thedenverpost--2020-07-11--President Trump commutes longtime friend Roger Stone’s sentence

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump called Roger Stone to inform his longtime political confidant that he would commute his sentence for crimes related to the Russia investigation , Stone told The Associated Press on Friday , just days before he was set to report to prison .
The White House later confirmed the commuting of the sentence in a statement , saying Stone was a victim of the Russia “ hoax.
” The move , though short of a full pardon , is sure to alarm critics who have long railed against the president ’ s repeated interventions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president told me he thought my trial has been unfair , ” Stone told the AP in a phone call from Fort Lauderdale , Florida .
Stone said he expressed his gratitude and was popping Champagne .
Stone had been sentenced in February to three years and four months in prison for lying to Congress , witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election .
He was set to report to prison by Tuesday .
A commutation would not erase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same way a pardon would , but it would protect him from serving prison time as a result .
The action , which Trump had foreshadowed in recent days , reflects his lingering rage over the Russia investigation and is a testament to his conviction that he and his associates were mistreated by agents and prosecutors .
His administration has been eager to rewrite the narrative of special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation , with Trump ’ s own Justice Department moving in May to dismiss the criminal case against former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for his part , had been open about his desire for a pardon or commutation , appealing for the president ’ s help in a series of Instagram posts in which he maintained that his life could be in jeopardy if imprisoned during a pandemic .
He had recently sought to postpone his surrender date by months after getting a brief extension from the judge .
Trump had repeatedly publicly inserted himself into Stone ’ s case , including just before Stone ’ s sentencing , when he suggested in a tweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different standard than several prominent Democrats .
He railed that the conviction “ should be thrown out ” and called the Justice Department ’ s initial sentencing recommendation “ horrible and very unfair.
” “ Can not allow this miscarriage of justice !
” he wrote .
Stone , a larger-than-life political character who embraced his reputation as a dirty trickster , was the sixth Trump aide or adviser to have been convicted of charges brought as part of Mueller ’ s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election .
A longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had boasted during the campaign that he was in contact with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange through a trusted intermediary and hinted at inside knowledge of WikiLeaks ’ plans to release more than 19,000 emails hacked from the servers of the Democratic National Committee .
But Stone denied any wrongdoing and consistently criticized the case against him as politically motivated .
He did not take the stand during his trial , did not speak at his sentencing , and his lawyers did not call any witnesses in his defense .
Trump also targeted those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a comment by Fox News commentator Andrew Napolitano that the jury appeared to have been biased against Trump , and called out Judge Amy Berman Jackson by name , saying “ almost any judge in the country ” would throw out the conviction .
The tweets continued even after Trump earned a public rebuke from his own attorney general , William Barr , who said the president ’ s comments were “ making it impossible ” for him to do his job .
Barr was so incensed that he told people he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had originally recommended Stone serve seven to nine years in federal prison .
But , in a highly unusual move , Barr reversed that decision after a Trump tweet and recommended a more lenient punishment , prompting a mini-revolt inside the Justice Department , with the entire prosecution team resigning from the case .
Department officials have vehemently denied Barr was responding to Trump ’ s criticism and have insisted there was no contact with the White House over the decision .
Barr has also pointed out that the judge , in imposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him that the original sentencing recommendation was excessive .
Barr , who was attorney general during Stone ’ s trial last fall , has said the prosecution was justified , and the Justice Department did not support Stone ’ s more recent effort to put off his surrender date .
Though the Justice Department raised concerns about the handling of Flynn ’ s case , including what it said were irregularities about his FBI interview , prosecutors did not point to any similar issues or problems with the Stone prosecution .
Even so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the portrait of a president determined — particularly in an election year — to undo the effects of a Russia investigation that has shadowed his administration from the outset , and to intervene on behalf of political allies .
Trump , meanwhile , had long kept the door open to a reprieve .
“ You ’ re going to see what happens .
Let ’ s see what happens , ” he said when asked in February whether Stone deserved prison time , adding , “ Somebody has to stick up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an interview Thursday night that it was a “ disgrace they didn ’ t give him a retrial.
” Asked if he was considering a pardon , he added : “ I am always thinking.
” That language prompted preemptive rebuke from House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff , who tweeted after the sentencing that “ to pardon Stone when his crimes were committed to protect Trump would be a breathtaking act of corruption.
” The commutation was the latest example of Trump using his unlimited clemency power to pardon powerful men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice system .
Trump went on a clemency spree in February commuting the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Gov .
Rod Blagojevich , a Democrat , and pardoning former New York City police commissioner Bernie Kerik , financier Michael Milken and several others .
Trump has also offered clemency to other political allies , including Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio , who was awaiting sentencing at the time , conservative commentator Dinesh D ’ Souza , who had been convicted on campaign finance violations , and Conrad Black , a newspaper publisher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flattering book about the president .
Trump , however , has spent much more time trumpeting his decision to commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson , who was serving life in prison for nonviolent drug offenses and who came to Trump ’ s attention after reality star Kim Kardashian West took up her cause .
Her story was featured in a Trump campaign Super Bowl ad .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump called Roger Stone to inform his longtime political confidant that he would commute his sentence for crimes related to the Russia investigation, Stone told The Associated Press on Friday, just days before he was set to report to prison.
The White House later confirmed the commuting of the sentence in a statement, saying Stone was a victim of the Russia “hoax.”
The move, though short of a full pardon, is sure to alarm critics who have long railed against the president’s repeated interventions in the nation’s justice system.
“The president told me he thought my trial has been unfair,” Stone told the AP in a phone call from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Stone said he expressed his gratitude and was popping Champagne.
Stone had been sentenced in February to three years and four months in prison for lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. He was set to report to prison by Tuesday.
A commutation would not erase Stone’s felony convictions in the same way a pardon would, but it would protect him from serving prison time as a result.
The action, which Trump had foreshadowed in recent days, reflects his lingering rage over the Russia investigation and is a testament to his conviction that he and his associates were mistreated by agents and prosecutors. His administration has been eager to rewrite the narrative of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, with Trump’s own Justice Department moving in May to dismiss the criminal case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Stone, for his part, had been open about his desire for a pardon or commutation, appealing for the president’s help in a series of Instagram posts in which he maintained that his life could be in jeopardy if imprisoned during a pandemic. He had recently sought to postpone his surrender date by months after getting a brief extension from the judge.
Trump had repeatedly publicly inserted himself into Stone’s case, including just before Stone’s sentencing, when he suggested in a tweet that Stone was being subjected to a different standard than several prominent Democrats. He railed that the conviction “should be thrown out” and called the Justice Department’s initial sentencing recommendation “horrible and very unfair.”
“Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!” he wrote.
Stone, a larger-than-life political character who embraced his reputation as a dirty trickster, was the sixth Trump aide or adviser to have been convicted of charges brought as part of Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
A longtime Trump friend and informal adviser, Stone had boasted during the campaign that he was in contact with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange through a trusted intermediary and hinted at inside knowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans to release more than 19,000 emails hacked from the servers of the Democratic National Committee.
But Stone denied any wrongdoing and consistently criticized the case against him as politically motivated. He did not take the stand during his trial, did not speak at his sentencing, and his lawyers did not call any witnesses in his defense.
Trump also targeted those involved in the case. He retweeted a comment by Fox News commentator Andrew Napolitano that the jury appeared to have been biased against Trump, and called out Judge Amy Berman Jackson by name, saying “almost any judge in the country” would throw out the conviction.
The tweets continued even after Trump earned a public rebuke from his own attorney general, William Barr, who said the president’s comments were “making it impossible” for him to do his job. Barr was so incensed that he told people he was considering resigning over the matter.
Prosecutors had originally recommended Stone serve seven to nine years in federal prison. But, in a highly unusual move, Barr reversed that decision after a Trump tweet and recommended a more lenient punishment, prompting a mini-revolt inside the Justice Department, with the entire prosecution team resigning from the case.
Department officials have vehemently denied Barr was responding to Trump’s criticism and have insisted there was no contact with the White House over the decision. Barr has also pointed out that the judge, in imposing a 40-month sentence, had agreed with him that the original sentencing recommendation was excessive.
Barr, who was attorney general during Stone’s trial last fall, has said the prosecution was justified, and the Justice Department did not support Stone’s more recent effort to put off his surrender date. Though the Justice Department raised concerns about the handling of Flynn’s case, including what it said were irregularities about his FBI interview, prosecutors did not point to any similar issues or problems with the Stone prosecution.
Even so, the pardon will almost certainly contribute to the portrait of a president determined — particularly in an election year — to undo the effects of a Russia investigation that has shadowed his administration from the outset, and to intervene on behalf of political allies.
Trump, meanwhile, had long kept the door open to a reprieve.
“You’re going to see what happens. Let’s see what happens,” he said when asked in February whether Stone deserved prison time, adding, “Somebody has to stick up for the people.”
He told Sean Hannity in an interview Thursday night that it was a “disgrace they didn’t give him a retrial.” Asked if he was considering a pardon, he added: “I am always thinking.”
That language prompted preemptive rebuke from House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, who tweeted after the sentencing that “to pardon Stone when his crimes were committed to protect Trump would be a breathtaking act of corruption.”
The commutation was the latest example of Trump using his unlimited clemency power to pardon powerful men he believes have been mistreated by the justice system.
Trump went on a clemency spree in February commuting the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, and pardoning former New York City police commissioner Bernie Kerik, financier Michael Milken and several others.
Trump has also offered clemency to other political allies, including Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was awaiting sentencing at the time, conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who had been convicted on campaign finance violations, and Conrad Black, a newspaper publisher convicted of fraud who had written a flattering book about the president.
Trump, however, has spent much more time trumpeting his decision to commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving life in prison for nonviolent drug offenses and who came to Trump’s attention after reality star Kim Kardashian West took up her cause. Her story was featured in a Trump campaign Super Bowl ad.


