cat’s out of the bag it’s too late,” she said.
The eight-week project will generate more data that researchers can use to figure out if the current recommended practices for controlling the virus in facilities are effective, and if beginning to reopen the state’s economy is increasing infections among health care workers, Ehrhart said.
About 20,000 people work in Colorado’s 227 nursing homes, caring for about 17,000 residents, according to the American Health Care Association. It estimated testing all residents and employees once could cost about $5.5 million, but that assumes a cost of $150 per test, which is higher than the rates offered at some Denver hospitals.
The state has made several changes to its testing plans for facilities without known outbreaks recently. On May 6, the Colorado Unified Command Center announced it was creating a task force on residential facilities and “rapid response” teams to help facilities that had outbreaks. It also planned to test 1,900 staff members and residents at six homes without any known cases.
About a week later, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said it would modify how it handles testing, following an outbreak at Broomfield Skilled Nursing Facility. The home reported 22 residents and staff members who had tested negative during a testing day on April 22 developed symptoms of COVID-19 over the next two weeks.
There’s no proof the testing day spread the virus, but the state decided to start sending smaller teams to train each facility’s staff about how to collect samples “out of an abundance of caution,” health department spokesman Ian Dickson said. That means fewer outsiders entering each facility, and has the side benefit of allowing the state’s workforce to visit more homes in the same amount of time, he said.
“We plan to continue to do proactive testing at facilities and will coordinate closely with the entities doing the testing to ensure protocols are followed,” Dickson said.


thedenverpost--2020-05-21--Avalanche’s Ian Cole fully supportive of potential NHL return: “Whatever gets us back and playing, I

Avalanche’s Ian Cole fully supportive of potential NHL return: “Whatever gets us back and playing, I’m 100 percent for”

Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole is “ 100 percent ” for the reported NHL proposal to skip the end of the regular season and go directly into a 24-team playoff to award the Stanley Cup by late August or early September .
A two-time Cup champion with Pittsburgh Penguins , Cole would vote for any plan that gave him a shot at a third crown .
And he knows the Avalanche is capable of winning its third Cup in 24 years .
“ To be honest with you , I like to keep it simple : Whatever gets us back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for .
Whether that ’ s 16 teams , 24 teams — 30 teams , 31 teams — whatever gets us back and playing I ’ m 100 percent on board with , ” Cole said in a phone interview with The Post .
In the NHL and NHL Players ’ Association proposed plan originally reported by Sportsnet ’ s Elliotte Friedman , the Avalanche would tentatively have the Western Conference ’ s No .
2 seed and a bye during the five-game “ play-in ” round between seeds 5-12 at hub cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games , played without fans in the stands , Colorado and the three others teams with the West ’ s top-four regular-season records ( St. Louis , Vegas , Dallas ) would play games to determine the Nos .
1-4 seeds .
The Avs could potentially unseat the Blues for the West ’ s No .
1 seed when the traditional 16-team , seven-game series begins .
“ I like competing for that top spot in the conference , ” Cole said .
“ If we are able to do that , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do.
” He added : “ You only have so many opportunities to be on a really great team that has a very legitimate chance , and I view us as a team that has a very legitimate chance to win a Stanley Cup .
I look around at all the teams in the league , and obviously I ’ m quite a bit biased , but I think we can beat any team in this league in a seven-game series .
I ’ ve been fortunate enough to win two Stanley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more I want to do than win a third one , and then a fourth one , and then a fifth one .
I think a lot of guys on this team mimic that.
” Cole has been in Denver with his wife during the suspension of play and working out at home and nearby parks .
He said the Avalanche has yet to schedule small-group skates players staying in the area , but that could happen soon as South Suburban Ice Arena and others have opened for private skates of no more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once .
The Avs ’ practice facility , Family Sports Center , is part of South Suburban Parks and Recreation .
Cole ’ s current workouts are what he couldn ’ t do a year ago after undergoing two hip surgeries .
“ I ’ m fortunate to have a home gym here .
I got a stationary ( bike ) , a Peloton and all the weights I ’ d ever need , ” he said .
“ I ’ ve been doing a like of biking , a lot of weight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , track days , out at the park .
It ’ s been really good , considering I didn ’ t really have an opportunity to work out this past summer … So I kind of took this opportunity to have an ( offseason ) training camp with myself and get in really good shape and be really ready to go come playoff time.
” When playoff time unfolds , it will be like nothing anyone has ever seen .
No fans but nearly 100 percent healthy lineups .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , and I know guys are feeling better , ” Cole said of his teammates .
“ That ’ s going to be a unique aspect of this particular year .
You ’ re going to have every team at full health , for the most part .
You ’ re going to see the healthiest playoffs the league has ever seen .
Which could lead to a pretty awesome product.
” And playing with no fans ?
“ Obviously , with the way things are now , it ’ s tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ I think you want to put the league in the best situation you can and claw some of that revenue back , and if it has to be in front of no fans , then that ’ s what it ’ s going to be .
“ Like I said , I ’ m pretty easy .
I just want to get back and win a Stanley Cup .
”

Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole is “100 percent” for the reported NHL proposal to skip the end of the regular season and go directly into a 24-team playoff to award the Stanley Cup by late August or early September.
A two-time Cup champion with Pittsburgh Penguins, Cole would vote for any plan that gave him a shot at a third crown. And he knows the Avalanche is capable of winning its third Cup in 24 years.
“To be honest with you, I like to keep it simple: Whatever gets us back and playing, I’m 100 percent for. Whether that’s 16 teams, 24 teams — 30 teams, 31 teams — whatever gets us back and playing I’m 100 percent on board with,” Cole said in a phone interview with The Post.
How playoffs would look If a reported NHL proposal for a 24-team playoff is approved, seeds 5-12 will play five-game series at hub cities to earn a spot in the tradition 16-team bracket. At the same time, the teams with the four best regular-season records in each conference will face off in three-game series to determine the Nos. 1-4 seeds. Western Conference 5 Edmonton vs. 12 Chicago (winner vs. Dallas-Vegas loser) 6 Nashville vs. 11 Arizona (winner vs. Dallas-Vegas winner) 7 Vancouver vs. 10 Minnesota (winner vs. St. Louis-Colorado loser) 8 Calgary vs. 9 Winnipeg (winner vs. St. Louis-Colorado winner)
Eastern Conference 5 Pittsburgh vs. 12 Montreal (winner vs Philadelphia-Washington loser)
6 Carolina vs. 11 New York Rangers (winner vs Philadelphia-Washington winner)
7 New York Islanders vs. 10 Florida (winner v Boston-Tampa Bay loser)
8 Toronto vs. 9 Columbus (winner vs. Boston-Tampa Bay winner)
In the NHL and NHL Players’ Association proposed plan originally reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Avalanche would tentatively have the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed and a bye during the five-game “play-in” round between seeds 5-12 at hub cities. At the same time as those games, played without fans in the stands, Colorado and the three others teams with the West’s top-four regular-season records (St. Louis, Vegas, Dallas) would play games to determine the Nos. 1-4 seeds.
The Avs could potentially unseat the Blues for the West’s No. 1 seed when the traditional 16-team, seven-game series begins.
“I like competing for that top spot in the conference,” Cole said. “If we are able to do that, that’s something we’d like to do.”
He added: “You only have so many opportunities to be on a really great team that has a very legitimate chance, and I view us as a team that has a very legitimate chance to win a Stanley Cup. I look around at all the teams in the league, and obviously I’m quite a bit biased, but I think we can beat any team in this league in a seven-game series. I’ve been fortunate enough to win two Stanley Cups, but there’s nothing more I want to do than win a third one, and then a fourth one, and then a fifth one. I think a lot of guys on this team mimic that.”
Cole has been in Denver with his wife during the suspension of play and working out at home and nearby parks. He said the Avalanche has yet to schedule small-group skates players staying in the area, but that could happen soon as South Suburban Ice Arena and others have opened for private skates of no more than 10 people on the ice at once.
The Avs’ practice facility, Family Sports Center, is part of South Suburban Parks and Recreation.
Cole’s current workouts are what he couldn’t do a year ago after undergoing two hip surgeries.
“I’m fortunate to have a home gym here. I got a stationary (bike), a Peloton and all the weights I’d ever need,” he said. “I’ve been doing a like of biking, a lot of weight lifting, a lot of turf days, track days, out at the park. It’s been really good, considering I didn’t really have an opportunity to work out this past summer … So I kind of took this opportunity to have an (offseason) training camp with myself and get in really good shape and be really ready to go come playoff time.”
When playoff time unfolds, it will be like nothing anyone has ever seen. No fans but nearly 100 percent healthy lineups.
“I’m sure everyone is working hard to get back, and I know guys are feeling better,” Cole said of his teammates. “That’s going to be a unique aspect of this particular year. You’re going to have every team at full health, for the most part. You’re going to see the healthiest playoffs the league has ever seen. Which could lead to a pretty awesome product.”
And playing with no fans?
“Obviously, with the way things are now, it’s tough to be too picky,” Cole said. “I think you want to put the league in the best situation you can and claw some of that revenue back, and if it has to be in front of no fans, then that’s what it’s going to be.
“Like I said, I’m pretty easy. I just want to get back and win a Stanley Cup.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-21--The Spot: Gov. Polis’ lifeline to ballot campaigns, weaponized public records and the legislature re

