thedenverpost--2020-12-18--High school athletes, coaches protest Colorado’s decision to postpone winter sports: “Let’s make sur

High school athletes, coaches protest Colorado’s decision to postpone winter sports: “Let’s make sure they hear us”

A collection of more than 60 high school athletes , coaches and their families from across the state gathered Thursday outside the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to protest its decision to postpone winter and spring prep sports .
Two police vehicles blocked traffic to allow for players carrying handwritten signs — with messages like SPORTS = MENTAL HEALTH and No reason for no season !
— to cross the street toward CDPHE ’ s Denver offices on South Cherry Creek Drive .
They rang cowbells and chanted a familiar mantra for all Colorado high school athletes frustrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Let us play !
Let us play !
” Their collective goal : Increase public pressure on CHSAA , state government and local health authorities to begin sports for Season B — including basketball , ice hockey , skiing , wrestling , and girls swimming and diving — as previously scheduled on Jan. 4 instead of in early February .
“ It ’ s not fair and it ’ s not right , ” said Malik Carlson , a junior point guard for the Class 1A Briggsdale boys basketball team .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play .
We had a successful football season and made it to state .
They got to finish it out .
I don ’ t know why they can ’ t do it for basketball .
I just want to play.
” Representatives of several small-school programs such as Rocky Ford swimming ( 2A ) and Bennett wrestling ( 1A ) made the long drive to Denver .
Darren Pitzner , head girls basketball coach at Green Mountain ( 3A ) , helped organize the protest with LetCoPlay.com to give athletes , coaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate over the safety of indoor sports amid the coronavirus pandemic .
There are currently 22 states that have already started high school basketball seasons , according to MaxPreps.com .
Colorado is one of only five that does not plan to tip off until February or later .
“ Sports are clearly an answer here and not the problem , ” Pitzner said .
“ The spread with kids is occurring at parties and social gatherings outside of our walls .
The more structure we can provide for them , the safer we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our kids .
There are thousands of public servants and coaches in this state who are ready and willing to provide safe opportunities for kids under the right protocols .
“ We can curb the spread by saying yes to kids right now .
Let them have their passions so our kids can become kids again .
They ’ ll actually socialize less outside of our protocols and safety that we can provide.
” Last week , CDPHE executive director Jill Hunsaker , in a statement via CHSAA , said the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was based on a lack of “ information about what disease incidence and hospitalization capacity will look like in January ” with counties in red on the COVID-19 dial prohibited from “ indoor group sports.
” Gov .
Jared Polis also suggested the state suspend all high school extracurricular activities until in-person learning is available at all grade levels .
Pitzner ’ s rebuttal pointed to a study published in October by the University of Wisconsin school of medicine which surveyed 207 high schools to represent about 30,000 fall sport student-athletes .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests , only one player indicated it was because of sports participation .
Dr. Lisa Miller , a professor of epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health , said there is no perfect answer for how communities should approach winter youth sports , especially indoors , amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Once you get inside , you ’ re sharing that same air space , and the risk is going to go up .
There are things you can do to lessen the risk , but I don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tens-of-millions of dollars and can afford the rigorous protocols that professional sports teams have used to safely do indoor sports , ” Miller said , adding that high school teams can reduce risk by maximizing gym ventilation .
“ Every public health policy has consequences .
Hopefully , they lessen infection risk , but they also interfere with people ’ s lives — economic , social , and emotional .
All of these decisions are really tough balancing acts.
” Protesters are hopeful their message will prompt local health authorities to act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winter prep sports to start next month .
State officials are not expected to meet until mid-January to resume talks over Season B , according to CHSAA .
Pitzner , turning to the crowd of protesters on Thursday , said : “ Let ’ s make sure they hear us .
”

