thedenverpost--2020-05-18--Boulder woman arrested in Hawaii thought her plans to work as an herbalist exempted her from coronav

Boulder woman arrested in Hawaii thought her plans to work as an herbalist exempted her from coronavirus quarantine

A Boulder woman who was arrested in Hawaii over the weekend and accused of violating the state ’ s 14-day novel coronavirus quarantine said Monday she thought she was exempt from the requirement .
“ I thought I was here 100 % legally , ” Tara Trunfio , 23 , said .
“ I really did.
” Trunfio was arrested Saturday and charged with ignoring the state ’ s quarantine order , which requires anyone visiting or returning to Hawaii to isolate themselves for two weeks upon arrival .
She said Monday she thought she was classified as an essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because she planned to work as a herbalist .
“ I just want to farm , heal the Earth and do good things , ” she said from a hospital room where she was awaiting test results to see if she had COVID-19 .
The test came back negative , she said later .
Officials with the state ’ s COVID-19 Joint Information Center said in a statement Monday that Trunfio never received an exemption from quarantine and was not classified as an essential worker .
“ Even if Ms. Trunfio ‘ intending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a critical infrastructure worker , which it does not , that would only allow her to leave her designated quarantine location to perform her critical infrastructure work , ” the statement said .
Trunfio , who faces up to a year in jail and up to a $ 5,000 fine for violating the state ’ s order , said Monday she intends to fight the charges .
She came to Hawaii around May 3 intending to work on a farm for three months , but left that farm after a couple days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a car and in the woods for the next few days because she said she couldn ’ t afford a hotel room .
Trunfio showed The Denver Post screenshots of emails she sent the state ’ s quarantine hotline on May 5 , in which she wrote she was an exempted worker and that she ’ d be changing her address .
She never heard back , she said , which she thought meant she was all set .
“ I assumed that it was like , they put it in the books @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to this location , ’ ” she said .
Maui police on Friday asked the public to be on the lookout for Trunfio because she was violating quarantine .
That day , Trunfio went to the beach , met a young man there and agreed to give him a ride back to his home in Kula , she said .
After arriving there , Trunfio met the young man ’ s father , who apparently recognized her from news coverage generated by the police bulletin and called the authorities .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was trespassing on the property and refused to leave .
Trunfio said she was gathering up her belongings and was on her way out when officers arrived .
“ They grabbed the stuff out of my hands and they put me in shackles and I ’ m like , ‘ Please , please let me sit down for a moment , ’ ” she said .
She claimed the officers caused cuts on her wrist during the arrest .
On Monday , Trunfio said she ’ s still hoping to stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital , and that she ’ s hoping to find another farm to work at .
She said she ’ ll be careful to follow all of the state ’ s rules in the future .
“ I like to respect people , that is like my thing , ” she said .
“ It ’ s OK if people are scared .
But I wasn ’ t trying to be scary .
”

A Boulder woman who was arrested in Hawaii over the weekend and accused of violating the state’s 14-day novel coronavirus quarantine said Monday she thought she was exempt from the requirement.
“I thought I was here 100% legally,” Tara Trunfio, 23, said. “I really did.”
Trunfio was arrested Saturday and charged with ignoring the state’s quarantine order, which requires anyone visiting or returning to Hawaii to isolate themselves for two weeks upon arrival. She said Monday she thought she was classified as an essential worker who was exempt from the quarantine because she planned to work as a herbalist.
“I just want to farm, heal the Earth and do good things,” she said from a hospital room where she was awaiting test results to see if she had COVID-19. The test came back negative, she said later.
Officials with the state’s COVID-19 Joint Information Center said in a statement Monday that Trunfio never received an exemption from quarantine and was not classified as an essential worker.
“Even if Ms. Trunfio ‘intending’ to be a herbalist qualified her as a critical infrastructure worker, which it does not, that would only allow her to leave her designated quarantine location to perform her critical infrastructure work,” the statement said.
Trunfio, who faces up to a year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine for violating the state’s order, said Monday she intends to fight the charges.
She came to Hawaii around May 3 intending to work on a farm for three months, but left that farm after a couple days, Trunfio said, then slept in a car and in the woods for the next few days because she said she couldn’t afford a hotel room.
Trunfio showed The Denver Post screenshots of emails she sent the state’s quarantine hotline on May 5, in which she wrote she was an exempted worker and that she’d be changing her address. She never heard back, she said, which she thought meant she was all set.
“I assumed that it was like, they put it in the books as, ‘OK, this person moved to this location,’” she said.
Maui police on Friday asked the public to be on the lookout for Trunfio because she was violating quarantine. That day, Trunfio went to the beach, met a young man there and agreed to give him a ride back to his home in Kula, she said. After arriving there, Trunfio met the young man’s father, who apparently recognized her from news coverage generated by the police bulletin and called the authorities.
She was arrested around 2 a.m. Saturday. Police said she was trespassing on the property and refused to leave. Trunfio said she was gathering up her belongings and was on her way out when officers arrived.
“They grabbed the stuff out of my hands and they put me in shackles and I’m like, ‘Please, please let me sit down for a moment,’” she said. She claimed the officers caused cuts on her wrist during the arrest.
On Monday, Trunfio said she’s still hoping to stay in Hawaii after she is released from the hospital, and that she’s hoping to find another farm to work at. She said she’ll be careful to follow all of the state’s rules in the future.
“I like to respect people, that is like my thing,” she said. “It’s OK if people are scared. But I wasn’t trying to be scary.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-18--RTD launches nationwide search for next general manager

RTD is now officially accepting applications from anyone interested in running the sprawling transit agency as it faces challenges on numerous fronts .
The Regional Transportation District announced Monday that it is teaming up with executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates to launch a nationwide search for a general manager and CEO .
The goal is to have a new leader in place by autumn .
Interim General Manager Paul Ballard took over the top position at RTD in February after the departure of longtime RTD veteran Dave Genova .
“ Mr .
Ballard continues to do an excellent job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we move through these extraordinary times , ” Board Chair Angie Rivera-Malpiede said in a statement .
“ We are committed to finding a general manager and CEO to bring us into the next generation of this agency.
” RTD , like many transit agencies across the country , is struggling with severely reduced ridership and scaled back service as the coronavirus pandemic maintains its grip on the nation .
Interested applicants can read about the job on the RTD website and submit a cover letter , résumé and references by close of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kapartners.com .

RTD is now officially accepting applications from anyone interested in running the sprawling transit agency as it faces challenges on numerous fronts.
The Regional Transportation District announced Monday that it is teaming up with executive search firm Krauthamer & Associates to launch a nationwide search for a general manager and CEO. The goal is to have a new leader in place by autumn.
Interim General Manager Paul Ballard took over the top position at RTD in February after the departure of longtime RTD veteran Dave Genova.
“Mr. Ballard continues to do an excellent job at the helm of this agency as we move through these extraordinary times,” Board Chair Angie Rivera-Malpiede said in a statement. “We are committed to finding a general manager and CEO to bring us into the next generation of this agency.”
RTD, like many transit agencies across the country, is struggling with severely reduced ridership and scaled back service as the coronavirus pandemic maintains its grip on the nation.
Interested applicants can read about the job on the RTD website and submit a cover letter, résumé and references by close of business on July 10 at rtdgmsearch@kapartners.com.


thedenverpost--2020-05-18--Denver airport accelerates concourse projects by up to $560 million

Denver International Airport says the dramatic air-travel slowdown during the coronavirus pandemic provides the perfect opportunity to accelerate long-planned refurbishment work on all three of its concourses .
The Denver City Council signed off Monday on airport officials ’ proposal to spend up to $ 560 million more on DIA ’ s existing concourse expansion projects .
The $ 1.5 billion program , underway since 2018 , is adding 39 gates .
DIA says the additional work will include customization of those new gates and the building of nearby offices for United and Southwest airlines , which signed leases for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other work includes potential upgrades of restrooms , moving walkways , ramps and outdoor gate-apron areas that have aged since the airport ’ s 1995 opening .
That refurbishment work had been planned for several years out , but now DIA officials are considering putting those tasks on the same track as the new gates , which are pegged for completion by early 2022 .
Two main considerations are behind the plan : While DIA has slashed its operating budget and frozen hiring to absorb the hit from the pandemic , it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be spent on capital projects .
It ’ s sitting on well over $ 1 billion from bond proceeds and other sources , and DIA expects to receive another $ 269 million from the federal coronavirus stimulus bill .
The other factor is that passenger traffic has nose-dived by more than 90 % .
Projections of a slow recovery in air travel give the airport leeway to close down more areas than it typically could in the busy airport , officials told council members in briefing documents in recent weeks .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may hold back on some other planned projects , including a study for a seventh runway , parking upgrades , more hotel meeting space , and improvements and widening on Peña Boulevard .
DIA estimates the additional concourse work ’ s cost will range from $ 425 million to $ 560 million .
The expanded contracts set a limit at the higher amount , but DIA says any work will be based on task orders , subject to bidding between prime contractors .
Spokesperson Stacey Stegman says the setup allows for work to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cost savings ” because the contractors are already working on site .
“ If we end up not doing the whole $ 560 million , that ’ s fine , ” said Councilman Kevin Flynn , who has warmed up to the proposal , in an interview .
“ I like this approach better than issuing the whole contract .
I do think there ’ s a very good opportunity for ( DIA ) to emerge … in a stronger position than we were before , because of these improvements we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the added construction will bolster the local economy during the recession .
Pittsburgh ’ s airport has put a $ 1.1 billion modernization project on hold during the pandemic , but it was still in the design phase .
In Denver , airport and city officials are confident that air-traffic levels will justify the expanded gate capacity .
But there ’ s plenty of uncertainty about the pandemic ’ s potential effects .
“ If traffic doesn ’ t bounce back , ” Flynn said , “ then we do less work — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceeds.
” The council approved most of the expanded contracts in a block vote Monday .
Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore abstained from voting on one because her brother-in-law ’ s construction company is a subcontractor .
Despite the wide support Monday , DIA has faced some skeptical voices on the council in recent years due to the amount of money it spends — all self-generated — and problems on its separate terminal renovation .
Last year , amid tussles over the $ 650 million budget and delay projections , the airport terminated its contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s new concourse contract expansions allow increased spending of up to $ 265 million for a Holder-FCI joint venture ; $ 240 million for a Turner-Flatiron joint venture ; $ 20 million each for Jacobs Engineering and HNTB Corp. , for architectural and design work ; and $ 15 million for project manager WSP USA .

