thedenverpost--2020-09-08--COVID-19 vaccine latest flashpoint in White House campaign

WASHINGTON — The prospect of a vaccine to shield Americans from coronavirus infection emerged as a point of contention in the White House race as President Donald Trump accused Democrats of “ disparaging ” for political gain a vaccine he repeatedly has said could be available before the election .
“ It ’ s so dangerous for our country , what they say , but the vaccine will be very safe and very effective , ” the president pledged Monday at a White House news conference .
Trump leveled the accusation a day after Sen. Kamala Harris , the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ would not trust his word ” on getting the vaccine .
“ I would trust the word of public health experts and scientists , but not Donald Trump , ” Harris said .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden amplified Harris ’ comments Monday after he was asked if he would get a vaccine for COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
Biden said he would take a vaccine but wants to see what the scientists have to say , too .
Biden said Trump has said “ so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m worried if we do have a really good vaccine , people are going to be reluctant to take it .
So he ’ s undermining public confidence.
” Still , the former vice president said : “ If I could get a vaccine tomorrow I ’ d do it , if it would cost me the election I ’ d do it .
We need a vaccine and we need it now.
” The back-and-forth over a coronavirus vaccine played out as three of the candidates fanned out across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of the two-month sprint to the election .
Harris and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Wisconsin and Biden went to Pennsylvania .
Trump added the news conference to a schedule that originally was blank .
Harris , a California Democrat , said in a CNN interview broadcast Sunday that she would not trust a coronavirus vaccine if one were ready at the end of the year because “ there ’ s very little that we can trust that … comes out of Donald Trump ’ s mouth.
” She argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is focused on getting reelected .
Trump dismissed her comments as “ reckless anti-vaccine rhetoric ” designed to detract from the effort to quickly ready a vaccine for a disease that has killed about 190,000 Americans and infected more than 6 million others , according to a count by Johns Hopkins University .
“ She ’ s talking about disparaging a vaccine so that people don ’ t think the achievement was a great achievement , ” Trump said , answering reporters ’ questions as he stood at a lectern placed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the mansion .
“ They ’ ll say anything , ” he said .
Trump insisted he hasn ’ t said a vaccine could be ready before November , although he has said so repeatedly and as recently as Friday .
The president then proceeded to say what he had just denied ever saying .
“ What I said is by the end of the year , but I think it could even be sooner that that , ” he said about a vaccine .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , actually could be before November.
” Under a program Trump calls “ Operation Warp Speed , ” the goal is to have 300 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine in stock by January .
He has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on what amounts to a huge gamble since vaccine development usually takes years .
Concerns exist about political influence over development of a vaccine , and whether one produced under this process will be safe and effective .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the government ’ s top infectious-disease expert and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ task force , told CNN last week that it is unlikely but “ not impossible ” that a vaccine could win approval in October , instead of November or December .
Fauci added that he ’ s “ pretty sure ” a vaccine would not be approved for Americans unless it was both safe and effective .
Stephen Hahn , commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration , has said the agency would not cut corners as it evaluates vaccines , but would aim to expedite its work .
He told the Financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ appropriate ” to approve a vaccine before clinical trials were complete if the benefits outweighed the risks .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , meanwhile , has given assurances that Trump “ will not in any way sacrifice safety ” when it comes to a vaccine .
And executives of five top pharmaceutical companies pledged that no COVID-19 vaccines or treatments will be approved , even for emergency use , without proof they are safe and effective .
Some concerns were sparked by a letter dated Aug. 27 in which Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Disease Control and Prevention , asked governors to help government contractor McKesson Corp. make sure vaccine distribution facilities are up and running by Nov. 1 .
Redfield did not say a vaccine would be ready by then .
Three COVID-19 vaccines are undergoing final-stage , or Phase 3 , clinical trials in the U.S. Each study is enrolling about 30,000 people who will get two shots , three weeks apart , and then will be monitored for coronavirus infections and side effects for anywhere from a week to two years .
Join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on coronavirus in Colorado .

WASHINGTON — The prospect of a vaccine to shield Americans from coronavirus infection emerged as a point of contention in the White House race as President Donald Trump accused Democrats of “disparaging” for political gain a vaccine he repeatedly has said could be available before the election.
“It’s so dangerous for our country, what they say, but the vaccine will be very safe and very effective,” the president pledged Monday at a White House news conference.
Trump leveled the accusation a day after Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate, said she “would not trust his word” on getting the vaccine. “I would trust the word of public health experts and scientists, but not Donald Trump,” Harris said.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden amplified Harris’ comments Monday after he was asked if he would get a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Biden said he would take a vaccine but wants to see what the scientists have to say, too.
Biden said Trump has said “so many things that aren’t true, I’m worried if we do have a really good vaccine, people are going to be reluctant to take it. So he’s undermining public confidence.”
Still, the former vice president said: “If I could get a vaccine tomorrow I’d do it, if it would cost me the election I’d do it. We need a vaccine and we need it now.”
The back-and-forth over a coronavirus vaccine played out as three of the candidates fanned out across the country on Labor Day, the traditional start of the two-month sprint to the election. Harris and Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Wisconsin and Biden went to Pennsylvania. Trump added the news conference to a schedule that originally was blank.
Harris, a California Democrat, said in a CNN interview broadcast Sunday that she would not trust a coronavirus vaccine if one were ready at the end of the year because “there’s very little that we can trust that … comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth.” She argued that scientists would be “muzzled” because Trump is focused on getting reelected.
Trump dismissed her comments as “reckless anti-vaccine rhetoric” designed to detract from the effort to quickly ready a vaccine for a disease that has killed about 190,000 Americans and infected more than 6 million others, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.
“She’s talking about disparaging a vaccine so that people don’t think the achievement was a great achievement,” Trump said, answering reporters’ questions as he stood at a lectern placed at the front door of the White House on the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the mansion.
“They’ll say anything,” he said.
Trump insisted he hasn’t said a vaccine could be ready before November, although he has said so repeatedly and as recently as Friday.
The president then proceeded to say what he had just denied ever saying.
“What I said is by the end of the year, but I think it could even be sooner that that,” he said about a vaccine. “It could be during the month of October, actually could be before November.”
Under a program Trump calls “Operation Warp Speed,” the goal is to have 300 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine in stock by January. He has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on what amounts to a huge gamble since vaccine development usually takes years.
Concerns exist about political influence over development of a vaccine, and whether one produced under this process will be safe and effective.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN last week that it is unlikely but “not impossible” that a vaccine could win approval in October, instead of November or December.
Fauci added that he’s “pretty sure” a vaccine would not be approved for Americans unless it was both safe and effective.
Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, has said the agency would not cut corners as it evaluates vaccines, but would aim to expedite its work. He told the Financial Times last week that it might be “appropriate” to approve a vaccine before clinical trials were complete if the benefits outweighed the risks.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, meanwhile, has given assurances that Trump “will not in any way sacrifice safety” when it comes to a vaccine. And executives of five top pharmaceutical companies pledged that no COVID-19 vaccines or treatments will be approved, even for emergency use, without proof they are safe and effective.
Some concerns were sparked by a letter dated Aug. 27 in which Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asked governors to help government contractor McKesson Corp. make sure vaccine distribution facilities are up and running by Nov. 1.
Redfield did not say a vaccine would be ready by then.
Three COVID-19 vaccines are undergoing final-stage, or Phase 3, clinical trials in the U.S. Each study is enrolling about 30,000 people who will get two shots, three weeks apart, and then will be monitored for coronavirus infections and side effects for anywhere from a week to two years.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-09-08--Broncos Mailbag: Why was inside linebacker Todd Davis released so close to season opener?