thedenverpost--2020-07-11--Guest Commentary: Denver Public Schools should live the value of “equity” – starting with low-wage w

Guest Commentary: Denver Public Schools should live the value of “equity” – starting with low-wage workers

Next week , I will join a coalition of union leaders representing low-wage frontline workers inside Denver Public Schools – including custodians , paraprofessionals , food workers , maintenance and grounds workers , safety and security staff , facility managers , and office support staff – as we continue negotiations with Denver Public Schools regarding salary .
In these negotiations , DPS will have the ability to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to living out their stated values of “ equity ” and “ racial justice ” as the district negotiates with a group of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color .
Our members work hard to keep our district going , and we are about to work substantially harder while facing a higher level of exposure to COVID-19 , to keep schools open in the fall .
We are on the front lines and now more than ever the district needs to step up and treat us equitably .
Last year , teachers in the district went on strike and received an 11.7 % raise .
Our members received 2.95 % .
This year , teachers secured a 3 % increase , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small cost of living adjustment .
The district ’ s latest offer to our members amounts to less than 2 % .
We believe the teachers deserved these raises , and we think we deserve the same .
We understand that the state is going through a budget shortfall , but we do not believe the DPS Board should attempt to balance the budget on our backs .
Providing all 3,100 of the workers we represent with a 3 % raise would cost the district under $ 4 million .
DPS ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their current reserves are around $ 90 million ; the district has the money to provide an equitable cost of living adjustment to support these workers .
In June , almost 250 leaders from Coloradans for the Common Good — a broad-based organization of religious , civic , and labor institutions — joined our members in a public meeting with six DPS board directors .
At that meeting , the directors repeatedly stated they were putting the needs of frontline workers , including teachers and educational support professionals , first .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent board meeting , a board member stated that the DPS budget “ does no harm ” to low-wage workers .
Yet the district ’ s current proposal feels disrespectful and harmful .
I can attest that these negotiations are make or break for many of our members .
The average full-time office support staff in DPS makes under $ 35,000 annually .
That number is lower for custodians ( under $ 30k/annually ) and paraprofessionals ( under $ 20k/annually ) .
We are simultaneously the most diverse and the lowest-paid workers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice ?
I have heard and lived the impact of low wages in DPS .
Many of our members can not afford health insurance for their families .
I personally have felt the pressure of living paycheck to paycheck due to DPS ’ s inequitable pay for support staff .
The difference between a 2 % and 3 % raise may not seem like much to the district ’ s negotiating team — all of whom make over six figures — but to us it can mean the difference between our children seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive debt because we can not afford insurance .
The lack of respect from DPS has me asking : Does the district not value the hard work of our custodians , bus drivers , mechanics , grounds workers , secretaries , security staff , food service workers , paraprofessionals , and other support staff ?
Does the district not see how this unequal treatment towards its most diverse workforce perpetuates racial injustice ?
Does DPS actually care about equity ?
The DPS budget is where the district ’ s values are truly articulated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value all frontline workers , equity , and racial justice .
Yet the district ’ s latest offer makes me feel like we are disposable , especially during this dangerous time .
The district ’ s commitment to the values of equity and racial justice needs to be than words ; it needs to be reflected in dollars .
We are not asking for the world , simply for equitable treatment in comparison to our hard-working teacher colleagues .
It is time for DPS to step up and live their values .
Veronica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Schools and the president of the Denver Association of Educational Office Professionals ( DAEOP ) , the union that represented office support workers inside Denver Public Schools .
She is a member of a coalition of ESPs that are currently negotiating with the district concerning salary .
That coalition also includes Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1563 , representing DPS Bus Drivers and Bus Mechanics ; DPS Association of Building , Grounds , & Warehouse Workers ; Communication Workers of America Local 7777 , representing DPS Custodians ; Denver Federation for Paraprofessionals & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association ; Colorado Federation of School Safety Professionals ; and the DPS Vocational Teachers Federation .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

Next week, I will join a coalition of union leaders representing low-wage frontline workers inside Denver Public Schools – including custodians, paraprofessionals, food workers, maintenance and grounds workers, safety and security staff, facility managers, and office support staff – as we continue negotiations with Denver Public Schools regarding salary.
In these negotiations, DPS will have the ability to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to living out their stated values of “equity” and “racial justice” as the district negotiates with a group of low-wage workers that are mostly people of color.
Our members work hard to keep our district going, and we are about to work substantially harder while facing a higher level of exposure to COVID-19, to keep schools open in the fall. We are on the front lines and now more than ever the district needs to step up and treat us equitably.
Last year, teachers in the district went on strike and received an 11.7% raise. Our members received 2.95%. This year, teachers secured a 3% increase, which included pre-negotiated pay increases and a small cost of living adjustment. The district’s latest offer to our members amounts to less than 2%. We believe the teachers deserved these raises, and we think we deserve the same.
We understand that the state is going through a budget shortfall, but we do not believe the DPS Board should attempt to balance the budget on our backs. Providing all 3,100 of the workers we represent with a 3% raise would cost the district under $4 million. DPS’s budget is over $1 billion dollars and their current reserves are around $90 million; the district has the money to provide an equitable cost of living adjustment to support these workers.
In June, almost 250 leaders from Coloradans for the Common Good — a broad-based organization of religious, civic, and labor institutions — joined our members in a public meeting with six DPS board directors. At that meeting, the directors repeatedly stated they were putting the needs of frontline workers, including teachers and educational support professionals, first. What happened to those commitments? At a recent board meeting, a board member stated that the DPS budget “does no harm” to low-wage workers. Yet the district’s current proposal feels disrespectful and harmful.
I can attest that these negotiations are make or break for many of our members. The average full-time office support staff in DPS makes under $35,000 annually. That number is lower for custodians (under $30k/annually) and paraprofessionals (under $20k/annually). We are simultaneously the most diverse and the lowest-paid workers in the system – how is that racial justice?
I have heard and lived the impact of low wages in DPS. Many of our members cannot afford health insurance for their families. I personally have felt the pressure of living paycheck to paycheck due to DPS’s inequitable pay for support staff. The difference between a 2% and 3% raise may not seem like much to the district’s negotiating team — all of whom make over six figures — but to us it can mean the difference between our children seeing a primary care doctor or going into massive debt because we cannot afford insurance.
The lack of respect from DPS has me asking: Does the district not value the hard work of our custodians, bus drivers, mechanics, grounds workers, secretaries, security staff, food service workers, paraprofessionals, and other support staff? Does the district not see how this unequal treatment towards its most diverse workforce perpetuates racial injustice? Does DPS actually care about equity?
The DPS budget is where the district’s values are truly articulated. The DPS Board has stated they value all frontline workers, equity, and racial justice. Yet the district’s latest offer makes me feel like we are disposable, especially during this dangerous time.
The district’s commitment to the values of equity and racial justice needs to be than words; it needs to be reflected in dollars. We are not asking for the world, simply for equitable treatment in comparison to our hard-working teacher colleagues. It is time for DPS to step up and live their values.
Veronica Martinez is a 25-year veteran of Denver Public Schools and the president of the Denver Association of Educational Office Professionals (DAEOP), the union that represented office support workers inside Denver Public Schools. She is a member of a coalition of ESPs that are currently negotiating with the district concerning salary. That coalition also includes Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1563, representing DPS Bus Drivers and Bus Mechanics; DPS Association of Building, Grounds, & Warehouse Workers; Communication Workers of America Local 7777, representing DPS Custodians; Denver Federation for Paraprofessionals & Nutrition Service Employees; DPS Facility Managers Association; Colorado Federation of School Safety Professionals; and the DPS Vocational Teachers Federation.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-07-10--Two popular Denver metro area lakes shut down Friday as heat continues

On a scorching hot weekend in the Denver metro area , two of the mostly popular beaches in the area are shutting down .
The swim area at Cherry Creek State Park was shut down Friday over concerns about “ natural algal blooms that may be harmful to dogs and humans , ” the park said in a news release .
Warmer temperatures , stagnant waters and nutrient loading from fertilized lawns have combined to bring about the worrisome blooms , park officials said .
“ The park has closed the swim area due to elevated levels of cyanobacteria ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release said .
“ The swim area will remain closed until tests provide acceptable conditions to re-open.
” Meanwhile , Denver is in the middle of a heat wave recording a high temperature of 99 degrees on Friday with forecast highs of 94 and 98 on Saturday and Sunday respectively .
On the west side of town the beach at Big Soda Lake , in Bear Creek Lake Park , has been closed to comply with Jefferson County Public Health and State mandates , Lakewood officials announced on Friday .
“ The reservoir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lake Park are closed , effective immediately , ” the city said .