The Spot: Gov. Polis’ lifeline to ballot campaigns, weaponized public records and the legislature reconvenes

What ’ s The Spot ?
You ’ re reading an installment of our weekly politics newsletter .
Sign up here to get it delivered straight in your inbox .
It ’ s hard to understate the significance of the governor ’ s recent executive order to allow ballot petitioners to collect signatures online and through the mail .
( Let ’ s set aside for a moment that there ’ s some chance this order won ’ t stand , since it ’ s already been challenged in court . )
The order , signed Friday , was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly impossible , and dangerous , task of collecting more than 100,000 signatures to place their measures on the 2020 ballot .
There are no public events taking place these days , and people are less inclined to stop outside of a grocery store to talk to a ballot petitioner — much less to risk infection by touching the petitioner ’ s pen and pad to sign the thing .
Collecting signatures online and through the mail brings challenges of its own .
For one , it ’ s easier to sway someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange online .
But the online route creates a huge opportunity to connect with people petitioners otherwise wouldn ’ t reach — and at a lower cost .
Because of this order , you might vote this fall on proposals to raise the nicotine tax and to start a paid family and medical leave program for Colorado workers , among other measures .
You also might be asked to decide the future of income taxation in Colorado .
I touched on two proposed tax changes in a recent story and want to briefly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot measure , pushed by liberal organizations and politicians , proposes to cut the state income tax for everyone earning less than $ 250,000 — more than nine in 10 Coloradans — while raising rates on the roughly 5 % of Coloradans who make more than that amount per year .
This would generate an estimated $ 2 billion annually for a state that expects to be short by at least that amount for the next couple years , or longer .
The other proposal would lower the income tax rate across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s backed by conservatives , and it would reduce revenue to the state by an estimated $ 150 million per year .
This would be a fascinating set of competing proposals in any election , but particularly so this year , given Colorado ’ s projected shortfall .
We ’ ll see if Gov .
Jared Polis ’ petitioning lifeline is enough to land either on the ballot .
If both qualify , the result will be hugely consequential .
And speaking of consequential elections , Justin Wingerter goes behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ’ s Spot .
Saja Hindi previews the back half of the legislative session , which is set to resume Tuesday .
And Jon Murray writes about the strange world of retail politics in a pandemic .
To support the important journalism we do , you can become a Denver Post subscriber here .
You can send tips , comments and questions to me at aburness @ denverpost.com or to the other Post reporters below .
The city of Denver will reform its open-records process after an audit released Thursday found the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments .
City offices charge inconsistent fees , do not always fully address requests , and don ’ t consistently track time and money spent to fulfill them , the audit found .
Auditor Tim O ’ Brien made 14 recommendations to improve the city ’ s handling of public records , The Post ’ s Shelly Bradbury reports .
Next week , state lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol , but it ’ s going to look very different than when they left in March .
The most obvious changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and social distancing .
But they won ’ t all be mandatory .
New recommendations call for lawmakers , staff members and the public to wear masks , maintain 6 feet of social distancing , wash their hands frequently , and bring their own food and water into the building .
Visitors will have their temperatures checked .
Anyone with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher will be urged to participate remotely .
Temperature readings also may be taken for lawmakers and staff before they enter the chambers .
Because of social-distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in each gallery to watch floor work will be limited , and even the lawmakers will be sitting in every other seat on the floor .
Plexiglass will be installed in the House and Senate chambers .
The changes will also affect legislation .
As lawmakers work to finalize the agenda , House Speaker KC Becker , D-Boulder , asked members to keep in mind that their bills should be “ fast , friendly and free.
” A lot of bills that the Democratic majority had hoped to pass are now on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit expected from the coronavirus pandemic .
Lawmakers plan to focus their efforts on coronavirus response bills , though Becker said other important bills will get consideration .
The annual budget must be balanced .
As Becker points out , it ’ s not just about making the numbers add up but about policies that lawmakers have worked on for months that they now have to amend .
“ That ’ s been a really big effort the last few weeks and it ’ s going to be hard to get it passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just three weeks scheduled , the task won ’ t be simple .
And House Republicans , at odds with the state ’ s Democratic elected leaders , are pushing different ideas to address the budget shortfall and to help business owners .
“ We ’ re here because we want to reopen Colorado , ” House Minority Leader Patrick Neville said at a news conference this week .
• Education funding is taking a big hit , but lawmakers expect federal money to help .
• Changes to how campaigns can collect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has resulted in a lawsuit from a business group and an anti-abortion campaign .
• Here ’ s why a pro-vaccine bill is still not an easy sell amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Looks like you are CORAing the CORA of the CORA , ” a Colorado attorney general ’ s office spokesman told me last week , as I filed a Colorado Open Records Act request .
And he was right .
I wanted a glimpse into a small drama that is performed entirely outside the public ’ s view but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters see .
What I found , amid mundane emails , are some realities of elections in 2020 : less journalism , more outside money and a tireless search for dirt .
On Jan. 16 , Becca Charen sent a CORA request to the attorney general ’ s office , asking for 20 years ’ worth of information about special assistant attorneys general , or SAAGs , and the hourly rate they billed taxpayers .
Charen is the research director for Democrat John Hickenlooper ’ s U.S. Senate campaign , and Hickenlooper was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a highly-paid SAAG .
The Hickenlooper campaign paid $ 250 for the records about SAAGs and reported that expense on a campaign finance report .
Allan Blutstein , a public records expert at the Republican opposition research firm America Rising , then saw that campaign finance report and requested the same documents Charen had requested .
Like that , Republicans knew which data the Hickenlooper campaign might use to defend itself against a possible attack ad .
State and federal open records laws are best known for their use by journalists .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and increased election spending , many of the CORA requests that land in state government inboxes are now sent by political groups conducting opposition research .
That is especially true during this year ’ s expensive and high-profile U.S. Senate race .
Curtis Hubbard is a new player in this CORA drama .
He and Rick Palacio , a former Colorado Democratic Party chair , recently founded the Colorado Ethics Institute .
