thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Equipping teams during a pandemic a unique challenge

As football teams from the NFL to the high school level prepare — and hope — for a 2020 season , one of the unrecognized concerns by outsiders could be getting those squads fully equipped .
Just like those teams , XTECH , which makes custom shoulder pads out of its New Jersey factory , has had to scramble .
That meant using digital means to design the pads without actually meeting up with players to get their measurements and preferences .
XTECH ’ s approach apparently is working .
Los Angeles Rams equipment director Brendan Burger and Dana Marquez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of equipment operations , say they ’ re actually ahead of the game in that area .
“ The nice thing on our level is everything has become a mapping system , helmets and pads , ” says Marquez , who also oversees a website focusing on helmet fits .
“ It is just becoming a little bit easier digitally , and you ’ re also looking at travel time for these guys from the equipment companies going around to fit players .
If we can get it done on a database with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit for us .
“ For example , we don ’ t know a freshman right now other than from a recruiting trip .
But now through the technology we can actually look at a pad and say this is what this athlete might best step into .
Everything is very customized for that athlete before he gets here , which is really time saving for us in an uncertain time.
” In a normal offseason , XTECH staffers would travel the nation fitting customers ; the company supplies players on every NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 high school programs .
There also would be a huge push to recondition shoulder pads , which could be particularly problematic because of the volume of equipment involved .
“ We heard about a lot of disruption in the supply chain , especially on the reconditioning front or when there is any sort of manufacturing done abroad , ” says Bob Broderick , XTECH ’ s co-founder .
“ All of our pads and reconditioning process are done in the U.S. We made a promise to whether it was an NFL team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , your reconditioning is going to be done and on the way back , or your new orders will be there .
I heard the panic in coaches ’ voices and equipment directors ’ voices : Will we be able to get our stuff back and our new things in ?
The answer is yes.
” How ?
That answer is in digitalization and U.S. manufacturing .
Since 2013 , XTECH has been personally fitting players using such data as age , level and style of play , height , weight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accessory preferences .
Broderick and his staff have been nearly everywhere in the country doing so , and co-founder Teddy Monica then designs the pads off such info .
Those trips became impossible during the pandemic , so Broderick and Monica adjusted .
“ This is not like buying a size 12 sneaker or a large pad , ” Broderick explains .
“ This is a several hundred dollar purchase and they want to know what they are doing .
We have them fill out a questionnaire which provides digital sizing help .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with similar players from our database to best suggest a customized pad.
” NFL players have been receiving mock-ups and samples at home , then XTECH staffers FaceTime with them to gauge preferences .
The player sends the “ demo ” pads back to XTECH for custom building from scratch .
“ If it ’ s a high school player , ” Broderick explains , “ we will then call the parent and discuss the player and his history , and say , ‘ this is what we recommend.
’ Within 12 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them some confidence they will get the item on time.
” Kevin Sawchuk has two high school players , sons Gavin and Gabriel , at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch , Colorado .
Gavin , a junior , already has received more than a dozen offers to play running back at Power Five schools .
Gabriel is two years behind Gavin and plays several positions .
Two years ago , Kevin was looking for a product to protect his sons and reached out to XTECH after noticing some NFL players wearing the pads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past he would take hits and really feel it , and now he was telling me , ‘ I don ’ t feel anything in these pads , ’ ” Kevin Sawchuk says .
Now , they both wear the pads , and the Sawchuks have gotten quick responses to their needs during the pandemic so that each son is ready if the season is played .
As NFL teams have gone almost totally digital in their offseason , they ’ ve dealt with a variety of issues involving players .
Those include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment .
Seven long snappers have had custom-built pads made and shipped directly to their homes in the past two months despite never meeting up with the manufacturers .
“ This year is kind of unique , we ’ re not able to see our incoming guys , ” says the Rams ’ Burger .
“ XTECH developed a database digitally which is based on the position of a player , the size of the person , the style of play , and they can narrow it down to exactly the right fit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if they have enough of the data , they can make anything .
“ So I got with them and had a set of pads made based on the data from their questionnaire for a player .
And we had some guys from colleges who wore the pads , like ( linebacker ) Terrell Lewis from Alabama , and ( receiver ) Van Jefferson from Florida.
” Jefferson actually visited the XTECH facility in New Jersey .
His father , Shawn , is the Jets ’ wide receivers coach .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , ” Burger adds .
“ By the time we see these rookies , to get them a custom pad would be a really tight turnaround .

As football teams from the NFL to the high school level prepare — and hope — for a 2020 season, one of the unrecognized concerns by outsiders could be getting those squads fully equipped.
Just like those teams, XTECH, which makes custom shoulder pads out of its New Jersey factory, has had to scramble. That meant using digital means to design the pads without actually meeting up with players to get their measurements and preferences.
XTECH’s approach apparently is working. Los Angeles Rams equipment director Brendan Burger and Dana Marquez, Auburn’s associate athletics director of equipment operations, say they’re actually ahead of the game in that area.
“The nice thing on our level is everything has become a mapping system, helmets and pads,” says Marquez, who also oversees a website focusing on helmet fits.
“It is just becoming a little bit easier digitally, and you’re also looking at travel time for these guys from the equipment companies going around to fit players. If we can get it done on a database with XTECH, it is definitely a big benefit for us.
“For example, we don’t know a freshman right now other than from a recruiting trip. But now through the technology we can actually look at a pad and say this is what this athlete might best step into. Everything is very customized for that athlete before he gets here, which is really time saving for us in an uncertain time.”
In a normal offseason, XTECH staffers would travel the nation fitting customers; the company supplies players on every NFL team, more than 500 colleges and 1,000 high school programs.
There also would be a huge push to recondition shoulder pads, which could be particularly problematic because of the volume of equipment involved.
“We heard about a lot of disruption in the supply chain, especially on the reconditioning front or when there is any sort of manufacturing done abroad,” says Bob Broderick, XTECH’s co-founder. “All of our pads and reconditioning process are done in the U.S. We made a promise to whether it was an NFL team or a high school that buys from us, your reconditioning is going to be done and on the way back, or your new orders will be there. I heard the panic in coaches’ voices and equipment directors’ voices: Will we be able to get our stuff back and our new things in? The answer is yes.”
How? That answer is in digitalization and U.S. manufacturing.
Since 2013, XTECH has been personally fitting players using such data as age, level and style of play, height, weight, measurements, position, injury history and accessory preferences.
Broderick and his staff have been nearly everywhere in the country doing so, and co-founder Teddy Monica then designs the pads off such info. Those trips became impossible during the pandemic, so Broderick and Monica adjusted.
“This is not like buying a size 12 sneaker or a large pad,” Broderick explains. “This is a several hundred dollar purchase and they want to know what they are doing. We have them fill out a questionnaire which provides digital sizing help. It generates data that we can compare with similar players from our database to best suggest a customized pad.”
NFL players have been receiving mock-ups and samples at home, then XTECH staffers FaceTime with them to gauge preferences. The player sends the “demo” pads back to XTECH for custom building from scratch.
“If it’s a high school player,” Broderick explains, “we will then call the parent and discuss the player and his history, and say, ‘this is what we recommend.’ Within 12 hours the order is placed online, giving them some confidence they will get the item on time.”
Kevin Sawchuk has two high school players, sons Gavin and Gabriel, at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Gavin, a junior, already has received more than a dozen offers to play running back at Power Five schools. Gabriel is two years behind Gavin and plays several positions.
Two years ago, Kevin was looking for a product to protect his sons and reached out to XTECH after noticing some NFL players wearing the pads.
“Gavin would say in the past he would take hits and really feel it, and now he was telling me, ‘I don’t feel anything in these pads,’” Kevin Sawchuk says.
Now, they both wear the pads, and the Sawchuks have gotten quick responses to their needs during the pandemic so that each son is ready if the season is played.
As NFL teams have gone almost totally digital in their offseason, they’ve dealt with a variety of issues involving players. Those include, naturally, getting them the proper equipment.
Seven long snappers have had custom-built pads made and shipped directly to their homes in the past two months despite never meeting up with the manufacturers.
“This year is kind of unique, we’re not able to see our incoming guys,” says the Rams’ Burger. “XTECH developed a database digitally which is based on the position of a player, the size of the person, the style of play, and they can narrow it down to exactly the right fit. I have full confidence in them that if they have enough of the data, they can make anything.
“So I got with them and had a set of pads made based on the data from their questionnaire for a player. And we had some guys from colleges who wore the pads, like (linebacker) Terrell Lewis from Alabama, and (receiver) Van Jefferson from Florida.”
Jefferson actually visited the XTECH facility in New Jersey. His father, Shawn, is the Jets’ wide receivers coach.
“The data is a tremendous help to us now,” Burger adds. “By the time we see these rookies, to get them a custom pad would be a really tight turnaround.
“But it’s already done.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--University of Cincinnati removing Marge Schott’s name from stadium

CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati is removing Marge Schott ’ s name from its baseball stadium and a library archive in light of her racist comments while owner of the Cincinnati Reds .
The school ’ s board of trustees unanimously approved the move Tuesday , 12 days after a Catholic high school also decided to remove references to Schott from its facilities .
Over the years , UC students , faculty and alumni have objected to Schott ’ s name on school facilities , but no changes were made .
“ Marge Schott ’ s record of racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our university ’ s core commitment to dignity , equity and inclusion , ” said school President Neville G. Pinto , who recommended the change .
The national push for racial justice sparked by George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis has prompted local institutions to revisit Schott ’ s history .
Former UC baseball player Jordan Ramey started a petition June 1 on Change.org to have the stadium renamed , drawing national attention .
Ramey , who is Black , grew up in Cincinnati and learned about Schott ’ s history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 people had signed the petition as of Tuesday .
Ramey was gratified by the trustees ’ unanimous vote and Pinto ’ s comments .
The school president called Ramey after the decision .
“ All our leaders need to have that kind of vision , that kind of outlook , especially with the history we have , ” Ramey said in a phone interview .
“ Our leaders need to acknowledge our history and accept our history and take ownership of our history .
That ’ s the only way we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denying it , we ’ re going to pass it along and it ’ s going to keep going.
” After Schott ’ s death in 2004 , most of her estate went to a foundation that funds a wide range of philanthropic ventures .
Her name is featured on many facilities in the city .
As Reds owner , Schott was repeatedly suspended and ultimately ousted by Major League Baseball for her slurs and praise of Adolf Hitler .
Team employees said Schott used slurs for Black players and made derogatory remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hitler was “ good at the beginning ” but then “ went too far.
” Major League Baseball banned her from the team ’ s day-to-day operations for the 1993 season and levied another suspension after she returned and continued to make offensive remarks .
Ultimately , she was forced to sell controlling interest in the team in 1999 .
The university built Marge Schott Stadium with a $ 2 million donation from the Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation in 2006 .
In addition to removing Schott ’ s name from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a space in its archives library .
“ I hope this action serves as an enduring reminder that we can not remain silent or indifferent when it comes to prejudice , hate or inequity , ” Pinto said .
“ More than ever , our world needs us to convert our values into real and lasting action.
” Earlier this month , Saint Ursula Academy in Cincinnati decided to remove Schott ’ s name from a science , language and arts building that was constructed with the help of her donation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was called “ Schottzie Stadium ” in honor of Schott ’ s dog .
“ While we can not make excuses for the rhetoric made by Mrs. Schott decades ago , we can ask you to learn from Mrs. Schott ’ s mistakes as well as her great love for Cincinnati , ” the foundation said in a statement this month .
“ We appreciate what these great organizations bring to Cincinnati and we fully support the decisions made by the organizations who have received grants from the Foundation.
” Ramey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was gratified that his petition was so widely shared and signed .
“ I ’ m looking at just under 10,000 people who shared , who signed , who talked about this situation as an injustice , ” Ramey said .
” A lot of people feel very strongly about this .
I don ’ t think it ’ s a celebration .
I think we ’ re moving in the right direction .
”

CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati is removing Marge Schott’s name from its baseball stadium and a library archive in light of her racist comments while owner of the Cincinnati Reds.
The school’s board of trustees unanimously approved the move Tuesday, 12 days after a Catholic high school also decided to remove references to Schott from its facilities. Over the years, UC students, faculty and alumni have objected to Schott’s name on school facilities, but no changes were made.
“Marge Schott’s record of racism and bigotry stands at stark odds with our university’s core commitment to dignity, equity and inclusion,” said school President Neville G. Pinto, who recommended the change.
The national push for racial justice sparked by George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis has prompted local institutions to revisit Schott’s history.
Former UC baseball player Jordan Ramey started a petition June 1 on Change.org to have the stadium renamed, drawing national attention. Ramey, who is Black, grew up in Cincinnati and learned about Schott’s history of racist comments from his father.
Nearly 10,000 people had signed the petition as of Tuesday. Ramey was gratified by the trustees’ unanimous vote and Pinto’s comments. The school president called Ramey after the decision.
“All our leaders need to have that kind of vision, that kind of outlook, especially with the history we have,” Ramey said in a phone interview. “Our leaders need to acknowledge our history and accept our history and take ownership of our history. That’s the only way we can move forward.
“If we keep denying it, we’re going to pass it along and it’s going to keep going.”
After Schott’s death in 2004, most of her estate went to a foundation that funds a wide range of philanthropic ventures. Her name is featured on many facilities in the city.
As Reds owner, Schott was repeatedly suspended and ultimately ousted by Major League Baseball for her slurs and praise of Adolf Hitler. Team employees said Schott used slurs for Black players and made derogatory remarks about Jews and Japanese. She said Hitler was “good at the beginning” but then “went too far.”
Major League Baseball banned her from the team’s day-to-day operations for the 1993 season and levied another suspension after she returned and continued to make offensive remarks. Ultimately, she was forced to sell controlling interest in the team in 1999.
The university built Marge Schott Stadium with a $2 million donation from the Marge & Charles J. Schott Foundation in 2006. In addition to removing Schott’s name from the stadium, trustees agreed to remove it from a space in its archives library.
“I hope this action serves as an enduring reminder that we cannot remain silent or indifferent when it comes to prejudice, hate or inequity,” Pinto said. “More than ever, our world needs us to convert our values into real and lasting action.”
Earlier this month, Saint Ursula Academy in Cincinnati decided to remove Schott’s name from a science, language and arts building that was constructed with the help of her donation. It also is renaming its athletic facility, which was called “Schottzie Stadium” in honor of Schott’s dog.
Schott’s foundation has encouraged discussions about naming rights.
“While we cannot make excuses for the rhetoric made by Mrs. Schott decades ago, we can ask you to learn from Mrs. Schott’s mistakes as well as her great love for Cincinnati,” the foundation said in a statement this month. “We appreciate what these great organizations bring to Cincinnati and we fully support the decisions made by the organizations who have received grants from the Foundation.”
Ramey, who recently graduated from UC, was gratified that his petition was so widely shared and signed.
“I’m looking at just under 10,000 people who shared, who signed, who talked about this situation as an injustice,” Ramey said. ”A lot of people feel very strongly about this. I don’t think it’s a celebration. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Live music returns to Denver this weekend as the Oriental Theater reopens for concerts

Denver ’ s historic Oriental Theater plans to resume live concerts on June 26 with a series that shrinks audiences to no more than 50 people .
The opening lineup for the “ Safe Sound ” series features fewer than a dozen acts ranging from musicians to wrestlers , magicians and comics .
The shows will take place on Fridays and Saturdays on select weeks , with roughly two showtimes per night , according to an email from The Oriental Theater ’ s owners .
Showtimes vary per weekend .
Most events will cost $ 8- $ 20 , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 25 ) will cost $ 25- $ 50 .
Details are available at theorientaltheater.com .
The reopening comes amid news that Oriental Theater owners Scott Happel and Peter Ore are now running the music venue at 60 S. Broadway , formerly 3 Kings Tavern .
The venue closed permanently in May , sending a ripple of uncertainty through the South Broadway and Baker neighborhood as small businesses struggle to survive .
RELATED : As 3 Kings Tavern closes , South Broadway veterans worry about the area ’ s future Happel and Ore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 15 , according to Westword , and have already begun renovations for a music venue named HQ that could open as early as August .
Check out the current lineup for The O ’ s Safe Concert Series : July 24 — In the Whale , 8 and 9:30 p.m .
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter , In The Know , to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox .

Denver’s historic Oriental Theater plans to resume live concerts on June 26 with a series that shrinks audiences to no more than 50 people.
The opening lineup for the “Safe Sound” series features fewer than a dozen acts ranging from musicians to wrestlers, magicians and comics. The shows will take place on Fridays and Saturdays on select weeks, with roughly two showtimes per night, according to an email from The Oriental Theater’s owners. Showtimes vary per weekend.
Most events will cost $8-$20, while a comedy-magic show from Claire Voyant (July 25) will cost $25-$50. Details are available at theorientaltheater.com.
The reopening comes amid news that Oriental Theater owners Scott Happel and Peter Ore are now running the music venue at 60 S. Broadway, formerly 3 Kings Tavern. The venue closed permanently in May, sending a ripple of uncertainty through the South Broadway and Baker neighborhood as small businesses struggle to survive.
RELATED: As 3 Kings Tavern closes, South Broadway veterans worry about the area’s future
Happel and Ore signed a lease on the building on June 15, according to Westword, and have already begun renovations for a music venue named HQ that could open as early as August.
Check out the current lineup for The O’s Safe Concert Series:
June 26 – Wes Watkins, 8 and 9:30 p.m.
June 27 — Punk Rock Saves Lives, 5:30 p.m.
July 10 – Reno Divorce, 8 and 9:30 p.m.
July 11 — The Eric Martinez Band, 8 and 9:30 p.m.
July 17-18 — Lucha Libre & Laughs, 7 p.m.
July 24 — In the Whale, 8 and 9:30 p.m.
July 25 — Claire Voyant: Dominatricks, 7:30 and 9:15 p.m.
July 31 — Stone Beat Invasion (Beatles/Stones tribute), 7 and 9 p.m.
Aug. 1 — The Yawper, 8 and 9:30 p.m.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Police investigate third shooting near Seattle protest zone

SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating another shooting that happened near the city ’ s “ occupied ” protest zone @ @ @ @ @ 5 a.m. Tuesday in the Capitol Hill neighborhood east of downtown .
A spokesperson at @ @ @ @ @ man ’ s wounds were not life-threatening .
Police didn ’ t immediately release more @ @ @ @ @ third recent shooting near the “ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest.
” Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan @ @ @ @ @ move to wind down the protest zone following the shootings .
The mayor said the @ @ @ @ @ sought by thousands of peaceful protesters opposing racial inequity and police brutality .
Durkan also @ @ @ @ @ to a police station that the department largely abandoned in the area after clashes with @ @ @ @ @ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police .

SEATTLE — Seattle police are investigating another shooting that happened near the city’s “occupied” protest zone.
The shooting happened around 5 a.m. Tuesday in the Capitol Hill neighborhood east of downtown. A spokesperson at Harborview Medical Center said the man’s wounds were not life-threatening.
Police didn’t immediately release more information. It was the third recent shooting near the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest.”
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Monday the city will move to wind down the protest zone following the shootings.
The mayor said the violence was distracting from changes sought by thousands of peaceful protesters opposing racial inequity and police brutality.
Durkan also said police will soon return to a police station that the department largely abandoned in the area after clashes with protesters following George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.


thedenverpost--2020-06-24--Charlie Blackmon, two other Rockies test positive for coronavirus following workouts at Coors Field

Rockies players Charlie Blackmon , Phillip Diehl and Ryan Castellani have all tested positive for coronavirus following recent workouts at Coors Field , major-league sources told The Denver Post .
Several Rockies have been working out at Coors Field this month , including taking live at-bats .
The positive tests came late last week , said the sources , who spoke on the condition of anonymity .
One player was showing symptoms and the other two were asymptomatic .
After the three players tested positive , all of the other players who were working out at Coors Field were tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative .
Per Major League Baseball protocol , Coors Field has been closed for the week .
As of Tuesday , MLB and the players ’ association were finalizing final health-and-safety measures for the 60-game season that ’ s expected to be implemented by Commissioner Rob Manfred , with a tentative start date of around July 24 .
The season would include a special coronavirus-related injury list for players who are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive .
Blackmon is a four-time all-star for Colorado who projects as the team ’ s starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a left-handed reliever , made his MLB debut last year .
The right-handed Castellani has yet to make his major-league debut but is on the team ’ s 40-man roster .
• Newman : Amid coronavirus and MLB ’ s bitter dispute with players , my love for the game has intensified , and simplified , in the best ways • WATCH : Rockies vs. Royals in MLB The Show 20 , June 23 , 2020 • Players association ’ s rejection of MLB ’ s latest proposal puts fate of 2020 season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 60-game schedule likely • WATCH : Rockies vs. Royals in MLB The Show 20 , June 22 , 2020 • Newman vs. Kiz : What effect could virus-shortened season have on Nolan Arenado ’ s eventual chances at Cooperstown ?

Rockies players Charlie Blackmon, Phillip Diehl and Ryan Castellani have all tested positive for coronavirus following recent workouts at Coors Field, major-league sources told The Denver Post.
Several Rockies have been working out at Coors Field this month, including taking live at-bats. The positive tests came late last week, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. One player was showing symptoms and the other two were asymptomatic.
After the three players tested positive, all of the other players who were working out at Coors Field were tested for coronavirus. Those tests came back negative. Per Major League Baseball protocol, Coors Field has been closed for the week.
As of Tuesday, MLB and the players’ association were finalizing final health-and-safety measures for the 60-game season that’s expected to be implemented by Commissioner Rob Manfred, with a tentative start date of around July 24. The season would include a special coronavirus-related injury list for players who are experiencing symptoms or have tested positive.
Blackmon is a four-time all-star for Colorado who projects as the team’s starting right fielder this year. Diehl, a left-handed reliever, made his MLB debut last year. The right-handed Castellani has yet to make his major-league debut but is on the team’s 40-man roster.


thedenverpost--2020-06-24--Baseball is back: MLB sets 60-game schedule, players agree to report to training starting July 1

Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony .
Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and four games vs. each of the five clubs in the corresponding division in the other league , according to details obtained by The Associated Press .
A team is scheduled to make only one trip to each city it visits in MLB ’ s shortest season since 1878 .
In a twist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to games involving National League teams and instituted the radical innovation of starting extra innings with a runner on second base .
The number of playoff teams will remain at 10 , though that still could change .
The trade deadline will be Aug. 31 and the deadline for postseason eligibility is Sept. 15 .
Active rosters will be 30 during the first two weeks of the season , 28 during the second two weeks and 26 after that .
They will not expand to 28 on Sept. 1 , as originally intended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , teams would be allowed to retain 60 players each , including a taxi squad .
Up to three players from the taxi squad can travel with a team to a game , and one of the three must be a catcher .
MLB is keeping the innovation of the three-batter minimum for pitchers , but decided to keep the injured list minimum for pitchers at 10 days rather than revert to 15 , as initially intended .
But the new rule remains in place that a pitcher must face at least three @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Major League Baseball issued a 60-game schedule Tuesday night that will start July 23 or 24 in empty ballparks as the sport tries to push ahead amid the coronavirus following months of acrimony.
A dramatically altered season with games full of new rules was the final result of failed financial negotiations. But for fans eager to see any baseball this year, at least now they can look forward to opening day.
The announcement by MLB came while more players continue to test positive for the virus — at least seven on the Philadelphia Phillies alone. And a stark realization remained, that if health situations deteriorate, all games could still be wiped out.
“What happens when we all get it?” Milwaukee pitcher Brett Anderson tweeted Monday.
One day after the players’ association rejected an economic agreement and left open the possibility of a grievance seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, the bickering sides agreed on an operations manual. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred then unilaterally imposed the schedule, his right under a March agreement with the union.
In a twist, the sides expanded the designated hitter to games between National League teams for the first time and instituted the radical innovation of starting extra innings with a runner on second base.
Playoff teams remain at 10 for now — there is still talk of a possible expansion. The rejected deal had called for 16 teams.
Players will start reporting for the resumption of training on July 1. It remains to be seen which players will report back to work — high-risk individuals are allowed to opt out and still receive salary and service time, but others who sit out get neither money nor the service credit needed for eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.
Each team will play 10 games against each of its four division rivals and 20 total games against the five clubs in the corresponding regional division in the other league, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.
This will be MLB’s shortest season since 1878, a schedule of such brevity that some fans may question the legitimacy of stats and records.
No matter what, the season will be among the most unusual ever for a sport that takes pride in the race for titles being a marathon and not a sprint: Washington started 19-31 and 27-33 last year but finished 93-69 to earn a wild card and won a seven-game World Series for its first title.
“There’s a lot more pressure because in a 60-game schedule, I think that you have 25% more teams that can compete, that had no idea they were going to compete for 162 games,” said Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, now a broadcaster.
The trade deadline will be Aug. 31 and the deadline to be in an organization for postseason eligibility is Sept. 15. Teams can resume making trades Friday, when rosters will no longer be frozen.
Active rosters will be 30 players during the first two weeks of the season, 28 during the second two weeks and 26 after that. They will not expand to 28 on Sept. 1, as originally intended this year.
With no minor leagues, teams would be allowed to retain 60 players each, including a taxi squad. Up to three players from the taxi squad can travel with a team to a game, and one of the three must be a catcher.
MLB is keeping the planned innovation that pitchers must face three batters or finish a half inning — players refused to agree a year ago but also waived their right to block.
The injured list minimum for pitchers will remain 10 days rather than revert to 15, as initially intended.
Public opinion shredded both sides as they locked in a ferocious financial battle during a pandemic that has led to more than 120,000 deaths and 2.3 million infections in the U.S. and led to a 14.7% unemployment rate, the highest since the Great Depression.
MLB hoped to be the first U.S. major league to return, at first with an 82-game schedule starting around the Fourth of July, but sniping broke out between management and players who distrust teams’ claims of economic losses following years of franchise appreciation. MLB claimed that without gate-related revenue it would lose $640,000 for each additional regular-season game, a figure the union disputed.
MLB became exasperated with the union’s leadership team, headed by former All-Star first baseman Tony Clark and Bruce Meyer, a litigator hired in August 2018. Manfred and Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem were infuriated when Clark said he considered the result of a one-on-one meeting with Manfred last week a proposal rather than what MLB termed a framework for a deal.
Rather than play 162 games over 186 days, the season will be 60 games over 66 or 67 days, depending on whether there is a nationally televised Thursday night opener. It is scheduled to end Sept. 27, which leaves little margin to make up September rainouts. MLB insisted it needed to complete the World Series in October, avoiding any second wave of the virus.
Players are being given staggered reporting times over several days for intake screening. The time will be used for coronavirus testing ahead of the resumption of workouts, which were stopped March 12 due to the pandemic.
Because of an uptick in infections in Florida and Arizona’s summer heat, 28 teams currently are leaning toward training in their regular-season ballparks. Detroit remained partial to Lakeland, Florida, and Toronto was hoping to gain government permission to work out at Rogers Centre.
Under terms of the deal the sides reached on March 26, which was to have been opening day, players would receive prorated portions of their salaries if the 60-game schedule is not cut short by the virus. Salaries originally totaled $4 billion, and the prorated portion of about 37% reduces pay to $1.48 billion.
Salaries were to have ranged from $563,500 at the minimum to $36 million for Mike Trout and Gerrit Cole at the top, but the spread would now be from $208,704 to $13,333,333.
MLB initially had sought last month in its initial economic plan to reduce pay to about $1 billion, and players vowed not to give up full prorated pay and proposed a 114-game schedule that amounted to $2.8 billion.
The relationship deteriorated back to the level of the acrimonious labor disputes that led to eight work stoppages from 1972-95, and the union has threatened a grievance claiming MLB didn’t fulfill the provision in the March deal requiring the longest season economically feasible, conditioned by several other provisions. MLB would claim the union bargained in bad faith, and the case would be argued before arbitrator Mark Irvings.
That would be a prelude to the expiration of the current labor contract on Dec. 1, 2021, which likely will be followed by a lockout.