On a scorching hot weekend in the Denver metro area, two of the mostly popular beaches in the area are shutting down.
The swim area at Cherry Creek State Park was shut down Friday over concerns about “natural algal blooms that may be harmful to dogs and humans,” the park said in a news release.
Warmer temperatures, stagnant waters and nutrient loading from fertilized lawns have combined to bring about the worrisome blooms, park officials said.
Cherry Creek State Park is experiencing natural algal blooms and as a result, the swim area will remain closed until tests provide acceptable conditions to re-open. Details: https://t.co/xTIumOodFt pic.twitter.com/Tnu48gQCga — CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) July 10, 2020
“The park has closed the swim area due to elevated levels of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) growth,” the release said. “The swim area will remain closed until tests provide acceptable conditions to re-open.”
Meanwhile, Denver is in the middle of a heat wave recording a high temperature of 99 degrees on Friday with forecast highs of 94 and 98 on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
On the west side of town the beach at Big Soda Lake, in Bear Creek Lake Park, has been closed to comply with Jefferson County Public Health and State mandates, Lakewood officials announced on Friday.
“The reservoir and all associated activities at Bear Creek Lake Park are closed, effective immediately,” the city said.


thedenverpost--2020-07-10--NHL is officially back in business; Avs to report to Edmonton for 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs

The NHL is back in business — without fans .
The league and its players ’ association on Friday finalized a collective bargaining agreement extension and ratified protocols of the return-to-play plan in hub cities Edmonton and Toronto for the 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs .
The moves pave the way for training camps to open Monday in 24 cities .
The Avalanche and the 11 other Western Conference playoff teams will report to Edmonton on July 26 , where they will play games before no fans at Rogers Arena .
The Eastern Conference teams will play at Toronto ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first games will begin Aug. 1 .
The Avalanche , which is among eight teams with byes to the best-of-five play-in round , will play St. Louis on Aug. 2 , Dallas on Aug. 5 and Vegas on Aug. 8 for Western Conference seeding purposes only .
Following the play-in/seeding round , the traditional 16-team , best-of-seven series will begin Aug. 11 .
The second round will tentatively begin Aug. 25 , the conference semifinals Sept. 8 and the Stanley Cup Final on Sept. 22 .
The 2019-20 season will end approximately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avs on Friday said their training camp will take place at Pepsi Center until they travel to Edmonton on July 26 .
The four-year CBA extension guarantees labor piece through 2026 ; it was scheduled to expire in 2022 .
And it includes allowing NHL players to compete in the 2022 and 2026 Olympics .
“ Today , the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with , the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season and the foundation for the continued long-term growth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gary Bettman said in a release .
“ I thank NHLPA executive director Don Fehr and special assistant to the executive director Mathieu Schneider , the more than 700 NHL players – particularly those who worked on our return to play committee – and the NHL ’ s board of governors for coming together under extraordinary circumstances for the good of our game .
“ While we have all worked very hard to try to address the risks of COVID-19 , we know that health and safety are and will continue to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our fans are excited about our return to the ice next month and that has been our goal since we paused our season on March 12.
” Fehr said in a statement : “ This agreement is a meaningful step forward for the players and owners , and for our game , in a difficult and uncertain time .
This would not have happened but for the enormous contributions that the players made throughout , particularly those who served on the negotiating and return to play committees , as well as those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also thank Gary Bettman , Bill Daly and the NHL staff for their efforts towards finding solutions to the problems we face .
Most importantly , we are pleased to be able to bring NHL hockey back to the fans .
We look forward to the NHL ’ s continued growth here in North America and on the world stage.
” The NHL draft is tentative scheduled for Oct. 9-10 .
The start date for the 2020-21 season could be Dec. 1 , but that ’ s to-be-determined .

The NHL is back in business — without fans.
The league and its players’ association on Friday finalized a collective bargaining agreement extension and ratified protocols of the return-to-play plan in hub cities Edmonton and Toronto for the 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs.
The moves pave the way for training camps to open Monday in 24 cities.
The Avalanche and the 11 other Western Conference playoff teams will report to Edmonton on July 26, where they will play games before no fans at Rogers Arena. The Eastern Conference teams will play at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.
The NHL previously said the first games will begin Aug. 1. The Avalanche, which is among eight teams with byes to the best-of-five play-in round, will play St. Louis on Aug. 2, Dallas on Aug. 5 and Vegas on Aug. 8 for Western Conference seeding purposes only.
Following the play-in/seeding round, the traditional 16-team, best-of-seven series will begin Aug. 11. The second round will tentatively begin Aug. 25, the conference semifinals Sept. 8 and the Stanley Cup Final on Sept. 22. The 2019-20 season will end approximately a year after it began.
The Avs on Friday said their training camp will take place at Pepsi Center until they travel to Edmonton on July 26.
The four-year CBA extension guarantees labor peace through 2026; it was scheduled to expire in 2022. And it includes allowing NHL players to compete in the 2022 and 2026 Olympics.
“Today, the NHL and the NHLPA announced a significant agreement that addresses the uncertainty everyone is dealing with, the framework for the completion of the 2019-20 season and the foundation for the continued long-term growth of our league,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a release. “I thank NHLPA executive director Don Fehr and special assistant to the executive director Mathieu Schneider, the more than 700 NHL players – particularly those who worked on our return to play committee – and the NHL’s board of governors for coming together under extraordinary circumstances for the good of our game.
“While we have all worked very hard to try to address the risks of COVID-19, we know that health and safety are and will continue to be our priorities. We know that all of our fans are excited about our return to the ice next month and that has been our goal since we paused our season on March 12.”
Fehr said in a statement: “This agreement is a meaningful step forward for the players and owners, and for our game, in a difficult and uncertain time. This would not have happened but for the enormous contributions that the players made throughout, particularly those who served on the negotiating and return to play committees, as well as those on the executive board.”
“I also thank Gary Bettman, Bill Daly and the NHL staff for their efforts towards finding solutions to the problems we face. Most importantly, we are pleased to be able to bring NHL hockey back to the fans. We look forward to the NHL’s continued growth here in North America and on the world stage.”
The NHL draft is tentative scheduled for Oct. 9-10. The start date for the 2020-21 season could be Dec. 1, but that’s to-be-determined.


thedenverpost--2020-07-10--Bear attacks woman in Manitou Springs

Bear attacks woman in Manitou Springs

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are searching for a female bear with two cubs that attacked a woman in Manitou Springs on Thursday night .
The sow charged her , knocked her down and clawed her back .
The woman , whose identity was not released , suffered three scratches down her back but was not injured seriously .
She did not seek medical attention .
A passer-by was chased by a bear a few minutes later in the same block , just south of downtown .
Parks and Wildlife was alerted to the attack Friday morning by police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was walking home from work about 11:40 p.m. Thursday when she encountered an adult bear on the street .
After the attack , the bears wandered off , and the victim walked to her nearby home .
Wildlife managers will search for the bears .
The public is urged to contact Parks and Wildlife immediately with any sightings of bears in Manitou Springs .
Witnesses can call the State Patrol after normal business hours .
“ This victim was very lucky she wasn ’ t more seriously injured in this attack , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this bear , ” said Cody Wigner , assistant area wildlife manager for the Colorado Springs region , in a news release .
“ We need the public ’ s help in catching this bear .
Any bear that is this aggressive toward people is an imminent threat to public health and safety and needs to be removed.
” Wigner warned residents of Manitou Springs to exercise caution while walking around town at night .
They should carry bear spray , make noise and avoid walking alone .
Pets should be kept on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secure their garbage cans because this bear reportedly has been seen eating from trash cans .