A collection of more than 60 high school athletes, coaches and their families from across the state gathered Thursday outside the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to protest its decision to postpone winter and spring prep sports.
Two police vehicles blocked traffic to allow for players carrying handwritten signs — with messages like SPORTS = MENTAL HEALTH and No reason for no season! — to cross the street toward CDPHE’s Denver offices on South Cherry Creek Drive. They rang cowbells and chanted a familiar mantra for all Colorado high school athletes frustrated by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
“Let us play! Let us play!”
Their collective goal: Increase public pressure on CHSAA, state government and local health authorities to begin sports for Season B — including basketball, ice hockey, skiing, wrestling, and girls swimming and diving — as previously scheduled on Jan. 4 instead of in early February.
“It’s not fair and it’s not right,” said Malik Carlson, a junior point guard for the Class 1A Briggsdale boys basketball team. “We just want to go out and play. We had a successful football season and made it to state. They got to finish it out. I don’t know why they can’t do it for basketball. I just want to play.”
RELATED: Colorado high school wrestling coaches torn on new winter regulations
Representatives of several small-school programs such as Rocky Ford swimming (2A) and Bennett wrestling (1A) made the long drive to Denver. Darren Pitzner, head girls basketball coach at Green Mountain (3A), helped organize the protest with LetCoPlay.com to give athletes, coaches and parents a voice in the ongoing debate over the safety of indoor sports amid the coronavirus pandemic.
There are currently 22 states that have already started high school basketball seasons, according to MaxPreps.com. Colorado is one of only five that does not plan to tip off until February or later.
“Sports are clearly an answer here and not the problem,” Pitzner said. “The spread with kids is occurring at parties and social gatherings outside of our walls. The more structure we can provide for them, the safer we can keep our families, our communities and our kids. There are thousands of public servants and coaches in this state who are ready and willing to provide safe opportunities for kids under the right protocols.
“We can curb the spread by saying yes to kids right now. Let them have their passions so our kids can become kids again. They’ll actually socialize less outside of our protocols and safety that we can provide.”
Last week, CDPHE executive director Jill Hunsaker, in a statement via CHSAA, said the decision to postpone winter and spring prep sports was based on a lack of “information about what disease incidence and hospitalization capacity will look like in January” with counties in red on the COVID-19 dial prohibited from “indoor group sports.” Gov. Jared Polis also suggested the state suspend all high school extracurricular activities until in-person learning is available at all grade levels.
Pitzner’s rebuttal pointed to a study published in October by the University of Wisconsin school of medicine which surveyed 207 high schools to represent about 30,000 fall sport student-athletes. It found that among 209 who reported positive tests, only one player indicated it was because of sports participation.
Dr. Lisa Miller, a professor of epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health, said there is no perfect answer for how communities should approach winter youth sports, especially indoors, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Once you get inside, you’re sharing that same air space, and the risk is going to go up. There are things you can do to lessen the risk, but I don’t think you can get around it unless you have tens-of-millions of dollars and can afford the rigorous protocols that professional sports teams have used to safely do indoor sports,” Miller said, adding that high school teams can reduce risk by maximizing gym ventilation. “Every public health policy has consequences. Hopefully, they lessen infection risk, but they also interfere with people’s lives — economic, social, and emotional. All of these decisions are really tough balancing acts.”
Protesters are hopeful their message will prompt local health authorities to act quickly, open gymnasiums, and allow winter prep sports to start next month. State officials are not expected to meet until mid-January to resume talks over Season B, according to CHSAA.
Pitzner, turning to the crowd of protesters on Thursday, said: “Let’s make sure they hear us.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-18--Broncos Journal: Bills receivers present many challenges for revamped cornerback corps