thedenverpost--2020-06-24--Former Boulder Shambhala member sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex assault case

The former member of Boulder ’ s Shambhala Center who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child in the late 1990s was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday .
Michael Smith , 55 , pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and attempted sexual assault on a child in March , with attorneys agreeing on a sentence of 15 to 25 years in prison .
Smith was originally set for sentencing on June 5 , but at the end of that hearing Smith asked about trying to withdraw his guilty plea , leading Boulder District Judge Bruce Langer to delay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask to withdraw the plea , and reaffirmed the decision Tuesday when asked by Langer .
Prosecutors asked for 25 years in prison while Smith and his defense attorney Steve Louth asked for 15 , but Langer ultimately split the difference and issued a 20-year prison sentence on the first-degree assault count followed by five years of mandatory parole .
Langer also issued a three-year prison sentence on the attempted sex assault charge that will run concurrent to the 20-year sentence .
“ Our office appreciates the victim ’ s strength in coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her when she was a child , ” Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement .
“ The trauma inflicted upon children who are sexually assaulted can often remain with them for their entire lives .
It is because of this victim ’ s courage , and the excellent work by the Boulder Police Department , that this outcome was reached .
“ The Boulder Police Department worked hard and put together a very strong case , which led to the defendant ’ s guilty plea and today ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not denied .
For other kids , and for our community , this is the right outcome.
” ‘ I was a child , and the adults around me failed ’ According to an arrest affidavit , the girl lived in Boulder and her family was heavily involved in the Shambhala community .
Her parents took her to a Shambhala retreat in Vermont every year , which is where she said she first met Smith when she was 9 or 10 years old .
Police said the girl ’ s family often rented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shambhala members , and Smith lived at the house for two to three years .
During that time , the woman told police Smith sexually abused her numerous times , performing oral sex on her , forcing her to touch his privates , and kissing her breasts .
The girl first told a family friend about the abuse in 1998 and then told her parents , according to a police report .
According to the report , a Buddhist teacher told the girl ’ s family to have Smith enter a “ restorative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
Smith entered treatment and also paid for the girl to go to therapy .
The family told police in 1998 they did not want to pursue charges .
Langer said that while it is not unusual for sex assault allegations to come out after the actual incident , he did say this case was unusual in that Smith already admitted to some of the conduct and went through treatment without a criminal case .
Louth has repeatedly said he wished the case had been prosecuted in 1998 and that Smith would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Langer said he was not sure that would be the case .
“ We don ’ t know what the real effect is on the passage of time , ” Langer said .
But the victim , who listened in on the June 5 hearing but on Tuesday chose to address the court , said it was not her fault that a case was not filed 25 years ago .
She said it was disappointing to hear members of the public speaking on Smith ’ s behalf , many of whom said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and some of whom made comments about the victim ’ s looks and behavior .
“ I heard character witnesses say they knew and didn ’ t do anything , ” she said .
“ I was a child , and the adults around me failed.
” The victim said she came forward not for herself or to see Smith punished , but to protect other girls who might be victimized .
“ It is clear to me the defendant takes no responsibility for his actions , ” she said .
Langer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s level of acceptance .
“ I do have significant concerns that Mr. Smith , even now , after his treatment , doesn ’ t fully get it , and isn ’ t fully owning up to what happened , ” he said .
Langer said he watched an interview Smith gave to police in which , “ the general sense that one gets is Mr. Smith was minimizing this conduct , that he was victim blaming.
” The judge pointed to two statements in particular in which Smith said there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and about the victim never using their “ safe word.
” “ I just don ’ t know what to say about that , ” Langer said .
“ It ’ s hard to imagine anyone saying that about sexual contact with a child.
” Boulder Senior Deputy District Attorney Laura Kinde also pointed out another woman has come forward since the sentencing hearing and accused Smith of similar conduct in Pennsylvania eight years ago .
Prosecutors said information on the Pennsylvania case was sent to local authorities so they could make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in addition to another woman who accused Smith of inappropriate conduct in Vermont in the 90s , though local authorities did not pursue that case .
“ We want to thank the survivor for coming forward and reporting what happened to her over 20 years ago , ” Kinde said in a statement .
“ In doing so , we were able to discover other young girls the defendant had victimized and stop the defendant from perpetrating sexual abuse on any additional young girls .
The Boulder Police Department did an outstanding job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were able to secure a conviction and sentence that will protect the community for years to come.
” While neither case has resulted in charges , Langer said the law does allow him to take the allegations into account when sentencing .
“ They ’ re strikingly similar , and that ’ s very concerning , ” he said .
While Langer limited comments at this hearing because of the June 5 hearing , he did allow Smith to address the court again .
Smith again pointed out he had already gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years was “ a tremendous amount of time for something that happened 25 years ago.
” “ I am deeply regretful , ” Smith said .
“ I did admit what I did back then , I feel a tremendous amount of remorse that is tearing through my heart , and that is the truth.
” But in response to Smith ’ s repeated plea of , “ What more could I have done ?
” the victim had a response .
“ He could have taken responsibility , he could have really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ He could have never hurt me .
”