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers are searching for a female bear with two cubs that attacked a woman in Manitou Springs on Thursday night. The sow charged her, knocked her down and clawed her back.
The woman, whose identity was not released, suffered three scratches down her back but was not injured seriously. She did not seek medical attention.
A passer-by was chased by a bear a few minutes later in the same block, just south of downtown.
Parks and Wildlife was alerted to the attack Friday morning by police. The victim told Parks and Wildlife officers she was walking home from work about 11:40 p.m. Thursday when she encountered an adult bear on the street.
After the attack, the bears wandered off, and the victim walked to her nearby home.
Wildlife managers will search for the bears. The public is urged to contact Parks and Wildlife immediately with any sightings of bears in Manitou Springs. Witnesses can call the State Patrol after normal business hours.
“This victim was very lucky she wasn’t more seriously injured in this attack, and we are urgently trying to find this bear,” said Cody Wigner, assistant area wildlife manager for the Colorado Springs region, in a news release. “We need the public’s help in catching this bear. Any bear that is this aggressive toward people is an imminent threat to public health and safety and needs to be removed.”
Wigner warned residents of Manitou Springs to exercise caution while walking around town at night. They should carry bear spray, make noise and avoid walking alone. Pets should be kept on a leash. Wigner also urged residents to secure their garbage cans because this bear reportedly has been seen eating from trash cans.


thedenverpost--2020-07-10--Preliminary hearing scheduled in Denver stabbing death

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for a man suspected of a fatal stabbing in Denver .
Jonathan Jordan , 26 @ @ @ @ @ death of 21-year-old Joshua Spielman , according to police .
Spielman , who was stabbed @ @ @ @ @ South Quebec Street , died May 22 at the University of Colorado Hospital .
Jordan @ @ @ @ @ Jordan ’ s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3 .
He has been charged @ @ @ @

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for a man suspected of a fatal stabbing in Denver.
Jonathan Jordan, 26, is suspected in the death of 21-year-old Joshua Spielman, according to police.
Spielman, who was stabbed in the 1800 block of South Quebec Street, died May 22 at the University of Colorado Hospital. Jordan was arrested May 26.
Jordan’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3. He has been charged with first-degree murder.


thedenverpost--2020-07-11--Tay Anderson is bold, brash and unapologetic about seeking change in Denver

Tay Anderson needs some new shoes .
It ’ s June 24 , and the 21-year-old activist and Denver school board member is enjoying a rare day off .
Over the prior month , he ’ d hit the pavement hard , walking miles through downtown Denver , bullhorn glued to his hand , helping spearhead massive marches against police brutality .
He rallied for a new neighborhood name in Stapleton and helped push Denver Public Schools to end its contract with the city ’ s police department .
All that can wear down a man ’ s soles — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My shoes are all activism-ed out right now , ” Anderson said with a laugh .
Briefly homeless at one time , Anderson bounded into the spotlight three years ago , announcing a run for school board before he even had received his high school diploma — and subsequently becoming one of Colorado ’ s youngest-ever elected officials .
But over the past month-and-a-half — as historic protests engulfed the Mile High City , prompting sweeping police changes as part of a national reckoning on race — Anderson has become one of Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man who only this year could legally buy a beer is building a fervent following , and a national audience , as he inserts himself into hot-button issues , from keeping the peace during the George Floyd protests to urging Gov .
Jared Polis to take action on the death of Elijah McClain at the hands of Aurora police .
His act-first , ask-questions-later style riles even those close to him on occasion , leading to conflict with some of his own allies .
But as Anderson raises his profile far beyond that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murmurs about his future grow louder .
“ I don ’ t think this is a moment for Tay , ” said state Rep. Leslie Herod , a Denver Democrat and one of Anderson ’ s mentors .
“ I think he will be here for a very long time.
” Anderson ’ s title is at-large school board member , but as he said repeatedly while campaigning , “ You ’ re also electing Tay Anderson the activist.
” And it ’ s not in his nature to wait on others to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Colorado Capitol in late May and early June , outraged over Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police , Anderson noticed it was mostly white allies leading the charge .
So he grabbed a bullhorn and started chanting , the beginning of his role over the next several days of leading marches , confronting protesters who went against his nonviolent approach and even negotiating with the police chief .
“ In this time , we need Black and brown and indigenous folks — and especially Black folks — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Anderson said .
He ’ s always had a natural leadership ability , a charisma that draws others towards him .
“ I imagine it ’ s like hearing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the first time , ” said Dave Russell , a photographer who has documented Anderson from the beginning .
“ It ’ s refreshing .
People are fired up in genuine way — it ’ s not same old ( expletive ) .
” As soon as the Floyd protests began to die down , Anderson took on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-sponsoring a successful resolution to remove officers from Denver schools next year .
The school board was on the forefront of a growing national movement , pushed by data showing Black students are more likely to be arrested than their white classmates .
Anderson then turned his focus on Stapleton , the neighborhood on the site of Denver ’ s old airport named after a former city mayor with ties to the Ku Klux Klan .
There had been an effort for years to remove the name , but it was a day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a week to change the name — or else Black Lives Matter demonstrators would march on their streets — that the association announced that change was coming .
“ People are eager for someone to unapologetically stand up and start demanding these things we ’ ve been begging for a century to take place , ” said Tiffany Caudil , Anderson ’ s first campaign manager .
That unapologetic nature has become Anderson ’ s calling card .
His supporters — Team Tay , he calls them — love the bold , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gets results .
It ’ s on full display on Twitter , where Anderson regularly engages with his 24,000 followers .
He posts silly dance videos and crowdsources for album title names .
He ’ s also not shy about sharing quotes of himself in news reports , or his own election results from last year ’ s school board victory or daring critics to run against him for his seat .
Anderson ’ s penchant for rushing to take a stand on social media can lead to him backtracking and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same day .
Earlier this month , Anderson demanded the immediate expulsion of a University of Colorado Boulder student over racist images the student shared on Snapchat .
After learning the student was in eighth grade when the photos were taken , Anderson said the teen should instead receive equity training before returning to campus — but later reversed himself again and issued yet another statement , returning to his original demand of expulsion .
Brother Jeff Fard , a longtime community activist and historian in Denver ’ s Five Points neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young bull , ” someone who goes into a space without caring what ’ s already there , someone who shakes things up .
Anderson ’ s detractors on social media say he ’ s got an ego , that he ’ s more worried about his political career than bringing change to the school system .
John Castillo , whose son Kendrick was killed in the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch last year , said he wished Anderson would have spoken with parents like him before pushing to take cops out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that as director of DPS , he should focus on graduation rates and helping minority students with opportunities , ” Castillo said .
During the Floyd protests , Anderson took criticism for linking up with a group that marched with police , calling himself a “ blind follower ” before admitting he made a mistake .
The head of the We Are Love Denver group , Neil Yarborough , called Anderson a “ brilliant young man ” in an interview but said he still has “ growing up to do and maturing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , at a rally for McClain , organizers and activists called out Anderson for taking over a demonstration that wasn ’ t his and splitting it in two , causing confusion and frustration .
“ I care about Tay very much .
But he was wrong today , ” Elisabeth Epps , an activist who Anderson has called a mentor and mother figure , said in a tweet .
She declined an interview request .
Anderson is abundantly aware of the criticism levied against him .
While he apologized for his role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the We Are Love Denver group , what he won ’ t do is say sorry for pushing for bold change — or even publicly touting his own achievements .
That ’ s him being “ unapologetically Tay.
” “ I was able to defy the odds to be here , ” Anderson said .
“ I was the son of a single mother who failed freshman year of high school , a college dropout ’ cause I couldn ’ t afford it .
I worked several minimum wage jobs .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I am damn proud about that , and I will tell everyone about it at every turn.
” Being a Black elected official , Anderson said , is “ like playing Jesus at times.
” “ If you ’ re not perfect to the Black community , then you ’ re trash , ” he said .
“ If you ’ re not perfect to the left , or the lefter part of the Democratic Party , you ’ re trash .
Republicans just hate me.
” The godly comparison may seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But as Anderson ’ s profile continues to rise , so are comparisons to some notable historical figures .
Fard first met Anderson in 2014 as the high schooler led protests following the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri .
“ He told me — and I ’ ll never forget this — that he would be the first black governor of Colorado , ” Fard said .
“ I believed him then and I believe him now.
” Before the school board run , Fard saw a kid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but now he ’ s seeing that vision backed up by purpose , a man “ destined for greatness.
” “ I know it sounds strange equating Tay to Dr. ( Martin Luther ) King now , but 30 years from now or 10 years from now , it might not sound so unusual if you look at the accomplishments he ’ s already made.
” To older activists , Anderson is the face of a new generation , someone who can stand on the shoulders of those who fought for radical change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s our ancestors ’ dream , ” said Hashim Coates , an activist and veteran of Colorado Democratic politics .
Just three years out of high school , Anderson — who is well aware he can ’ t run for Denver mayor until he ’ s 30 — is already thinking about his legacy .
“ I want to be able to live every day to the fullest , ” he said .
“ Whenever my sunset arrives , I want to know I did good in this world , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for kids .
”