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O ’ Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season .
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here .
Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter .
I know it ’ s early , but I ’ m wondering what positions and players you see the Broncos drafting or signing in free agency after this season .
I ’ m thinking inside linebacker , cornerback and offensive tackle .
Your thoughts ?
William , can we wait until Week 1 to be played or the Super Bowl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2021 ?
But I ’ ll play along and break down the three positions you referred to .
Offensive tackle : I ’ m putting this at the top of the list .
Left tackle Garett Bolles and right tackle Elijah Wilkinson are both free agents next March and who knows what general manager John Elway wants to do with Ja ’ Wuan James , who has a huge contract and opted out of this season .
Inside linebacker : Alexander Johnson has a chance to be a building block type of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work being put in by rookie Justin Strnad before his left wrist injury .
Cornerback : Michael Ojemudia is a rookie and he ’ ll get a chance this year to show he can be a starter moving forward .
Starters A.J .
Bouye and Bryce Callahan are under contract for 2021 , but will be playing this year for the right of sticking around for next year .
The Broncos will be good , maybe better on defense with the front seven , but the offense — line , quarterback and play-calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your candid assessment of those three keys ?
Ol ’ Vance doesn ’ t have high hopes for new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur , does he ?
I ’ ll give Shurmur the benefit of doubt about his play-calling because we haven ’ t seen him author a game plan with the Broncos ’ personnel .
Kind of the same on Drew Lock .
Broncos fans should feel better today about their quarterback compared to this time last year with Joe Flacco .
The key thing is that Lock is more adept at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play … which he may need to do .
I totally agree with the offensive line being a concern until proven otherwise .
Can Garett Bolles build on the last half of 2019 ?
Can Elijah Wilkinson be the answer at right tackle ?
Is Lloyd Cushenberry ready to start at center ?
Can Graham Glasgow ( ankle ) be ready for next week ?
My lean is they should be a pretty good run-blocking group right away , but it may take time for them to figure out the pass protection plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Broncos cut inside linebacker Todd Davis .
He ’ s a strong defender , especially against the run .
I want to like Josey Jewell , but the kid doesn ’ t quite have the chops to fill all the holes that are now left behind unless there ’ s someone else who ’ s ready to step in to take that role that I ’ m missing here .
I thought the move for the Broncos with Davis would have been cutting him ( like they did ) and then bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could pay him on a game-to-game basis .
But they made the clean break from last year ’ s leading tackler .
I ’ ll challenge you on Davis being solid against the run .
If the Broncos felt that he was still physical and willing to meet the fullback head-on and then make the play , he would be starting against Tennessee .
Was it about the money ?
Not completely because it ’ s not like the Broncos were cap-crunched .
But they did create $ 4.5 million of space they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will be helpful if the cap stays flat .
As for Jewell , he ’ s a two-down linebacker .
He ’ ll get his teammates lined up in the right spot and is a sure tackler .
Look out for newcomer Mark Barron to fill the cover linebacker role and replacing Jewell on sub-package plays .
Can you tell me what the Broncos have done to improve against elite tight ends ?
Outside of a stronger pass rush , I don ’ t see much .
How do we stop Travis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The good news for the Broncos is they don ’ t have to face the league ’ s best tight end ( Kittle ) in the regular season .
They ’ ve got Gronk coming in with Tampa Bay ( Week 3 ) and the usual two match-ups against Kelce ( Kansas City ) .
The Broncos drafted inside linebacker Justin Strnad in the fourth round because he showed good coverage ability on tape .
He was in-line to fill that role against tight ends .
But since he ’ s out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed and he knows how to use his safety background to account for tight ends and running backs .
So , who ’ s our No .
3 cornerback ?
I thought it would have been Isaac Yiadom , but he ’ s gone .
De ’ Vante Bausby is on the practice squad .
Is it someone on the roster or do you see a chance at Denver still picking up a veteran in free agency ?
It will be rookie Michael Ojemudia when he gets back up to speed after missing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury .
Yiadom had his shot and was traded to the New York Giants .
Bausby had his chance and was released and signed to the practice squad .
Ojemudia was impressing the Broncos with his coverage ability and knowledge of the defense when he was injured .
If Ojemudia is brought along slowly , Davontae Harris is the top candidate to be the third corner .
If Ojemudia is in the game , it will allow coach Vic Fangio to use Bryce Callahan over the slot receiver , the spot where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final shot for defensive end DeMarcus Walker ?
He showed some promise last year after being allowed to play at his natural position for once .
Do you think he ’ ll be re-signed after the season ?
Everything about the Broncos ’ defensive end position is on the table .
Walker , Shelby Harris and Mike Purcell are free agents next March .
Jurrell Casey has no guaranteed money remaining on the last two years of his contract .
Dre ’ Mont Jones and McTelvin Agim will be in the third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their rookie deals .
Some of it may depend on Walker .
In March 2019 , Shaq Barrett wanted an opportunity to compete for a starting spot so he signed with Tampa Bay and that worked out great ( he led the league in sacks ) .
If Walker plays well this year as a reserve , there could be a team that figures he ’ s worth signing for a competition .
Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O ’ Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season .
You can pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broncos Mailbag here .
Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter .

Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season.
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here. Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter.
I know it’s early, but I’m wondering what positions and players you see the Broncos drafting or signing in free agency after this season. I’m thinking inside linebacker, cornerback and offensive tackle. Your thoughts?
— William Christiansen, Orem, Utah
William, can we wait until Week 1 to be played or the Super Bowl Parade to be completed before looking ahead to 2021? But I’ll play along and break down the three positions you referred to.
Offensive tackle: I’m putting this at the top of the list. Left tackle Garett Bolles and right tackle Elijah Wilkinson are both free agents next March and it’s anybody’s guess what general manager John Elway wants to do with Ja’Wuan James, who has a huge contract and opted out of this season.
Inside linebacker: Alexander Johnson has a chance to be a building block type of player and the Broncos really liked the work being put in by rookie Justin Strnad before his left wrist injury.
Cornerback: Michael Ojemudia is a rookie and he’ll get a chance this year to show he can be a starter moving forward. Starters A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan are under contract for 2021, but will be playing this year for the right to stick around for next year.
The Broncos will be good, maybe better on defense with the front seven, but the offense — line, quarterback and play-calling — are question marks. What is your candid assessment of those three keys?
— Vance Valerio, Omaha, Neb.
Ol’ Vance doesn’t have high hopes for new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, does he? I’ll give Shurmur the benefit of doubt about his play-calling because we haven’t seen him author a game plan with the Broncos’ personnel.
Kind of the same on Drew Lock. Broncos fans should feel better today about their quarterback compared to this time last year with Joe Flacco. The key thing is that Lock is more adept at getting out of trouble to extend the play … which he may need to do.
I totally agree with the offensive line being a concern until proven otherwise. Can Garett Bolles build on the last half of 2019? Can Elijah Wilkinson be the answer at right tackle? Is Lloyd Cushenberry ready to start at center? Can Graham Glasgow (ankle) be ready for next week? My lean is they should be a pretty good run-blocking group right away, but it may take time for them to figure out the pass protection plan.
Ryan, explain to me why the Broncos cut inside linebacker Todd Davis. He’s a strong defender, especially against the run. I want to like Josey Jewell, but the kid doesn’t quite have the chops to fill all the holes that are now left behind unless there’s someone else who’s ready to step in to take that role that I’m missing here.
— Carter, Denver
I thought the move for the Broncos with Davis would have been cutting him (like they did) and then bringing him back after Week 1 so they could pay him on a game-to-game basis. But they made the clean break from last year’s leading tackler.
I’ll challenge you on Davis being solid against the run. If the Broncos felt that he was still physical and willing to meet the fullback head-on and then make the play, he would be starting against Tennessee.
Was it about the money? Not completely because it’s not like the Broncos were cap-crunched. But they did create $4.5 million of space they can roll over to 2021, money that will be helpful if the cap stays flat.
As for Jewell, he’s a two-down linebacker. He’ll get his teammates lined up in the right spot and is a sure tackler. Look out for newcomer Mark Barron to fill the cover linebacker role and replace Jewell on sub-package plays.
Can you tell me what the Broncos have done to improve against elite tight ends? Outside of a stronger pass rush, I don’t see much. How do we stop Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski and George Kittle?
— Matt Rogers, Fort Collins
The good news for the Broncos is they don’t have to face the league’s best tight end (Kittle) in the regular season. They’ve got Gronk coming in with Tampa Bay (Week 3) and the usual two matchups against Kelce (Kansas City).
The Broncos drafted inside linebacker Justin Strnad in the fourth round because he showed good coverage ability on tape. He was in line to fill that role against tight ends. But since he’s out for the season, Mark Barron was signed and he knows how to use his safety background to account for tight ends and running backs.
So, who’s our No. 3 cornerback? I thought it would have been Isaac Yiadom, but he’s gone. De’Vante Bausby is on the practice squad. Is it someone on the roster or do you see a chance at Denver still picking up a veteran in free agency?
— Devon, Westminster
It will be rookie Michael Ojemudia when he gets back up to speed after missing most of training camp with a quad injury. Yiadom had his shot and was traded to the New York Giants. Bausby had his chance and was released and signed to the practice squad.
Ojemudia was impressing the Broncos with his coverage ability and knowledge of the defense when he was injured. If Ojemudia is brought along slowly, Davontae Harris is the top candidate to be the third corner.
If Ojemudia is in the game, it will allow coach Vic Fangio to use Bryce Callahan over the slot receiver, the spot where he is the most effective.
Is this the final shot for defensive end DeMarcus Walker? He showed some promise last year after being allowed to play at his natural position for once. Do you think he’ll be re-signed after the season?
— Morgan, Austin, Texas
Everything about the Broncos’ defensive end position is on the table.
Walker, Shelby Harris and Mike Purcell are free agents next March. Jurrell Casey has no guaranteed money remaining on the last two years of his contract.
Dre’Mont Jones and McTelvin Agim will be in the third and second year, respectively, of their rookie deals.
Some of it may depend on Walker. In March 2019, Shaq Barrett wanted an opportunity to compete for a starting spot so he signed with Tampa Bay and that worked out great (he led the league in sacks). If Walker plays well this year as a reserve, there could be a team that figures he’s worth signing for a competition.
Denver Post Broncos writer Ryan O’Halloran posts his Broncos Mailbag weekly during the season.
You can pose a Broncos- or NFL-related question for the Broncos Mailbag here. Follow Ryan for more daily updates on Twitter.


thedenverpost--2020-09-08--In battlegrounds, absentee ballot rejections could triple