The former member of Boulder’s Shambhala Center who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a child in the late 1990s was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday.
Michael Smith, 55, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and attempted sexual assault on a child in March, with attorneys agreeing on a sentence of 15 to 25 years in prison.
Smith was originally set for sentencing on June 5, but at the end of that hearing Smith asked about trying to withdraw his guilty plea, leading Boulder District Judge Bruce Langer to delay the sentencing.
Smith ultimately decided not to ask to withdraw the plea, and reaffirmed the decision Tuesday when asked by Langer.
Prosecutors asked for 25 years in prison while Smith and his defense attorney Steve Louth asked for 15, but Langer ultimately split the difference and issued a 20-year prison sentence on the first-degree assault count followed by five years of mandatory parole.
Langer also issued a three-year prison sentence on the attempted sex assault charge that will run concurrent to the 20-year sentence.
“Our office appreciates the victim’s strength in coming forward and disclosing what this defendant did to her when she was a child,” Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a statement. “The trauma inflicted upon children who are sexually assaulted can often remain with them for their entire lives. It is because of this victim’s courage, and the excellent work by the Boulder Police Department, that this outcome was reached.
“The Boulder Police Department worked hard and put together a very strong case, which led to the defendant’s guilty plea and today’s sentence. Justice was delayed, but not denied. For other kids, and for our community, this is the right outcome.”
‘I was a child, and the adults around me failed’
Prosecutors allege Smith sexually abused a girl multiple times starting in 1997.
According to an arrest affidavit, the girl lived in Boulder and her family was heavily involved in the Shambhala community. Her parents took her to a Shambhala retreat in Vermont every year, which is where she said she first met Smith when she was 9 or 10 years old.
Police said the girl’s family often rented out rooms in their house to other Shambhala members, and Smith lived at the house for two to three years. During that time, the woman told police Smith sexually abused her numerous times, performing oral sex on her, forcing her to touch his privates, and kissing her breasts.
The girl first told a family friend about the abuse in 1998 and then told her parents, according to a police report.
According to the report, a Buddhist teacher told the girl’s family to have Smith enter a “restorative justice” program rather than go to police. Smith entered treatment and also paid for the girl to go to therapy.
The family told police in 1998 they did not want to pursue charges.
Langer said that while it is not unusual for sex assault allegations to come out after the actual incident, he did say this case was unusual in that Smith already admitted to some of the conduct and went through treatment without a criminal case.
Louth has repeatedly said he wished the case had been prosecuted in 1998 and that Smith would have been sentenced differently back then, but Langer said he was not sure that would be the case.
“We don’t know what the real effect is on the passage of time,” Langer said.
But the victim, who listened in on the June 5 hearing but on Tuesday chose to address the court, said it was not her fault that a case was not filed 25 years ago.
She said it was disappointing to hear members of the public speaking on Smith’s behalf, many of whom said the knew about the incident at the time and some of whom made comments about the victim’s looks and behavior.
“I heard character witnesses say they knew and didn’t do anything,” she said. “I was a child, and the adults around me failed.”
Additional allegations
The victim said she came forward not for herself or to see Smith punished, but to protect other girls who might be victimized.
“It is clear to me the defendant takes no responsibility for his actions,” she said.
Langer also said he was worried about Smith’s level of acceptance.
“I do have significant concerns that Mr. Smith, even now, after his treatment, doesn’t fully get it, and isn’t fully owning up to what happened,” he said.
Langer said he watched an interview Smith gave to police in which, “the general sense that one gets is Mr. Smith was minimizing this conduct, that he was victim blaming.”
The judge pointed to two statements in particular in which Smith said there was “no stopping (the victim)” and about the victim never using their “safe word.”
“I just don’t know what to say about that,” Langer said. “It’s hard to imagine anyone saying that about sexual contact with a child.”
Boulder Senior Deputy District Attorney Laura Kinde also pointed out another woman has come forward since the sentencing hearing and accused Smith of similar conduct in Pennsylvania eight years ago.
Prosecutors said information on the Pennsylvania case was sent to local authorities so they could make a decision on charges.
This is in addition to another woman who accused Smith of inappropriate conduct in Vermont in the 90s, though local authorities did not pursue that case.
“We want to thank the survivor for coming forward and reporting what happened to her over 20 years ago,” Kinde said in a statement. “In doing so, we were able to discover other young girls the defendant had victimized and stop the defendant from perpetrating sexual abuse on any additional young girls. The Boulder Police Department did an outstanding job with this investigation and because of that we were able to secure a conviction and sentence that will protect the community for years to come.”
While neither case has resulted in charges, Langer said the law does allow him to take the allegations into account when sentencing.
“They’re strikingly similar, and that’s very concerning,” he said.
While Langer limited comments at this hearing because of the June 5 hearing, he did allow Smith to address the court again. Smith again pointed out he had already gone through treatment in 1998 and said 15 years was “a tremendous amount of time for something that happened 25 years ago.”
“I am deeply regretful,” Smith said. “I did admit what I did back then, I feel a tremendous amount of remorse that is tearing through my heart, and that is the truth.”
But in response to Smith’s repeated plea of, “What more could I have done?” the victim had a response.
“He could have taken responsibility, he could have really gotten help,” she said. “He could have never hurt me.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-24--Colorado’s snowpack is nearly gone, which is not a good sign for fire season

Colorado ’ s rivers and streams are still filled with plenty of cold , rushing water from this season ’ s snowmelt .
But that natural water source won ’ t last much longer .
Colorado ’ s snowpack has all but melted , according to official data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service ( NRCS ) this week .
As of Tuesday , only 0.1″ remained on an average of 95 sites across the state .
“ In southern parts of the state , ( snowpack ) melted out about 2 to 3 weeks ahead of where it normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they melted out about a week early to about on-time , ” said Becky Bolinger , the assistant Colorado state climatologist .
“ The snowpack melted faster for two reasons : one , it was warmer than average .
Also , no snow was added to it , ” Bolinger said .
Fast-melting snowpack coupled with a lack of rain plays into increased fire concerns .
In southern Colorado , runoff from last winter ’ s boom of a snow season led to rapid growth in vegetation .
Now , that vegetation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires .
“ One of the consequences is the earlier you melt out , the earlier the fire season can begin , ” Bolinger said .
“ You have a longer time to go until the monsoon and the relief .
”

Colorado’s rivers and streams are still filled with plenty of cold, rushing water from this season’s snowmelt. But that natural water source won’t last much longer.
Colorado’s snowpack has all but melted, according to official data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this week. As of Tuesday, only 0.1″ remained on an average of 95 sites across the state.
“In southern parts of the state, (snowpack) melted out about 2 to 3 weeks ahead of where it normally is. In the northern mountains, they melted out about a week early to about on-time,” said Becky Bolinger, the assistant Colorado state climatologist.
“The snowpack melted faster for two reasons: one, it was warmer than average. Also, no snow was added to it,” Bolinger said.
Fast-melting snowpack coupled with a lack of rain plays into increased fire concerns. In southern Colorado, runoff from last winter’s boom of a snow season led to rapid growth in vegetation. Now, that vegetation is quickly drying out, providing fuel for fires.
“One of the consequences is the earlier you melt out, the earlier the fire season can begin,” Bolinger said. “You have a longer time to go until the monsoon and the relief.”


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Prosecutor: Trump ally Roger Stone was “treated differently”