Drawing on Hubbard ’ s experience with public records — he was a journalist before entering Democratic politics — CEI says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open records laws and ethics laws , beginning with what Hubbard calls “ the partisan hit job ” against Hickenlooper : an ethics complaint over private jet flights , which seemingly began with an open records request from America Rising .
“ Given my experience and familiarity with CORA , we started backtracking and looking to see , OK , who ’ s involved here ?
How did this come to be ?
” Hubbard says of his research into the Public Trust Institute ’ s ethics complaint against Hickenlooper .
To recap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used open records in 2018 to compile an ethics complaint against Hickenlooper and uses them today to further investigate him .
Now CEI , run by Democrats , is using open records to investigate PTI .
Their first findings involve the legislature .
“ If we haven ’ t already , ” wrote state Sen. Bob Gardner , R-Colorado Springs , in an email Dec. 11 , “ we might make a CORA request of the treasurer ’ s office to see who certified the payments ; see if we can force ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the authority is for this ; make the AG get involved in the matter — just get everyone ’ s fingerprints all over it.
” The email , obtained by CEI , is about payments from a federal fund to Hickenlooper ’ s ethics attorney , as reported in The Post three weeks before .
Gardner sent the email to Frank McNulty , the founder of PTI , and Sen. Paul Lundeen , a Monument Republican on the Legislative Audit Committee , as the three discussed how to track Hickenlooper ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the email as proof that Republicans wanted to taint Democrats — “ get everyone ’ s fingerprints all over it ” — rather than uncover the truth or track government spending .
Both the treasurer and the attorney general mentioned in the Gardner email are elected Democrats .
“ These records show a highly partisan actor in Frank McNulty coordinating a political hit job with ( state ) Sen. Bob Gardner and a member of the Audit Committee .
They call it their ‘ Audit Committee Project , ’ and to me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going on here , ” Hubbard said .
“ Misappropriation of federal funds is a serious matter , ” Gardner said in an interview Wednesday , while explaining his email and his desire for an audit .
“ As for making inquiries of the treasurer , that ’ s the office that writes the checks for the state , and the legal counsel for the executive branch is the attorney general .
I guess I want to know , are they supporting that ( spending ) or not supporting that ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” McNulty says .
“ Coloradans should not pay the legal bills for Hickenlooper ’ s illegal gifts and his flights on private corporate jets .
Hickenlooper is either innocent , or he is guilty of a pattern of accepting illegal gifts .
We will have the answer to that question soon , and that ’ s what matters.
” Hearings in the ethics case are scheduled for June 4 and June 5 .
Endorsements : In his bid to take on incumbent U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner , Hickenlooper was endorsed Monday by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday by the Congressional Black Caucus PAC .
On Thursday , he won the backing of Stacey Abrams .
Fellow Democratic contender Andrew Romanoff was endorsed Wednesday by Joe Salazar , leader of the anti-fracking group Colorado Rising , along with Aurora City Council members Juan Marcano and Alison Coombs .
Gardner was endorsed Thursday — before the Democratic nominee has been picked — by the Colorado Springs Gazette .
• Gardner has racked up significant policy wins lately .
Democrats say they are election year gifts from the president .
• Gardner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September and October against his eventual Democratic opponent , Colorado Politics reports .
• A super PAC spending $ 165,000 on an Indiana congressional race “ is based at a mailbox inside a UPS Store that ’ s adjacent to a Cheesecake Factory restaurant in downtown Denver , ” reports The Times of Northwest Indiana .
• Elizabeth Warren called Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse ’ s cell phone with some coronavirus oversight ideas , The Atlantic reports .
( It went to voicemail . )
Jill Biden had a full schedule Tuesday in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a northwest Denver Mexican restaurant , into the homes of Latina business leaders and to a discussion with Colorado Springs-area military spouses .
For each installment , the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden sat in her basement in Delaware , in front of a white bookcase , glowing lamp , worn football and folded American flag — the makeshift Zoom-call set that her husband also uses for many of his virtual appearances .
Welcome to retail politics during the pandemic .
Normally a presidential candidate ’ s spouse would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carefully stage-managed campaign stops .
Instead , we sit invisible on the sidelines of a Zoom call , getting a peek into interactions that simultaneously seem more staged and more intimate .
Nobody ’ s fighting to be heard over a cheering crowd , but the physical separation is impossible to ignore .
“ A lot of businesses don ’ t survive to the second generation , but I hope we survive , ” shared Denver restaurateur Paula Sandoval , also a former state senator and city councilwoman , as she used her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ La Casita .
Biden looked in during a brisk lunch hour for takeout business .
“ My hope is that things get as close as they can back to normal , ” Biden told her .
“ … I love that you ’ re a strong woman and you ’ ve taken on this — and you ’ re helping so many people make a living .
Thanks for what you ’ re doing , and I hope you have a lot of success .
And I hope that I get to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden was joined by U.S. Rep. Jason Crow and U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper for brief remarks and a Q & A with Colorado supporters during a virtual organizing event .
Biden took two questions .
One asked what her priorities would be if she became first lady .
The other asked if her husband would support replacing the current $ 600-per-week supplemental federal unemployment checks with a two-year education stipend .
Biden was noncommittal .
“ What an interesting idea !
” she said .
“ I will surely take this back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lots of thoughtful , creative thinking .
Joe currently convenes economists several times a week to discuss ideas.
” Virtual visits already are becoming a defining feature of this year ’ s campaign , marking one of several ways the candidates are adapting in the pandemic .
President Donald Trump ’ s reelection campaign has had longer to build a footprint in Colorado and other states , but instead of door-knocking , its forces are relying these days on phone and text contacts more than ever to fire up Republican voters .
Kyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s spokesperson for Colorado , said the joint campaign has made 1 million contacts since March , when it shifted entirely to virtual efforts .
More than a third of those happened in the last week or so .
• The coronavirus pandemic has hindered Joe Biden ’ s ability to sync messages with other Democrats and given Donald Trump an opportunity to unite his party , Politico reports .
• Republican candidates won two special elections in congressional districts this month .
FiveThirtyEight looks at the mixed signals for November ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new polls in three battleground states this week , USA Today reports .
Forward this newsletter to your friend and colleagues and encourage them to subscribe .