ATLANTA — Thousands of absentee ballots get rejected in every presidential election .
This year , that problem could be much worse and potentially pivotal in hotly contested battleground states .
With the coronavirus creating a surge in mail-in balloting and postal delays reported across the country , the number of rejected ballots in November is projected to be significantly higher than previous elections .
If ballots are rejected at the same rate as during this year ’ s primaries , up to three times as many voters in November could be disenfranchised in key battleground states when compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Associated Press analysis of rejected ballots .
It could be even more pronounced in some urban areas where Democratic votes are concentrated and ballot rejection rates trended higher during this year ’ s primaries .
“ It is the number one thing that keeps me up at night — the idea that voters will do everything they can to ensure their ballot is returned on time and the system will still fail them , ” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson .
Ballot rejections occur even under the best of circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too late in the mail , voters forgot to sign them or signatures didn ’ t match the one on file at local election offices .
Those problems could be compounded this year as millions of voters cast mail-in ballots for the first time because of election changes forced by the coronavirus .
Large numbers of uncounted ballots could be used to sow doubts about the election ; President Donald Trump has been claiming for months without evidence that widespread mail-in voting will lead to fraud .
The sudden leap is worrisome : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprising less than 10 % of all ballots four years ago to perhaps half or more this November .
Pennsylvania is among them : Nearly 51 % of all votes cast during its June primary were mail-in .
If voter turnout is the same as 2016 and the ballot rejection rate equals the 1.4 % from this year ’ s primary , nearly 43,000 voters in Pennsylvania could be disenfranchised this fall , according to AP ’ s analysis .
That ’ s almost the same number of votes by which Trump defeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago , when some 2,100 ballots were rejected .
In Philadelphia , a far higher percentage of absentee ballots cast in June were rejected — 3.9 % .
Most of those arrived too late to be counted , even though Gov .
Tom Wolf extended the deadline by a week .
Amy Campbell , a 26-year-old University of Pennsylvania medical student , had her ballot rejected for another reason : a missing signature .
Campbell is upset she didn ’ t have a chance to fix her ballot .
She received an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended telling her officials “ couldn ’ t obtain ( her ) required signature.
” “ The first communication I got from the state was basically to tell me that my ballot had been canceled , ” Campbell said .
Philadelphia Board of Elections spokesman Nick Custodio said that ’ s not supposed to happen , but couldn ’ t explain why it did .
Vote-by-mail rejections could be of special concern to Democrats , who have seen a surge in absentee ballot applications this year .
In Pennsylvania , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans voted by mail in the June primary .
Only 21 states have defined procedures for notifying voters if absentee ballots are rejected so they have a chance to fix it .
For its analysis , the AP also collected absentee ballot data from Arizona , Colorado , Florida , Michigan , Ohio and Wisconsin .
Based on the percentage of those ballots cast in each state ’ s primary this year , between 185,000 and 292,000 voters in the seven states examined could be disenfranchised if November ’ s turnout matches that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate remains flat .
That compares to nearly 87,000 ballots rejected in those states in 2016 .
The ballot rejections could be pivotal in close races .
In 2016 , Trump won Wisconsin by roughly 23,000 votes .
Reasons for rejection can vary .
In a few states , a witness or notary must sign the ballot envelope for the ballot to be valid .
Where ballots received after Election Day are counted , a legible postmark from that day is generally required .
“ There could be a lot of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , and they tend to make the errors that lead to lost votes , ” said Larry Norden , an elections expert with the Brennan Center for Justice .
New , young , Black and Hispanic voters — who tend to favor Democratic candidates — are disproportionately affected , according to research by University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith .
All have had absentee ballots rejected at higher rates than white and more experienced mail-in voters .
Being able to notify voters of problems in time to fix them will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It doesn ’ t help that election officials in some states , including Michigan and Pennsylvania , are not allowed to begin looking at absentee ballots until Election Day .
That leaves a narrow window for identifying problems and allowing voters to fix them .
Experts say voters must be diligent about requesting and returning absentee ballots well ahead of Election Day ; the Postal Service advises allowing seven days for a ballot to reach an election office .
Drop boxes can help .
Michigan , Georgia , Colorado and Arizona are among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been mailing ballots to all voters since 2013 , saw a slight increase in rejections from about 1 % in 2016 to 1.6 % in this year ’ s primary ; the rejection rate doubled in Denver but still remained below 2 % .
Joe Bernal , a 31-year-old tech analyst in Miami , expects to be driving to the nearest drop box to deliver his ballot ahead of Nov. 3 .
His ballot was rejected in Florida ’ s March presidential primary for arriving after the deadline , even though Bernal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks before .
Bernal , who lost an aunt to COVID-19 , said he is unwilling to vote in person : “ I ’ m asthmatic .
I don ’ t want to have to risk it.
” But drop boxes only solve one problem .
The process of authenticating voter signatures on ballot envelopes — an anti-fraud measure — is so troublesome that lawsuits have been filed seeking to end the practice barring an adequate remedy .
Jennifer Morrell , a former election official in Utah and Colorado , said voters need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an opportunity to fix a problem .
Some jurisdictions are adding software that quickly alerts voters via text or email , but Morrell said the problem is being unevenly addressed .
“ States that are really new to this , most likely they will just be sending out a letter in the mail and hope the voter gets it in time and fills it out , ” she said .
That wasn ’ t the case for Tasha Young , a 43-year-old teacher in metro Atlanta who found a letter from her local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail after Georgia ’ s primary in June .
It said she had failed to sign her ballot , but by then it was too late for her to submit the required affidavit .
She plans to vote in person in November .
“ For one thing , I don ’ t want to have to worry about a deadline or missing a signature , ” Young said .

ATLANTA — Thousands of absentee ballots get rejected in every presidential election. This year, that problem could be much worse and potentially pivotal in hotly contested battleground states.
With the coronavirus creating a surge in mail-in balloting and postal delays reported across the country, the number of rejected ballots in November is projected to be significantly higher than previous elections.
If ballots are rejected at the same rate as during this year’s primaries, up to three times as many voters in November could be disenfranchised in key battleground states when compared to the last presidential election, according to an Associated Press analysis of rejected ballots. It could be even more pronounced in some urban areas where Democratic votes are concentrated and ballot rejection rates trended higher during this year’s primaries.
“It is the number one thing that keeps me up at night — the idea that voters will do everything they can to ensure their ballot is returned on time and the system will still fail them,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
Ballot rejections occur even under the best of circumstances. They go uncounted because they arrived too late in the mail, voters forgot to sign them or signatures didn’t match the one on file at local election offices.
Those problems could be compounded this year as millions of voters cast mail-in ballots for the first time because of election changes forced by the coronavirus. Large numbers of uncounted ballots could be used to sow doubts about the election; President Donald Trump has been claiming for months without evidence that widespread mail-in voting will lead to fraud.
The sudden leap is worrisome: 22 states are going from absentee ballots comprising less than 10% of all ballots four years ago to perhaps half or more this November. Pennsylvania is among them: Nearly 51% of all votes cast during its June primary were mail-in.
If voter turnout is the same as 2016 and the ballot rejection rate equals the 1.4% from this year’s primary, nearly 43,000 voters in Pennsylvania could be disenfranchised this fall, according to AP’s analysis. That’s almost the same number of votes by which Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the state four years ago, when some 2,100 ballots were rejected.
In Philadelphia, a far higher percentage of absentee ballots cast in June were rejected — 3.9%. Most of those arrived too late to be counted, even though Gov. Tom Wolf extended the deadline by a week.
Amy Campbell, a 26-year-old University of Pennsylvania medical student, had her ballot rejected for another reason: a missing signature.
Campbell is upset she didn’t have a chance to fix her ballot. She received an email two days after the vote count ended telling her officials “couldn’t obtain (her) required signature.”
“The first communication I got from the state was basically to tell me that my ballot had been canceled,” Campbell said.
Philadelphia Board of Elections spokesman Nick Custodio said that’s not supposed to happen, but couldn’t explain why it did.
Vote-by-mail rejections could be of special concern to Democrats, who have seen a surge in absentee ballot applications this year. In Pennsylvania, for example, more than twice as many Democrats as Republicans voted by mail in the June primary.
Only 21 states have defined procedures for notifying voters if absentee ballots are rejected so they have a chance to fix it.
For its analysis, the AP also collected absentee ballot data from Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Based on the percentage of those ballots cast in each state’s primary this year, between 185,000 and 292,000 voters in the seven states examined could be disenfranchised if November’s turnout matches that of four years ago and the rejection rate remains flat. That compares to nearly 87,000 ballots rejected in those states in 2016.
The ballot rejections could be pivotal in close races. In 2016, Trump won Wisconsin by roughly 23,000 votes.
Reasons for rejection can vary. In a few states, a witness or notary must sign the ballot envelope for the ballot to be valid. Where ballots received after Election Day are counted, a legible postmark from that day is generally required.
“There could be a lot of people who are voting this way for the first time, and they tend to make the errors that lead to lost votes,” said Larry Norden, an elections expert with the Brennan Center for Justice.
New, young, Black and Hispanic voters — who tend to favor Democratic candidates — are disproportionately affected, according to research by University of Florida political scientist Daniel Smith. All have had absentee ballots rejected at higher rates than white and more experienced mail-in voters.
Being able to notify voters of problems in time to fix them will be difficult enough for understaffed election offices. It doesn’t help that election officials in some states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, are not allowed to begin looking at absentee ballots until Election Day. That leaves a narrow window for identifying problems and allowing voters to fix them.
Experts say voters must be diligent about requesting and returning absentee ballots well ahead of Election Day; the Postal Service advises allowing seven days for a ballot to reach an election office.
Drop boxes can help. Michigan, Georgia, Colorado and Arizona are among states adding more. Colorado, which has been mailing ballots to all voters since 2013, saw a slight increase in rejections from about 1% in 2016 to 1.6% in this year’s primary; the rejection rate doubled in Denver but still remained below 2%.
Joe Bernal, a 31-year-old tech analyst in Miami, expects to be driving to the nearest drop box to deliver his ballot ahead of Nov. 3. His ballot was rejected in Florida’s March presidential primary for arriving after the deadline, even though Bernal said he mailed it at least three weeks before.
Bernal, who lost an aunt to COVID-19, said he is unwilling to vote in person: “I’m asthmatic. I don’t want to have to risk it.”
But drop boxes only solve one problem. The process of authenticating voter signatures on ballot envelopes — an anti-fraud measure — is so troublesome that lawsuits have been filed seeking to end the practice barring an adequate remedy.
Jennifer Morrell, a former election official in Utah and Colorado, said voters need to be certain they will be given an opportunity to fix a problem. Some jurisdictions are adding software that quickly alerts voters via text or email, but Morrell said the problem is being unevenly addressed.
“States that are really new to this, most likely they will just be sending out a letter in the mail and hope the voter gets it in time and fills it out,” she said.
That wasn’t the case for Tasha Young, a 43-year-old teacher in metro Atlanta who found a letter from her local election office buried in a pile of mail after Georgia’s primary in June. It said she had failed to sign her ballot, but by then it was too late for her to submit the required affidavit.
She plans to vote in person in November.
“For one thing, I don’t want to have to worry about a deadline or missing a signature,” Young said.
Bajak reported from Boston.