Denver International Airport says the dramatic air-travel slowdown during the coronavirus pandemic provides the perfect opportunity to accelerate long-planned refurbishment work on all three of its concourses.
The Denver City Council signed off Monday on airport officials’ proposal to spend up to $560 million more on DIA’s existing concourse expansion projects. The $1.5 billion program, underway since 2018, is adding 39 gates.
DIA says the additional work will include customization of those new gates and the building of nearby offices for United and Southwest airlines, which signed leases for most of them earlier this year. Other work includes potential upgrades of restrooms, moving walkways, ramps and outdoor gate-apron areas that have aged since the airport’s 1995 opening.
That refurbishment work had been planned for several years out, but now DIA officials are considering putting those tasks on the same track as the new gates, which are pegged for completion by early 2022.
Two main considerations are behind the plan: While DIA has slashed its operating budget and frozen hiring to absorb the hit from the pandemic, it’s flush with cash that can only be spent on capital projects. It’s sitting on well over $1 billion from bond proceeds and other sources, and DIA expects to receive another $269 million from the federal coronavirus stimulus bill.
The other factor is that passenger traffic has nose-dived by more than 90%. Projections of a slow recovery in air travel give the airport leeway to close down more areas than it typically could in the busy airport, officials told council members in briefing documents in recent weeks.
At the same time, the airport says it may hold back on some other planned projects, including a study for a seventh runway, parking upgrades, more hotel meeting space, and improvements and widening on Peña Boulevard.
DIA estimates the additional concourse work’s cost will range from $425 million to $560 million. The expanded contracts set a limit at the higher amount, but DIA says any work will be based on task orders, subject to bidding between prime contractors. Spokesperson Stacey Stegman says the setup allows for work to begin quickly and comes with “efficiencies and cost savings” because the contractors are already working on site.
“If we end up not doing the whole $560 million, that’s fine,” said Councilman Kevin Flynn, who has warmed up to the proposal, in an interview. “I like this approach better than issuing the whole contract. I do think there’s a very good opportunity for (DIA) to emerge … in a stronger position than we were before, because of these improvements we’re making.”
He also likes that the added construction will bolster the local economy during the recession.
Pittsburgh’s airport has put a $1.1 billion modernization project on hold during the pandemic, but it was still in the design phase. In Denver, airport and city officials are confident that air-traffic levels will justify the expanded gate capacity.
But there’s plenty of uncertainty about the pandemic’s potential effects.
“If traffic doesn’t bounce back,” Flynn said, “then we do less work — and we spend less of the bond proceeds.”
The council approved most of the expanded contracts in a block vote Monday. Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore abstained from voting on one because her brother-in-law’s construction company is a subcontractor.
Despite the wide support Monday, DIA has faced some skeptical voices on the council in recent years due to the amount of money it spends — all self-generated — and problems on its separate terminal renovation. Last year, amid tussles over the $650 million budget and delay projections, the airport terminated its contracting team on that project.
Work by a revamped project team resumed in March.
The airport’s new concourse contract expansions allow increased spending of up to $265 million for a Holder-FCI joint venture; $240 million for a Turner-Flatiron joint venture; $20 million each for Jacobs Engineering and HNTB Corp., for architectural and design work; and $15 million for project manager WSP USA.


thedenverpost--2020-05-18--Colorado’s coronavirus-caused deaths increase to 921 as hospitalizations continue to drop

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Colorado surpassed 22,000 on Monday , and 1,224 people who contracted the virus now have died , according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment .
That death count from the state health agency includes everyone who died while suffering from COVID-19 , even if COVID-19 wasn ’ t listed as their cause of death on their death certificates .
That figure rose by nine from the total reported Sunday But the state late last week began to also report death certificate data — people who had COVID-19 listed as a cause of death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now have died from the novel coronavirus .
That figure is up 43 over the number reported Sunday .
It takes some time for the death certificate data to be gathered by the state health agency , so that number lags behind the state ’ s other data , which is updated daily .
About 460 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 – down from a peak of 888 simultaneous hospitalizations in mid-April — and 3,899 people have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic .
In the past 24 hours , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to lower levels of care as their conditions improved , according to the state data .
The state is tracking 228 outbreaks in group settings , including in nursing homes , prisons and factories .
Colorado now has tested 129,159 people , with 22,202 listed as positive cases .
Gov .
Jared Polis on Monday announced the state ’ s COVID-19 testing capacity has expanded to the point where anyone exhibiting systems should be able to get a free test .
The state ’ s testing rate — 57.14 tests per 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks , but still hovers around half of the 152 tests per 100,000 people that health experts have said is necessary to safely monitor the virus .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Colorado surpassed 22,000 on Monday, and 1,224 people who contracted the virus now have died, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
That death count from the state health agency includes everyone who died while suffering from COVID-19, even if COVID-19 wasn’t listed as their cause of death on their death certificates. That figure rose by nine from the total reported Sunday
But the state late last week began to also report death certificate data — people who had COVID-19 listed as a cause of death — and those numbers show 921 who now have died from the novel coronavirus. That figure is up 43 over the number reported Sunday.
It takes some time for the death certificate data to be gathered by the state health agency, so that number lags behind the state’s other data, which is updated daily.
About 460 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 – down from a peak of 888 simultaneous hospitalizations in mid-April — and 3,899 people have been hospitalized since the start of the pandemic. In the past 24 hours, about 42 patients have been discharged or moved to lower levels of care as their conditions improved, according to the state data.
The state is tracking 228 outbreaks in group settings, including in nursing homes, prisons and factories.
Colorado now has tested 129,159 people, with 22,202 listed as positive cases. Gov. Jared Polis on Monday announced the state’s COVID-19 testing capacity has expanded to the point where anyone exhibiting systems should be able to get a free test.
The state’s testing rate — 57.14 tests per 100,000 people on Monday — has been improving in recent weeks, but still hovers around half of the 152 tests per 100,000 people that health experts have said is necessary to safely monitor the virus.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-05-18--Former Broncos WR Cody Latimer fired shots, assaulted friend at poker game, affidavit says

Former Broncos wide receiver Cody Latimer is accused of firing shots and striking a friend on the head with a handgun after an argument during a poker game , according to a Douglas County Sheriff ’ s Office arrest affidavit .
Latimer , 27 , was arrested Saturday for investigation of second-degree assault , menacing , illegal discharge of a firearm , prohibited use of weapons and reckless endangerment , the affidavit said .
He was released Saturday from jail on a $ 25,000 bond .
The wide receiver , who now plays for the Washington Redskins , appeared Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Douglas County District Court .
A restraining order was put in place that requires Latimer to surrender his gun , pending the outcome of the case .
Latimer asked his friend to organize a poker game , and seven to eight people attended , drinking alcohol as they played , the affidavit said .
At some point , Latimer got into an argument with another person at the card game , which was held at the friend ’ s apartment .
The host separated the two and kicked everyone out , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Latimer returned with a black handgun in the pocket of his hoodie .
Latimer pulled the gun from his pocket and waved it around , threatening to kill everyone , the affidavit stated .
He fired two shots near the poker game host and his girlfriend but did not point the gun at them , according to the affidavit .
Latimer briefly calmed down and emptied bullets from the gun ’ s magazine .
But Latimer became angry again and told his friend he saved two bullets .
The friend pinned Latimer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latimer allegedly struck him in the head , according to the affidavit .
The friend suffered a head contusion and a laceration on his face .
During the court hearing , Latimer ’ s attorney , Harvey Steinberg , said there were allegations of sexual assault on a child who was at the apartment during the poker game .
Douglas County sheriff ’ s investigators have attempted to interview Latimer , who is a witness to that assault , but Steinberg argued they should not interview his client about either allegation without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Latimer played for the Broncos from 2014 to 2017 .