For people, policy and Colorado politics
What’s The Spot? You’re reading an installment of our weekly politics newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered straight in your inbox.
It’s hard to understate the significance of the governor’s recent executive order to allow ballot petitioners to collect signatures online and through the mail. (Let’s set aside for a moment that there’s some chance this order won’t stand, since it’s already been challenged in court.)
The order, signed Friday, was a lifeline to campaigns that were facing the nearly impossible, and dangerous, task of collecting more than 100,000 signatures to place their measures on the 2020 ballot. There are no public events taking place these days, and people are less inclined to stop outside of a grocery store to talk to a ballot petitioner — much less to risk infection by touching the petitioner’s pen and pad to sign the thing.
Collecting signatures online and through the mail brings challenges of its own. For one, it’s easier to sway someone through an in-person conversation than through an exchange online. But the online route creates a huge opportunity to connect with people petitioners otherwise wouldn’t reach — and at a lower cost.
Because of this order, you might vote this fall on proposals to raise the nicotine tax and to start a paid family and medical leave program for Colorado workers, among other measures.
You also might be asked to decide the future of income taxation in Colorado. I touched on two proposed tax changes in a recent story and want to briefly highlight this potential showdown today.
One ballot measure, pushed by liberal organizations and politicians, proposes to cut the state income tax for everyone earning less than $250,000 — more than nine in 10 Coloradans — while raising rates on the roughly 5% of Coloradans who make more than that amount per year. This would generate an estimated $2 billion annually for a state that expects to be short by at least that amount for the next couple years, or longer.
The other proposal would lower the income tax rate across the board — everybody gets a cut. It’s backed by conservatives, and it would reduce revenue to the state by an estimated $150 million per year.
This would be a fascinating set of competing proposals in any election, but particularly so this year, given Colorado’s projected shortfall. We’ll see if Gov. Jared Polis’ petitioning lifeline is enough to land either on the ballot.
If both qualify, the result will be hugely consequential.
And speaking of consequential elections, Justin Wingerter goes behind the scenes of Senate race dirt-collecting in this week’s Spot. Saja Hindi previews the back half of the legislative session, which is set to resume Tuesday. And Jon Murray writes about the strange world of retail politics in a pandemic.
To support the important journalism we do, you can become a Denver Post subscriber here.
You can send tips, comments and questions to me at aburness@denverpost.com or to the other Post reporters below.
Top Line
The city of Denver will reform its open-records process after an audit released Thursday found the city was less transparent than neighboring local governments. City offices charge inconsistent fees, do not always fully address requests, and don’t consistently track time and money spent to fulfill them, the audit found. Auditor Tim O’Brien made 14 recommendations to improve the city’s handling of public records, The Post’s Shelly Bradbury reports.
Capitol Diary • By Saja Hindi
The new normal
Next week, state lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol, but it’s going to look very different than when they left in March.
The most obvious changes, of course, will involve masks and social distancing. But they won’t all be mandatory.
New recommendations call for lawmakers, staff members and the public to wear masks, maintain 6 feet of social distancing, wash their hands frequently, and bring their own food and water into the building. Visitors will have their temperatures checked. Anyone with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher will be urged to participate remotely. Temperature readings also may be taken for lawmakers and staff before they enter the chambers.
Because of social-distancing guidelines, the number of people allowed in each gallery to watch floor work will be limited, and even the lawmakers will be sitting in every other seat on the floor. Plexiglass will be installed in the House and Senate chambers.
The changes will also affect legislation. As lawmakers work to finalize the agenda, House Speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder, asked members to keep in mind that their bills should be “fast, friendly and free.”
A lot of bills that the Democratic majority had hoped to pass are now on the back burner, thanks to the budget hit expected from the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers plan to focus their efforts on coronavirus response bills, though Becker said other important bills will get consideration.
The annual budget must be balanced. As Becker points out, it’s not just about making the numbers add up but about policies that lawmakers have worked on for months that they now have to amend.
“That’s been a really big effort the last few weeks and it’s going to be hard to get it passed,” she said.
But with just three weeks scheduled, the task won’t be simple. And House Republicans, at odds with the state’s Democratic elected leaders, are pushing different ideas to address the budget shortfall and to help business owners.
“We’re here because we want to reopen Colorado,” House Minority Leader Patrick Neville said at a news conference this week.
More Colorado political news
#COSen 2020 • By Justin Wingerter
The shadow CORA war
“Looks like you are CORAing the CORA of the CORA,” a Colorado attorney general’s office spokesman told me last week, as I filed a Colorado Open Records Act request. And he was right.
I wanted a glimpse into a small drama that is performed entirely outside the public’s view but can shape the negative ads nearly all voters see. What I found, amid mundane emails, are some realities of elections in 2020: less journalism, more outside money and a tireless search for dirt.
On Jan. 16, Becca Charen sent a CORA request to the attorney general’s office, asking for 20 years’ worth of information about special assistant attorneys general, or SAAGs, and the hourly rate they billed taxpayers. Charen is the research director for Democrat John Hickenlooper’s U.S. Senate campaign, and Hickenlooper was taking flak because his ethics attorney is a highly-paid SAAG.
The Hickenlooper campaign paid $250 for the records about SAAGs and reported that expense on a campaign finance report. Allan Blutstein, a public records expert at the Republican opposition research firm America Rising, then saw that campaign finance report and requested the same documents Charen had requested.
Like that, Republicans knew which data the Hickenlooper campaign might use to defend itself against a possible attack ad.
State and federal open records laws are best known for their use by journalists. But in this age of shrinking newsroom budgets and increased election spending, many of the CORA requests that land in state government inboxes are now sent by political groups conducting opposition research. That is especially true during this year’s expensive and high-profile U.S. Senate race.
Curtis Hubbard is a new player in this CORA drama. He and Rick Palacio, a former Colorado Democratic Party chair, recently founded the Colorado Ethics Institute.
Drawing on Hubbard’s experience with public records — he was a journalist before entering Democratic politics — CEI says it intends to highlight Republican abuses of open records laws and ethics laws, beginning with what Hubbard calls “the partisan hit job” against Hickenlooper: an ethics complaint over private jet flights, which seemingly began with an open records request from America Rising.
“Given my experience and familiarity with CORA, we started backtracking and looking to see, OK, who’s involved here? How did this come to be?” Hubbard says of his research into the Public Trust Institute’s ethics complaint against Hickenlooper.
To recap: PTI, run by Republicans, used open records in 2018 to compile an ethics complaint against Hickenlooper and uses them today to further investigate him. Now CEI, run by Democrats, is using open records to investigate PTI.
Their first findings involve the legislature.
“If we haven’t already,” wrote state Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, in an email Dec. 11, “we might make a CORA request of the treasurer’s office to see who certified the payments; see if we can force (Treasurer) Dave Young to tell us what the authority is for this; make the AG get involved in the matter — just get everyone’s fingerprints all over it.”
The email, obtained by CEI, is about payments from a federal fund to Hickenlooper’s ethics attorney, as reported in The Post three weeks before. Gardner sent the email to Frank McNulty, the founder of PTI, and Sen. Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican on the Legislative Audit Committee, as the three discussed how to track Hickenlooper’s spending from the fund.
Hubbard sees the email as proof that Republicans wanted to taint Democrats — “get everyone’s fingerprints all over it” — rather than uncover the truth or track government spending. Both the treasurer and the attorney general mentioned in the Gardner email are elected Democrats.
“These records show a highly partisan actor in Frank McNulty coordinating a political hit job with (state) Sen. Bob Gardner and a member of the Audit Committee. They call it their ‘Audit Committee Project,’ and to me, it really shines a light on what’s going on here,” Hubbard said.
(In one email, the subject line is “Audit Committee Project.” The audit committee later rejected, on party-line votes, multiple Republican efforts to audit the federal fund Hickenlooper used.)
“Misappropriation of federal funds is a serious matter,” Gardner said in an interview Wednesday, while explaining his email and his desire for an audit. “As for making inquiries of the treasurer, that’s the office that writes the checks for the state, and the legal counsel for the executive branch is the attorney general. I guess I want to know, are they supporting that (spending) or not supporting that?”
“Bob Gardner is right,” McNulty says. “Coloradans should not pay the legal bills for Hickenlooper’s illegal gifts and his flights on private corporate jets. Hickenlooper is either innocent, or he is guilty of a pattern of accepting illegal gifts. We will have the answer to that question soon, and that’s what matters.”
Hearings in the ethics case are scheduled for June 4 and June 5.
Endorsements: In his bid to take on incumbent U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, Hickenlooper was endorsed Monday by the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance and Tuesday by the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. On Thursday, he won the backing of Stacey Abrams.
Fellow Democratic contender Andrew Romanoff was endorsed Wednesday by Joe Salazar, leader of the anti-fracking group Colorado Rising, along with Aurora City Council members Juan Marcano and Alison Coombs.
Gardner was endorsed Thursday — before the Democratic nominee has been picked — by the Colorado Springs Gazette.
More federal politics news
Presidential race • By Jon Murray
Targeted campaigning from afar
Jill Biden had a full schedule Tuesday in Colorado that took her on a tour of a northwest Denver Mexican restaurant, into the homes of Latina business leaders and to a discussion with Colorado Springs-area military spouses.
For each installment, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden sat in her basement in Delaware, in front of a white bookcase, glowing lamp, worn football and folded American flag — the makeshift Zoom-call set that her husband also uses for many of his virtual appearances.
Welcome to retail politics during the pandemic.
Normally a presidential candidate’s spouse would have reporters in tow for a string of carefully stage-managed campaign stops. Instead, we sit invisible on the sidelines of a Zoom call, getting a peek into interactions that simultaneously seem more staged and more intimate.
Nobody’s fighting to be heard over a cheering crowd, but the physical separation is impossible to ignore.
“A lot of businesses don’t survive to the second generation, but I hope we survive,” shared Denver restaurateur Paula Sandoval, also a former state senator and city councilwoman, as she used her mobile phone to show off Tamales by La Casita. Biden looked in during a brisk lunch hour for takeout business.
“My hope is that things get as close as they can back to normal,” Biden told her. “… I love that you’re a strong woman and you’ve taken on this — and you’re helping so many people make a living. Thanks for what you’re doing, and I hope you have a lot of success. And I hope that I get to come to your restaurant!”
Mid-afternoon, Biden was joined by U.S. Rep. Jason Crow and U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper for brief remarks and a Q&A with Colorado supporters during a virtual organizing event.
Biden took two questions. One asked what her priorities would be if she became first lady. The other asked if her husband would support replacing the current $600-per-week supplemental federal unemployment checks with a two-year education stipend. Biden was noncommittal.
“What an interesting idea!” she said. “I will surely take this back to the team. We will need lots of thoughtful, creative thinking. Joe currently convenes economists several times a week to discuss ideas.”
Virtual visits already are becoming a defining feature of this year’s campaign, marking one of several ways the candidates are adapting in the pandemic.
President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign has had longer to build a footprint in Colorado and other states, but instead of door-knocking, its forces are relying these days on phone and text contacts more than ever to fire up Republican voters. Kyle Kohli, the Republican National Committee’s spokesperson for Colorado, said the joint campaign has made 1 million contacts since March, when it shifted entirely to virtual efforts. More than a third of those happened in the last week or so.
More presidential race news
The coronavirus pandemic has hindered Joe Biden’s ability to sync messages with other Democrats and given Donald Trump an opportunity to unite his party, Politico reports.
Republican candidates won two special elections in congressional districts this month. FiveThirtyEight looks at the mixed signals for November’s election.
Biden led Trump in new polls in three battleground states this week, USA Today reports.
Forward this newsletter to your friend and colleagues and encourage them to subscribe.