thedenverpost--2020-09-08--Von Miller’s last call with Broncos? New routine aimed at returning to old form — and staying with f

Von Miller’s last call with Broncos? New routine aimed at returning to old form — and staying with franchise beyond 2020

His normal offseason hopscotching the country to attend sporting events and music festivals derailed by the coronavirus pandemic , Von Miller stayed home … and worked .
He trained non-stop to improve his conditioning and add good weight to his 250-pound frame .
He studied frequently to gain a better understanding of Broncos coach Vic Fangio ’ s scheme and how all of the players fit .
And he spent myriad hours administering a self-scout , concluding he needs to be a better leader .
“ I may be 31 years old and in Year 10 , but it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Miller said .
Miller ’ s objective is to change the narrative entering Monday night ’ s opener against Tennessee .
End the chatter he has reached his peak and is beginning to decline .
Squash the speculation he is in his final year with the Broncos .
And halt the franchise ’ s four-year playoff drought .
He wants The New Von to be like The Old Von , the player who had at least 10 sacks in his first eight full seasons , made the 2010s All-Decade Team and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one who had only eight sacks in 2019 .
Miller knows the deal — he must be better .
And just as importantly , he knows the financials — he makes a lot of money .
Get back to double-digit sack territory and Miller and the Broncos could agree to an extended contract that equal parts lowers his 2021 cap charge ( $ 22.125 million ) and takes him into his mid-30s , making it likely he will be a one-franchise player .
Struggle to get out of the blocks early and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 2015 title team could be on his way out , creating nearly $ 14 million in cap space , money that can allocated toward Bradley Chubb ’ s next contract .
Chubb ’ s health — last September ’ s ACL tear may limit his playing time early — will put an even bigger onus on Miller .
Last year , he didn ’ t have a sack in the first three games ( all losses ) .
Last year , he failed to reach double-digit sacks for the first time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 players had more sacks .
Settling into the season is not an option .
Miller must be The Old Von from the hop .
If camp is an indication , Broncos fans should be optimistic about No .
58 .
He missed only two practices ( elbow injury and day off ) .
He was vocal .
And he looked sharp .
“ He ’ s going to have a monster year , ” Chubb said .
“ He ’ s the most motivated I ’ ve seen.
” Miller ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in NFL history since the statistic became official in 1982 .
Of the 24 players ahead of him , 11 are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame .
Six others — Julius Peppers ( 159 1/2 sacks ) , Terrell Suggs ( 139 ) , DeMarcus Ware ( 138 1/2 ) , Jared Allen ( 136 ) , Dwight Freeney ( 125 1/2 ) and Robert Mathis ( 123 ) — aren ’ t yet eligible .
Heady company for Miller , whose production has him trending toward Canton five years after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who cares about his legacy and place in the game ’ s annuals , so he also knows his work isn ’ t done .
Miller needs 32 sacks to climb into the top 10 and 45 to reach the top five — both would guarantee Hall of Fame induction .
A return to double-digit sacks is the only way for Miller to catch the players ahead of him .
The top five players in sacks all produced well into their 30s .
During their age-31 seasons , Bruce Smith ( 10 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin Greene ( 12 1/2 ) and Julius Peppers ( 11 ) remained in their prime .
On the flip side is Ware , who had only six sacks in 13 games for Dallas in 2013 , was released and signed with the Broncos .
To keep statistical pace , Miller dedicated himself this offseason to getting into better shape .
“ I just feel like my conditioning is a whole lot better , ” he said .
“ Usually , I have to conserve my energy coming off the field .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys , motivate guys and have some excitement on the sideline .
Usually , I ’ m straight to the oxygen tank .
“ It feels good to be able to run around and talk rather than just spending all of my time catching my breath.
” Said Fangio : “ He ’ s worked hard to get his body to where he wants it to get and where he feels he needs it to be .
I think it ’ s shown dividends already ( in camp ) .
” In every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 76.2 % of the Broncos ’ defensive snaps — including 84.2 % in ’ 14 and 85.7 % in ’ 17 .
He has played at least 835 snaps in each of the last seven years .
Might a fitter Miller lead to more playing time and a return to the 80 % range ?
“ I think he can , ” Fangio said .
“ A lot of times , that ’ s determined by what type of game it is , too .
If it ’ s a game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pass rushing , that will tend to tire you a little bit more .
If it ’ s more of a balanced game with a good mix of runs and passes , he could probably play more .
There are a lot of factors that can determine the final amount.
” Miller is working this year with new outside linebackers coach John Pagano , who spent 15 years on the Chargers ’ staff .
While coaching San Diego ’ s linebackers from 2007-11 and coordinating the defense from 2012-16 , Pagano broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offseason and saw first-hand from the opposite sideline how he could ruin a game .
“ Me being in the AFC West for most of my career and playing the Broncos twice a year , you see Von and study what he ’ s doing in his rush game and use the examples of his unbelievable get-off , speed off the edge , ability to dip , body control , ” Pagano said in a phone interview .
Miller ’ s commitment to leadership and openness to new techniques and ideas was on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began their virtual offseason .
“ All the great ones , I ’ ve learned a long time ago , they want to be coached , ” said Pagano , who has coached Khalil Mack , Shawne Merriman and Jadeveon Clowney .
“ Von asks questions all the time and wants to know and learn and that ’ s good for all of our guys.
” Miller understands he can lead with his words , but it ’ s just as crucial he lead by example .
Chiefly , make plays to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0-4 start .
Miller had one quarterback pressure in the first three games and four sacks in the first 10 .
Sure , the flashes were there — a sack in 2.46 seconds against Jacksonville , three knockdowns against Tennessee , two knockdowns and disruptions apiece at Houston and 3 1/2 disruptions ( including one sack ) against the Raiders .
But the consistency was lacking .
Add it all up — a down 2019 , a long playoff absence , his contract , his legacy — and that ’ s why Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing but football in the offseason .
“ He ’ s going out there and practicing hard and leading by example and demonstrating hard work and technique , ” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said during camp .
“ He ’ s kind of refocused in those areas .
… Everything ’ s positive .
”

His normal offseason hopscotching the country to attend sporting events and music festivals derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, Von Miller stayed home … and worked.
He trained non-stop to improve his conditioning and add good weight to his 250-pound frame.
He studied frequently to gain a better understanding of Broncos coach Vic Fangio’s scheme and how all of the players fit.
And he spent myriad hours administering a self-scout, concluding he needs to be a better leader.
“I may be 31 years old and in Year 10, but it’s never too late to change,” Miller said.
Miller’s objective is to change the narrative entering Monday night’s opener against Tennessee. End the chatter he has reached his peak and is beginning to decline. Squash the speculation he is in his final year with the Broncos. And halt the franchise’s four-year playoff drought.
He wants The New Von to be like The Old Von, the player who had at least 10 sacks in his first eight full seasons, made the 2010s All-Decade Team and was a three-time first-team All-Pro — and not the one who had only eight sacks in 2019.
Miller knows the deal — he must be better. And just as importantly, he knows the financials — he makes a lot of money.
Get back to double-digit sack territory and Miller and the Broncos could agree to an extended contract that equal parts lowers his 2021 cap charge ($22.125 million) and takes him into his mid-30s, making it likely he will be a one-franchise player.
Struggle to get out of the blocks early and the last position player from the Broncos’ 2015 title team could be on his way out, creating nearly $14 million in cap space, money that can allocated toward Bradley Chubb’s next contract.
Chubb’s health — last September’s ACL tear may limit his playing time early — will put an even bigger onus on Miller. Last year, he didn’t have a sack in the first three games (all losses). Last year, he failed to reach double-digit sacks for the first time in a full season. Last year, 32 players had more sacks.
Settling into the season is not an option. Miller must be The Old Von from the hop. If camp is an indication, Broncos fans should be optimistic about No. 58. He missed only two practices (elbow injury and day off). He was vocal. And he looked sharp.
“He’s going to have a monster year,” Chubb said. “He’s the most motivated I’ve seen.”
Chasing the greats
Miller’s 106 regular-season sacks are tied for 25th-most in NFL history since the statistic became official in 1982. Of the 24 players ahead of him, 11 are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Six others — Julius Peppers (159 1/2 sacks), Terrell Suggs (139), DeMarcus Ware (138 1/2), Jared Allen (136), Dwight Freeney (125 1/2) and Robert Mathis (123) — aren’t yet eligible.
Heady company for Miller, whose production has him trending toward Canton five years after his retirement. He is a player who cares about his legacy and place in the game’s annuals, so he also knows his work isn’t done.
Miller needs 32 sacks to climb into the top 10 and 45 to reach the top five — both would guarantee Hall of Fame induction.
A return to double-digit sacks is the only way for Miller to catch the players ahead of him.
The top five players in sacks all produced well into their 30s. During their age-31 seasons, Bruce Smith (10), Reggie White (14), Kevin Greene (12 1/2) and Julius Peppers (11) remained in their prime. On the flip side is Ware, who had only six sacks in 13 games for Dallas in 2013, was released and signed with the Broncos.
To keep statistical pace, Miller dedicated himself this offseason to getting into better shape.
“I just feel like my conditioning is a whole lot better,” he said. “Usually, I have to conserve my energy coming off the field. Now I’m able to talk to guys, motivate guys and have some excitement on the sideline. Usually, I’m straight to the oxygen tank.
“It feels good to be able to run around and talk rather than just spending all of my time catching my breath.”
Said Fangio: “He’s worked hard to get his body to where he wants it to get and where he feels he needs it to be. I think it’s shown dividends already (in camp).”
In every year since 2014, Miller has played at least 76.2% of the Broncos’ defensive snaps — including 84.2% in ’14 and 85.7% in ’17. He has played at least 835 snaps in each of the last seven years.
Might a fitter Miller lead to more playing time and a return to the 80% range?
“I think he can,” Fangio said. “A lot of times, that’s determined by what type of game it is, too. If it’s a game when you’re getting a lot of pass rushing, that will tend to tire you a little bit more. If it’s more of a balanced game with a good mix of runs and passes, he could probably play more. There are a lot of factors that can determine the final amount.”
”Everything’s positive”
Miller is working this year with new outside linebackers coach John Pagano, who spent 15 years on the Chargers’ staff. While coaching San Diego’s linebackers from 2007-11 and coordinating the defense from 2012-16, Pagano broke down Miller’s game during the offseason and saw first-hand from the opposite sideline how he could ruin a game.
Miller vs. The Best Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller, 31, enters Monday’s season opener against Tennessee with 106 sacks, tied for 25th all-time since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Here’s how the top five in sacks fared in their age-31 season. Player Age-31 season Career sacks Bruce Smith 10 200 Reggie White 14 198 Kevin Greene 12 1/2 160 Julius Peppers 11 159 1/2 Chris Doleman 14 1/2 150 1/2 Von Miller TBD 106
“Me being in the AFC West for most of my career and playing the Broncos twice a year, you see Von and study what he’s doing in his rush game and use the examples of his unbelievable get-off, speed off the edge, ability to dip, body control,” Pagano said in a phone interview.
Miller’s commitment to leadership and openness to new techniques and ideas was on display for Pagano when the outside linebackers began their virtual offseason.
“All the great ones, I’ve learned a long time ago, they want to be coached,” said Pagano, who has coached Khalil Mack, Shawne Merriman and Jadeveon Clowney. “Von asks questions all the time and wants to know and learn and that’s good for all of our guys.”
Miller understands he can lead with his words, but it’s just as crucial he lead by example. Chiefly, make plays to avoid a repeat of last year’s 0-4 start. Miller had one quarterback pressure in the first three games and four sacks in the first 10.
Sure, the flashes were there — a sack in 2.46 seconds against Jacksonville, three knockdowns against Tennessee, two knockdowns and disruptions apiece at Houston and 3 1/2 disruptions (including one sack) against the Raiders. But the consistency was lacking.
Add it all up — a down 2019, a long playoff absence, his contract, his legacy — and that’s why Miller took advantage of being able to do nothing but football in the offseason.
“He’s going out there and practicing hard and leading by example and demonstrating hard work and technique,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said during camp. “He’s kind of refocused in those areas. … Everything’s positive.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-08--One year after a star quarterback’s arrest, plans stall for expanded sexual violence education in Bo