WASHINGTON — A federal prosecutor is prepared to tell Congress on Wednesday that Roger Stone , a close ally of President Donald Trump , was given special treatment ahead of his sentencing because of his relationship with the president .
Aaron Zelinsky , a career Justice Department prosecutor who was part of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s team and worked on the case against Stone , will say he was told by supervisors that political considerations influenced the decision to overrule the recommendation of the trial team and propose a lighter prison sentence , according to testimony released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works in the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Maryland , and his testimony will feature the extraordinary spectacle of a current prosecutor castigating decisions made by the leadership of the Justice Department where he still serves .
The hearing is likely to add to scrutiny of Barr , who has alarmed Democrats in recent months with his efforts to scrutinize , and even undo , some of the results of Mueller ’ s Russia ’ s investigation .
“ What I heard — repeatedly — was that Roger Stone was being treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his relationship to the president , ” Zelinsky says in the prepared testimony .
The panel subpoenaed Zelinksy and John Elias , a career official in the department ’ s antitrust division , as part of its probe into the politicization of the department under Barr .
The Democratic-led panel and Barr have been feuding since shortly after he took office in early 2019 , when he declined to testify about Mueller ’ s report .
The Democrats launched the investigation earlier this year over Barr ’ s handling of the Stone case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several subsequent episodes in which they believe Barr is doing Trump ’ s bidding .
That includes the department ’ s efforts to dismiss the criminal case against Gen. Michael Flynn and the firing last weekend of the the top prosecutor in New York ’ s Southern District .
The prosecutor , Geoffrey Berman , has been investigating the president ’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani .
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , has threatened to subpoena Barr himself for a hearing next week if he doesn ’ t agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never testified before the panel .
Zelinsky , one of four lawyers who quit the Stone case after the department overruled their sentencing recommendation , plans to say Wednesday that the acting U.S. attorney at the time , Timothy Shea , was “ receiving heavy pressures from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to give Stone a break.
” He does not say who was doing the pressuring , but says there was “ significant pressure ” on line prosecutors to “ obscure ” the correct sentencing guidelines and “ water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” what happened at Stone ’ s trial and the events that resulted in his conviction .
Before Stone ’ s Feb. 20 sentencing , Justice Department leadership changed the sentencing recommendation just hours after Trump tweeted his displeasure at the recommendation of up to nine years in prison , saying it had been too harsh .
Stone was later sentenced to serve more than three years in prison plus two years ’ probation and a $ 20,000 fine .
Barr has said Trump ’ s tweet played no role in the change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filing hours before the president ’ s tweet because he was caught off guard by the initial sentencing recommendation and believed it was excessive based on the facts of the case .
Filing a new one was a “ righteous decision based on the merits , ” he has told The Associated Press .
According to his prepared testimony , Zelinsky will describe having learned from the media that the Justice Department planned to overrule the trial team ’ s sentencing recommendation , something he said he found unusual given the department ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases .
Though the U.S. attorney ’ s office initially said the reports were false , the team was later told that a new sentencing memorandum would be issued that would seek a lighter punishment for Stone .
“ We repeatedly asked to see that new memorandum prior to its filing .
Our request was denied , ” Zelinsky will say .
“ We were not informed about the content or substance of the proposed filing , or even who was writing it .
We were told that one potential draft of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was also told that the acting U.S. attorney was giving Stone such unprecedentedly favorable treatment because he was “ afraid of the President.
” Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Barr had directed Shea to leave the sentencing to the discretion of the judge , who ultimately sentenced Stone to a notably shorter amount of prison time than the trial prosecutors had initially sought .
“ Notably , Mr. Zelinsky , a line prosecutor , did not have any discussion with the Attorney General , the U.S. Attorney , or any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the sentencing ; instead , Mr. Zelinksy ’ s allegations concerning the U.S. Attorney ’ s motivation are based on his own interpretation of events and hearsay ( at best ) , not first-hand knowledge , ” Kupec said in a statement .
Stone was convicted on all seven counts of an indictment that accused him of lying to Congress , tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election .
On Tuesday , Stone filed a motion asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of coronavirus concerns .
He is scheduled to report to a federal prison in Georgia by June 30 .
In separate testimony released by the committee , Elias plans to detail antitrust investigations that he says were started over the objections of career staff .
He says he asked the department ’ s inspector general to investigate “ whether these matters constituted an abuse of authority , a gross waste of funds , and gross mismanagement.
” The Justice Department said in a statement that it “ strongly disagrees with Mr. Elias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acted inappropriately in any investigation.
” Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — A federal prosecutor is prepared to tell Congress on Wednesday that Roger Stone, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was given special treatment ahead of his sentencing because of his relationship with the president.
Aaron Zelinsky, a career Justice Department prosecutor who was part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s team and worked on the case against Stone, will say he was told by supervisors that political considerations influenced the decision to overrule the recommendation of the trial team and propose a lighter prison sentence, according to testimony released by the House Judiciary Committee.
Zelinsky now works in the U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland, and his testimony will feature the extraordinary spectacle of a current prosecutor castigating decisions made by the leadership of the Justice Department where he still serves. The hearing is likely to add to scrutiny of Barr, who has alarmed Democrats in recent months with his efforts to scrutinize, and even undo, some of the results of Mueller’s Russia’s investigation.
“What I heard — repeatedly — was that Roger Stone was being treated differently from any other defendant because of his relationship to the president,” Zelinsky says in the prepared testimony.
The panel subpoenaed Zelinksy and John Elias, a career official in the department’s antitrust division, as part of its probe into the politicization of the department under Barr. The Democratic-led panel and Barr have been feuding since shortly after he took office in early 2019, when he declined to testify about Mueller’s report.
The Democrats launched the investigation earlier this year over Barr’s handling of the Stone case, but have expanded their focus to several subsequent episodes in which they believe Barr is doing Trump’s bidding. That includes the department’s efforts to dismiss the criminal case against Gen. Michael Flynn and the firing last weekend of the the top prosecutor in New York’s Southern District. The prosecutor, Geoffrey Berman, has been investigating the president’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., has threatened to subpoena Barr himself for a hearing next week if he doesn’t agree to appear. The attorney general has never testified before the panel.
Zelinsky, one of four lawyers who quit the Stone case after the department overruled their sentencing recommendation, plans to say Wednesday that the acting U.S. attorney at the time, Timothy Shea, was “receiving heavy pressures from the highest levels of the Department of Justice to give Stone a break.”
He does not say who was doing the pressuring, but says there was “significant pressure” on line prosecutors to “obscure” the correct sentencing guidelines and “water down and in some cases outright distort” what happened at Stone’s trial and the events that resulted in his conviction.
Before Stone’s Feb. 20 sentencing, Justice Department leadership changed the sentencing recommendation just hours after Trump tweeted his displeasure at the recommendation of up to nine years in prison, saying it had been too harsh. Stone was later sentenced to serve more than three years in prison plus two years’ probation and a $20,000 fine.
Barr has said Trump’s tweet played no role in the change. He said he ordered the new filing hours before the president’s tweet because he was caught off guard by the initial sentencing recommendation and believed it was excessive based on the facts of the case.
Filing a new one was a “righteous decision based on the merits,” he has told The Associated Press.
According to his prepared testimony, Zelinsky will describe having learned from the media that the Justice Department planned to overrule the trial team’s sentencing recommendation, something he said he found unusual given the department’s conventional practice of not commenting on cases.
Though the U.S. attorney’s office initially said the reports were false, the team was later told that a new sentencing memorandum would be issued that would seek a lighter punishment for Stone.
“We repeatedly asked to see that new memorandum prior to its filing. Our request was denied,” Zelinsky will say. “We were not informed about the content or substance of the proposed filing, or even who was writing it. We were told that one potential draft of the filing attacked us personally.”
Zelinsky says he was also told that the acting U.S. attorney was giving Stone such unprecedentedly favorable treatment because he was “afraid of the President.”
Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Barr had directed Shea to leave the sentencing to the discretion of the judge, who ultimately sentenced Stone to a notably shorter amount of prison time than the trial prosecutors had initially sought.
“Notably, Mr. Zelinsky, a line prosecutor, did not have any discussion with the Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney, or any other member of political leadership at the Department about the sentencing; instead, Mr. Zelinksy’s allegations concerning the U.S. Attorney’s motivation are based on his own interpretation of events and hearsay (at best), not first-hand knowledge,” Kupec said in a statement.
Stone was convicted on all seven counts of an indictment that accused him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election.
On Tuesday, Stone filed a motion asking to extend his surrender date until September because of coronavirus concerns. He is scheduled to report to a federal prison in Georgia by June 30.
In separate testimony released by the committee, Elias plans to detail antitrust investigations that he says were started over the objections of career staff. He says he asked the department’s inspector general to investigate “whether these matters constituted an abuse of authority, a gross waste of funds, and gross mismanagement.”
The Justice Department said in a statement that it “strongly disagrees with Mr. Elias’s claim that the Antitrust Division acted inappropriately in any investigation.”
Associated Press writer Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Colorado drinking water tested for “forever chemicals” did not exceed limits, health officials say

State health officials announced Tuesday that statewide water sampling found that no treated drinking water tested for toxic fluorochemicals , known as “ forever chemicals ” due to their pervasive nature , exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency ’ s health advisory level .
But the state did find higher levels of the chemicals , which commonly originate from toxic firefighting foam , in some groundwater sources , a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment news release said .
CDPHE sampled 400 water systems and 15 firefighting districts , as well as 152 groundwater sources and 71 surface water sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as PFAS .
The sampling included about half of the drinking water systems in the state serving around 75 % of Colorado ’ s population .
“ The current results show that no drinking water tested above the EPA health advisory for two chemicals , ” said Kristy Richardson , state toxicologist at CDPHE .
“ At the same time , we know science is evolving , and we are committed to using the most current and best available information to provide health-based guidance on exposure to the chemicals.
” A sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Commerce City tested above the EPA drinking water health advisory , but the state isn ’ t aware of anyone directly drinking this affected water .
Nonetheless , high levels of the chemicals in streams can impact downstream drinking water supplies , state health officials warned .
CDPHE ’ s testing indicates that industrial operations permitted to discharge wastewater into rivers and streams may play a major role in the buildup of the chemicals .
For example , testing Sand Creek upstream of Commerce City yielded a result far lower than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aurora , where the PFAS reading exceeded the EPA ’ s drinking water health advisory level .
The EPA has not set a national regulatory limit for PFAS despite growing evidence of water contamination nationwide and scientific studies linking fluorochemicals to cancers and problems during pregnancy .
Last year , groundwater tests found high levels of PFAS across the Denver metro area .
The discovery of these fluorochemicals at Buckley Air Force Base , along Sand Creek and at the Suncor oil refinery in Adams County — as well as at sites west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compelled state health officials to ramp up Colorado ’ s response .