thedenverpost--2020-05-21--Loughlin, Giannulli to serve prison time for college scam

“ Full House ” actress Lori Loughlin has agreed to serve two months behind bars and her fashion designer husband , Mossimo Giannulli , has agreed to serve five months as part of a deal to plead guilty to cheating the college admissions process , according to court papers filed Thursday .
Loughlin , 55 , and Giannulli , 56 , are scheduled to plead guilty Friday via video conference before a federal judge in Boston , who must approve the deal .
It ’ s a stunning reversal for the famous couple who insisted for the last year they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence against them .
Their decision comes about two weeks after the judge rejected their bid to dismiss the case over allegations of misconduct by federal authorities .
“ I think they made a calculated assessment that the risks were just too great ” to bring the case to trial , said former federal prosecutor Bradley Simon .
They were scheduled to go to trial in October on charges that they paid $ 500,000 in bribes to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as crew team recruits , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They helped create fake athletic profiles for their daughters by sending the admitted ringleader of the scheme , admissions consultant Rick Singer , photos of the teens posing on rowing machines , authorities said .
Lawyers for Loughlin and Giannulli had argued that the couple believed the payments were “ legitimate donations ” that would go directly to USC as a fundraising gift or support Singer ’ s charity .
They also accused prosecutors of hiding crucial evidence that could prove the couple ’ s innocence because it would undermine their case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in a plea agreement filed in Boston ’ s federal court .
Giannulli will also plead guilty to a charge of honest services wire and mail fraud , prosecutors said .
Prosecutors have agreed to dismiss charges of money laundering and federal programs bribery that were added after the case was filed .
Under Loughlin ’ s plea deal , she will also pay a $ 150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service .
Giannulli has agreed to pay a $ 250,000 fine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simon said the couple ’ s lawyers may think that Loughlin and Giannulli have a chance of avoiding prison altogether and serving their punishments at home because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Attorney General William Barr has ordered the Bureau of Prisons to increase the use of home confinement and expedite the release of eligible high-risk inmates because of the virus crisis .
The pandemic has already delayed the prison sentences of some parents who have pleaded guilty in the college admissions case and allowed others to go home early .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the lawyers , ” said Simon , now with the firm Windels Marx in New York .
Prosecutors were also facing the risk of embarrassment if they lost the high-profile case , and the couple ’ s attorneys had raised some viable lines of defense for trial , said former assistant U.S. attorney Jeff Cramer .
“ For both sides , from the prosecutors ’ side and the defense side , I think this is a fair outcome , ” said Cramer , now managing director of Berkeley Research Group consulting firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment .
Loughlin and Giannulli were among 50 people arrested last year in the case dubbed “ Operation Varsity Blues ” that rocked the word of higher education .
They are the 23rd and 24th parents to plead guilty in the case .
The case uncovered a scheme in which wealthy parents paid huge sums to secure students ’ admission at elite schools as fake athletic recruits or have someone cheat on their entrance exams , authorities said .
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said his office will “ continue to pursue accountability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Under the plea agreements filed today , these defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case , ” he said in an emailed statement .
Others parents who ’ ve been sent to prison for participating in the scam include “ Desperate Housewives ” actress Felicity Huffman .
She served nearly two weeks behind bars late last year after she admitted to paying $ 15,000 to have someone correct her daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winemaker Agustin Huneeus Jr. , who also pleaded guilty , was released from his five-month prison term two weeks early in March because of the public health crisis .
The judge has allowed other parents , including the heiress to the Hot Pockets fortune , to put off their prison sentences because of the virus outbreak .
Michelle Janavs , whose family invented Hot Pockets , and Douglas Hodge , the ex-CEO of Pacific Investment Management Co. , are allowed to remain free until at least June 30 , the judge ruled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ delays if the virus crisis hasn ’ t lessened by then .
Janavs was sentenced to five months and Hodge was sentenced to nine months .

“Full House” actress Lori Loughlin has agreed to serve two months behind bars and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, has agreed to serve five months as part of a deal to plead guilty to cheating the college admissions process, according to court papers filed Thursday.
Loughlin, 55, and Giannulli, 56, are scheduled to plead guilty Friday via video conference before a federal judge in Boston, who must approve the deal.
It’s a stunning reversal for the famous couple who insisted for the last year they were innocent and that investigators had fabricated evidence against them. Their decision comes about two weeks after the judge rejected their bid to dismiss the case over allegations of misconduct by federal authorities.
“I think they made a calculated assessment that the risks were just too great” to bring the case to trial, said former federal prosecutor Bradley Simon.
They were scheduled to go to trial in October on charges that they paid $500,000 in bribes to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California as crew team recruits, even though neither of them played the sport. They helped create fake athletic profiles for their daughters by sending the admitted ringleader of the scheme, admissions consultant Rick Singer, photos of the teens posing on rowing machines, authorities said.
Lawyers for Loughlin and Giannulli had argued that the couple believed the payments were “legitimate donations” that would go directly to USC as a fundraising gift or support Singer’s charity. They also accused prosecutors of hiding crucial evidence that could prove the couple’s innocence because it would undermine their case.
They agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in a plea agreement filed in Boston’s federal court. Giannulli will also plead guilty to a charge of honest services wire and mail fraud, prosecutors said. Prosecutors have agreed to dismiss charges of money laundering and federal programs bribery that were added after the case was filed.
Under Loughlin’s plea deal, she will also pay a $150,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service. Giannulli has agreed to pay a $250,000 fine and perform 250 hours of community service.
Simon said the couple’s lawyers may think that Loughlin and Giannulli have a chance of avoiding prison altogether and serving their punishments at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Attorney General William Barr has ordered the Bureau of Prisons to increase the use of home confinement and expedite the release of eligible high-risk inmates because of the virus crisis. The pandemic has already delayed the prison sentences of some parents who have pleaded guilty in the college admissions case and allowed others to go home early.
“It may have been a very clever move by the lawyers,” said Simon, now with the firm Windels Marx in New York.
Prosecutors were also facing the risk of embarrassment if they lost the high-profile case, and the couple’s attorneys had raised some viable lines of defense for trial, said former assistant U.S. attorney Jeff Cramer.
“For both sides, from the prosecutors’ side and the defense side, I think this is a fair outcome,” said Cramer, now managing director of Berkeley Research Group consulting firm.
An attorney for the couple declined to comment.
Loughlin and Giannulli were among 50 people arrested last year in the case dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues” that rocked the word of higher education. They are the 23rd and 24th parents to plead guilty in the case.
The case uncovered a scheme in which wealthy parents paid huge sums to secure students’ admission at elite schools as fake athletic recruits or have someone cheat on their entrance exams, authorities said.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said his office will “continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions.”
“Under the plea agreements filed today, these defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case,” he said in an emailed statement.
Others parents who’ve been sent to prison for participating in the scam include “Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman. She served nearly two weeks behind bars late last year after she admitted to paying $15,000 to have someone correct her daughter’s entrance exam answers.
California winemaker Agustin Huneeus Jr., who also pleaded guilty, was released from his five-month prison term two weeks early in March because of the public health crisis.
The judge has allowed other parents, including the heiress to the Hot Pockets fortune, to put off their prison sentences because of the virus outbreak.
Michelle Janavs, whose family invented Hot Pockets, and Douglas Hodge, the ex-CEO of Pacific Investment Management Co., are allowed to remain free until at least June 30, the judge ruled. The judge said he would consider further delays if the virus crisis hasn’t lessened by then.
Janavs was sentenced to five months and Hodge was sentenced to nine months.


thedenverpost--2020-05-22--Colorado Office of Economic Development will not be spared from budgetary ax

Given that more than 475,000 Colorado residents have filed for unemployment benefits the past two months , and with the state facing a projected $ 3 billion revenue shortfall because of the COVID-19 outbreak , major cuts are looming everywhere , Betsy Markey , executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade told the Colorado Economic Development Commission on Thursday morning during a video meeting .
OEDIT received a $ 58.7 million appropriation this fiscal year , according to its FY 2020 Performance Plan .
The Joint Budget Committee is looking to trim 27 % from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiscal year .
Markey detailed some of the specific cuts being proposed , noting that things could change by June .
The Colorado Tourism Office is looking at a 37 % cut in its budget .
That includes money to fund marketing campaigns to bring tourists back to the state in the summer of 2021 and beyond .
Colorado Creative Industries , which to foster the arts and cultural activities in communities across the state , is facing a 75 % cut in funding .
The JBC plans to provide the minimum needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The state ’ s Office of Film , Television & Media , which has already had its allotment severely slashed in recent years , is looking at a 62 % cut in funding , which could spell the death knell for the state ’ s nascent film production industry .
And the Outdoor Recreation Office , a relatively new program , is looking at a 33 % cut to its budget .
Global Business Development , which helps recruit companies to the state and promote trade , should see much of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversees the state ’ s Small Business Development Centers , which have helped business owners navigate the downturn and obtain CARES Act assistance .
Business Funding & Incentive is expected to take a hit , especially for programs dependent on cash funds , like the Advanced Industries program , which is funded through taxes on gaming revenues that have all but dried up .
“ We are working hard to make sure the legislature understands the importance of the economic tools we have .
They will be instrumental in helping us recover from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If cuts do come down , OEDIT will try to manage them in ways that don ’ t damage economic recovery programs and perpetuate future revenue shortfalls .