Former Broncos wide receiver Cody Latimer is accused of firing shots and striking a friend on the head with a handgun after an argument during a poker game, according to a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
Latimer, 27, was arrested Saturday for investigation of second-degree assault, menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, prohibited use of weapons and reckless endangerment, the affidavit said. He was released Saturday from jail on a $25,000 bond.
The wide receiver, who now plays for the Washington Redskins, appeared Monday afternoon via video for his first appearance in Douglas County District Court. A restraining order was put in place that requires Latimer to surrender his gun, pending the outcome of the case.
Latimer asked his friend to organize a poker game, and seven to eight people attended, drinking alcohol as they played, the affidavit said. At some point, Latimer got into an argument with another person at the card game, which was held at the friend’s apartment. The host separated the two and kicked everyone out, the affidavit said.
About 30 minutes later, Latimer returned with a black handgun in the pocket of his hoodie.
Latimer pulled the gun from his pocket and waved it around, threatening to kill everyone, the affidavit stated. He fired two shots near the poker game host and his girlfriend but did not point the gun at them, according to the affidavit. Latimer briefly calmed down and emptied bullets from the gun’s magazine.
But Latimer became angry again and told his friend he saved two bullets. The friend pinned Latimer against the wall, which is when Latimer allegedly struck him in the head, according to the affidavit. The friend suffered a head contusion and a laceration on his face.
During the court hearing, Latimer’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, said there were allegations of sexual assault on a child who was at the apartment during the poker game. Douglas County sheriff’s investigators have attempted to interview Latimer, who is a witness to that assault, but Steinberg argued they should not interview his client about either allegation without a defense attorney present. The judge agreed.
Latimer played for the Broncos from 2014 to 2017.


thedenverpost--2020-05-18--Judge significantly drops fees awarded to foreclosure lawyer Castle

The eight-year legal battle between the Colorado attorney general ’ s office and Larry Castle and his now-shuttered Denver law firm appears to be over .
In a five-page order issued Friday , Denver District Judge Morris Hoffman reduced by nearly 85 % a record $ 1.9 million in attorneys ’ fees he had assessed against the AG ’ s office in its failed prosecution of Castle and others for alleged price gouging during the nation ’ s foreclosure crisis .
The $ 277,243 in refigured attorneys ’ fees is the result of a state appellate court decision in September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying the judge had made the award inaccurately .
Hoffman ’ s order likely ends the courtroom fight the two sides had waged since the state began investigating Castle and his foreclosure work in 2012 .
The state unsuccessfully accused the law firm and two other defendants – Absolute Posting & Process Services and Colorado American Title – of reaping millions of dollars in illegitimate profits by padding their billings .
“ The attorney general ’ s misguided crusade against the Castle Law Firm wasted millions of dollars , ” said Larry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Colorado taxpayers deserve an investigation and an apology .
” The AG ’ s office said it ’ s moving on .
“ We hope this ruling brings the case to a close , ” AG spokesman Lawrence Pachecho said in an email to The Denver Post .
In all , the state spent about $ 612,000 in taxpayer dollars and landed only a $ 119,500 judgment against Castle on one count of the lawsuit .
That award was ultimately overturned in April 2019 .
The state ’ s case , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beginning with now-Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers , initially sought more than $ 26 million in damages .
In a companion case against now-closed law firm Aronowitz & Mecklenburg , which was Castle ’ s biggest foreclosure competitor , the state landed a $ 10 million settlement .

The eight-year legal battle between the Colorado attorney general’s office and Larry Castle and his now-shuttered Denver law firm appears to be over.
In a five-page order issued Friday, Denver District Judge Morris Hoffman reduced by nearly 85% a record $1.9 million in attorneys’ fees he had assessed against the AG’s office in its failed prosecution of Castle and others for alleged price gouging during the nation’s foreclosure crisis.
The $277,243 in refigured attorneys’ fees is the result of a state appellate court decision in September that reversed Hoffman’s earlier calculation, saying the judge had made the award inaccurately.
Hoffman’s order likely ends the courtroom fight the two sides had waged since the state began investigating Castle and his foreclosure work in 2012. The state unsuccessfully accused the law firm and two other defendants – Absolute Posting & Process Services and Colorado American Title – of reaping millions of dollars in illegitimate profits by padding their billings.
.
“The attorney general’s misguided crusade against the Castle Law Firm wasted millions of dollars,” said Larry Pozner, Castle’s attorney. “Colorado taxpayers deserve an investigation and an apology. ”
The AG’s office said it’s moving on.
“We hope this ruling brings the case to a close,” AG spokesman Lawrence Pachecho said in an email to The Denver Post.
In all, the state spent about $612,000 in taxpayer dollars and landed only a $119,500 judgment against Castle on one count of the lawsuit. That award was ultimately overturned in April 2019.
The state’s case, which has lasted through three state attorneys general, beginning with now-Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, initially sought more than $26 million in damages.
In a companion case against now-closed law firm Aronowitz & Mecklenburg, which was Castle’s biggest foreclosure competitor, the state landed a $10 million settlement.


thedenverpost--2020-05-18--Mental health evaluation ordered for Colorado man; investigators said he was “gearing up” for a comi

Mental health evaluation ordered for Colorado man; investigators said he was “gearing up” for a coming war

A judge on Monday ordered a mental health evaluation for a Loveland man whom prosecutors said was heading to a protest against COVID-19 lockdown restrictions when FBI agents found pipe bombs in his home .
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty ruled Bradley Bunn , a 53-year-old Army veteran , poses a danger to the community and ordered him to remain in custody while he awaits an evaluation .
A defense attorney can renew a request for Bunn to be freed after the evaluation , the magistrate said .
FBI agents searched Bunn ’ s Loveland home on May 1 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told investigators that he would “ fight to the death ” anyone who tried to disarm him , had started to “ gear up ” for a coming war and would be willing to “ take out a few ” officers to “ wake everyone up , ” a federal prosecutor said during a court hearing .
The magistrate said he needs to hear from a mental health expert before he can decide if Bunn ’ s words reflect a “ real threat ” against the public or merely an expression of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Bunn ’ s statements relate to the “ current state of affairs in this country , where lots of people are upset and are rallying and protesting at capitals all over the country ” against lockdown orders .
“ There ’ s a battle going on in this country on this issue , and I don ’ t know whether and how much to attribute this unique circumstance in our history to what Mr. Bunn has expressed , ” Hegarty said .
Earlier this month , the U.S. Department of Homeland Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacist group was inciting followers to shoot through their doors at FBI agents and police officers , prosecutors wrote in a court filing .
The warning related to unspecified “ associates ” of Bunn .
Authorities haven ’ t publicly linked Bunn to any group or movement , but a federal prosecutor said agents intercepted Bunn on his way to an armed protest at the Colorado State Capitol against COVID-19 restrictions .
A court document laying out the evidence for Bunn ’ s arrest said he built the pipe bombs to defend himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of the night but did not explain who would be breaking in .
Bunn was serving in Iraq when he suffered a traumatic brain injury from an exploding device and had a “ 100 % disability rating ” from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs , according to his attorney .
Federal public defender Matthew Golla has said Bunn has untreated mental health issues from serving as a rifle platoon commander in Iraq and that , without his medication , he was “ easy prey ” for agents to make broad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During a previous hearing , Hegarty said he was inclined to release Bunn to an inpatient treatment program at the Department of Veterans Affairs and delayed a decision to find out whether the VA could take him .
Golla said an outreach coordinator told him last week that the VA wasn ’ t “ traveling ” to conduct mental health evaluations .
The magistrate said the VA has a duty to care for Bunn , who “ risked his life in combat for our country.
” “ We are supposed to take care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just remarkable to me that they can ’ t find resources on an emergency basis , ” Hegarty said .

A judge on Monday ordered a mental health evaluation for a Loveland man whom prosecutors said was heading to a protest against COVID-19 lockdown restrictions when FBI agents found pipe bombs in his home.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty ruled Bradley Bunn, a 53-year-old Army veteran, poses a danger to the community and ordered him to remain in custody while he awaits an evaluation. A defense attorney can renew a request for Bunn to be freed after the evaluation, the magistrate said.
FBI agents searched Bunn’s Loveland home on May 1 and allegedly found four pipe bombs. Bunn told investigators that he would “fight to the death” anyone who tried to disarm him, had started to “gear up” for a coming war and would be willing to “take out a few” officers to “wake everyone up,” a federal prosecutor said during a court hearing.
The magistrate said he needs to hear from a mental health expert before he can decide if Bunn’s words reflect a “real threat” against the public or merely an expression of his mental health condition. Hegarty also questioned if Bunn’s statements relate to the “current state of affairs in this country, where lots of people are upset and are rallying and protesting at capitals all over the country” against lockdown orders.
“There’s a battle going on in this country on this issue, and I don’t know whether and how much to attribute this unique circumstance in our history to what Mr. Bunn has expressed,” Hegarty said.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an alert that said a white supremacist group was inciting followers to shoot through their doors at FBI agents and police officers, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. The warning related to unspecified “associates” of Bunn.
Authorities haven’t publicly linked Bunn to any group or movement, but a federal prosecutor said agents intercepted Bunn on his way to an armed protest at the Colorado State Capitol against COVID-19 restrictions.
A court document laying out the evidence for Bunn’s arrest said he built the pipe bombs to defend himself against a “hard entry” in the middle of the night but did not explain who would be breaking in.
Bunn was serving in Iraq when he suffered a traumatic brain injury from an exploding device and had a “100% disability rating” from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to his attorney.
Federal public defender Matthew Golla has said Bunn has untreated mental health issues from serving as a rifle platoon commander in Iraq and that, without his medication, he was “easy prey” for agents to make broad statements about his beliefs on weapons.
During a previous hearing, Hegarty said he was inclined to release Bunn to an inpatient treatment program at the Department of Veterans Affairs and delayed a decision to find out whether the VA could take him. Golla said an outreach coordinator told him last week that the VA wasn’t “traveling” to conduct mental health evaluations.
The magistrate said the VA has a duty to care for Bunn, who “risked his life in combat for our country.”
“We are supposed to take care of our veterans. It’s just remarkable to me that they can’t find resources on an emergency basis,” Hegarty said.


thedenverpost--2020-05-18--Guest Commentary: Another Colorado comeback? If the state will stay out of the way.