One year after a star quarterback’s arrest, plans stall for expanded sexual violence education in Boulder Valley School District

Wearing a clear mask and twisting her hands in her lap , a 2020 Fairview High School graduate testified in court that she hesitated to report allegations that the school ’ s standout quarterback sexually assaulted her because he seemed untouchable .
Yes , he was popular , she said in answer to an attorney ’ s questions .
Yes , students liked him .
Yes , teachers liked him .
Those accusations against Aidan Atkinson became public in the fall of 2019 — a year after the alleged attack happened — and they roiled the school and prompted some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Beatriz Sanchez to begin a campaign to reform how Fairview and the entire Boulder Valley School District handle sexual violence allegations and prevention training .
They also want to change what they see as a culture at Fairview that lets athletes like Atkinson play by different rules .
Last week , a former Fairview student testified against a school social worker , who had been accused of failing to report allegations of sexual assault once the student confided in her .
The social worker was acquitted .
The felony sexual assault charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Atkinson , 19 , are pending .
As Fairview students return to school this year , Sanchez and Dellinger are still pushing even though they have entered college .
They ’ ve met with administrators , helped the district revise its Title IX policy , pushed for more student training on sexual assault and launched a website designed to give survivors of sexual violence in the school district a place to anonymously share their stories .
They ’ ve made some progress — a new Title IX policy was adopted in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stalled plans for districtwide training .
“ Students are hurting , and it is the administration ’ s responsibility to take accountability at this point , because it ’ s just radio silence from them until we do something , until we send them a petition we signed — they have no motivation and no accountability to take those next steps , ” Sanchez said .
“ We ’ re having to force feed them the information.
” Randy Barber , a spokesman for the Boulder Valley School District , declined interview requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement in response to Denver Post inquiries in which he said the district has taken a variety of steps to “ improve our procedures around the reporting of sexual violence allegations ” and increase prevention measures .
In the spring , the district updated its Title IX information on its website — Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on gender .
In August , it updated its policy and trained two leaders at each school on Title IX procedures .
Over the summer , the district also worked local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources and protocols around Title IX for staff , Barber said in the statement .
“ Planning and feedback sessions have been ongoing with a local student-led coalition to get input on strategies and even deliver some of the information themselves , ” the statement said .
Fairview administrators sought help after the allegations against Atkinson roiled the school .
They called Moving to End Sexual Assault ( MESA ) , a Boulder sexual violence resource center , and in January and February MESA gave a half-day training to faculty and staff at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bystander intervention , and then followed up with a shorter presentation to about 200 parents .
“ We got a good response all across the board in agreement that more of these types of training were needed , because frankly the faculty and staff were not really equipped to handle something of this magnitude , or had minimal understanding of some of the dynamics of rape culture in particular , ” said Janine D ’ Anniballe , director at MESA .
The staff had been trained on child abuse reporting , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , which are two different issues , and there weren ’ t clear protocols for trauma-informed support for victims of sexual crimes , she said .
“ Like if a student is in a class with someone they made a report against , how can the school help navigate that or make changes to address that ?
” D ’ Anniballe said .
The district and MESA made plans to expand training and education on sexual violence to all students in the district this fall .
In late June , MESA submitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its staff conduct 792 hour-long presentations to groups of 25 students in middle and high schools , offer presentations to parents at 30 different schools , and give two-hour trainings to staff at 30 schools .
The proposal also suggested an additional program aimed at male athletic teams .
The entire plan would cost the district about $ 79,050 for the 2020-2021 school year .
MESA has not heard back from the district , D ’ Anniballe said .
In the district ’ s statement , Barber said the MESA training is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ We fully intend to continue the efforts started last school year , but we are focused on ensuring that learning continues given the challenges we are facing , both with instruction and funding , ” the statement said .
Dellinger and Sanchez said both school and district administrators seemed willing to put more programs and education about sexual violence in place — until the novel coronavirus hit .
“ We kept getting that everything was uncertain and it probably wouldn ’ t happen this year because of budget cuts and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dellinger said , adding that superintendent Rob Anderson said the district couldn ’ t afford to hire a full-time Title IX coordinator .
The district ’ s legal counsel serves as the coordinator , according to its website .
“ He said they don ’ t have the funding to do that and he didn ’ t want to create that position because he would be taking away money from schools and programs within schools that needed it , ” Dellinger said .
“ It ’ s just frustrating that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as people who need that funding as well.
” She and Sanchez said Fairview teachers and staff put athletes on a pedestal , sometimes bending the rules around mandatory attendance or discipline for athletes , who are high on the school ’ s social ladder , or pressuring groups like student council to prioritize promoting athletics over other school programs .
“ Aidan just unveiled a much larger problem that was underneath , ” Dellinger said of the allegations against the quarterback .
Dellinger is headed to Colorado College for her first semester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her freshman year at University of Colorado Boulder .
But neither intends to let up on the Boulder Valley School District .
“ We are not going away anytime soon , ” Dellinger said .
This fall , they ’ re working to rally current students and parents of students to their effort .
One parent already on board is Tracy Dundon , who said she was alarmed to hear how prevalent sexual misconduct is in the district .
“ Parent involvement is going to be critical if there is to be any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
Parents who want to be involved can reach out through the new website Dellinger and Sanchez created this fall , “ BVSD Survivors , ” she said .
Sanchez and Dellinger have also started working with current students so they can continue the effort from within the schools .
One such student , who asked not to be named to avoid retaliation from the school district , said she is in the fight for the long haul , even though she feels administrators may not be .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing and fix the problem and be able to move on , ” she said .
“ But that ’ s not how this issue works at all .
”