Given that more than 475,000 Colorado residents have filed for unemployment benefits the past two months, and with the state facing a projected $3 billion revenue shortfall because of the COVID-19 outbreak, major cuts are looming everywhere, Betsy Markey, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade told the Colorado Economic Development Commission on Thursday morning during a video meeting.
OEDIT received a $58.7 million appropriation this fiscal year, according to its FY 2020 Performance Plan. The Joint Budget Committee is looking to trim 27% from OEDIT’s allotment for the next fiscal year.
Markey detailed some of the specific cuts being proposed, noting that things could change by June. The Colorado Tourism Office is looking at a 37% cut in its budget. That includes money to fund marketing campaigns to bring tourists back to the state in the summer of 2021 and beyond.
Colorado Creative Industries, which to foster the arts and cultural activities in communities across the state, is facing a 75% cut in funding. The JBC plans to provide the minimum needed to win a match in federal dollars.
The state’s Office of Film, Television & Media, which has already had its allotment severely slashed in recent years, is looking at a 62% cut in funding, which could spell the death knell for the state’s nascent film production industry. And the Outdoor Recreation Office, a relatively new program, is looking at a 33% cut to its budget.
Global Business Development, which helps recruit companies to the state and promote trade, should see much of its funding preserved, Markey said. It oversees the state’s Small Business Development Centers, which have helped business owners navigate the downturn and obtain CARES Act assistance.
Business Funding & Incentive is expected to take a hit, especially for programs dependent on cash funds, like the Advanced Industries program, which is funded through taxes on gaming revenues that have all but dried up.
“We are working hard to make sure the legislature understands the importance of the economic tools we have. They will be instrumental in helping us recover from the pandemic,” Markey said.
If cuts do come down, OEDIT will try to manage them in ways that don’t damage economic recovery programs and perpetuate future revenue shortfalls.


thedenverpost--2020-05-22--Kristof: Let’s remember that the coronavirus is still a mystery

The odd thing about reporting on the coronavirus is that the nonexperts are supremely confident in their predictions , while epidemiologists keep telling me that they don ’ t really know much at all .
“ This is a novel virus , new to humanity , and nobody knows what will happen , ” said Anne Rimoin , a professor of epidemiology at UCLA .
Some of that epidemiological humility should seep into public discourse .
Some conservatives scoffed that the coronavirus was like the flu , which was utterly wrong .
Some liberals foresaw a disastrous outbreak when Jerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring , and that never happened .
Viruses are complicated .
It has now been more than three weeks since Georgia started reopening , and there hasn ’ t been the abrupt statewide surge of infections that many had feared .
That ’ s a good sign for reopening .
But it ’ s early , and it ’ s in part because people in Georgia are still distancing to some degree on their own .
Texas opened up and lately has reported a spike of new infections , which is bad news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because Texas increased testing , and if you do more testing you find more infections .
We know that social distancing works , for China , Italy , Spain , Iran and New York all were hard-hit and eventually squelched horrifying outbreaks by imposing tough restrictions .
Governors of Washington and California acted early and avoided such catastrophic outbreaks .
One study reported in Health Affairs found that government restrictions collectively averted some 35 million infections in the United States by the end of April ; if that ’ s true , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives .
Yet the same study found that school closures didn ’ t much help , and we still haven ’ t figured out the optimal level of restrictions to smother the virus ’ s spread without stifling citizens ’ daily routines .
That ’ s not surprising , notes Michael Osterholm , an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota , because we still haven ’ t figured out the 1918 pandemic .
“ In 1918 , why did the spring wave go away , and then why did it come back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We don ’ t know.
” Epidemiology is full of puzzles .
In 2003 , the World Health Organization feared that SARS would return in a devastating wave that fall , but instead it was extinguished .
In 2009 , experts worried that the H1N1 flu would be a lion , but it turned out to be a kitten .
Random luck shapes outcomes along with biology ; some officials took reckless risks this year and got away with them , but that doesn ’ t make the actions prudent “ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of humility with these viruses , ” Osterholm said .
“ I know less about viruses than I did 10 years ago.
” In the spirit of that humility , let me relay some advice from public health experts .
First , don ’ t swoon at every vaccine announcement .
Remember that even when we get a vaccine that is proven both safe and effective , we will have to manufacture it on a huge scale — especially if each person requires more than one dose — and that will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough vaccine , we may be held back by shortages of syringes , needles and glass vials .
“ It could take up to two years to produce enough vials for U.S. vaccine needs , ” Rick Bright wrote in his whistleblower complaint concerning his removal as a senior official for pandemic response .
Second , gather more data .
In many places in America , there appears to be virtually no coronavirus , so those localities probably could safely reopen just about everything — if we could identify them and if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to clamp down on an outbreak the moment it began .
Yet a majority of counties still don ’ t have a coronavirus testing site , and in some places the public isn ’ t using the testing capacity we have .
So we should ramp up testing sewage for the coronavirus .
Sewage often tests positive before human cases turn up , so it offers a critical early detection system .
If Pakistan can conduct widespread virus testing of its sewage for polio , the United States can introduce widespread sewage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautiously open some schools .
Not everyone agrees with this , but there ’ s some research and some practical evidence from the experience of Denmark , Australia and Taiwan that schools can open without adding much to risk .
Meanwhile , the cost of keeping schools closed — especially to disadvantaged children and to working parents — is enormous .
Fourth , be relentlessly empirical .
There ’ s growing evidence that outdoor transmission is rare , so we should be more ready to open up parks and beaches .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and nursing homes have been particularly lethal , so they merit far greater care and oversight .
I find a gulf in perceptions between experts and nonexperts .
Many Americans believe that we are now emerging from the pandemic and that , as President Donald Trump says , we can see light at the end of the tunnel .
Yet many epidemiologists , while acknowledging how little they know , are deeply apprehensive about a big second wave this fall , more brutal than anything we ’ ve endured so far .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best guide as we devise policy to survive a plague .
Hope for the best while preparing for the worst .
Nicholas Kristof has been a columnist for The New York Times since 2001 .
He grew up on a farm in Oregon , graduated from Harvard , studied law at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar , and then studied Arabic in Cairo .
He was a longtime foreign correspondent for The New York Times and speaks various languages .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to submit by email or mail .

The odd thing about reporting on the coronavirus is that the nonexperts are supremely confident in their predictions, while epidemiologists keep telling me that they don’t really know much at all.
“This is a novel virus, new to humanity, and nobody knows what will happen,” said Anne Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at UCLA.
Some of that epidemiological humility should seep into public discourse.
Some conservatives scoffed that the coronavirus was like the flu, which was utterly wrong. Some liberals foresaw a disastrous outbreak when Jerry Falwell Jr. kept Liberty University open this spring, and that never happened. Viruses are complicated.
It has now been more than three weeks since Georgia started reopening, and there hasn’t been the abrupt statewide surge of infections that many had feared. That’s a good sign for reopening. But it’s early, and it’s in part because people in Georgia are still distancing to some degree on their own.
Texas opened up and lately has reported a spike of new infections, which is bad news. But that’s in part because Texas increased testing, and if you do more testing you find more infections.
We know that social distancing works, for China, Italy, Spain, Iran and New York all were hard-hit and eventually squelched horrifying outbreaks by imposing tough restrictions. Governors of Washington and California acted early and avoided such catastrophic outbreaks. One study reported in Health Affairs found that government restrictions collectively averted some 35 million infections in the United States by the end of April; if that’s true, those restrictions also saved an enormous number of lives.
Yet the same study found that school closures didn’t much help, and we still haven’t figured out the optimal level of restrictions to smother the virus’s spread without stifling citizens’ daily routines.
That’s not surprising, notes Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, because we still haven’t figured out the 1918 pandemic. “In 1918, why did the spring wave go away, and then why did it come back in the fall?” Osterholm asked. “We don’t know.”
Epidemiology is full of puzzles. In 2003, the World Health Organization feared that SARS would return in a devastating wave that fall, but instead it was extinguished. In 2009, experts worried that the H1N1 flu would be a lion, but it turned out to be a kitten. Random luck shapes outcomes along with biology; some officials took reckless risks this year and got away with them, but that doesn’t make the actions prudent
“You’ve got to have a lot of humility with these viruses,” Osterholm said. “I know less about viruses than I did 10 years ago.”
In the spirit of that humility, let me relay some advice from public health experts.
First, don’t swoon at every vaccine announcement. Remember that even when we get a vaccine that is proven both safe and effective, we will have to manufacture it on a huge scale — especially if each person requires more than one dose — and that will be a monumental task. Even if we make enough vaccine, we may be held back by shortages of syringes, needles and glass vials.
“It could take up to two years to produce enough vials for U.S. vaccine needs,” Rick Bright wrote in his whistleblower complaint concerning his removal as a senior official for pandemic response.
Second, gather more data. In many places in America, there appears to be virtually no coronavirus, so those localities probably could safely reopen just about everything — if we could identify them and if we had rigorous surveillance so we could be ready to clamp down on an outbreak the moment it began.
Yet a majority of counties still don’t have a coronavirus testing site, and in some places the public isn’t using the testing capacity we have. So we should ramp up testing sewage for the coronavirus. Sewage often tests positive before human cases turn up, so it offers a critical early detection system. If Pakistan can conduct widespread virus testing of its sewage for polio, the United States can introduce widespread sewage testing for the coronavirus.
Third, cautiously open some schools. Not everyone agrees with this, but there’s some research and some practical evidence from the experience of Denmark, Australia and Taiwan that schools can open without adding much to risk.
Meanwhile, the cost of keeping schools closed — especially to disadvantaged children and to working parents — is enormous.
Fourth, be relentlessly empirical. There’s growing evidence that outdoor transmission is rare, so we should be more ready to open up parks and beaches. On the other hand, meatpacking plants, prisons and nursing homes have been particularly lethal, so they merit far greater care and oversight.
I find a gulf in perceptions between experts and nonexperts. Many Americans believe that we are now emerging from the pandemic and that, as President Donald Trump says, we can see light at the end of the tunnel. Yet many epidemiologists, while acknowledging how little they know, are deeply apprehensive about a big second wave this fall, more brutal than anything we’ve endured so far.
That mix of humility and apprehensiveness seems the best guide as we devise policy to survive a plague. Hope for the best while preparing for the worst.
Nicholas Kristof has been a columnist for The New York Times since 2001. He grew up on a farm in Oregon, graduated from Harvard, studied law at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and then studied Arabic in Cairo. He was a longtime foreign correspondent for The New York Times and speaks various languages.
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--2020-05-22--Nuggets Mailbag: Any chance Denver goes after Tyler Bey in the NBA draft?