Tay Anderson needs some new shoes.
It’s June 24, and the 21-year-old activist and Denver school board member is enjoying a rare day off.
Over the prior month, he’d hit the pavement hard, walking miles through downtown Denver, bullhorn glued to his hand, helping spearhead massive marches against police brutality. He rallied for a new neighborhood name in Stapleton and helped push Denver Public Schools to end its contract with the city’s police department.
All that can wear down a man’s soles — but certainly not his soul.
“My shoes are all activism-ed out right now,” Anderson said with a laugh.
Briefly homeless at one time, Anderson bounded into the spotlight three years ago, announcing a run for school board before he even had received his high school diploma — and subsequently becoming one of Colorado’s youngest-ever elected officials.
But over the past month-and-a-half — as historic protests engulfed the Mile High City, prompting sweeping police changes as part of a national reckoning on race — Anderson has become one of Denver’s most recognizable faces. A man who only this year could legally buy a beer is building a fervent following, and a national audience, as he inserts himself into hot-button issues, from keeping the peace during the George Floyd protests to urging Gov. Jared Polis to take action on the death of Elijah McClain at the hands of Aurora police.
His act-first, ask-questions-later style riles even those close to him on occasion, leading to conflict with some of his own allies. But as Anderson raises his profile far beyond that of a traditional school board member, murmurs about his future grow louder.
“I don’t think this is a moment for Tay,” said state Rep. Leslie Herod, a Denver Democrat and one of Anderson’s mentors. “I think he will be here for a very long time.”
Leading the charge
Anderson’s title is at-large school board member, but as he said repeatedly while campaigning, “You’re also electing Tay Anderson the activist.”
And it’s not in his nature to wait on others to get things done.
As people descended on the Colorado Capitol in late May and early June, outraged over Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, Anderson noticed it was mostly white allies leading the charge. So he grabbed a bullhorn and started chanting, the beginning of his role over the next several days of leading marches, confronting protesters who went against his nonviolent approach and even negotiating with the police chief.
“In this time, we need Black and brown and indigenous folks — and especially Black folks — to step forward and lead this movement,” Anderson said.
He’s always had a natural leadership ability, a charisma that draws others towards him.
“I imagine it’s like hearing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for the first time,” said Dave Russell, a photographer who has documented Anderson from the beginning. “It’s refreshing. People are fired up in genuine way — it’s not same old (expletive).”
As soon as the Floyd protests began to die down, Anderson took on the police from his school board seat, co-sponsoring a successful resolution to remove officers from Denver schools next year. The school board was on the forefront of a growing national movement, pushed by data showing Black students are more likely to be arrested than their white classmates.
Anderson then turned his focus on Stapleton, the neighborhood on the site of Denver’s old airport named after a former city mayor with ties to the Ku Klux Klan. There had been an effort for years to remove the name, but it was a day after Anderson tweeted that the neighborhood association had a week to change the name — or else Black Lives Matter demonstrators would march on their streets — that the association announced that change was coming.
“People are eager for someone to unapologetically stand up and start demanding these things we’ve been begging for a century to take place,” said Tiffany Caudil, Anderson’s first campaign manager.
“Unapologetically Tay”
That unapologetic nature has become Anderson’s calling card. His supporters — Team Tay, he calls them — love the bold, brash way he thrashes through red tape and gets results.
It’s on full display on Twitter, where Anderson regularly engages with his 24,000 followers. He posts silly dance videos and crowdsources for album title names. He’s also not shy about sharing quotes of himself in news reports, or his own election results from last year’s school board victory or daring critics to run against him for his seat.
Anderson’s penchant for rushing to take a stand on social media can lead to him backtracking and then returning to previous positions — all in the same day.
Earlier this month, Anderson demanded the immediate expulsion of a University of Colorado Boulder student over racist images the student shared on Snapchat. After learning the student was in eighth grade when the photos were taken, Anderson said the teen should instead receive equity training before returning to campus — but later reversed himself again and issued yet another statement, returning to his original demand of expulsion.
Brother Jeff Fard, a longtime community activist and historian in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, refers to Anderson as the “young bull,” someone who goes into a space without caring what’s already there, someone who shakes things up.
Anderson’s detractors on social media say he’s got an ego, that he’s more worried about his political career than bringing change to the school system. John Castillo, whose son Kendrick was killed in the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch last year, said he wished Anderson would have spoken with parents like him before pushing to take cops out of schools.
“I really think that as director of DPS, he should focus on graduation rates and helping minority students with opportunities,” Castillo said.
During the Floyd protests, Anderson took criticism for linking up with a group that marched with police, calling himself a “blind follower” before admitting he made a mistake. The head of the We Are Love Denver group, Neil Yarborough, called Anderson a “brilliant young man” in an interview but said he still has “growing up to do and maturing to do as a man.”
Three weeks later, at a rally for McClain, organizers and activists called out Anderson for taking over a demonstration that wasn’t his and splitting it in two, causing confusion and frustration.
“I care about Tay very much. But he was wrong today,” Elisabeth Epps, an activist who Anderson has called a mentor and mother figure, said in a tweet. She declined an interview request.
Anderson is abundantly aware of the criticism levied against him.
“I’m 21,” he said. “I make mistakes.”
While he apologized for his role in the McClain protests and distanced himself from the We Are Love Denver group, what he won’t do is say sorry for pushing for bold change — or even publicly touting his own achievements. That’s him being “unapologetically Tay.”
“I was able to defy the odds to be here,” Anderson said. “I was the son of a single mother who failed freshman year of high school, a college dropout ’cause I couldn’t afford it. I worked several minimum wage jobs. To be elected to the Denver school board, I am damn proud about that, and I will tell everyone about it at every turn.”
Being a Black elected official, Anderson said, is “like playing Jesus at times.”
“If you’re not perfect to the Black community, then you’re trash,” he said. “If you’re not perfect to the left, or the lefter part of the Democratic Party, you’re trash. Republicans just hate me.”
“Our ancestors’ dream”
The godly comparison may seem outlandish for a 21-year-old school board member. But as Anderson’s profile continues to rise, so are comparisons to some notable historical figures.
Fard first met Anderson in 2014 as the high schooler led protests following the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
“He told me — and I’ll never forget this — that he would be the first black governor of Colorado,” Fard said. “I believed him then and I believe him now.”
Before the school board run, Fard saw a kid who was a leader and visionary, but now he’s seeing that vision backed up by purpose, a man “destined for greatness.”
“I know it sounds strange equating Tay to Dr. (Martin Luther) King now, but 30 years from now or 10 years from now, it might not sound so unusual if you look at the accomplishments he’s already made.”
To older activists, Anderson is the face of a new generation, someone who can stand on the shoulders of those who fought for radical change before him.
“I would say he’s our ancestors’ dream,” said Hashim Coates, an activist and veteran of Colorado Democratic politics.
Just three years out of high school, Anderson — who is well aware he can’t run for Denver mayor until he’s 30 — is already thinking about his legacy.
“I want to be able to live every day to the fullest,” he said. “Whenever my sunset arrives, I want to know I did good in this world, and at least make Denver a better place for kids.”
Denver Post staff writer Shelly Bradbury contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-07-11--Colorado’s unemployed workers face a big hit if federal assistance gets cut off in two weeks

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation , the extra $ 600 a week in benefits unemployed workers now receive , is slated to end July 25 , which could spell financial woes for the roughly 345,000 people in the state relying on it to make ends meet .
“ We doubt from what we are hearing from our staffer friends on the HIll that they ( Congress ) will actually make a decision before July 25 .
It is very likely there will be a gap of some sort on that $ 600 a week benefit , ” said Cher Haavind , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Labor and Employment , during a news call Thursday morning .
Since March 29 , the CDLE said it has paid out $ 1.79 billion in FPUC dollars in Colorado , which surpasses the $ 1.14 billion paid out in state unemployment benefits .
“ Unfortunately , more trouble is on the horizon as coronavirus cases continue to rise , states begin to re-shutter , and unemployed workers face further economic devastation when the unemployment insurance enhancements expire on July 25 , ” Elise Gould , a senior economist with the Economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post .
“ Without further aid to workers and their families as well as state and local governments , the economic pain will be with us for a very long time.
” Colorado stands to lose more than 66,898 jobs over the coming year if the extra $ 600 a week that the federal government is providing to unemployed workers and contractors goes away completely , according to an analysis from the EPI .
The estimate represents about 2.4 % of the state ’ s current workforce and reflects the decrease in spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elimination of federal benefits would cause .
The Ascent , a Motley Fool company , surveyed 2,000 Americans who lost income because of the pandemic and found that nearly one in three couldn ’ t last more than a month without the extra $ 600 a week .
Nearly nine in 10 said they would be financially sunk within six months , which in turn would likely carry severe repercussions for landlords and consumer lenders .
But not everyone is on board with extending the extra $ 600 a month in benefits , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 15 an hour .
Combine state and federal benefits , and about five in six unemployed workers are making more not working than they would be working , according to the Congressional Budget Office .
Locally , employers have complained about workers refusing to return to their jobs , to the point of asking the state to cut off benefits .
And the CBO , contradicting the EPI , argues that extending the payments into next year , which the House version of the HEROES Act proposes , could actually act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bipartisan Policy Center , calling the decision one of the most important Congress will make this summer , argues for a compromise .
Benefits should be reduced to $ 400 a week through September and then revisited .
If the outbreaks flaring up in multiple states worsen and cause a return of stay-at-home orders , then benefits should be extended , the center argues .