As Colorado begins to open back up , we know we have a big economic hole to dig out of .
Unemployment claims are over 450,000 , businesses have shuttered , and a lot of Coloradans have seen their hours and/or pay cut .
This hit to the private sector means that our state budget will also likely see a $ 3.3 billion dip in revenue .
The coronavirus was sudden and unexpected , but we ’ ve seen tough budget times before .
After the last recession , Colorado bounced back quicker and better than any other state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , leading to record high revenue and making us # 2 nationally in the percentage of growth of our state budget .
While technology , tourism , and manufacturing all increased over the past decade , a large portion of our economic growth came from oil and gas development .
We also didn ’ t raise tax rates .
Even though Gov .
John Hickenlooper championed several tax hikes over his tenure , voters shot them all down on the ballot .
Thanks to our Taxpayer ’ s Bill of Rights ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our state remains an economically attractive place to live and work .
The politicians attacking TABOR , saying it makes it harder to save money , aren ’ t telling the truth .
These are the same people who supported Proposition CC in 2019 , which would have taken TABOR refund money , forever , without a single dollar going to savings .
The idea of saving money for the next recession isn ’ t a new debate .
In fact , back in 2006 , Cory Gardner proposed a rainy-day fund as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
As we face this current challenge , the policies we choose now will determine how strong our economic comeback will be .
The temptation for politicians is to look for short-term revenue fixes that will only end up harming our economy more in the long run .
We can ’ t raise tax rates on individuals and businesses ( or go around TABOR with large fees ) and expect our economy to bounce back .
We can ’ t increase property taxes , force businesses to spend an extra $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our hospitals with a “ public option , ” and expect our state to be as resilient as it has been .
And politicians certainty can ’ t continue to go after the oil and gas and agriculture sectors and expect us to keep our # 1 economic rating .
The good news is that we have the best state and the best people in the country .
If the government doesn ’ t get in the way , our farmers can continue to help feed the country , our oil and gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , and our technology companies can help push our economy forward .
And as our restaurant , retail , and tourism businesses work their way back , innovation will be key .
I know Coloradans will thrive , if given the chance .
We know that the only way that state revenue will bounce back is by getting our economy rolling again .
But in the meantime , legislators should prioritize the people who need it the most when making budget decisions .
They shouldn ’ t cut health care for low-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , they should focus on reforming our overgrown state bureaucracy .
For instance , our K-12 and higher education budgets shouldn ’ t be balanced on the backs of teachers and families .
Only 56 % of the money we spend in our K-12 system even gets to classrooms .
In both K-12 and higher education , the focus should be on addressing the runaway administrative costs .
While there ’ s no doubt we have tough days ahead , one thing is certain : we will beat this virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed the first general anesthetic , and completed the first organ transplant .
We will win this health care fight .
And once we do , it will be up to us to win the economic fight too .
Michael Fields is the executive director of Colorado Rising State Action , a nonprofit focused on advancing conservative principles in Colorado .
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 .

As Colorado begins to open back up, we know we have a big economic hole to dig out of. Unemployment claims are over 450,000, businesses have shuttered, and a lot of Coloradans have seen their hours and/or pay cut. This hit to the private sector means that our state budget will also likely see a $3.3 billion dip in revenue.
The coronavirus was sudden and unexpected, but we’ve seen tough budget times before. After the last recession, Colorado bounced back quicker and better than any other state. Our economy became #1 in the country, leading to record high revenue and making us #2 nationally in the percentage of growth of our state budget.
While technology, tourism, and manufacturing all increased over the past decade, a large portion of our economic growth came from oil and gas development. We also didn’t raise tax rates. Even though Gov. John Hickenlooper championed several tax hikes over his tenure, voters shot them all down on the ballot. Thanks to our Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), Colorado voters have ensured our state remains an economically attractive place to live and work.
The politicians attacking TABOR, saying it makes it harder to save money, aren’t telling the truth. These are the same people who supported Proposition CC in 2019, which would have taken TABOR refund money, forever, without a single dollar going to savings. The idea of saving money for the next recession isn’t a new debate. In fact, back in 2006, Cory Gardner proposed a rainy-day fund as a state legislator — the Democrats opposed it.
As we face this current challenge, the policies we choose now will determine how strong our economic comeback will be. The temptation for politicians is to look for short-term revenue fixes that will only end up harming our economy more in the long run.
We can’t raise tax rates on individuals and businesses (or go around TABOR with large fees) and expect our economy to bounce back. We can’t increase property taxes, force businesses to spend an extra $1 billion on family leave, or hurt our hospitals with a “public option,” and expect our state to be as resilient as it has been. And politicians certainty can’t continue to go after the oil and gas and agriculture sectors and expect us to keep our #1 economic rating.
The good news is that we have the best state and the best people in the country. If the government doesn’t get in the way, our farmers can continue to help feed the country, our oil and gas workers can help power our way of life, and our technology companies can help push our economy forward. And as our restaurant, retail, and tourism businesses work their way back, innovation will be key. I know Coloradans will thrive, if given the chance.
We know that the only way that state revenue will bounce back is by getting our economy rolling again. But in the meantime, legislators should prioritize the people who need it the most when making budget decisions. They shouldn’t cut health care for low-income children, or slash mental health services. Instead, they should focus on reforming our overgrown state bureaucracy.
For instance, our K-12 and higher education budgets shouldn’t be balanced on the backs of teachers and families. Only 56% of the money we spend in our K-12 system even gets to classrooms. In both K-12 and higher education, the focus should be on addressing the runaway administrative costs.
While there’s no doubt we have tough days ahead, one thing is certain: we will beat this virus. Our country invented the polio vaccine, developed the first general anesthetic, and completed the first organ transplant. We will win this health care fight. And once we do, it will be up to us to win the economic fight too.
Michael Fields is the executive director of Colorado Rising State Action, a nonprofit focused on advancing conservative principles in Colorado.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-05-19--Colorado’s job recovery will be full of fits and starts in months ahead

The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block in Denver informed the state on Friday that it had brought back 84 previously furloughed employees in late April with the help of a loan received under the Paycheck Protection Program .
It also said it would temporarily dismiss at least 52 workers on June 16 , even with that assistance , which is designed to cover about two months ’ worth of payroll expenses .
Likewise , the Embassy Suites Boulder , a sister property to the Maven , said it had reinstated 95 previously furloughed workers , but that it would lay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 .
“ All affected employees have been notified of their layoff dates and some layoffs will be temporary and some will be permanent , ” Jill Strauss , regional director of human resources at Sage Hospitality Group , wrote in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter filed with the Colorado Department of Labor .
The letters highlight the back and forth that can be expected in the weeks and months ahead in a labor market that had shed a decade ’ s worth of job gains in just two months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their workers back , while permanently cutting ties with others .
Hard-hit areas like retail and hospitality may partially staff up again , while other sectors , like government and business services , may see accelerating layoffs .
And a large and still undetermined number of jobs will simply go away , shifting what was a tight labor market in favor of employers and putting downward pressure on wages .
“ Without a change in policy , the story of June and July will not be a sharp recovery , but businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ernie Tedeschi , a policy economist and head of fiscal analysis at Evercore ISI , during a webinar Monday hosted by the National Association for Business Economics .
The PPP loans are designed to cover only two to three months of payroll , meaning borrowers might soon dismiss the workers they rehired if the revenues aren ’ t there to support them this summer .
And that is big if when it comes to businesses in hospitality , tourism and retail .
About 84 % of more than 900 hoteliers surveyed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they had let workers go because of reduced bookings , and only a third have managed to hire back some of those workers .
About two-thirds of hotels are operating with less than half the staff they had before the crisis , and when asked when staffing might return to pre-crisis levels , nearly four-in-10 respondents don ’ t see that happening until 2021 or later .
Likewise , retailers are under extreme stress .
Store closures and bankruptcies that might have taken place over the next five years will likely be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retail workers onto the street in large numbers with few replacement jobs available , Julia Pollak , a labor economist with ZipRecruiter , said during the webinar .
ZipRecruiter has seen job postings on its site fall by nearly half from mid-February levels , Pollack said .
And while much attention has been paid to the 36.5 million workers who have filed for unemployment benefits the past two months , Pollack said one survey found that only 27 % of U.S. workers have not faced a loss of employment , loss of pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no industries have been able to add jobs during the crisis , ” she said .
But there are a few exceptions .
Software developers , nurse staffing firms and distribution and warehouse companies are aggressively on the hunt for help as more states start to reopen .
And one company stands out , Amazon , with 197,000 job postings in recent weeks .
It alone accounts for 6 % of recent job postings made in the U.S. “ Amazon is going on a massive , massive , massive hiring spree , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Starbucks are other national brands hiring .
Tedeschi said his concern is that local and state governments , who have had a big hole blown through their budgets because of reduced tax revenues , will lead a new wave of layoffs this summer if they aren ’ t thrown a lifeline .
Normally public sector layoffs come at the tail-end of a recession , months in , helping prolong it .
But they are already starting to appear .
“ Massive layoffs will come unless they receive assistance , ” Pollack concurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with questionable loans , may or may not get renewed .
An extension of the enhanced federal unemployment benefits of $ 600 a week isn ’ t a slam dunk either .
It has proven a huge help for many , paying out more to many workers than what they made in regular pay .
Those extra federal unemployment benefits are set to expire at the end of July , and some critics argue they reduce the incentive to work and shouldn ’ t be renewed .
Tedeschi said not extending them in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I worry more about the opposite risk , that we will withdraw these benefits prematurely , ” Tedeschi said .
“ Workers in states that are in a bad way should continue to receive added benefits .
”