State health officials announced Tuesday that statewide water sampling found that no treated drinking water tested for toxic fluorochemicals, known as “forever chemicals” due to their pervasive nature, exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory level.
But the state did find higher levels of the chemicals, which commonly originate from toxic firefighting foam, in some groundwater sources, a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment news release said.
CDPHE sampled 400 water systems and 15 firefighting districts, as well as 152 groundwater sources and 71 surface water sources like rivers and streams for fluorochemicals, known as PFAS. The sampling included about half of the drinking water systems in the state serving around 75% of Colorado’s population.
“The current results show that no drinking water tested above the EPA health advisory for two chemicals,” said Kristy Richardson, state toxicologist at CDPHE. “At the same time, we know science is evolving, and we are committed to using the most current and best available information to provide health-based guidance on exposure to the chemicals.”
A sample collected at the mouth of Sand Creek in Commerce City tested above the EPA drinking water health advisory, but the state isn’t aware of anyone directly drinking this affected water. Nonetheless, high levels of the chemicals in streams can impact downstream drinking water supplies, state health officials warned.
CDPHE’s testing indicates that industrial operations permitted to discharge wastewater into rivers and streams may play a major role in the buildup of the chemicals. For example, testing of Sand Creek upstream of Commerce City yielded a result far lower than a test site of the creek downstream, where the PFAS reading exceeded the EPA’s drinking water health advisory level.
The EPA has not set a national regulatory limit for PFAS despite growing evidence of water contamination nationwide and scientific studies linking fluorochemicals to cancers and problems during pregnancy. Last year, groundwater tests found high levels of PFAS across the Denver metro area.
The discovery of these fluorochemicals at Buckley Air Force Base, along Sand Creek and at the Suncor oil refinery in Adams County — as well as at sites west of Boulder and around Colorado Springs — compelled state health officials to ramp up Colorado’s response.


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Eagle County reports cluster of new COVID-19 cases among teens and young adults

Eagle County public health officials said Tuesday they are investigating a cluster of COVID-19 cases among teenagers and young adults after at least 11 people tested positive for the respiratory disease following social gatherings .
However , Eagle County Public Health and Environment said its investigators who are performing contact-tracing have found some individuals and families are unwilling to isolate at home or share details about events where people may have been exposed — information that health officials rely on to help prevent the spread of disease in the community , according to a news release .
The announcement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials announced a spike in cases in Boulder County following recent college parties , protests and travel .
And last week , the number of new COVID-19 cases statewide rose for the first time since late April .
“ The pandemic continues , the virus is still here , and our community members are still susceptible to infection , ” said Heath Harmon , director of Eagle County ’ s health department in a statement .
“ This is not about personal risk tolerance , this is about making decisions that help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We need to co-exist with this virus until a vaccine is available and do so in a way that helps limit its spread.
” The coronavirus cases appeared among people who live in the Roaring Fork Valley and are between 16 and 18 .
The investigation into the cluster is ongoing and there ’ s a potential for more cases to appear in the next couple of days , according to the news release .

Eagle County public health officials said Tuesday they are investigating a cluster of COVID-19 cases among teenagers and young adults after at least 11 people tested positive for the respiratory disease following social gatherings.
However, Eagle County Public Health and Environment said its investigators who are performing contact-tracing have found some individuals and families are unwilling to isolate at home or share details about events where people may have been exposed — information that health officials rely on to help prevent the spread of disease in the community, according to a news release.
The announcement of the cases comes a week after local health officials announced a spike in cases in Boulder County following recent college parties, protests and travel. And last week, the number of new COVID-19 cases statewide rose for the first time since late April.
“The pandemic continues, the virus is still here, and our community members are still susceptible to infection,” said Heath Harmon, director of Eagle County’s health department in a statement.
“This is not about personal risk tolerance, this is about making decisions that help protect the community,” he said. “We need to co-exist with this virus until a vaccine is available and do so in a way that helps limit its spread.”
The coronavirus cases appeared among people who live in the Roaring Fork Valley and are between 16 and 18. The investigation into the cluster is ongoing and there’s a potential for more cases to appear in the next couple of days, according to the news release.


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Bill to extend health insurance savings program with new fees on companies awaits Polis’ signature

A bill that would extend a program to lower health insurance costs for some Coloradans with a new fee on insurance companies is awaiting Gov .
Jared Polis ’ signature .
Senate Bill 125 also directs a board appointed by the governor to figure out ways to further lower the cost of insurance , either by cutting monthly payments or reducing how much people pay out of pocket when they go to a doctor or hospital , said Vince Plymell , spokesman for the Division of Insurance .
The board also would consider financial assistance for undocumented people who don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy health insurance .
A spokeswoman for Polis said he intends to sign the bill .
The program , called reinsurance , only applies to plans on the individual marketplace , so people who get their coverage through a job wouldn ’ t see savings .
It ’ s estimated to cost about $ 265 million in 2020 and 2021 , with about $ 175 million coming from federal savings .
The average monthly bill for health insurance on the individual market decreased from to $ 510 to $ 407 in the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connect for Health Colorado .
Some people received a higher bill , though , because they received smaller tax credits to buy their insurance .
It might seem counterintuitive to lower insurance costs through fees on insurance companies and hospitals , but what reinsurance does is remove some uncertainty .
When you buy health insurance , you and many other people pay a monthly rate , and everyone ’ s payments cover much of the cost of treatment for the unlucky few who have serious illnesses or injuries .
Under reinsurance , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government also pay into a state fund , and insurers get reimbursed for some of the cost of covering those unlucky customers .
Since they won ’ t have to pay as much out of pocket , and federal law limits how much they can keep as profit or spend on administering their plans , insurance companies have to pass at least some savings on to customers under a reinsurance plan .
While hospitals pay a fee , they also could benefit if insurance is cheaper , because more people will buy coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide as much charity care .
The federal government also saves money , because if insurance is cheaper , it ’ s not paying as much in tax credits for people buying coverage on the marketplace .
The fee on insurance companies is new .
Nonprofit insurance companies will have to pay the value of 1.15 % of the premiums they collect , and for-profit insurers will pay 2.1 % .
If a nonprofit and a for-profit insurer both collected $ 100 million in premiums from customers , they would pay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , respectively .
The bill ’ s fiscal note estimates the fee will bring in about $ 95 million in the 2021-2022 fiscal year , with the total rising to about $ 110 million two years later .
Insurance companies and hospitals will pay the fees from 2021 to 2023 , and hospitals will only pay in the second two years , Plymell said .
The fees will provide enough funds that the state won ’ t need to kick in $ 40 million in the next budget year to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The bill would also cut fees on hospitals in half , and delay them until next year .
Hospitals had initially agreed to pay up to $ 40 million per year starting in July , but now they ’ ll pay $ 20 million per year starting in 2021 .
The Colorado Hospital Association had sued the state over a proposal to collect the fee sooner , but dropped the suit earlier this year to continue negotiating .
Cara Welch , director of communications for the Colorado Hospital Association , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s concerns about the fees .
“ Because the timing of the payment has been pushed back even further , this eliminates the concern we had this winter about the timing , ” she said .

A bill that would extend a program to lower health insurance costs for some Coloradans with a new fee on insurance companies is awaiting Gov. Jared Polis’ signature.
Senate Bill 215 also directs a board appointed by the governor to figure out ways to further lower the cost of insurance, either by cutting monthly payments or reducing how much people pay out of pocket when they go to a doctor or hospital, said Vince Plymell, spokesman for the Division of Insurance. The board also would consider financial assistance for undocumented people who don’t qualify for tax credits to buy health insurance. A spokeswoman for Polis said he intends to sign the bill.
The program, called reinsurance, only applies to plans on the individual marketplace, so people who get their coverage through a job wouldn’t see savings. It’s estimated to cost about $265 million in 2020 and 2021, with about $175 million coming from federal savings.
The average monthly bill for health insurance on the individual market decreased from to $510 to $407 in the program’s first year, according to Connect for Health Colorado. Some people received a higher bill, though, because they received smaller tax credits to buy their insurance.
How it works
It might seem counterintuitive to lower insurance costs through fees on insurance companies and hospitals, but what reinsurance does is remove some uncertainty.
When you buy health insurance, you and many other people pay a monthly rate, and everyone’s payments cover much of the cost of treatment for the unlucky few who have serious illnesses or injuries. Under reinsurance, the health insurance companies, hospitals and federal government also pay into a state fund, and insurers get reimbursed for some of the cost of covering those unlucky customers.
Since they won’t have to pay as much out of pocket, and federal law limits how much they can keep as profit or spend on administering their plans, insurance companies have to pass at least some savings on to customers under a reinsurance plan.
While hospitals pay a fee, they also could benefit if insurance is cheaper, because more people will buy coverage and the hospitals won’t have to provide as much charity care. The federal government also saves money, because if insurance is cheaper, it’s not paying as much in tax credits for people buying coverage on the marketplace.
What’s changing
The fee on insurance companies is new. Nonprofit insurance companies will have to pay the value of 1.15% of the premiums they collect, and for-profit insurers will pay 2.1%. If a nonprofit and a for-profit insurer both collected $100 million in premiums from customers, they would pay the state $1.15 million and $2.1 million, respectively. The bill’s fiscal note estimates the fee will bring in about $95 million in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with the total rising to about $110 million two years later.
Insurance companies will pay the fees starting in 2021, and hospitals will pay starting in 2022, Plymell said. The fees will provide enough funds that the state won’t need to kick in $40 million in the next budget year to keep the program going, as previously anticipated, he said.
The bill would also cut fees on hospitals in half, and delay them until next year. Hospitals had initially agreed to pay up to $40 million per year starting in July, but now they’ll pay $20 million per year starting in 2021. The Colorado Hospital Association had sued the state over a proposal to collect the fee sooner, but dropped the suit earlier this year to continue negotiating.
Cara Welch, director of communications for the Colorado Hospital Association, said the bill satisfies the association’s concerns about the fees.
“Because the timing of the payment has been pushed back even further, this eliminates the concern we had this winter about the timing,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Coronavirus hospitalizations continue slow decline in Colorado