Wearing a clear mask and twisting her hands in her lap, a 2020 Fairview High School graduate testified in court that she hesitated to report allegations that the school’s standout quarterback sexually assaulted her because he seemed untouchable.
Yes, he was popular, she said in answer to an attorney’s questions.
Yes, students liked him.
Yes, teachers liked him.
Those accusations against Aidan Atkinson became public in the fall of 2019 — a year after the alleged attack happened — and they roiled the school and prompted some students, including 2020 graduates Sophie Dellinger and Beatriz Sanchez to begin a campaign to reform how Fairview and the entire Boulder Valley School District handle sexual violence allegations and prevention training. They also want to change what they see as a culture at Fairview that lets athletes like Atkinson play by different rules.
Last week, a former Fairview student testified against a school social worker, who had been accused of failing to report allegations of sexual assault once the student confided in her. The social worker was acquitted. The felony sexual assault charges filed in connection with the 2018 case against Atkinson, 19, are pending.
As Fairview students return to school this year, Sanchez and Dellinger are still pushing even though they have entered college. They’ve met with administrators, helped the district revise its Title IX policy, pushed for more student training on sexual assault and launched a website designed to give survivors of sexual violence in the school district a place to anonymously share their stories.
They’ve made some progress — a new Title IX policy was adopted in August — but they’re frustrated by stalled plans for districtwide training.
“Students are hurting, and it is the administration’s responsibility to take accountability at this point, because it’s just radio silence from them until we do something, until we send them a petition we signed — they have no motivation and no accountability to take those next steps,” Sanchez said. “We’re having to force feed them the information.”
Randy Barber, a spokesman for the Boulder Valley School District, declined interview requests with district administrators and instead issued a statement in response to Denver Post inquiries in which he said the district has taken a variety of steps to “improve our procedures around the reporting of sexual violence allegations” and increase prevention measures.
In the spring, the district updated its Title IX information on its website — Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on gender. In August, it updated its policy and trained two leaders at each school on Title IX procedures. Over the summer, the district also worked with local advocates to produce a video that explains resources and protocols around Title IX for staff, Barber said in the statement.
“Planning and feedback sessions have been ongoing with a local student-led coalition to get input on strategies and even deliver some of the information themselves,” the statement said.
Fairview administrators sought help after the allegations against Atkinson roiled the school.
They called Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA), a Boulder sexual violence resource center, and in January and February MESA gave a half-day training to faculty and staff at Fairview on sexual violence, rape culture and bystander intervention, and then followed up with a shorter presentation to about 200 parents.
“We got a good response all across the board in agreement that more of these types of training were needed, because frankly the faculty and staff were not really equipped to handle something of this magnitude, or had minimal understanding of some of the dynamics of rape culture in particular,” said Janine D’Anniballe, director at MESA.
The staff had been trained on child abuse reporting, but not on sexual violence reporting, she said, which are two different issues, and there weren’t clear protocols for trauma-informed support for victims of sexual crimes, she said.
“Like if a student is in a class with someone they made a report against, how can the school help navigate that or make changes to address that?” D’Anniballe said.
The district and MESA made plans to expand training and education on sexual violence to all students in the district this fall.
In late June, MESA submitted a proposal to the district that suggested its staff conduct 792 hour-long presentations to groups of 25 students in middle and high schools, offer presentations to parents at 30 different schools, and give two-hour trainings to staff at 30 schools. The proposal also suggested an additional program aimed at male athletic teams. The entire plan would cost the district about $79,050 for the 2020-2021 school year.
MESA has not heard back from the district, D’Anniballe said. In the district’s statement, Barber said the MESA training is “on pause due to the pandemic crisis.”
“We fully intend to continue the efforts started last school year, but we are focused on ensuring that learning continues given the challenges we are facing, both with instruction and funding,” the statement said.
Dellinger and Sanchez said both school and district administrators seemed willing to put more programs and education about sexual violence in place — until the novel coronavirus hit.
“We kept getting that everything was uncertain and it probably wouldn’t happen this year because of budget cuts and they probably couldn’t fit that in,” Dellinger said, adding that superintendent Rob Anderson said the district couldn’t afford to hire a full-time Title IX coordinator. The district’s legal counsel serves as the coordinator, according to its website.
“He said they don’t have the funding to do that and he didn’t want to create that position because he would be taking away money from schools and programs within schools that needed it,” Dellinger said. “It’s just frustrating that they aren’t seeing sexual violence survivors as people who need that funding as well.”
She and Sanchez said Fairview teachers and staff put athletes on a pedestal, sometimes bending the rules around mandatory attendance or discipline for athletes, who are high on the school’s social ladder, or pressuring groups like student council to prioritize promoting athletics over other school programs.
“Aidan just unveiled a much larger problem that was underneath,” Dellinger said of the allegations against the quarterback.
***
Dellinger is headed to Colorado College for her first semester in January, and Sanchez has started her freshman year at University of Colorado Boulder. But neither intends to let up on the Boulder Valley School District.
“We are not going away anytime soon,” Dellinger said. This fall, they’re working to rally current students and parents of students to their effort.
One parent already on board is Tracy Dundon, who said she was alarmed to hear how prevalent sexual misconduct is in the district.
“Parent involvement is going to be critical if there is to be any significant changes made within our district,” she said.
Parents who want to be involved can reach out through the new website Dellinger and Sanchez created this fall, “BVSD Survivors,” she said.
Sanchez and Dellinger have also started working with current students so they can continue the effort from within the schools. One such student, who asked not to be named to avoid retaliation from the school district, said she is in the fight for the long haul, even though she feels administrators may not be.
“They want to be able to do one thing and fix the problem and be able to move on,” she said. “But that’s not how this issue works at all.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-08--“It’s unprecedented”: Congress returns as Coloradans seek help with housing, unemployment

At the start of this year , Katie Sorice ’ s life was looking up .
After some financial difficulties last year , including a period of homelessness , she had a well-paying job she enjoyed , was stashing some money away and always paying rent .
Then , as the pandemic ’ s effects became clear , her office job was eliminated March 31 .
The 38-year-old was kept afloat for a time by an unemployment payment from the federal government , which sent her $ 600 per week on top of the $ 96 per week she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that federal payment ended July 31 , Sorice has been left to pay her bills and eat on $ 96 per week , an impossibility in the Denver area .
“ I can ’ t afford rent , that ’ s the biggest thing right now , ” she said from her apartment in Edgewater .
Sorice ’ s story is not uncommon .
Colorado , like the country , is hurting .
Landlords are not being paid , businesses are shutting their doors for good , children are missing meals , unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decimated , and coronavirus testing needs remain unmet in some areas .
This is the predicament Congress returns to Tuesday .
Crushed under the weight of economic shutdowns , many Coloradans expect the federal government to ease the financial burdens this pandemic has caused .
For the past several months , their weary eyes have seen nothing but congressional stalemates and inaction .
“ If we ’ re not keeping people in their homes , if we ’ re not keeping people from going bankrupt , then our health crisis is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re going to look at a decade-plus-long recovery , ” said Rep. Jason Crow , an Aurora Democrat .
“ People are losing their homes ; they ’ re losing their life savings .
That ’ s a long-term economic hit.
” Seven of the state ’ s nine members of Congress will be judged by voters Nov. 3 — in just eight weeks .
Among nearly everyone in Congress or running for Congress nationwide , there is a consensus that something further must be done .
There ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of decades past , the federal government owes the gig workers and restaurateurs and hoteliers and manufacturers of Colorado .
“ The government , by shutting them down , essentially took away their dreams and their livelihood , ” said Steve House , Crow ’ s Republican opponent in the 6th Congressional District , “ and I think the government and all citizens who pay into it have to be respectful of that.
” Sorice receives $ 96 per week in unemployment payments .
If she qualified for $ 4 more per week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an additional $ 300 weekly in federal money .
That ’ s due to the wording of an executive order President Donald Trump signed Aug. 8 in the face of a congressional stalemate over a stimulus package .
The order created what ’ s known as the Lost Wages Assistance program .
Any unemployed person receiving $ 100 or more per week will also receive $ 300 in federal assistance .
But people receiving less than $ 100 , such as Sorice and an estimated 850,000 other Americans , do not receive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a $ 3 trillion bill , the Democrat-controlled U.S. House voted in May to extend the $ 600-per-week enhanced unemployment benefit , but a majority in the Republican-controlled Senate , along with Trump , are opposed to doing so .
They worry workers were receiving more money unemployed than employed , removing their incentive to find a job .
They would prefer to extend the enhancement at a level lower than $ 600 or cap it .
“ You can ’ t put so much incentive out there that people remain unemployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 600 thing was really important , I think , at the beginning , but it got to a point where I talked to a lot of businesses that can ’ t get people to come back.
” Democrats say such concerns are overblown or pale in comparison to the crippling financial burdens unemployed people are facing in this unprecedented situation .
Several Colorado Democrats say an extension of the $ 600-per-week enhancement must be the top priority when Congress comes back Tuesday .
“ The legislation that Congress adopts ultimately must meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scale and gravity of the crisis , ” said Rep. Joe Neguse , a progressive Democrat from Lafayette who has pushed the Senate to either pass the $ 3 trillion House bill , known as the HEROES Act , or craft its own large-scale legislation .
Since mid-March , 542,619 unemployment claims have been filed in Colorado , according to state labor data released Thursday , and $ 4.8 billion in benefits has been distributed .
During the last week in August , 5,837 claims were filed , which is both the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the average number of weekly claims during the depths of the Great Recession in 2009 and 2010 .
“ It ’ s unprecedented , ” said Kim Da Silva , executive director of Community Food Share , a food bank that serves Boulder and Broomfield counties .
“ Unlike the Great Recession , we ’ re in a health and economic stress that we ’ ve never seen before .
The scariest part for us — for food bankers , for people in the basic needs industry — is that we don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to come out of this.
” Community Food Share distributed 1.2 million pounds of food in April , more than in any month during the Great Recession or other time in its 40-year history .
The food bank has handed out more than 1 million pounds every month since .
Donations haven ’ t kept up with demand , so it has bought 21 truckloads of food to distribute .
“ There is an influx of individuals who never thought they would be in this situation , ” Da Silva said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ relief bill passed by the House in May , would send more than $ 1 trillion to state and local governments across the country , refilling government coffers that have been drained by declines in tax revenue since March .
Conservatives have panned the idea as a bailout for poorly run cities and states at the expense of an ever-expanding national debt .
South Metro Fire Rescue , which is primarily funded by property tax revenue , is looking at a possible shortfall of $ 3 million to $ 16 million in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kristin Eckmann .
“ That ’ s a fire district that has 85 % of its money spent on personnel , ” said Crow , the congressman who represents some of the fire department ’ s jurisdiction .
“ … That means they ’ re cutting firefighter jobs .
We just can not allow that to happen right now.
” In tourist-friendly ski communities and resort towns , it is sales tax revenue that has plummeted .
Scott Robson is the town manager in Vail , which derives 40 % of its annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his town coffers will lose about $ 19 million in revenue this year , forcing deferrals of capital projects , millions of dollars in cuts to operating expenses , and a handful of layoffs for seasonal staff .
“ What we ’ ve heard from our business community here is that the next few months are going to be some of the toughest rent checks that they write in their professional careers , ” Robson said .
Support for small businesses is a rare area of agreement in a divided Congress .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loans to businesses that keep employees on the payroll , is popular among both parties in the Capitol and there is almost universal agreement it should be extended this fall .
Congress is scheduled to be in session for only a few weeks between now and the election , the legislative equivalent of cramming before final exams .
In Colorado , this will weigh most heavily on Sen. Cory Gardner , the vulnerable Yuma Republican who is asking voters for six more years in the Senate .
“ I have three priorities that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response effort , ” the senator said in a statement .
“ Making sure that we ’ re stopping the spread and flattening the curve , helping Coloradans with the immediate relief that they need to get through this crisis , and getting businesses up and running again.
” A spokeswoman for Gardner said he supports more money for states and local governments , grants to support safety initiatives at child care centers , relief for senior care providers , more personal protective equipment for seniors and their caretakers , an extension of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has previously said he supports extending enhanced unemployment payments .
In his latest TV ad , Gardner touts PPP ’ s role in saving a Colorado diner .
Meanwhile , his Democratic opponent , John Hickenlooper , has used his latest ad to accuse Gardner of taking “ a vacation ” in August without passing relief for unemployed workers and small businesses , or expanding COVID testing .
While the Senate ’ s August break routinely occurs each year , Democrats are quick to note it was Gardner who said May 20 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate to adjourn without passing a relief bill .
It did adjourn , and Hickenlooper has let him hear about it ever since .
“ I would have thought that with the fall elections approaching , and with so many vulnerable Republican senators , like Cory Gardner , that ( Senate Majority Leader ) Mitch McConnell would have made a good-faith effort to help people , ” said Rep. Diana DeGette , a Denver Democrat .
“ I have no idea what he is thinking.
” No Republican House members responded to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their relief priorities .
When DeGette , Neguse and Crow were asked directly what the odds are that a compromise is met and benefits , such as enhanced unemployment insurance , are extended , none wanted to wager a guess .
“ What is lacking in Congress right now is the political will to ultimately get something done for the American people , ” Neguse said .
“ It ’ s hard to predict .
It ’ s an open question .
”