The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block in Denver informed the state on Friday that it had brought back 84 previously furloughed employees in late April with the help of a loan received under the Paycheck Protection Program.
It also said it would temporarily dismiss at least 52 workers on June 16, even with that assistance, which is designed to cover about two months’ worth of payroll expenses.
Likewise, the Embassy Suites Boulder, a sister property to the Maven, said it had reinstated 95 previously furloughed workers, but that it would lay off at least 61 workers on June 13.
“All affected employees have been notified of their layoff dates and some layoffs will be temporary and some will be permanent,” Jill Strauss, regional director of human resources at Sage Hospitality Group, wrote in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter filed with the Colorado Department of Labor.
The letters highlight the back and forth that can be expected in the weeks and months ahead in a labor market that had shed a decade’s worth of job gains in just two months.
Some employers will call a portion of their workers back, while permanently cutting ties with others. Hard-hit areas like retail and hospitality may partially staff up again, while other sectors, like government and business services, may see accelerating layoffs. And a large and still undetermined number of jobs will simply go away, shifting what was a tight labor market in favor of employers and putting downward pressure on wages.
“Without a change in policy, the story of June and July will not be a sharp recovery, but businesses left in the lurch,” predicted Ernie Tedeschi, a policy economist and head of fiscal analysis at Evercore ISI, during a webinar Monday hosted by the National Association for Business Economics.
The PPP loans are designed to cover only two to three months of payroll, meaning borrowers might soon dismiss the workers they rehired if the revenues aren’t there to support them this summer. And that is big if when it comes to businesses in hospitality, tourism and retail.
About 84% of more than 900 hoteliers surveyed by the American Hotel & Lodging Association last week said they had let workers go because of reduced bookings, and only a third have managed to hire back some of those workers.
About two-thirds of hotels are operating with less than half the staff they had before the crisis, and when asked when staffing might return to pre-crisis levels, nearly four-in-10 respondents don’t see that happening until 2021 or later.
Likewise, retailers are under extreme stress. Store closures and bankruptcies that might have taken place over the next five years will likely be compressed into a five-month window, casting retail workers onto the street in large numbers with few replacement jobs available, Julia Pollak, a labor economist with ZipRecruiter, said during the webinar.
ZipRecruiter has seen job postings on its site fall by nearly half from mid-February levels, Pollack said. And while much attention has been paid to the 36.5 million workers who have filed for unemployment benefits the past two months, Pollack said one survey found that only 27% of U.S. workers have not faced a loss of employment, loss of pay or reduction in hours.
“Almost no industries have been able to add jobs during the crisis,” she said.
But there are a few exceptions. Software developers, nurse staffing firms and distribution and warehouse companies are aggressively on the hunt for help as more states start to reopen. And one company stands out, Amazon, with 197,000 job postings in recent weeks. It alone accounts for 6% of recent job postings made in the U.S.
“Amazon is going on a massive, massive, massive hiring spree,” Pollack said. Walmart, UberEats, and Starbucks are other national brands hiring.
Tedeschi said his concern is that local and state governments, who have had a big hole blown through their budgets because of reduced tax revenues, will lead a new wave of layoffs this summer if they aren’t thrown a lifeline.
Normally public sector layoffs come at the tail-end of a recession, months in, helping prolong it. But they are already starting to appear.
“Massive layoffs will come unless they receive assistance,” Pollack concurred.
The Paycheck Protection Program, plagued with questionable loans, may or may not get renewed. An extension of the enhanced federal unemployment benefits of $600 a week isn’t a slam dunk either. It has proven a huge help for many, paying out more to many workers than what they made in regular pay.
Those extra federal unemployment benefits are set to expire at the end of July, and some critics argue they reduce the incentive to work and shouldn’t be renewed. Tedeschi said not extending them in some form could delay the recovery.
“I worry more about the opposite risk, that we will withdraw these benefits prematurely,” Tedeschi said. “Workers in states that are in a bad way should continue to receive added benefits.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-19--Denver weather calls for two more hot days before a cooldown on Thursday

Two more days of unseasonably warm weather is in store for the Denver metro area before a cool front brings relief by Thursday .
Denver ’ s high temperature on Tuesday is expected to top out at 89 degrees , according to the National Weather Service .
Skies will be mostly sunny and there ’ s a 20 % chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms .
Winds will gust up to 33 mph .
The combination of hot , windy and dry weather is increasing widespread fire concerns around the state , including south and west of Denver .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday includes the South Park area , portions of the foothills , southwestern Colorado , parts of the central mountains and the Western Slope , according to the weather service .
The warning runs from noon Tuesday until 8 p.m. A widespread fire watch is posted from noon until 9 p.m. Wednesday .
High temperatures in Colorado the next couple of days — about 15 degrees above normal for this time of year — will increase snowmelt in the mountains .
No flooding , however , is expected , according to the weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected later this week .
In Denver on Wednesday , the high temperature will climb to 85 degrees under sunny skies .
Winds in the city could gust to 28 mph .
A cold front is expected to push into northeastern Colorado on Wednesday evening , bringing an increased chance of thunderstorms to the plains .
On Thursday in Denver , skies will be mostly sunny and the high temperature will hit a more seasonal 75 degrees .

Two more days of unseasonably warm weather is in store for the Denver metro area before a cool front brings relief by Thursday.
Denver’s high temperature on Tuesday is expected to top out at 89 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Skies will be mostly sunny and there’s a 20% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Winds will gust up to 33 mph.
The combination of hot, windy and dry weather is increasing widespread fire concerns around the state, including south and west of Denver. A red flag warning for fire danger on Tuesday includes the South Park area, portions of the foothills, southwestern Colorado, parts of the central mountains and the Western Slope, according to the weather service. The warning runs from noon Tuesday until 8 p.m. A widespread fire watch is posted from noon until 9 p.m. Wednesday.
High temperatures in Colorado the next couple of days — about 15 degrees above normal for this time of year — will increase snowmelt in the mountains. No flooding, however, is expected, according to the weather service. Higher river and streamflows are expected later this week.
In Denver on Wednesday, the high temperature will climb to 85 degrees under sunny skies. Winds in the city could gust to 28 mph.
A cold front is expected to push into northeastern Colorado on Wednesday evening, bringing an increased chance of thunderstorms to the plains.
On Thursday in Denver, skies will be mostly sunny and the high temperature will hit a more seasonal 75 degrees.


thedenverpost--2020-05-19--Trump hands Cory Gardner election year wins

The meeting occurred 11 weeks ago , in a bygone time before coronavirus killed 90,000 Americans , before the stock market plummeted , before the layoffs and the isolation and the closures .
Before all of that , President Donald Trump sat in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 3 with Sen. Cory Gardner as the two Republicans , surrounded by Cabinet officials , other senators and staff , discussed whether to fully finance the Land and Water Conservation Fund , a priority of conservationists for decades .
In Gardner ’ s recounting , he showed Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gunnison National Park — “ that ’ s gorgeous , ” the president responded — and statistics about the economic benefits of outdoor recreation .
At one point , Trump , who routinely and favorably compares himself to other presidents , stared up at a portrait of Teddy Roosevelt and said , “ This would be the biggest ( conservation ) victory since Teddy Roosevelt and beyond , ” according to Gardner .
It was then that Trump flip-flopped on LWCF .
The president who had tried to drastically cut the program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump wrote on Twitter that day , it was “ ALL thanks ” to Gardner and Sen. Steve Daines , R-Mont .
“ Somebody somehow worked a miracle because now all of a sudden a White House that hasn ’ t been for the Land and Water Conservation Fund — I think zeroed it out , actually — is now seeing the light , ” Sen. Maria Cantwell , a Washington Democrat and longtime LWCF advocate , said snidely the next day .
To his supporters , Gardner is a miracle worker in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the people of Colorado by working with unlikely allies .
But others see a senator who has been handed policy victories by a mercurial president using the weight of the federal government to improve Gardner ’ s re-election chances .
They bristle each time Trump gives the credit to Gardner .
“ Cory ’ s gotten more than advanced notice , ” said a Democratic staffer within the Colorado congressional delegation , who requested anonymity to speak candidly .
“ The ( Trump ) administration has shut off interaction with most members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts that we ’ ve been working on for years and years and years.
” “ I think it ’ s a little desperate , but it ’ s understandable because they ’ re in a tough spot in the state — both Trump and Gardner , ” the staffer added .
“ We ’ ve never seen anything remotely close to this in terms of political expediency.
” Both sides are correct .
Gardner has convinced Trump to approve policies that Democrats have failed to achieve for years , even decades .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ least in part , because he wants the Republican from Yuma to be re-elected .
“ Senator Gardner ’ s ability to deliver for Colorado this week , this month , or this year is nothing new , he ’ s been getting things done for this state his entire career , ” said Jerrod Dobkin , a spokesman for Gardner ’ s campaign .
Last year , Gardner was given advance notice that Bureau of Land Management headquarters would move to Grand Junction , allowing him to announce it before the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardner who announced funding for a Pueblo-area water pipeline had been approved .
Last week , it was announced that Colorado Springs would be the temporary home of U.S. Space Command , an announcement Trump teased at a campaign rally with Gardner .
Prominent Colorado Democrats had also worked on all of those issues but it was often Gardner who was allowed to first announce the Trump administration ’ s decision and claim the first news headlines .
Democrats publicly issued statements of support and kept their criticisms of Gardner private — with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump announced , via Twitter , that the federal government would send 100 ventilators to Colorado “ at the request of Senator Gardner.
” Gov .
Jared Polis had requested far more than 100 ventilators and claimed days before Trump ’ s announcement that the federal government blocked Colorado ’ s attempt to buy 500 ventilators .
Some Democrats could not bite their tongues on that day .
State Sen. Jessie Danielson , a Wheat Ridge Democrat who does not have a reputation for bombast , called Trump ’ s move a form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is keeping 80 % of the ventilators they stole from Colorado — and bestowing 20 % of what they stole as a political favor , ” she said then .
“ I think this thing that happened with Senator Gardner and President Trump is very disturbing , ” said Rep. Diana DeGette , a Denver Democrat and the dean of Colorado ’ s congressional delegation , in remarks to CNN .
DeGette said the announcement appeared to be a political favor to Gardner , and 10 senators have since requested an investigation into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardner and his allies say such Democratic opposition is election year politicking .
When asked March 5 about accusations Trump was supporting LWCF funding as a political favor , Gardner said his critics will reflexively oppose anything he supports .
“ My political opponents , if I declared the entire state of Colorado a wilderness area , they ’ d still oppose it .
Ask John Hickenlooper or Andrew Romanoff if they ’ d vote yes on my bill , ” Gardner said of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act , which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park maintenance backlog .
“ Of course John Hickenlooper supports funding LWCF , ” said Alyssa Roberts , a Hickenlooper spokesperson , when asked Monday , “ and he ’ d go further by passing the CORE Act and acting on climate change , two Colorado priorities that Senator Gardner refuses to address as he rubber-stamps the Trump administration ’ s largest rollback of protected public lands in U.S. history.
” Romanoff said he would vote for Gardner ’ s bill as well .
“ But I believe the best way to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stand up to the Trump administration , stop taking money from the fossil fuel industry , and enact a Green New Deal.
” Whether by pragmatism or favoritism , some conservationists acknowledge that only a Republican like Gardner could win over Trump on LWCF funding .
Jessica Goad , deputy director of Conservation Colorado , which often criticizes Gardner , agrees with that .
So , too , does Tom Cors , a lobbyist for The Nature Conservancy who has worked on LWCF funding efforts for many years .
“ We couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made that case , ” Cors said of Gardner .
It ’ s unclear what the future holds for Gardner ’ s Great American Outdoors Act , which was destined for passage in those halcyon days before the coronavirus pandemic upended congressional schedules .
It has ample support but is no longer a high priority in a part-time Congress .
Last month , Gardner and several Colorado Democrats suggested it be attached to coronavirus relief legislation , but it wasn ’ t .