Colorado reported 160 cases of the new coronavirus on Tuesday — more than on the same day a week before , but still relatively low .
A week ago , the state had reported 137 new cases .
The new numbers were still well below the first wave ’ s peak in late April , when one day brought in more than 900 cases .
The Colorado Hospital Association reported 141 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning , showing that the number of people needing hospital care continues to flow slowly .
No one was reported to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though death reports can be delayed .
Since March , the state has confirmed 30,893 cases of COVID-19 and 1,455 deaths caused by the virus , according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
An additional 210 people died with the virus , but it wasn ’ t listed as their cause of death .
Last week , Colorado ’ s coronavirus cases increased for the first time since April .
Ian Dickson , spokesman for the state health department , said it ’ s too early to know the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a reminder to wear masks in public and stay 6 feet from others .
“ We expect case numbers to fluctuate somewhat , so we need more time to determine whether or not this might be a trend , ” he said .

Colorado reported 160 cases of the new coronavirus on Tuesday — more than on the same day a week before, but still relatively low.
A week ago, the state had reported 137 new cases. The new numbers were still well below the first wave’s peak in late April, when one day brought in more than 900 cases.
The Colorado Hospital Association reported 141 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, showing that the number of people needing hospital care continues to flow slowly. No one was reported to have died of the virus Monday, though death reports can be delayed.
Since March, the state has confirmed 30,893 cases of COVID-19 and 1,455 deaths caused by the virus, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. An additional 210 people died with the virus, but it wasn’t listed as their cause of death.
Last week, Colorado’s coronavirus cases increased for the first time since April. Ian Dickson, spokesman for the state health department, said it’s too early to know the increase was just a blip, but it’s a reminder to wear masks in public and stay 6 feet from others.
“We expect case numbers to fluctuate somewhat, so we need more time to determine whether or not this might be a trend,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-06-23--Colorado’s COVID-19 patients fared better in May than at pandemic’s start, hospital data shows

Colorado patients who contracted the novel coronavirus in May fared better than those infected in March , and that ’ s at least partly due to new knowledge their doctors gained about how to care for them , according to a report issued Tuesday by seven health systems .
The death rate for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Colorado dropped from more than 15 % in March and April to about 10.5 % in May .
The health systems didn ’ t run a statistical analysis to rule out random fluctuations or changes in the patient population , but increasing knowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Neff , chief medical officer at UCHealth .
“ Clearly there was a change in the way we were able to care for the patients , ” he said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday .
The average hospital stay also fell from about 12 days to 7 days over that period .
COVID-19 patients who needed ventilators spent more time in the hospital than other patients , but their average stay also was shorter in May than in March , the earliest days of the pandemic .
One change is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on ventilators as they learned more about the virus , said Dr. Kathryn Perkins , chief medical officer for Banner Health ’ s western region .
Normally , when a patient ’ s blood oxygen levels are low , they ’ re put on a ventilator to prevent organ damage from lack of oxygen .
But some COVID-19 patients had low oxygen levels but no signs of distress .
In some cases , they could avoid mechanical ventilation by having patients lay on their stomachs and turning them to avoid fluid build-up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 % of Colorado ’ s hospitalized coronavirus patients were placed on ventilators .
By May , it was down to about 13 % .
Patients who needed ventilators were more likely to die in the hospital .
That reflects both that patients who need ventilators are seriously ill , and that high-pressure oxygen can be damaging to the lungs , said Dr. Ben Keidan , chief medical officer at Boulder Community Health .
Ventilators can save lives , but there are advantages if you can avoid immobilizing patients for days or weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health systems cared for about 96 % of COVID-19 patients in Colorado from March to May .
They reported 4,903 patients spent an average of 9.7 days hospitalized , though people who needed ventilators were hospitalized longer than others .
It ’ s possible some patients could have been double-counted , if they were transferred .
About 66 % of patients went home directly , and 18 % went to another facility , such as a nursing home , rehabilitation hospital or hospice .
About 14 % died , and the remainder were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of May .
The odds of going directly home were lower for older patients , who also faced a higher risk of dying .
The participating health systems pooled data without information that could identify patients .
They analyzed it by age groups , but didn ’ t look at patients ’ overall health status .
The hospitals are still collecting data .
So far , fewer patients are needing hospital-level care in June , said Dr. Connie Savor Price , chief medical officer at Denver Health .
The patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than in previous months , perhaps reflecting who feels safe to go out .
The hospitals have shared data with the state so they can plan for any future waves of the virus , said Dr. J.P. Valin , chief clinical officer at SCL Health .
Individuals who are telling family members what care they want if they are seriously ill also can look at the data , so they have a better sense of what they might expect , he said .
The report didn ’ t include data about drug treatments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together to figure out what experimental treatments might help patients , Neff said .
For example , when they get a supply of remdesivir , a drug that one study showed might shorten recovery time , they can share results , he said .
“ We ’ re not putting all our stock in one magic bullet , ” he said .
“ We ’ re looking for every bullet out there.
” The Colorado Hospital Association and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also were involved in the partnership .

Colorado patients who contracted the novel coronavirus in May fared better than those infected in March, and that’s at least partly due to new knowledge their doctors gained about how to care for them, according to a report issued Tuesday by seven health systems.
The death rate for hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Colorado dropped from more than 15% in March and April to about 10.5% in May. The health systems didn’t run a statistical analysis to rule out random fluctuations or changes in the patient population, but increasing knowledge likely played a role, said Dr. William Neff, chief medical officer at UCHealth.
“Clearly there was a change in the way we were able to care for the patients,” he said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday.
The average hospital stay also fell from about 12 days to 7 days over that period. COVID-19 patients who needed ventilators spent more time in the hospital than other patients, but their average stay also was shorter in May than in March, the earliest days of the pandemic.
One change is that doctors were slower to put patients on ventilators as they learned more about the virus, said Dr. Kathryn Perkins, chief medical officer for Banner Health’s western region.
Normally, when a patient’s blood oxygen levels are low, they’re put on a ventilator to prevent organ damage from lack of oxygen. But some COVID-19 patients had low oxygen levels but no signs of distress. In some cases, they could avoid mechanical ventilation by having patients lay on their stomachs and turning them to avoid fluid build-up, she said.
In March, about 29% of Colorado’s hospitalized coronavirus patients were placed on ventilators. By May, it was down to about 13%.
Patients who needed ventilators were more likely to die in the hospital. That reflects both that patients who need ventilators are seriously ill, and that high-pressure oxygen can be damaging to the lungs, said Dr. Ben Keidan, chief medical officer at Boulder Community Health. Ventilators can save lives, but there are advantages if you can avoid immobilizing patients for days or weeks, he said.
The seven participating health systems cared for about 96% of COVID-19 patients in Colorado from March to May. They reported 4,903 patients spent an average of 9.7 days hospitalized, though people who needed ventilators were hospitalized longer than others. It’s possible some patients could have been double-counted, if they were transferred.
About 66% of patients went home directly, and 18% went to another facility, such as a nursing home, rehabilitation hospital or hospice. About 14% died, and the remainder were still hospitalized when they collected the data at the end of May. The odds of going directly home were lower for older patients, who also faced a higher risk of dying.
The participating health systems pooled data without information that could identify patients. They analyzed it by age groups, but didn’t look at patients’ overall health status.
The hospitals are still collecting data. So far, fewer patients are needing hospital-level care in June, said Dr. Connie Savor Price, chief medical officer at Denver Health. The patient population also appears to be skewing younger than in previous months, perhaps reflecting who feels safe to go out.
The hospitals have shared data with the state so they can plan for any future waves of the virus, said Dr. J.P. Valin, chief clinical officer at SCL Health. Individuals who are telling family members what care they want if they are seriously ill also can look at the data, so they have a better sense of what they might expect, he said.
The report didn’t include data about drug treatments, but the health systems are working together to figure out what experimental treatments might help patients, Neff said. For example, when they get a supply of remdesivir, a drug that one study showed might shorten recovery time, they can share results, he said.
“We’re not putting all our stock in one magic bullet,” he said. “We’re looking for every bullet out there.”
Participating health systems were:
Banner Health
Boulder Community Health
Centura Health
Denver Health
HealthONE
SCL Health
UCHealth
The Colorado Hospital Association and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment also were involved in the partnership.