Denver Post sports writer Mike Singer posts his Nuggets Mailbag every other week on Friday during the season .
Pose a Nuggets — or NBA — related question for the Nuggets Mailbag .
Mike , do you see Denver pursuing a guy like CU Buffs forward Tyler Bey in the draft ?
Given our depth , whoever we pick is destined to be G-League bound , like Malik Beasley and Bol Bol before him .
The kid would bolster the defense and it ’ d be nice to see a local guy here at the next level .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for in his defensive versatility and his knack for rebounding , but his offensive game isn ’ t quite as polished .
The other question for Bey is his position .
He ’ s 6-foot-7 , 216 pounds .
I ’ m not exactly sure what position he projects at the next level .
That size isn ’ t big enough to be a four in the NBA and he doesn ’ t quite have the offensive attributes ( strong ball handling and consistent jumper ) of a typical wing player .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wouldn ’ t be shocked if they acquired a pick and took a flier on him .
They ’ re still kicking themselves over missing on Derrick White .
Of the three post players who could potentially come off the Nuggets ’ books this offseason — Paul Millsap , Mason Plumlee and Jerami Grant — who is the most likely to stay ?
And who is the most likely to leave ?
I ’ m confident that Jerami Grant will be back with the Nuggets next season .
I ’ m just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up his player option ( as a result of the market bottoming out due to the pandemic ) or tests free agency at such an uncertain time .
The Nuggets invested a lot in Grant when they traded a first-round pick to Oklahoma City .
He fits their ideal age range and offers coveted versatility on both ends .
Millsap is another question .
Again , so much depends on where the salary cap and luxury tax gets set at once we ’ re through the shutdown .
I think he wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , at the right price .
My guess is he remains in Denver on a one or two-year deal that pays him far , far less than his current $ 30 million salary .
As valuable as Plumlee has been , he might be the casualty this offseason .
That means they either count on Bol Bol to develop into something of a backup center or plan on playing a fair amount of small-ball five with Grant and/or Millsap .
What do you see as the potential trade packages to acquire Bradley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They seem like the two most realistic trade targets to bring in to upgrade the starting lineup .
I ’ m not sure if they ’ re realistic , but they are alluring .
Beal , in particular , is the one that might take the Nuggets from a second-round playoff team to a serious title contender .
It just depends on the Nuggets ’ appetite for dealing Michael Porter Jr. , which has been non-existent to this point .
Consider where the Wizards are as a franchise .
They need young assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even get in the conversation , it would likely take Porter , Gary Harris ( whose stock is down after a tough year ) , salary filler and probably two first-round picks .
After February ’ s trade deadline , where the Nuggets recouped a first-round pick from Houston , Denver has all of its first-round picks moving forward .
That ’ s a start .
At some point , the Nuggets will have to ask themselves if they believe their current roster is good enough or has the potential to be .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Porter .
My guess is they ’ d like to see what they really have in him before any trade .
Subscribe to our Nuggets Insider newsletter to get the latest team news sent straight to your inbox .

Denver Post sports writer Mike Singer posts his Nuggets Mailbag every other week on Friday during the season.
Pose a Nuggets — or NBA — related question for the Nuggets Mailbag.
Mike, do you see Denver pursuing a guy like CU Buffs forward Tyler Bey in the draft? Given our depth, whoever we pick is destined to be G-League bound, like Malik Beasley and Bol Bol before him. The kid would bolster the defense and it’d be nice to see a local guy here at the next level.
— Monty, Parker
I think Bey has some qualities the Nuggets look for in his defensive versatility and his knack for rebounding, but his offensive game isn’t quite as polished. The other question for Bey is his position. He’s 6-foot-7, 216 pounds. I’m not exactly sure what position he projects at the next level. That size isn’t big enough to be a four in the NBA and he doesn’t quite have the offensive attributes (strong ball handling and consistent jumper) of a typical wing player. If he fell into the second round, I wouldn’t be shocked if they acquired a pick and took a flier on him. They’re still kicking themselves over missing on Derrick White.
Of the three post players who could potentially come off the Nuggets’ books this offseason — Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee and Jerami Grant — who is the most likely to stay? And who is the most likely to leave?
— Jeff, Aurora
I’m confident that Jerami Grant will be back with the Nuggets next season. I’m just not sure whether he ends up picking up his player option (as a result of the market bottoming out due to the pandemic) or tests free agency at such an uncertain time. The Nuggets invested a lot in Grant when they traded a first-round pick to Oklahoma City. He fits their ideal age range and offers coveted versatility on both ends.
Millsap is another question. Again, so much depends on where the salary cap and luxury tax gets set at once we’re through the shutdown. I think he wants to come back and the Nuggets want him back, at the right price. My guess is he remains in Denver on a one or two-year deal that pays him far, far less than his current $30 million salary.
As valuable as Plumlee has been, he might be the casualty this offseason. That means they either count on Bol Bol to develop into something of a backup center or plan on playing a fair amount of small-ball five with Grant and/or Millsap.
What do you see as the potential trade packages to acquire Bradley Beal or Jrue Holiday this offseason? They seem like the two most realistic trade targets to bring in to upgrade the starting lineup.
— Kavan, Parker
I’m not sure if they’re realistic, but they are alluring. Beal, in particular, is the one that might take the Nuggets from a second-round playoff team to a serious title contender. It just depends on the Nuggets’ appetite for dealing Michael Porter Jr., which has been non-existent to this point. Consider where the Wizards are as a franchise. They need young assets and a lot of them. To even get in the conversation, it would likely take Porter, Gary Harris (whose stock is down after a tough year), salary filler and probably two first-round picks. After February’s trade deadline, where the Nuggets recouped a first-round pick from Houston, Denver has all of its first-round picks moving forward. That’s a start. At some point, the Nuggets will have to ask themselves if they believe their current roster is good enough or has the potential to be. The organizational support is still extremely high for Porter. My guess is they’d like to see what they really have in him before any trade.
Subscribe to our Nuggets Insider newsletter to get the latest team news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-05-22--Broncos film study: Arkansas DE McTelvin Agim’s versatility gives Vic Fangio another defensive line

Broncos film study: Arkansas DE McTelvin Agim’s versatility gives Vic Fangio another defensive line asset