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, the extra $600 a week in benefits unemployed workers now receive, is slated to end July 25, which could spell financial woes for the roughly 345,000 people in the state relying on it to make ends meet.
“We doubt from what we are hearing from our staffer friends on the Hill that they (Congress) will actually make a decision before July 25. It is very likely there will be a gap of some sort on that $600 a week benefit,” said Cher Haavind, deputy executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, during a news call Thursday morning.
Since March 29, the CDLE said it has paid out $1.79 billion in FPUC dollars in Colorado, which surpasses the $1.14 billion paid out in state unemployment benefits.
“Unfortunately, more trouble is on the horizon as coronavirus cases continue to rise, states begin to re-shutter, and unemployed workers face further economic devastation when the unemployment insurance enhancements expire on July 25,” Elise Gould, a senior economist with the Economic Policy Institute, wrote in a blog post. “Without further aid to workers and their families as well as state and local governments, the economic pain will be with us for a very long time.”
Colorado stands to lose more than 66,898 jobs over the coming year if the extra $600 a week that the federal government is providing to unemployed workers and contractors goes away completely, according to an analysis from the EPI.
The estimate represents about 2.4% of the state’s current workforce and reflects the decrease in spending the loss of personal income that the elimination of federal benefits would cause.
The Ascent, a Motley Fool company, surveyed 2,000 Americans who lost income because of the pandemic and found that nearly one in three couldn’t last more than a month without the extra $600 a week. Nearly nine in 10 said they would be financially sunk within six months, which in turn would likely carry severe repercussions for landlords and consumer lenders.
But not everyone is on board with extending the extra $600 a month in benefits, which works out to the equivalent of $15 an hour. Combine state and federal benefits, and about five in six unemployed workers are making more not working than they would be working, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Locally, employers have complained about workers refusing to return to their jobs, to the point of asking the state to cut off benefits. And the CBO, contradicting the EPI, argues that extending the payments into next year, which the House version of the HEROES Act proposes, could actually act as a drag on the economy.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, calling the decision one of the most important Congress will make this summer, argues for a compromise. Benefits should be reduced to $400 a week through September and then revisited. If the outbreaks flaring up in multiple states worsen and cause a return of stay-at-home orders, then benefits should be extended, the center argues.


thedenverpost--2020-07-11--Colorado, like other states, trims mental health programs amid health crisis

As a teenager , Paulina Castle struggled for years with suicidal thoughts .
When her mental health was at its most fragile , she would isolate herself , spending days in her room alone .
“ That ’ s the exact thing that makes you feel significantly worse , ” the 26-year-old Denver woman said .
“ It creates a cycle where you ’ re constantly getting dug into a deeper hole.
” Part of her recovery involved forcing herself to leave her room to socialize or to exercise outside .
But the COVID-19 pandemic has made all of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on the street in her job as a political canvasser , she is working at home on the phone .
And with social distancing rules in place , she has fewer opportunities to meet with friends .
“ Since the virus started , ” she said , “ it ’ s been a lot easier to fall back into that cycle.
” Between the challenges of the pandemic , the social unrest and the economic crisis , mental health providers are warning that the need for behavioral health services is growing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is cutting spending on a number of mental health and substance use treatment programs .
Across the country , the recession has cut state revenues at the same time the pandemic has increased costs , forcing lawmakers into painful decisions about how to balance their budgets .
State legislatures have been forced to consider health care cuts and delay new health programs even in the midst of a health care crisis .
But many lawmakers and health experts are concerned the cuts needed to balance state budgets now could exacerbate the pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health care cuts tend to be on the table , and of course , it ’ s counterproductive , ” said Edwin Park , a health policy professor at Georgetown University .
When there ’ s a recession , people lose their jobs and health insurance , he noted , the very moment when people need those health programs the most .
“ Everything has to be on the table ” In Colorado , for example , lawmakers had to fill a $ 3.3 billion hole in the budget for fiscal year 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included cuts to a handful of mental health programs , with small overall savings but potentially significant impact on those who relied on them .
They cut $ 1 million from a program designed to keep people with mental illness out of the hospital and another million from mental health services for juvenile and adult offenders .
Lawmakers reduced funding for substance abuse treatment in county jails by $ 735,000 and eliminated $ 5 million earmarked for addiction treatment programs in underserved communities .
And that ’ s all on top of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who offer health care to the state ’ s poorest residents .
Some of those cuts were offset by $ 15.2 million in federal CARES Act funding allocated to behavioral health care programs .
But some programs were completely defunded .
Cuts were targeted primarily at programs that hadn ’ t started yet or hadn ’ t been fully implemented .
The rationale : Those cuts wouldn ’ t have as deep an impact .
Doyle Forrestal , CEO of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council , which represents 23 behavioral health care providers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be there for an emerging wave of people who have developed mental health or addiction issues during the pandemic .
“ People who are isolated at home are drinking a lot more , maybe having other problems — isolation , economic despair , ” she said .
“ There ’ s going to be a whole new influx once all of this takes hold.
” State legislators said they tried to avoid cutting programs that would hamper the response to the pandemic or the economic recovery .
“ There was a desire on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect health care spending in Colorado , ” said Democratic Rep. Dylan Roberts .
“ But when you ’ re looking at across-the-board cuts , everything has to be on the table.
” Every state is facing a similar conundrum .
With tax filing deadlines pushed back to July 15 , states are unsure how much income tax revenue they will collect .
So in addition to cutting back where possible , states are raiding discretionary funds — Colorado repurposed money from the tobacco settlement and marijuana taxes — to shore up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rainy day funds , which , according to the National Association of State Budget Officers , grew to record levels after the 2008 recession .
Overall , at least 43 states have made some changes to facilitate access to Medicaid or the Children ’ s Health Insurance Program as many people have lost their job-based health insurance in the COVID crisis .
And in late June , voters in Oklahoma approved expanding Medicaid to more residents .
But since the start of the pandemic , states including Kansas and California have put off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which provides health care to low-income people .
“ These are symptoms of states that can ’ t deficit-spend , despite this great need for more coverage , ” said Sara Collins , vice president for health care coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund , an independent health policy research foundation based in New York .
“ If they spend more in one area , that means cuts in another.
” Colorado has had an aggressive health agenda in recent years but had to defer plans for a public health insurance option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan for people buying insurance on their own .
The legislature killed a proposal to create an annual mental health checkup .
The measure would have cost the state only $ 13,000 , but Democratic Gov .
Jared Polis signaled he wouldn ’ t sign any bills that included new mandates for insurance companies .
Democratic Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet , who sponsored the checkup measure , was disappointed .
“ Not every one of us is going to catch COVID , but every single one of us will have a mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economic crisis eases , Roberts said , lawmakers will look to restore funding to some of the programs they cut .
But cuts are often easier to make than to restore — as illustrated by cutbacks made during the 2008 recession , according to Georgetown ’ s Park .
“ Many cuts were never fully restored , even though we were in one of the longer economic expansion periods in our country ’ s history , ” Park said .
He also worries many of the smaller primary care and behavioral health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through their doors because of stay-at-home orders during the pandemic , might not survive .
“ That means less access to care , including routine care like vaccinations , ” he said .
“ If kids aren ’ t vaccinated , they may be more vulnerable to flu and measles , making them more vulnerable to COVID-19 .
That makes it more difficult for a stressed health care system to try to deal with a potential second wave of infections.
” The longer-term mental health toll may be harder to catalog .
Castle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishing routines to help her manage her mental health during the pandemic .
Every Wednesday night , she plays games online with her friends .
And every Friday night , she and her boyfriend build a fire in the backyard .
“ If I know people are expecting me to be somewhere at 6 o ’ clock , that obligation encourages me to go out , ” she explained .
“ There are days it ’ s a struggle .
I have to focus on baby steps.
” Still , Castle worries about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
She has signed on to work with the Colorado chapter of Young Invincibles , which lobbies for health care , higher education and workforce policies to help young adults .
Even as states and the federal government have found the money to help hospitals and doctors treat the physical effects of the COVID pandemic , she doesn ’ t see the same commitment to treating its mental health toll .
“ We need to start treating mental health the same as we do physical health , ” she said .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping in the dark.
” If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide , call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 , or use the online Lifeline Chat , both available 24 hours a day , seven days a week .
Kaiser Health News ( KHN ) is a national health policy news service .
It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente .
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