The meeting occurred 11 weeks ago, in a bygone time before coronavirus killed 90,000 Americans, before the stock market plummeted, before the layoffs and the isolation and the closures.
Before all of that, President Donald Trump sat in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 3 with Sen. Cory Gardner as the two Republicans, surrounded by Cabinet officials, other senators and staff, discussed whether to fully finance the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a priority of conservationists for decades.
In Gardner’s recounting, he showed Trump an iPhone photo of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park — “that’s gorgeous,” the president responded — and statistics about the economic benefits of outdoor recreation. At one point, Trump, who routinely and favorably compares himself to other presidents, stared up at a portrait of Teddy Roosevelt and said, “This would be the biggest (conservation) victory since Teddy Roosevelt and beyond,” according to Gardner.
It was then that Trump flip-flopped on LWCF. The president who had tried to drastically cut the program now wanted it fully funded. As Trump wrote on Twitter that day, it was “ALL thanks” to Gardner and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.
“Somebody somehow worked a miracle because now all of a sudden a White House that hasn’t been for the Land and Water Conservation Fund — I think zeroed it out, actually — is now seeing the light,” Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat and longtime LWCF advocate, said snidely the next day.
To his supporters, Gardner is a miracle worker in a deeply divided Washington, achieving wins for the people of Colorado by working with unlikely allies. But others see a senator who has been handed policy victories by a mercurial president using the weight of the federal government to improve Gardner’s re-election chances. They bristle each time Trump gives the credit to Gardner.
“Cory’s gotten more than advanced notice,” said a Democratic staffer within the Colorado congressional delegation, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “The (Trump) administration has shut off interaction with most members of the delegation regarding these projects and efforts that we’ve been working on for years and years and years.”
“I think it’s a little desperate, but it’s understandable because they’re in a tough spot in the state — both Trump and Gardner,” the staffer added. “We’ve never seen anything remotely close to this in terms of political expediency.”
Both sides are correct. Gardner has convinced Trump to approve policies that Democrats have failed to achieve for years, even decades. And Trump has done so, at least in part, because he wants the Republican from Yuma to be re-elected.
“Senator Gardner’s ability to deliver for Colorado this week, this month, or this year is nothing new, he’s been getting things done for this state his entire career,” said Jerrod Dobkin, a spokesman for Gardner’s campaign.
Last year, Gardner was given advance notice that Bureau of Land Management headquarters would move to Grand Junction, allowing him to announce it before the agency did. In February, it was Gardner who announced funding for a Pueblo-area water pipeline had been approved. Last week, it was announced that Colorado Springs would be the temporary home of U.S. Space Command, an announcement Trump teased at a campaign rally with Gardner.
Prominent Colorado Democrats had also worked on all of those issues but it was often Gardner who was allowed to first announce the Trump administration’s decision and claim the first news headlines. Democrats publicly issued statements of support and kept their criticisms of Gardner private — with one exception.
On April 8, Trump announced, via Twitter, that the federal government would send 100 ventilators to Colorado “at the request of Senator Gardner.” Gov. Jared Polis had requested far more than 100 ventilators and claimed days before Trump’s announcement that the federal government blocked Colorado’s attempt to buy 500 ventilators. Some Democrats could not bite their tongues on that day.
State Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Wheat Ridge Democrat who does not have a reputation for bombast, called Trump’s move a form of racketeering. “The White House is keeping 80% of the ventilators they stole from Colorado — and bestowing 20% of what they stole as a political favor,” she said then.
“I think this thing that happened with Senator Gardner and President Trump is very disturbing,” said Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat and the dean of Colorado’s congressional delegation, in remarks to CNN. DeGette said the announcement appeared to be a political favor to Gardner, and 10 senators have since requested an investigation into Trump’s alleged ventilator favoritism.
Gardner and his allies say such Democratic opposition is election year politicking. When asked March 5 about accusations Trump was supporting LWCF funding as a political favor, Gardner said his critics will reflexively oppose anything he supports.
“My political opponents, if I declared the entire state of Colorado a wilderness area, they’d still oppose it. Ask John Hickenlooper or Andrew Romanoff if they’d vote yes on my bill,” Gardner said of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, which would fully fund LWCF and end a national park maintenance backlog.
“Of course John Hickenlooper supports funding LWCF,” said Alyssa Roberts, a Hickenlooper spokesperson, when asked Monday, “and he’d go further by passing the CORE Act and acting on climate change, two Colorado priorities that Senator Gardner refuses to address as he rubber-stamps the Trump administration’s largest rollback of protected public lands in U.S. history.”
Romanoff said he would vote for Gardner’s bill as well. “But I believe the best way to make America’s outdoors great again is to stand up to the Trump administration, stop taking money from the fossil fuel industry, and enact a Green New Deal.”
Whether by pragmatism or favoritism, some conservationists acknowledge that only a Republican like Gardner could win over Trump on LWCF funding. Jessica Goad, deputy director of Conservation Colorado, which often criticizes Gardner, agrees with that. So, too, does Tom Cors, a lobbyist for The Nature Conservancy who has worked on LWCF funding efforts for many years.
“We couldn’t have done it and he made that case,” Cors said of Gardner.
It’s unclear what the future holds for Gardner’s Great American Outdoors Act, which was destined for passage in those halcyon days before the coronavirus pandemic upended congressional schedules. It has ample support but is no longer a high priority in a part-time Congress. Last month, Gardner and several Colorado Democrats suggested it be attached to coronavirus relief legislation, but it wasn’t.


thedenverpost--2020-05-19--Coronavirus model predicts potential danger in Denver this summer, little spread in Colorado Springs

Colorado ’ s climate could help keep new cases of COVID-19 down through the summer , but meteorological advantages aren ’ t going to be enough if people return to normal life while the virus is still circulating widely , according to researchers projecting cases for the next three months .
The Children ’ s Hospital of Philadelphia ’ s PolicyLab projected how many new coronavirus cases 10 Colorado counties — nine along the Front Range , plus Eagle County — might see this summer , depending on what their residents decide to do .
Dr. David Rubin , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said cases in Colorado Springs have fallen far enough that El Paso County officials might be able to safely loosen more rules than their counterparts could in the Denver area , which has a higher level of ongoing transmission .
“ I think a place like Colorado Springs will be relatively resilient , ” he said .
“ Denver ’ s a little trickier.
” Denver County currently has 658 confirmed cases per 100,000 people .
If Denver maintained the level of social distancing it had under the stay-at-home order , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases as eight per day in mid-August .
In the least-restricted scenario modeled , it could see more than 500 new cases each day by that time .
El Paso County , with 189 cases per 100,000 people , has a much narrower projected range , from zero new cases per day in mid-August under the most-restrictive scenario to 10 new cases daily under the most permissive .
Adams , Arapahoe , Jefferson and Weld counties have projections similar to Denver , though with lower numbers of new daily cases under the worst-case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Larimer counties look more like Colorado Springs .
Eagle County , site of Colorado ’ s earliest outbreak , has successfully brought down its new caseload , and is projected to have zero or one new case per day by the end of August , regardless of what residents do .
The model doesn ’ t account for visitors bringing in new cases , though , so it ’ s possible transmission could start again if tourists return .
At least three things will determine how the curve changes over the summer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are currently in the community , climate and individual decisions .
If a community has almost no cases , spread isn ’ t likely to take off even if people start congregating again — unless new cases come in from areas with more extensive spread , he said .
The effects of climate are a bit trickier to nail down , but so far it appears that hot , dry and sunny areas have an advantage , because the virus is less likely to be viable at high temperatures or when exposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could benefit from its climate , but that ’ s not going to be enough if communities haven ’ t suppressed their cases and people start mixing as normal , he said .
The model doesn ’ t account for all decisions people might make , like whether to wear masks or spend time with others outdoors , Rubin said .
It relies on cellphone tracking data as a measure of how many trips the average person makes to nonessential businesses .
Most counties reduced trips by 60 % to 70 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , that if an average person went shopping recreationally six times a month , they ’ d now make only two trips.The projections modeled scenarios where people went out at half their normal rate ( three times for our six-time shopper ) and two-thirds of the normal rate ( four trips , in this example ) .
While one extra trip each month might seem small , it adds up to quite a few extra chances to pass the virus when tens of thousands of other people do the same thing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer , at least some counties would be primed for an explosion of cases come September if people don ’ t use caution and the virus continues to spread , Rubin said .
He likened Denver ’ s population , which lives in denser conditions than in much of Colorado , to “ tinder ” that could spark , perhaps even under summer ’ s favorable conditions .
“ The more cautious you are , the better you are in the long-term , ” he said .
“ The strength of our individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get us through what could be a difficult fall and winter.
” Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Colorado’s climate could help keep new cases of COVID-19 down through the summer, but meteorological advantages aren’t going to be enough if people return to normal life while the virus is still circulating widely, according to researchers projecting cases for the next three months.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s PolicyLab projected how many new coronavirus cases 10 Colorado counties — nine along the Front Range, plus Eagle County — might see this summer, depending on what their residents decide to do.
Dr. David Rubin, a pediatrician and director of the PolicyLab, said cases in Colorado Springs have fallen far enough that El Paso County officials might be able to safely loosen more rules than their counterparts could in the Denver area, which has a higher level of ongoing transmission.
“I think a place like Colorado Springs will be relatively resilient,” he said. “Denver’s a little trickier.”
Denver County currently has 658 confirmed cases per 100,000 people. If Denver maintained the level of social distancing it had under the stay-at-home order, it would be projected to have as few new cases as eight per day in mid-August. In the least-restricted scenario modeled, it could see more than 500 new cases each day by that time.
El Paso County, with 189 cases per 100,000 people, has a much narrower projected range, from zero new cases per day in mid-August under the most-restrictive scenario to 10 new cases daily under the most permissive.
Adams, Arapahoe, Jefferson and Weld counties have projections similar to Denver, though with lower numbers of new daily cases under the worst-case scenario, while Boulder, Douglas and Larimer counties look more like Colorado Springs.
Eagle County, site of Colorado’s earliest outbreak, has successfully brought down its new caseload, and is projected to have zero or one new case per day by the end of August, regardless of what residents do. The model doesn’t account for visitors bringing in new cases, though, so it’s possible transmission could start again if tourists return.
At least three things will determine how the curve changes over the summer, Rubin said: how many cases there are currently in the community, climate and individual decisions. If a community has almost no cases, spread isn’t likely to take off even if people start congregating again — unless new cases come in from areas with more extensive spread, he said.
The effects of climate are a bit trickier to nail down, but so far it appears that hot, dry and sunny areas have an advantage, because the virus is less likely to be viable at high temperatures or when exposed to ultraviolet light, Rubin said. Colorado could benefit from its climate, but that’s not going to be enough if communities haven’t suppressed their cases and people start mixing as normal, he said.
The model doesn’t account for all decisions people might make, like whether to wear masks or spend time with others outdoors, Rubin said. It relies on cellphone tracking data as a measure of how many trips the average person makes to nonessential businesses.
Most counties reduced trips by 60% to 70%, Rubin said. That means, for example, that if an average person went shopping recreationally six times a month, they’d now make only two trips.The projections modeled scenarios where people went out at half their normal rate (three times for our six-time shopper) and two-thirds of the normal rate (four trips, in this example). While one extra trip each month might seem small, it adds up to quite a few extra chances to pass the virus when tens of thousands of other people do the same thing.
While climate might help Colorado in the summer, at least some counties would be primed for an explosion of cases come September if people don’t use caution and the virus continues to spread, Rubin said. He likened Denver’s population, which lives in denser conditions than in much of Colorado, to “tinder” that could spark, perhaps even under summer’s favorable conditions.
“The more cautious you are, the better you are in the long-term,” he said. “The strength of our individual behaviors is what’s going to get us through what could be a difficult fall and winter.”
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-05-19--Keeler: Why beating coronavirus was Denver South coach Wayne McDonald’s biggest win of 2020