At the start of this year, Katie Sorice’s life was looking up. After some financial difficulties last year, including a period of homelessness, she had a well-paying job she enjoyed, was stashing some money away and always paying rent. Then, as the pandemic’s effects became clear, her office job was eliminated March 31.
The 38-year-old was kept afloat for a time by an unemployment payment from the federal government, which sent her $600 per week on top of the $96 per week she was receiving through unemployment insurance. But since that federal payment ended July 31, Sorice has been left to pay her bills and eat on $96 per week, an impossibility in the Denver area.
“I can’t afford rent, that’s the biggest thing right now,” she said from her apartment in Edgewater.
Sorice’s story is not uncommon. Colorado, like the country, is hurting. Landlords are not being paid, businesses are shutting their doors for good, children are missing meals, unemployment remains high, municipal budgets have been decimated, and coronavirus testing needs remain unmet in some areas.
This is the predicament Congress returns to Tuesday. Crushed under the weight of economic shutdowns, many Coloradans expect the federal government to ease the financial burdens this pandemic has caused. For the past several months, their weary eyes have seen nothing but congressional stalemates and inaction.
“If we’re not keeping people in their homes, if we’re not keeping people from going bankrupt, then our health crisis is going to continue to spin out of control and we’re going to look at a decade-plus-long recovery,” said Rep. Jason Crow, an Aurora Democrat. “People are losing their homes; they’re losing their life savings. That’s a long-term economic hit.”
Seven of the state’s nine members of Congress will be judged by voters Nov. 3 — in just eight weeks. Among nearly everyone in Congress or running for Congress nationwide, there is a consensus that something further must be done. There’s a consensus that, unlike in economic downturns of decades past, the federal government owes the gig workers and restaurateurs and hoteliers and manufacturers of Colorado.
“The government, by shutting them down, essentially took away their dreams and their livelihood,” said Steve House, Crow’s Republican opponent in the 6th Congressional District, “and I think the government and all citizens who pay into it have to be respectful of that.”
“It’s unprecedented”
Sorice receives $96 per week in unemployment payments. If she qualified for $4 more per week in state unemployment, she would get an additional $300 weekly in federal money. That’s due to the wording of an executive order President Donald Trump signed Aug. 8 in the face of a congressional stalemate over a stimulus package.
The order created what’s known as the Lost Wages Assistance program. Any unemployed person receiving $100 or more per week will also receive $300 in federal assistance. But people receiving less than $100, such as Sorice and an estimated 850,000 other Americans, do not receive the $300 federal boost.
As part of a $3 trillion bill, the Democrat-controlled U.S. House voted in May to extend the $600-per-week enhanced unemployment benefit, but a majority in the Republican-controlled Senate, along with Trump, are opposed to doing so. They worry workers were receiving more money unemployed than employed, removing their incentive to find a job. They would prefer to extend the enhancement at a level lower than $600 or cap it.
“You can’t put so much incentive out there that people remain unemployed,” House said. “The $600 thing was really important, I think, at the beginning, but it got to a point where I talked to a lot of businesses that can’t get people to come back.”
Democrats say such concerns are overblown or pale in comparison to the crippling financial burdens unemployed people are facing in this unprecedented situation. Several Colorado Democrats say an extension of the $600-per-week enhancement must be the top priority when Congress comes back Tuesday.
“The legislation that Congress adopts ultimately must meet the moment. It ought to address the scale and gravity of the crisis,” said Rep. Joe Neguse, a progressive Democrat from Lafayette who has pushed the Senate to either pass the $3 trillion House bill, known as the HEROES Act, or craft its own large-scale legislation.
Since mid-March, 542,619 unemployment claims have been filed in Colorado, according to state labor data released Thursday, and $4.8 billion in benefits has been distributed. During the last week in August, 5,837 claims were filed, which is both the lowest weekly total since mid-March and higher than the average number of weekly claims during the depths of the Great Recession in 2009 and 2010.
“It’s unprecedented,” said Kim Da Silva, executive director of Community Food Share, a food bank that serves Boulder and Broomfield counties. “Unlike the Great Recession, we’re in a health and economic stress that we’ve never seen before. The scariest part for us — for food bankers, for people in the basic needs industry — is that we don’t know when we’re going to come out of this.”
Community Food Share distributed 1.2 million pounds of food in April, more than in any month during the Great Recession or other time in its 40-year history. The food bank has handed out more than 1 million pounds every month since. Donations haven’t kept up with demand, so it has bought 21 truckloads of food to distribute.
“There is an influx of individuals who never thought they would be in this situation,” Da Silva said.
“The toughest rent checks”
The HEROES Act, the massive coronavirus relief bill passed by the House in May, would send more than $1 trillion to state and local governments across the country, refilling government coffers that have been drained by declines in tax revenue since March. Conservatives have panned the idea as a bailout for poorly run cities and states at the expense of an ever-expanding national debt.
South Metro Fire Rescue, which is primarily funded by property tax revenue, is looking at a possible shortfall of $3 million to $16 million in the next few years, according to spokesperson Kristin Eckmann.
“That’s a fire district that has 85% of its money spent on personnel,” said Crow, the congressman who represents some of the fire department’s jurisdiction. “… That means they’re cutting firefighter jobs. We just cannot allow that to happen right now.”
In tourist-friendly ski communities and resort towns, it is sales tax revenue that has plummeted. Scott Robson is the town manager in Vail, which derives 40% of its annual revenue from sales taxes. He expects his town coffers will lose about $19 million in revenue this year, forcing deferrals of capital projects, millions of dollars in cuts to operating expenses, and a handful of layoffs for seasonal staff.
“What we’ve heard from our business community here is that the next few months are going to be some of the toughest rent checks that they write in their professional careers,” Robson said.
Support for small businesses is a rare area of agreement in a divided Congress. The Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to businesses that keep employees on the payroll, is popular among both parties in the Capitol and there is almost universal agreement it should be extended this fall.
“It’s hard to predict”
Congress is scheduled to be in session for only a few weeks between now and the election, the legislative equivalent of cramming before final exams. In Colorado, this will weigh most heavily on Sen. Cory Gardner, the vulnerable Yuma Republican who is asking voters for six more years in the Senate.
“I have three priorities that must be accomplished in the next coronavirus response effort,” the senator said in a statement. “Making sure that we’re stopping the spread and flattening the curve, helping Coloradans with the immediate relief that they need to get through this crisis, and getting businesses up and running again.”
A spokeswoman for Gardner said he supports more money for states and local governments, grants to support safety initiatives at child care centers, relief for senior care providers, more personal protective equipment for seniors and their caretakers, an extension of PPP and improved testing. His campaign has previously said he supports extending enhanced unemployment payments.
In his latest TV ad, Gardner touts PPP’s role in saving a Colorado diner. Meanwhile, his Democratic opponent, John Hickenlooper, has used his latest ad to accuse Gardner of taking “a vacation” in August without passing relief for unemployed workers and small businesses, or expanding COVID testing.
While the Senate’s August break routinely occurs each year, Democrats are quick to note it was Gardner who said May 20 that it would be “unfathomable” for the Senate to adjourn without passing a relief bill. It did adjourn, and Hickenlooper has let him hear about it ever since.
“I would have thought that with the fall elections approaching, and with so many vulnerable Republican senators, like Cory Gardner, that (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell would have made a good-faith effort to help people,” said Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat. “I have no idea what he is thinking.”
No Republican House members responded to a request for comment last week about their relief priorities. When DeGette, Neguse and Crow were asked directly what the odds are that a compromise is met and benefits, such as enhanced unemployment insurance, are extended, none wanted to wager a guess.
“What is lacking in Congress right now is the political will to ultimately get something done for the American people,” Neguse said. “It’s hard to predict. It’s an open question.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-08--Denver weather: Cold front moves in overnight, turning rain to snow Tuesday