By Markian Hawryluk, Kaiser Health News
As a teenager, Paulina Castle struggled for years with suicidal thoughts. When her mental health was at its most fragile, she would isolate herself, spending days in her room alone.
“That’s the exact thing that makes you feel significantly worse,” the 26-year-old Denver woman said. “It creates a cycle where you’re constantly getting dug into a deeper hole.”
Part of her recovery involved forcing herself to leave her room to socialize or to exercise outside. But the COVID-19 pandemic has made all of that much harder. Instead of interacting with people on the street in her job as a political canvasser, she is working at home on the phone. And with social distancing rules in place, she has fewer opportunities to meet with friends.
“Since the virus started,” she said, “it’s been a lot easier to fall back into that cycle.”
Between the challenges of the pandemic, the social unrest and the economic crisis, mental health providers are warning that the need for behavioral health services is growing. Yet faced with budgetary shortfalls, Colorado is cutting spending on a number of mental health and substance use treatment programs.
Across the country, the recession has cut state revenues at the same time the pandemic has increased costs, forcing lawmakers into painful decisions about how to balance their budgets. State legislatures have been forced to consider health care cuts and delay new health programs even in the midst of a health care crisis. But many lawmakers and health experts are concerned the cuts needed to balance state budgets now could exacerbate the pandemic and the recession down the line.
“Health care cuts tend to be on the table, and of course, it’s counterproductive,” said Edwin Park, a health policy professor at Georgetown University. When there’s a recession, people lose their jobs and health insurance, he noted, the very moment when people need those health programs the most.
“Everything has to be on the table”
In Colorado, for example, lawmakers had to fill a $3.3 billion hole in the budget for fiscal year 2020, which started July 1. That included cuts to a handful of mental health programs, with small overall savings but potentially significant impact on those who relied on them.
They cut $1 million from a program designed to keep people with mental illness out of the hospital and another million from mental health services for juvenile and adult offenders. Lawmakers reduced funding for substance abuse treatment in county jails by $735,000 and eliminated $5 million earmarked for addiction treatment programs in underserved communities. And that’s all on top of a 1% cut to Medicaid community providers who offer health care to the state’s poorest residents.
Some of those cuts were offset by $15.2 million in federal CARES Act funding allocated to behavioral health care programs. But some programs were completely defunded. Cuts were targeted primarily at programs that hadn’t started yet or hadn’t been fully implemented. The rationale: Those cuts wouldn’t have as deep an impact.
Doyle Forrestal, CEO of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, which represents 23 behavioral health care providers, worries that resources won’t be there for an emerging wave of people who have developed mental health or addiction issues during the pandemic.
“People who are isolated at home are drinking a lot more, maybe having other problems — isolation, economic despair,” she said. “There’s going to be a whole new influx once all of this takes hold.”
State legislators said they tried to avoid cutting programs that would hamper the response to the pandemic or the economic recovery.
“There was a desire on both sides to do everything we could to protect health care spending in Colorado,” said Democratic Rep. Dylan Roberts. “But when you’re looking at across-the-board cuts, everything has to be on the table.”
Every state is facing a similar conundrum. With tax filing deadlines pushed back to July 15, states are unsure how much income tax revenue they will collect.
So in addition to cutting back where possible, states are raiding discretionary funds — Colorado repurposed money from the tobacco settlement and marijuana taxes — to shore up their budgets. States are also tapping rainy day funds, which, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers, grew to record levels after the 2008 recession.
New policies delayed
Overall, at least 43 states have made some changes to facilitate access to Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program as many people have lost their job-based health insurance in the COVID crisis. And in late June, voters in Oklahoma approved expanding Medicaid to more residents. But since the start of the pandemic, states including Kansas and California have put off plans to expand eligibility for Medicaid, which provides health care to low-income people.
“These are symptoms of states that can’t deficit-spend, despite this great need for more coverage,” said Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access at the Commonwealth Fund, an independent health policy research foundation based in New York. “If they spend more in one area, that means cuts in another.”
Colorado has had an aggressive health agenda in recent years but had to defer plans for a public health insurance option that could have provided a more affordable plan for people buying insurance on their own.
The legislature killed a proposal to create an annual mental health checkup. The measure would have cost the state only $13,000, but Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signaled he wouldn’t sign any bills that included new mandates for insurance companies.
Democratic Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, who sponsored the checkup measure, was disappointed.
“Not every one of us is going to catch COVID, but every single one of us will have a mental health impact,” she said.
Long-term implications
Once the economic crisis eases, Roberts said, lawmakers will look to restore funding to some of the programs they cut.
But cuts are often easier to make than to restore — as illustrated by cutbacks made during the 2008 recession, according to Georgetown’s Park.
“Many cuts were never fully restored, even though we were in one of the longer economic expansion periods in our country’s history,” Park said.
He also worries many of the smaller primary care and behavioral health providers, who saw fewer patients come through their doors because of stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, might not survive.
“That means less access to care, including routine care like vaccinations,” he said. “If kids aren’t vaccinated, they may be more vulnerable to flu and measles, making them more vulnerable to COVID-19. That makes it more difficult for a stressed health care system to try to deal with a potential second wave of infections.”
The longer-term mental health toll may be harder to catalog.
Castle, for one, has focused on establishing routines to help her manage her mental health during the pandemic. Every Wednesday night, she plays games online with her friends. And every Friday night, she and her boyfriend build a fire in the backyard.
“If I know people are expecting me to be somewhere at 6 o’clock, that obligation encourages me to go out,” she explained. “There are days it’s a struggle. I have to focus on baby steps.”
Still, Castle worries about others who may be struggling during the pandemic. She has signed on to work with the Colorado chapter of Young Invincibles, which lobbies for health care, higher education and workforce policies to help young adults. Even as states and the federal government have found the money to help hospitals and doctors treat the physical effects of the COVID pandemic, she doesn’t see the same commitment to treating its mental health toll.
“We need to start treating mental health the same as we do physical health,” she said. This is an issue we need to stop keeping in the dark.”
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or use the online Lifeline Chat, both available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
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thedenverpost--2020-07-11--Chambers: Risk of losing a game-changing star to COVID-19 will hover over Stanley Cup playoffs

Assuming NHL training camps open Monday and teams actually arrive in their hub cities July 26 , this proposed 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs should be a hoot .
There ’ s certainly a lot of ifs about the NHL ’ s return to play and completion of the 2019-20 season , and I ’ ll start with an example every Avalanche fan can draw interest from .
What if Nathan MacKinnon , the Avs ’ best player , tests positive for coronavirus but he ’ s asymptomatic or isn ’ t too sick to play ?
The NHL has made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown and not eligible to return until he has four consecutive negative tests .
But what if tracing leads to a waiter inside the hotel bubble likely spreading COVID-19 to MacKinnon , among hundreds of players staying at that hotel , with each team on different floors but everyone eating the same food ?
If MacKinnon tests positive but is asymptomatic or feels good enough to play , do you really make him a mandatory scratch while all the others exposed in the same bubble hotel continue to play ?
The NHL is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chara to play in Games 5 , 6 and 7 of the last year ’ s Stanley Cup Final with pins supporting multiple jaw fractures , and it ’ s a league with a history of players playing with broken extremities and other serious injuries .
The NHL has never before been so concerned with a player ’ s health during the Stanley Cup playoffs .
I ’ m not suggesting that ’ s a bad thing , but just acknowledging the huge risks in pulling this off during a pandemic .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage it can do to older people and those with underlying medical conditions , and that any new case is bad news .
It ’ s also unlikely to harm a physically fit 24-year-old hockey player like MacKinnon and the majority of his peers .
So is scratching MacKinnon done to protect everyone else in the bubble that isn ’ t a player , such as a coach , trainer , executive or referee ?
If that ’ s the case , and a superstar like MacKinnon is out of the tournament because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one big flaw .
Perhaps we should consider calling the whole thing off — an item the NHL did include in its extensive return-to-play protocol Tuesday .
Bottom line : If a superstar gets expelled from the tournament for a positive test , go ahead and add that asterisk to the 2020 playoffs , whether it ’ s completed or not .
That said , let ’ s switch gears .
Let ’ s play hockey !
I ’ m optimistically excited for this smorgasbord of daily playoff hockey .
Games are scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edmonton ( Western Conference ) and Toronto ( Eastern Conference ) — and in the early rounds there will be three games in each hub beginning at noon , 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. , so six teams in each conference competing daily .
Since Edmonton is mountain time and Toronto eastern time , all games are staggered for your thorough television enjoyment .
The NHL ’ s lengthy return-to-play protocol has an item on team attire that caught my eye .
Players will not be required to don suits for games , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of them will read past that and do their thing — which is look as good as possible before games .
These guys universally believe that they come prepared and play as well as they look .
In closing , it ’ s looking like the 2020 Stanley Cup Final will be played when the 2020-21 preseason was originally scheduled — around Sept. 20 to Oct. 2 , according to Sportnet ’ s Elliotte Friedman .
Friedman also expects the draft to be held Oct. 6 , next season ’ s training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin Dec. 1 .
Lots of ifs and whens with the NHL in today ’ s COVID-19 world .