Bigger win for Wayne McDonald : A Denver Prep League title or kicking coronavirus straight in its backside ?
“ I definitely know he ’ s excited about life and about being here , ” Alphonso McDonald says with a chuckle .
“ But I know he thinks about his girls all the time .
I would definitely say the city title .
My mom might say something different .
But I know how big he is about basketball.
” On Feb. 20 , Wayne McDonald coached Denver South to an 8-1 league mark and a share of the Denver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month later , he was being rushed to the ICU at Rose Medical Center with the tell-tale symptoms of COVID-19 : High fever , shallow breaths , lethargy .
An inability to talk or smell .
Fortunately , after shuttling from Saint Peter to Cerberus for a month , the McDonalds are riding a winning streak again .
They ’ re supposed to find out Tuesday , and hopefully no later than Wednesday , when Wayne , 50 , can leave the hospital and start up the next phase on the comeback trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a blur , ” Wayne ’ s wife Cheryl says .
“ With everything going on , it ’ s hard to keep track of the days.
” Alphonso , Wayne ’ s oldest son and an assistant on the Rebels staff , has done his darnedest anyway .
By his count , Tuesday will be Dad ’ s 60th straight day in the hospital .
The South coach spent 40 of those hooked up to a ventilator .
“ It ’ s definitely been a roller-coaster , some ups and downs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re definitely doing a lot better throughout all of this.
” It ’ s a heck of a lot better than April , when doctors performed a tracheotomy to reduce the need for sedation and the risk of sedation-related delirium .
The darkest night came about two weeks into his stint in the ICU , when during one of those aforementioned deliriums , Wayne accidentally removed a feeding tube , opening a wound that would become infected .
“ ( Their ) exact words were , ‘ We almost lost him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So that definitely was the lowest point .
And he was definitely at a touch-and-go phase.
” The weeks since have been easier on the stomach .
And the soul .
Cheryl , who ’ d contracted the virus herself in late March and spent two weeks in home quarantine , knew her husband had COVID-19 on the run when he kept asking how the Rebels ’ workouts were coming along .
“ He ’ s definitely a family-oriented person and he began to talk about family .
And second , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she says .
“ He wasn ’ t aware that sports had been shut down .
And he wanted to know what the girls were doing in the offseason and where the workouts were happening .
“ I kind of had to explain to him what had happened .
When he came to the hospital , it was that first wave of things closing down all over , so he wasn ’ t aware.
” After two months in the dark , even the inches forward feel like leaps .
Alphonso visited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while the South coach was in and out and consciousness , the minute he noticed that the Michael Jordan documentary “ The Last Dance ” was showing on the television , Wayne stayed up for three straight installments .
“ He loves it , ” Alphonso says .
“ He said to me , ‘ This is why ( Jordan ) was the best.
’ ” Like His Airness , McDonald feels he ’ s got unfinished business on the court .
Despite a 19-5 season , the Rebels were upset by Fairview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5A state playoffs .
Three of South ’ s top four scorers from this past winter , including guard Timiya Guevara ( 22.0 points , 6.3 assists per game ) , are slated to return .
Of course , before you ’ re running with the kids , you ’ ve got to be able to walk on your own .
Rehab is expected to run anywhere from three to six more weeks , depending on the fates and Wayne ’ s blood pressure .
“ All the things we normally take for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cheryl says .
“ Things you just don ’ t even pay attention to , he has to re-do all of that and re-learn all of that.
” Next up : Occupational therapy .
Being able to breathe and stand up without assistance .
Baby steps .
“ I just want you guys to take care of your mom , ” Wayne told Alphonso recently .
“ I just want to make sure Mom is doing well.
” All this time , she ’ s been helping to take care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work schedules would allow .
Monday afternoon , Day 59 , she ’ s there again , as the roller-coaster ride levels off .
Bigger win : A DPL title or kicking coronavirus straight in its backside ?
“ I wonder what he ’ d say ?
” Cheryl says .
“ Wayne , is your bigger achievement beating COVID or winning the city championship ?
”

Bigger win for Wayne McDonald: A Denver Prep League title or kicking coronavirus straight in its backside?
“I definitely know he’s excited about life and about being here,” Alphonso McDonald says with a chuckle. “But I know he thinks about his girls all the time. I would definitely say the city title. My mom might say something different. But I know how big he is about basketball.”
On Feb. 20, Wayne coached Denver South to an 8-1 league mark and a share of the Denver Prep League girls hoops crown.
A month later, he was being rushed to the ICU at Rose Medical Center with the tell-tale symptoms of COVID-19: High fever, shallow breaths, lethargy. An inability to talk or smell.
Fortunately, after shuttling from Saint Peter to Cerberus for a month, the McDonalds are riding a winning streak again. They’re supposed to find out Tuesday, and hopefully no later than Wednesday, when Wayne, 50, can leave the hospital and start up the next phase on the comeback trail in rehab.
“It all seems like a blur,” Wayne’s wife Cheryl says. “With everything going on, it’s hard to keep track of the days.”
Alphonso, Wayne’s oldest son and an assistant on the Rebels staff, has done his darnedest anyway. By his count, Tuesday will be Dad’s 60th straight day in the hospital. The South coach spent 40 of those hooked up to a ventilator.
“It’s definitely been a roller-coaster, some ups and downs,” Alphonso says. “But we’re definitely doing a lot better throughout all of this.”
It’s a heck of a lot better than April, when doctors performed a tracheotomy to reduce the need for sedation and the risk of sedation-related delirium.
The darkest night came about two weeks into his stint in the ICU, when during one of those aforementioned deliriums, Wayne accidentally removed a feeding tube, opening a wound that would become infected.
“(Their) exact words were, ‘We almost lost him that morning,’” Cheryl recalls. “So that definitely was the lowest point. And he was definitely at a touch-and-go phase.”
The weeks since have been easier on the stomach. And the soul. Cheryl, who’d contracted the virus herself in late March and spent two weeks in home quarantine, knew her husband had COVID-19 on the run when he kept asking how the Rebels’ workouts were coming along.
“He’s definitely a family-oriented person and he began to talk about family. And second, he started asking about the team,” she says. “He wasn’t aware that sports had been shut down. And he wanted to know what the girls were doing in the offseason and where the workouts were happening.
“I kind of had to explain to him what had happened. When he came to the hospital, it was that first wave of things closing down all over, so he wasn’t aware.”
After two months in the dark, even the inches forward feel like leaps. Alphonso visited his father this past weekend, and while the South coach was in and out and consciousness, the minute he noticed that the Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance” was showing on the television, Wayne stayed up for three straight installments.
“He loves it,” Alphonso says. “He said to me, ‘This is why (Jordan) was the best.’”
Like His Airness, McDonald feels like he’s left unfinished business on the court. Despite a 19-5 season, the Rebels were upset by Fairview in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs. Three of South’s top four scorers from this past winter, including guard Timiya Guevara (22.0 points, 6.3 assists per game), are slated to return.
Of course, before you’re running with the kids, you’ve got to be able to walk on your own. Rehab is expected to run anywhere from three to six more weeks, depending on the fates and Wayne’s blood pressure.
“All the things we normally take for granted with our movement and motor skills,” Cheryl says. “Things you just don’t even pay attention to, he has to re-do all of that and re-learn all of that.”
Next up: Occupational therapy. Being able to breathe and stand up without assistance. Baby steps.
“I just want you guys to take care of your mom,” Wayne told Alphonso recently. “I just want to make sure Mom is doing well.”
All this time, she’s been helping to take care of him, bedside whenever hospital hours and work schedules would allow.
Monday afternoon, Day 59, she’s there again, as the roller-coaster ride levels off.
Bigger win: A DPL title or kicking coronavirus straight in its backside?
“I wonder what he’d say?” Cheryl says.
So she asks.
“Wayne, is your bigger achievement beating COVID or winning the city championship?”
A pause.
“Winning the city championship,” Wayne says.
Cheryl laughs.
“He said he’s totally joking. Absolutely, beating COVID. For sure.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-19--How Tim Tebow fared in a season in the majors in our MLB The Show 20 simulation