Rain showers reported north of Denver Monday night were forecast to turn to snow Tuesday , stretching from the foothills to the plains and sending the temperatures on a wild swing from scorching hot to frigid .
A shallow cold front that moved through Denver Monday evening , stirring the wildfire smoke blanketing the northern Front Range , was the opening act for a strong Canadian cold front moving into Colorado .
The National Weather Service predicted wind gusts of up to 50 mph and a temperature plunge into the 20s .
The temperature drop could be one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a forecaster with the weather service in Boulder .
Monday was the 73rd day this year that Denver ’ s temperature was 90 degrees or hotter , tying a record set in 2012 .
With temperatures expected to plummet into the 20s , Denver faced the possibility of breaking a 148-year record for the largest temperature change in a 24-hour period .
That record , set in January 1872 , was a 66-degree dive , according to the weather service .
Gimmestad said the foothills and mountains could get 12 to 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metro area and the Interstate 25 corridor could see slushy , wet snow by Tuesday morning .
Snow accumulations were expected to range from 3 to 7 inches .
After seeing the Cameron Peak wildfire west of Fort Collins blow up Monday to 96,402 acres — 150.6 square miles — fire managers said the snow and cold would check the fire ’ s growth for several days .
However , during a new conference Monday night , they said the storm ’ s ultimate effect on the fire will depend on how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warms up and dries out .
The heaviest snow will likely be Tuesday , Gimmestad said .
“ It will maybe snow even into Wednesday , but it will be pretty light.
” And temperatures are predicted to climb back into the 80s by Sunday .

Rain showers reported north of Denver Monday night were forecast to turn to snow Tuesday, stretching from the foothills to the plains and sending the temperatures on a wild swing from scorching hot to frigid.
A shallow cold front that moved through Denver Monday evening, stirring the wildfire smoke blanketing the northern Front Range, was the opening act for a strong Canadian cold front moving into Colorado. The National Weather Service predicted wind gusts of up to 50 mph and a temperature plunge into the 20s.
Much colder temperatures with snow for today. Gradual change from rain to snow through the morning with snow overnight. #cowx pic.twitter.com/kcuQpkQ7n5 — NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) September 8, 2020
The temperature drop could be one of the biggest in Colorado, said Chad Gimmestad, a forecaster with the weather service in Boulder. Monday was the 73rd day this year that Denver’s temperature was 90 degrees or hotter, tying a record set in 2012.
With temperatures expected to plummet into the 20s, Denver faced the possibility of breaking a 148-year record for the largest temperature change in a 24-hour period. That record, set in January 1872, was a 66-degree dive, according to the weather service.
Gimmestad said the foothills and mountains could get 12 to 18 inches from the storm. The Denver metro area and the Interstate 25 corridor could see slushy, wet snow by Tuesday morning. Snow accumulations were expected to range from 3 to 7 inches.
After seeing the Cameron Peak wildfire west of Fort Collins blow up Monday to 96,402 acres — 150.6 square miles — fire managers said the snow and cold would check the fire’s growth for several days. However, during a new conference Monday night, they said the storm’s ultimate effect on the fire will depend on how much snow falls and how quickly the weather warms up and dries out.
The heaviest snow will likely be Tuesday, Gimmestad said. “It will maybe snow even into Wednesday, but it will be pretty light.”
And temperatures are predicted to climb back into the 80s by Sunday.


thedenverpost--2020-09-08--Ask Amy: Old love letters don’t age so well

Dear Amy : I am 68 years old ( divorced , with two grown children and two grandchildren . )
My former college boyfriend ( from 1972-1975 ) is now 78 years old and , although still ambulatory , is in poor health requiring 24-hour professional care .
No one knows how much longer he will live .
He has kept all my old ( 45 years old ! )
love letters .
I have asked him repeatedly to return these letters to me , but he has refused .
He never married , nor has he ever had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dies , his niece ( he has no children ) will be the most likely person to sort through his personal effects .
These letters are , as you might expect , of a highly personal nature .
They should not be read by anyone else .
I have tried to appeal to his better nature and sense of regard for our former friendship , but to no avail .
I ’ m not losing sleep over this , but if you can think of the right words to say to him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have those letters back , I would be grateful .
— Never Write Anything You Wouldn ’ t Want Published Dear Never Write Anything , etc .
: My understanding is that when you send a letter to someone , they own the ( physical ) letter : the paper and ink .
You own the right to publish ( or possibly sue someone else for publishing ) the contents of the letter .
So — your former squeeze ’ s heirs might be able to sell these letters at auction , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but they could not publish the contents of the letters .
But that ’ s not really your question ( I just thought it was interesting ) .
If you ’ re NOT losing sleep over this , then continue not losing sleep .
That is definitely the way to go .
It sounds as if you have asked for these letters , repeatedly .
So — stop asking .
I think you should send him one more note .
Tell him you are very sorry that he is ailing .
Remind him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thank him for whatever experiences you enjoyed together ( “ Remember when I dragged you to that Jackson Browne concert ?
” ) , and don ’ t mention the letters at all .
He may respond to your kindness by doing the one thing you ’ ve asked him to do — and return these ancient letters to you — or you may end up dealing with his niece down the road .
Dear Amy : My husband and I have lived on the West Coast for 30 years .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his four siblings , who all live in the Midwest , where they grew up .
It has always bothered me a little that he calls them each about once a month , while only one of them ever calls him .
We are currently surrounded by devastating forest fires , many unprecedented in the history of our area .
I find it unacceptable that none of the four siblings has reached out to see how we are .
I think that he should discontinue reaching out to them until they show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern .
It is his decision , of course , and he ’ s still deciding .
But do you think my position is unreasonable ?
Dear Upset : Your frustration isn ’ t unreasonable , but your position is .
You can not control how your husband conducts his relationships .
He sounds like a very nice guy who may feel an unconscious need to initiate contact with his midwestern siblings because he chose to move so far away , while they stayed close to home .
Yes , his siblings should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they should get in touch to make sure you are OK and to offer support .
If your husband didn ’ t reach out as often , his siblings might choose to pick up the phone , but you should not push him to cut them off out of spite ( he likely benefits from these chats ) .
Ideally , he would tell them how he feels : “ I ’ m always the one to get in touch , and I feel like you ’ ve forgotten me in between phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it if you reciprocated once in a while.
” Dear Amy : “ Struggling ” wrote about lending her partner money that , following his death , his parents declined to repay .
While I agree with your advice , in similar circumstances I would also suggest that anyone in this situation file a claim against the deceased party ’ s estate .
There is a statute of limitations to do that , which lenders can easily research .

Dear Amy: I am 68 years old (divorced, with two grown children and two grandchildren.) My former college boyfriend (from 1972-1975) is now 78 years old and, although still ambulatory, is in poor health requiring 24-hour professional care. No one knows how much longer he will live.
He has kept all my old (45 years old!) love letters. I have asked him repeatedly to return these letters to me, but he has refused.
He never married, nor has he ever had a live-in girlfriend. Now, when he dies, his niece (he has no children) will be the most likely person to sort through his personal effects.
These letters are, as you might expect, of a highly personal nature. They should not be read by anyone else. I have tried to appeal to his better nature and sense of regard for our former friendship, but to no avail.
I’m not losing sleep over this, but if you can think of the right words to say to him to convey how important it is to me to have those letters back, I would be grateful.
— Never Write Anything You Wouldn’t Want Published
Dear Never Write Anything, etc.: My understanding is that when you send a letter to someone, they own the (physical) letter: the paper and ink. You own the right to publish (or possibly sue someone else for publishing) the contents of the letter. So — your former squeeze’s heirs might be able to sell these letters at auction, or display them in a museum, but they could not publish the contents of the letters.
But that’s not really your question (I just thought it was interesting).
If you’re NOT losing sleep over this, then continue not losing sleep. That is definitely the way to go.
It sounds as if you have asked for these letters, repeatedly. So — stop asking.
I think you should send him one more note. Tell him you are very sorry that he is ailing. Remind him of a happy memory you two shared. Thank him for whatever experiences you enjoyed together (“Remember when I dragged you to that Jackson Browne concert?”), and don’t mention the letters at all.
He may respond to your kindness by doing the one thing you’ve asked him to do — and return these ancient letters to you — or you may end up dealing with his niece down the road.
Dear Amy: My husband and I have lived on the West Coast for 30 years.
He is very good at keeping in touch with his four siblings, who all live in the Midwest, where they grew up.
It has always bothered me a little that he calls them each about once a month, while only one of them ever calls him.
We are currently surrounded by devastating forest fires, many unprecedented in the history of our area.
I find it unacceptable that none of the four siblings has reached out to see how we are.
I think that he should discontinue reaching out to them until they show some inclination to reciprocate his kindness and concern. It is his decision, of course, and he’s still deciding. But do you think my position is unreasonable?
— Upset Wife
Dear Upset: Your frustration isn’t unreasonable, but your position is.
You cannot control how your husband conducts his relationships. He sounds like a very nice guy who may feel an unconscious need to initiate contact with his midwestern siblings because he chose to move so far away, while they stayed close to home.
Yes, his siblings should worry about you both. Yes, they should get in touch to make sure you are OK and to offer support. If your husband didn’t reach out as often, his siblings might choose to pick up the phone, but you should not push him to cut them off out of spite (he likely benefits from these chats).
Ideally, he would tell them how he feels: “I’m always the one to get in touch, and I feel like you’ve forgotten me in between phone calls. I’d really appreciate it if you reciprocated once in a while.”
Dear Amy: “Struggling” wrote about lending her partner money that, following his death, his parents declined to repay.
While I agree with your advice, in similar circumstances I would also suggest that anyone in this situation file a claim against the deceased party’s estate. There is a statute of limitations to do that, which lenders can easily research.
— A, in Arlington, Virginia
Dear A: Thank you.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)