Assuming NHL training camps open Monday and teams actually arrive in their hub cities July 26, this proposed 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs should be a hoot.
If a lot of things don’t happen.
There’s certainly a lot of ifs about the NHL’s return to play and completion of the 2019-20 season, and I’ll start with an example every Avalanche fan can draw interest from.
What if Nathan MacKinnon, the Avs’ best player, tests positive in Edmonton for coronavirus but he’s asymptomatic or isn’t too sick to play? The NHL has made it clear: He’s on lockdown and not eligible to return until he has four consecutive negative tests.
But what if tracing leads to a waiter inside the hotel bubble likely spreading COVID-19 to MacKinnon, among hundreds of players staying at that hotel, with each team on different floors but everyone eating the same food?
If MacKinnon tests positive but is asymptomatic or feels good enough to play, do you really make him a mandatory scratch while all the others exposed in the same bubble hotel continue to play?
The NHL is a league that allowed Boston captain Zdeno Chara to play in Games 5, 6 and 7 of the last year’s Stanley Cup Final with pins supporting multiple jaw fractures, and it’s a league with a history of players playing with broken extremities and other serious injuries.
The NHL has never before been so concerned with a player’s health during the Stanley Cup playoffs. I’m not suggesting that’s a bad thing, but just acknowledging the huge risks in pulling this off during a pandemic.
I understand and respect COVID-19 concerns and the damage it can do to older people and those with underlying medical conditions, and that any new case is bad news. It’s also unlikely to harm a physically fit 24-year-old hockey player like MacKinnon and the majority of his peers.
So is scratching MacKinnon done to protect everyone else in the bubble that isn’t a player, such as a coach, trainer, executive or referee? If that’s the case, and a superstar like MacKinnon is out of the tournament because of it, this season-saving model has one big flaw. Perhaps we should consider calling the whole thing off — an item the NHL did include in its extensive return-to-play protocol Tuesday.
Bottom line: If a superstar gets expelled from the tournament for a positive test, go ahead and add that asterisk to the 2020 playoffs, whether it’s completed or not.
That said, let’s switch gears. Let’s play hockey! I’m optimistically excited for this smorgasbord of daily playoff hockey.
Games are scheduled to begin Aug. 1 in Edmonton (Western Conference) and Toronto (Eastern Conference) and in the early rounds there will be as many as three games in each hub beginning at noon, 4-4:30 p.m. and 8-8:30 p.m., so up to six teams in each conference competing daily. Since Edmonton is mountain time and Toronto eastern time, all games are staggered for your thorough television enjoyment.
The NHL’s lengthy return-to-play protocol has an item on team attire that caught my eye. Players will not be required to don suits for games, but I’m betting that 95 percent of them will read past that and do their thing — which is look as good as possible before games.
These guys universally believe that they come prepared and play as well as they look.
In closing, it’s looking like the 2020 Stanley Cup Final will be played when the 2020-21 preseason was originally scheduled — around Sept. 20 to Oct. 2, according to Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Friedman also expects the draft to be held Oct. 6, next season’s training camps to open Nov. 17 and 2020-21 to begin Dec. 1.
Lots of ifs and whens with the NHL in today’s COVID-19 world.


thedenverpost--2020-07-11--Saunders:  MLB season on the brink? Which Rockies players must rebound? Other key questions

Five key questions as we near the opening of what promises to be the weirdest season in Major League Baseball history : 1 .
Will MLB be able to pull off a 60-game season , plus playoffs , in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic ?
It depends on who you ask .
One prominent agent told me that the players are taking the virus very seriously , but he still fears that if more big-name players test positive or if more stars opt out , it could all fall apart “ like a house of cards.
” Not quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writer Buster Olney put the probability of the season starting at a mere 5 % .
Olney put the probability that a champion would be crowned at zero .
I ’ m not that pessimistic .
After watching the Rockies practice for the past week , and after talking with a number of players , I ’ ve been impressed by how diligently they are adhering to safety protocols .
I ’ m saying there is a 60 % chance the season is completed .
2 .
The Rockies need a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but which of those players is most important ?
It ’ s got to be left-handed starter Kyle Freeland .
In a 60-game season , pitching depth matters , a lot , and the Rockies need quality innings from Freeland .
He doesn ’ t have to repeat his 17-7 record and 2.85 ERA from 2018 , but he has to be much better than his 3-11/6.73 mark from last season .
The other rebound candidates who could be major difference-makers ?
Incumbent closer Wade Davis and first baseman Daniel Murphy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge of being a closer , the Rockies must replace him quickly with Scott Oberg or Carlos Estevez .
3 .
What National League team will be hurt most by the coronavirus ?
It could well be the Atlanta Braves .
First baseman Freddie Freeman ’ s bout with COVID-19 and right fielder Nick Markakis ’ decision to opt out means that the Braves will be without their primary No .
5 and No .
3 hitters from last season .
Freeman should return when he ’ s healthy , but it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to play every day .
The Dodgers ’ loss of No .
3 starter David Price is a blow but they have enough depth to survive his absence .
4 .
This season is going to be a grind , with a lot of travel and a lot of games crammed into a small window .
So which team faces the toughest road ?
According to Baseball Savant , the Texas Rangers are scheduled to fly 14,706 miles , most in the majors .
The Milwaukee Brewers will have to travel only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Rockies ?
Their 11,332 miles rank fifth-most .
Here are two more things to note about the Rockies ’ schedule : First , they will have just one day off in August and will play a stretch of 33 games in 34 days between July 31 and Sept. 2 .
Ugh .
Second , the chances of a Rockies rainout or rain delay are minimal .
The only ballpark in the NL West or AL West that faces the legitimate chance of having a game washed out is Coors Field .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ season be ?
I ’ m going to steal some numbers from Hall of Fame baseball writer Jayson Stark , who points out the craziness of the Rockies ’ 2019 season .
Stark notes that the Rockies were 37-23 from April 13-June 20 , but were 34-68 in all other games .
“ In other words , for most of last season , they played like a 108-loss team , ” Stark wrote .
“ But for those 60 games , they played like a 100-win team .
So that was interesting .
@

Five key questions as we near the opening of what promises to be the weirdest season in Major League Baseball history:
1. Will MLB be able to pull off a 60-game season, plus playoffs, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic?
It depends on who you ask.
One prominent agent told me that the players are taking the virus very seriously, but he still fears that if more big-name players test positive or if more stars opt out, it could all fall apart “like a house of cards.”
Not quite two weeks ago, longtime ESPN baseball writer Buster Olney put the probability of the season starting at a mere 5%. Olney put the probability that a champion would be crowned at zero.
I’m not that pessimistic. After watching the Rockies practice for the past week, and after talking with a number of players, I’ve been impressed by how diligently they are adhering to safety protocols. I’m saying there is a 60% chance the season is completed.
2. The Rockies need a number of players to rebound from the 2019 season, but which of those players is most important?
It’s got to be left-handed starter Kyle Freeland. In a 60-game season, pitching depth matters, a lot, and the Rockies need quality innings from Freeland. He doesn’t have to repeat his 17-7 record and 2.85 ERA from 2018, but he has to be much better than his 3-11/6.73 mark from last season.
The other rebound candidates who could be major difference-makers? Incumbent closer Wade Davis and first baseman Daniel Murphy. If Davis is not up to the challenge of being a closer, the Rockies must replace him quickly with Scott Oberg or Carlos Estevez.
3. What National League team will be hurt most by the coronavirus?
It could well be the Atlanta Braves. First baseman Freddie Freeman’s bout with COVID-19 and right fielder Nick Markakis’ decision to opt out means that the Braves will be without their primary No. 5 and No. 3 hitters from last season. Freeman should return when he’s healthy, but it will likely take him a while to be able to play every day.
The Dodgers’ loss of No. 3 starter David Price is a blow but they have enough depth to survive his absence.
4. This season is going to be a grind, with a lot of travel and a lot of games crammed into a small window. So which team faces the toughest road?
According to Baseball Savant, the Texas Rangers are scheduled to fly 14,706 miles, most in the majors. The Milwaukee Brewers will have to travel only 3,926 miles, fewest in the majors. The Rockies? Their 11,332 miles rank fifth-most.
Here are two more things to note about the Rockies’ schedule:
First, they will have just one day off in August and will play a stretch of 33 games in 34 days between July 31 and Sept. 2. Ugh.
Second, the chances of a Rockies rainout or rain delay are minimal. The only ballpark in the NL West or AL West that faces the legitimate chance of having a game washed out is Coors Field.
5. How wonky could a 60-game season be?
I’m going to steal some numbers from Hall of Fame baseball writer Jayson Stark, who points out the craziness of the Rockies’ 2019 season. Stark notes that the Rockies were 37-23 from April 13-June 20, but were 34-68 in all other games.
“In other words, for most of last season, they played like a 108-loss team,” Stark wrote. “But for those 60 games, they played like a 100-win team. So that was interesting.”