Can Tim Tebow make it in the big leagues ?
We tested the former Broncos quarterback turned Mets prospect ’ s mettle in a season simulation in MLB The Show 20 on the PlayStation 4 .
It ’ s not the first time we ’ ve tested Tebow ’ s prowess in the video-game realm .
Back in 2016 , we looked at how he would do as a running back in Madden NFL 16 — and the results were surprising .
In our simulation , we promoted Tebow to the Mets ’ main roster and started him in left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the designated rule in place , we moved him into the DH spot .
He batted in the No .
6 spot .
Tebow ’ s overall rating of 58 ( out of 99 ) is the worst of the five left fielders in the Mets ’ organization in the game .
Among New York ’ s outfielders , he ’ s ranked 12th out of 14 .
His biggest strengths in the game are his arm strength in the field ( 69 ) and speed on the bases ( 62 ) — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steal bases is 25 .
In the field , his reaction to the ball is 40 and general fielding skills is 35 .
With the bat , his contact rating is better against right-handed pitchers ( 48 ) than lefties ( 36 ) .
The opposite is true with power ( 36 vs. right-handers and 45 against lefties ) .
His vision at the plate is 45 .
March : Tebow started in four of the Mets ’ five games , going 3 for 16 and batting .187 .
He had two RBIs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twenty-seven games into the year , he ’ s batting at the Mendoza line , going 21 of 105 for a .200 average .
He has four doubles , two triples and a home run with nine runs batted in .
He also has a stolen base .
The Mets ?
They ’ re 18-13 on the year .
May : Through 49 games , he ’ s improved his batting average to .229 .
He has more strikeouts ( 44 ) than hits ( 43 ) .
His on-base percentage is .270 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New York is 32-27 and third in the National League East .
June : Through 71 games , he ’ s batting .226 .
He has 14 doubles , three triples and three home runs with 21 RBIs .
He also has four stolen bases and was caught twice .
The Mets fall to fourth place with a 43-42 record .
July : Tebow ’ s batting average took a dip , falling to .206 on the season .
His strikeout count is at 99 through 93 games .
He hit two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just five runs for the month .
August : Through 117 games , he is hitting .206 .
He has 21 doubles on the season .
September : Tebow finished the season playing in 138 games for the Mets .
He had 108 hits in 514 at-bats , batting .210 .
His OBP is .264 and slugging is .307 .
His OPS is .571 .
He totaled 27 doubles , four triples and five homers .
He had 44 RBIs .
He stole nine bases and was caught just three times .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 times .
In the field , he committed 14 errors and had 214 putouts .
His fielding percentage was .942 .
His wins against replacement was -4.2 .
The Mets finished the year 79-83 , third in the NL East and 20 games behind the division champion Phillies .
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Can Tim Tebow make it in the big leagues?
We tested the former Broncos quarterback turned Mets prospect’s mettle in a season simulation in MLB The Show 20 on the PlayStation 4. It’s not the first time we’ve tested Tebow’s prowess in the video-game realm. Back in 2016, we looked at how he would do as a running back in Madden NFL 16 — and the results were surprising.
In our simulation, we promoted Tebow to the Mets’ main roster and started him in left field. When New York played with the designated rule in place, we moved him into the DH spot. He batted in the No. 6 spot.
Ratings
Tebow’s overall rating of 58 (out of 99) is the worst of the five left fielders in the Mets’ organization in the game. Among New York’s outfielders, he’s ranked 12th out of 14. His biggest strengths in the game are his arm strength in the field (69) and speed on the bases (62) — both below average. His ability to steal bases is 25. In the field, his reaction to the ball is 40 and general fielding skills is 35. With the bat, his contact rating is better against right-handed pitchers (48) than lefties (36). The opposite is true with power (36 vs. right-handers and 45 against lefties). His vision at the plate is 45.
March: Tebow started in four of the Mets’ five games, going 3 for 16 and batting .187. He had two RBIs and a stolen base.
April: Twenty-seven games into the year, he’s batting at the Mendoza line, going 21 of 105 for a .200 average. He has four doubles, two triples and a home run with nine runs batted in. He also has a stolen base. The Mets? They’re 18-13 on the year.
May: Through 49 games, he’s improved his batting average to .229. He has more strikeouts (44) than hits (43). His on-base percentage is .270 and has a slugging average of .314. New York is 32-27 and third in the National League East.
June: Through 71 games, he’s batting .226. He has 14 doubles, three triples and three home runs with 21 RBIs. He also has four stolen bases and was caught twice. The Mets fall to fourth place with a 43-42 record.
July: Tebow’s batting average took a dip, falling to .206 on the season. His strikeout count is at 99 through 93 games. He hit two more home runs, but drove in just five runs for the month.
August: Through 117 games, he is hitting .206. He has 21 doubles on the season.
September: Tebow finished the season playing in 138 games for the Mets. He had 108 hits in 514 at-bats, batting .210. His OBP is .264 and slugging is .307. His OPS is .571. He totaled 27 doubles, four triples and five homers. He had 44 RBIs. He stole nine bases and was caught just three times. He struck out 137 times and was walked 34 times.
In the field, he committed 14 errors and had 214 putouts. His fielding percentage was .942. His wins against replacement was -4.2.
The Mets finished the year 79-83, third in the NL East and 20 games behind the division champion Phillies.
— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette, tell a friend it’s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup. If you have any questions or suggestions, hit me up on Twitter @joenguyen or by email.
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thedenverpost--2020-05-19--Colorado drought grows, summer fire danger increasing

Colorado ’ s drought is continuing to expand and intensify , based on data from Thursday ’ s national drought monitor report .
According to the United States Drought Monitor , the official government drought monitor directly associated with the National Weather Service , nearly 80 % of Colorado is abnormally dry , and more than 60 % of the state is officially considered to be in a drought .
All of those numbers represent a slight increase from the week prior , and a considerable increase from this time last year , when virtually all of Colorado was drought-free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ extreme ” drought is also growing across southern Colorado .
About 15 % of Colorado , mainly across the southern third of the state , is now considered to be in an extreme drought by the drought monitor .
Subpar full winter snowpack coupled with an unusually fast snowmelt are combining to dry Colorado , particularly over the southern half of the state .
On a longer term basis , an exceptionally dry monsoon season last summer also left much of southern Colorado moisture-starved .
Those factors have not only increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also begun to considerably dry out soil moisture .
The San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado are especially dry , based on data from the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District .
That could set the stage for increased fire activity later this spring and summer .
While snowpack was generally healthy over the northern half of Colorado , southern Colorado ’ s lack of snowpack and its recent rapid decline will likely only continue to further dry soils there .
After showers and storms on Thursday and Friday , next week is trending hotter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Range could approach 90 degrees early next week , meaning the recent drought and drier soils could continue to expand .
May is typically one of the wetter months of the year in Colorado .
So far this month , though , it ’ s trended a bit drier than average , and that ’ s perhaps especially worrisome with drought conditions to build across the state .

Colorado’s drought is continuing to expand and intensify, based on data from Thursday’s national drought monitor report.
According to the United States Drought Monitor, the official government drought monitor directly associated with the National Weather Service, nearly 80% of Colorado is abnormally dry, and more than 60% of the state is officially considered to be in a drought.
All of those numbers represent a slight increase from the week prior, and a considerable increase from this time last year, when virtually all of Colorado was drought-free.
Perhaps most ominously, the level of “extreme” drought is also growing across southern Colorado. About 15% of Colorado, mainly across the southern third of the state, is now considered to be in an extreme drought by the drought monitor.
Subpar full winter snowpack coupled with an unusually fast snowmelt are combining to dry Colorado, particularly over the southern half of the state. On a longer term basis, an exceptionally dry monsoon season last summer also left much of southern Colorado moisture-starved.
Those factors have not only increased drought conditions, but they’ve also begun to considerably dry out soil moisture. The San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado are especially dry, based on data from the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District.
Colorado is drying out! Are you mitigating wildfire risks around your home, creating defensible space and preparing your family for rapid and safe evacuation? pic.twitter.com/upnML1maw8 — ICFPD (@ICFPD) May 12, 2020
That could set the stage for increased fire activity later this spring and summer. While snowpack was generally healthy over the northern half of Colorado, southern Colorado’s lack of snowpack and its recent rapid decline will likely only continue to further dry soils there.
After showers and storms on Thursday and Friday, next week is trending hotter and drier. Temperatures along the Front Range could approach 90 degrees early next week, meaning the recent drought and drier soils could continue to expand.
May is typically one of the wetter months of the year in Colorado. So far this month, though, it’s trended a bit drier than average, and that’s perhaps especially worrisome with drought conditions to build across the state.