During his junior season at Missouri , when he set a single-season SEC record with 44 touchdown passes , Broncos quarterback Drew Lock also threw 13 interceptions .
New teammate McTelvin Agim , a third-round draft pick by the Broncos last month , should have added another to Lock ’ s total on a play that showed the rookie defensive lineman ’ s intriguing athleticism .
In a 48-45 win against Arkansas , Missouri faced a third-and-7 from its 17-yard line late in the first quarter .
Agim , in a three-point stance , was a defensive end in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ snap , Lock looked to throw a screen pass to a receiver on the right side of the field .
Agim took several steps toward Lock , recognized a screen developing behind him and showed good instincts to retreat directly into the throwing lane .
The only thing Agim didn ’ t do ?
Catch the ball .
With nobody in front of him , Agim would have had a clear path toward a defensive touchdown .
Instead , he was left to slap his helmet after the pass sailed between his hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broncos defense ?
The 6-foot-3 , 309-pound lineman is expected to compete with Dre ’ Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker for a role as a reserve defensive end .
His strong initial burst and fluid movement bode well for his chances .
“ We ’ ll see how ( Agim ) develops and where exactly he could fit in , ” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said .
“ He ’ s a guy that needs developing .
He ’ s not a complete player at this point , obviously .
But we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has.
” Agim fit in just about everywhere along the defensive line at Arkansas , moving from a 3-4 defensive end early in his career to a 4-3 defensive tackle during his senior year .
It wasn ’ t uncommon to see him lined up across opposing centers , guards and tackles as he played various techniques .
The constant was his production .
Agim totaled 31 tackles for loss , 14 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles in 42 games for the Razorbacks .
Regardless of where Agim was slotted , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It stood out against Missouri and even more in games last season against Texas A & M and Kentucky .
As a sophomore , Agim played almost exclusively at left defensive end in the 3-4 front Arkansas ran against Missouri .
He showed a promising swat-to-rip combo that helped him maneuver in tight spaces , particularly against the right guard , but the rest wasn ’ t especially pretty .
On several plays , Agim was washed out of the action by right tackle Paul Adams , who consistently cleared running lanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other times , Agim simply failed to hold up at the point of attack .
His only solo tackle came near the goal line with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter .
Two plays later , the Tigers kicked a short field goal to win .
Two years later , Agim looked bigger , stronger and faster as the best player on the Arkansas defense .
( The only other Razorbacks defensive player to be drafted last month was safety Kamren Curl , who was taken by Washington in the seventh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Texas A & M , Agim had three tackles ( two solo ) and one sack while mostly playing 4-3 defensive tackle with a few snaps as a 3-4 nose tackle mixed in .
And he made an impact from the start .
On Texas A & M ’ s first possession , Agim used his swat-and-rip move to beat the right guard and pressure quarterback Kellen Mond .
However , Mond stepped up in the pocket and scrambled for 12 yards .
On the next play , Agim used a quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bust through the center and right guard and swallow up Mond for a seven-yard sack in 1.8 seconds .
In the second quarter , Agim was lined up as the nose tackle in a 3-4 front and pushed the pulling left guard to the ground on a run to the right and wrestled down the running back after a one-yard gain .
Agim wasn ’ t dominant against the Aggies , but his ability to knife through gaps and disrupt plays was impressive .
Two weeks later , Agim had five tackles ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 24-20 loss at Kentucky , again mainly playing 4-3 defensive tackle .
Part of Agim ’ s development will involve improving his ability to shed blocks .
He has a curious habit of losing sight of the ball-carrier , partly because he focuses so much on getting upfield , almost at all costs .
However , he made a nice play against Kentucky near the goal line in the second quarter when he tossed the right guard out of the way and stuffed a direct snap to running back Asim Rose .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted block by the center and stop quarterback Lynn Bowden Jr. for no gain .
Agim ’ s sack came in the third quarter when he beat the right guard with a swat-and-rip move to hit Bowden for a seven-yard loss in 2.5 seconds .
If Agim is going to produce for the Broncos , it will likely be due to that very move , though he would benefit from adding more to his pass-rushing toolbox .
“ The thing I feel like I have to improve on the most is just being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Because I ’ ve been able to do everything , but I need to make sure I can do it all on a consistent basis.
” Agim should have time to develop the consistency he needs .
Jurrell Casey , Mike Purcell and Shelby Harris are slated to start in Fangio ’ s 3-4 front , meaning his snaps are likely to be limited as a rookie .
Agim doesn ’ t flash star potential , but he should become a solid , versatile piece of the Broncos ’ defensive line .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trait or two , his upside could be even higher .

During his junior season at Missouri, when he set a single-season SEC record with 44 touchdown passes, Broncos quarterback Drew Lock also threw 13 interceptions.
New teammate McTelvin Agim, a third-round draft pick by the Broncos last month, should have added another to Lock’s total on a play that showed the rookie defensive lineman’s intriguing athleticism.
In a 48-45 win against Arkansas, Missouri faced a third-and-7 from its 17-yard line late in the first quarter. Agim, in a three-point stance, was a defensive end in the Razorbacks’ 3-4 front.
At the snap, Lock looked to throw a screen pass to a receiver on the right side of the field. Agim took several steps toward Lock, recognized a screen developing behind him and showed good instincts to retreat directly into the throwing lane.
The only thing Agim didn’t do? Catch the ball. With nobody in front of him, Agim would have had a clear path toward a defensive touchdown. Instead, he was left to slap his helmet after the pass sailed between his hands.
What can Agim bring to the Broncos defense? The 6-foot-3, 309-pound lineman is expected to compete with Dre’Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker for a role as a reserve defensive end. His strong initial burst and fluid movement bode well for his chances.
“We’ll see how (Agim) develops and where exactly he could fit in,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said. “He’s a guy that needs developing. He’s not a complete player at this point, obviously. But we do like some of the tools that he has.”
Agim fit in just about everywhere along the defensive line at Arkansas, moving from a 3-4 defensive end early in his career to a 4-3 defensive tackle during his senior year. It wasn’t uncommon to see him lined up across opposing centers, guards and tackles as he played various techniques.
The constant was his production. Agim totaled 31 tackles for loss, 14 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles in 42 games for the Razorbacks.
Regardless of where Agim was slotted, his quick first step was always a factor. It stood out against Missouri and even more in games last season against Texas A&M and Kentucky.
As a sophomore, Agim played almost exclusively at left defensive end in the 3-4 front Arkansas ran against Missouri. He showed a promising swat-to-rip combo that helped him maneuver in tight spaces, particularly against the right guard, but the rest wasn’t especially pretty.
On several plays, Agim was washed out of the action by right tackle Paul Adams, who consistently cleared running lanes for Missouri’s tailbacks. At other times, Agim simply failed to hold up at the point of attack. His only solo tackle came near the goal line with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Two plays later, the Tigers kicked a short field goal to win.
Two years later, Agim looked bigger, stronger and faster as the best player on the Arkansas defense. (The only other Razorbacks defensive player to be drafted last month was safety Kamren Curl, who was taken by Washington in the seventh round.)
In a 31-27 loss to Texas A&M, Agim had three tackles (two solo) and one sack while mostly playing 4-3 defensive tackle with a few snaps as a 3-4 nose tackle mixed in. And he made an impact from the start.
On Texas A&M’s first possession, Agim used his swat-and-rip move to beat the right guard and pressure quarterback Kellen Mond. However, Mond stepped up in the pocket and scrambled for 12 yards. On the next play, Agim used a quick first step and well-timed swim move to bust through the center and right guard and swallow up Mond for a seven-yard sack in 1.8 seconds.
In the second quarter, Agim was lined up as the nose tackle in a 3-4 front and pushed the pulling left guard to the ground on a run to the right and wrestled down the running back after a one-yard gain. Agim wasn’t dominant against the Aggies, but his ability to knife through gaps and disrupt plays was impressive.
Two weeks later, Agim had five tackles (three solo) and one sack in a 24-20 loss at Kentucky, again mainly playing 4-3 defensive tackle.
Part of Agim’s development will involve improving his ability to shed blocks. He has a curious habit of losing sight of the ball-carrier, partly because he focuses so much on getting upfield, almost at all costs. However, he made a nice play against Kentucky near the goal line in the second quarter when he tossed the right guard out of the way and stuffed a direct snap to running back Asim Rose. Agim later did well to shed an attempted block by the center and stop quarterback Lynn Bowden Jr. for no gain.
Agim’s sack came in the third quarter when he beat the right guard with a swat-and-rip move to hit Bowden for a seven-yard loss in 2.5 seconds. If Agim is going to produce for the Broncos, it will likely be due to that very move, though he would benefit from adding more to his pass-rushing toolbox.
“The thing I feel like I have to improve on the most is just being more consistent,” Agim said. “Because I’ve been able to do everything, but I need to make sure I can do it all on a consistent basis.”
Agim should have time to develop the consistency he needs. Jurrell Casey, Mike Purcell and Shelby Harris are slated to start in Fangio’s 3-4 front, meaning his snaps are likely to be limited as a rookie.
Agim doesn’t flash star potential, but he should become a solid, versatile piece of the Broncos’ defensive line. If he works to add another plus trait or two, his upside could be even higher.