Fourteen things entering Saturday ’ s Buffalo-Broncos game , one for each of tight end Nick Vannett ’ s receptions this year : 1 .
Stating the obvious : This is a tough matchup for the Broncos ’ cornerbacks .
Stefon Diggs leads the NFL with 100 catches and if coach Vic Fangio allocates extra attention to him , watch for Cole Beasley ( 71 catches ) working out of the slot against nickel back Will Parks , who allowed three completions in three targets at Carolina .
2 .
“ ( Beasley is ) really quick , really savvy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s played in the slot his entire career and he knows how to run routes , he knows how to get open — really savvy guy with Diggs on the outside and John Brown or Gabriel ( Davis ) and ( Isaiah ) McKenzie ( also ) on the outside , it makes it tough because you have to pay attention to some of those guys , too , and to give the needed help sometimes to the slot ( cover man ) can be hard.
” 3 .
How the Broncos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their top-ranked red zone defense .
The Bills rank 18th in red zone offense , but quarterback Josh Allen has 19 touchdowns , no interceptions and a 105.7 rating .
“ They do a good job schematically in the red zone ; they take advantage of ( Allen ’ s ) ability to run , ” Fangio said .
“ We ’ ve been pretty good ( in the red zone ) most years in the past .
We spend a lot of time on it , probably practice it more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s math about his red zone defenses : This is his 10th consecutive year as a play-caller and his defenses have finished in the top 13 in seven of those seasons , including fourth in 2011 ( 49ers ) , tied for fifth in ’ 18 ( Chicago ) and first last year .
5 .
The next challenge for quarterback Drew Lock : Stacking good games together .
Last year , he threw three touchdowns at Houston , but was 18-of-40 in a snow-game loss at Kansas City .
He threw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For all the chatter about check-downs , the most encouraging thing was offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur calling designed short passes like screens to spark a drive .
6 .
“ All along this year , we ’ ve been trying to call ( boot-legs ) and quick throws and things to kind of keep him in rhythm , ” Shurmur said .
“ When you look at it , nobody likes to hear this , but it takes a little time for a system to kick in.
” 7 .
Actually , Pat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s accurate .
No offseason program .
No preseason games .
No Courtland Sutton after Week 2 .
It was going to take time for this offense and in reality , they ’ ve had one good complete game this year ( last week ) .
8 .
KJ Hamler had his breakout game last week ( two touchdowns ) , but Jerry Jeudy had only two catches ( a double-move route gained 31 yards ) .
Any judgment on the rookie receivers should be reserved until we get to see them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Jeudy and Hamler .
9 .
“ Watching them , I believe that they ’ re going to be ( darn ) good , ” Diggs said .
“ This is their first year in the league and they ’ ve had some success .
I feel like the more they get comfortable with their quarterback , the more time that they put in — and I know Jeudy and the young kid Hamler are definitely guys that will work extremely hard in the offseason — they ’ ll make another jump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction .
They have Courtland Sutton ( returning ) .
That will be a three-headed monster.
” 10 .
Rookie Netane Muti realizes the benefit of playing for offensive line coach Mike Munchak , whose playing career at guard ( and other positions ) helped him reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame .
“ It ’ s been a blessing , honestly , ” Muti said .
“ Not a lot of coaches is a Hall of Fame lineman , especially at the position I play .
I can trust him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a game film review like with Munchak controlling the clicker ?
“ More talking about the stuff to fix , ” Muti said .
“ It was just another regular film session ( after the Carolina game ) with him saying , ‘ Good job with this , ’ or , ‘ This is how you do it better.
’ ” 12 .
Right guard Graham Glasgow ( foot ) is expected to start after missing last week .
The Broncos ’ offensive line will be challenged preparing for the Bills ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ A ” gaps ( between the center and guard ) .
The linebackers can drop back at the snap or rush and the Bills ’ edge defenders retreat into zone coverage .
“ We ’ ve seen that throughout the year , ” Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry said .
“ We know how to protect it and pick it so we have to be firm with our technique and communication.
” 13 .
Kicker Brandon McManus will have a full two weeks to stew over missing two point-after attempts in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s done that in a game .
McManus was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list ( close contact ) on Monday .
“ Nothing mechanically ( wrong on the misses ) , ” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said .
“ Operationally on the first one , we had some laces ( facing ) him and the ball was spinning .
The second one , the operation was good , but he missed .
It comes down to focus and we have to get the same kick whether it ’ s 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 .
McMahon ’ s analysis of Diontae Spencer ’ s 83-yard punt return touchdown against the Panthers , the Broncos ’ first in five years : “ The first thing is I thought he did a really great job of just focusing on the catch with pressure in his face .
He did it perfectly with being gone ( with coronavirus ) for some time .
Then he made two guys miss .
He made the gunner miss and then the second gunner .
We got that second level blocked .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s broke a bunch these two years and we had to get him into the end zone .
The sky is the limit once you taste that end zone .
Hopefully we get a bunch more in his career .
”

Fourteen things entering Saturday’s Buffalo-Broncos game, one for each of tight end Nick Vannett’s receptions this year:
1. Stating the obvious: This is a tough matchup for the Broncos’ cornerbacks. Stefon Diggs leads the NFL with 100 catches and if coach Vic Fangio allocates extra attention to him, watch for Cole Beasley (71 catches) working out of the slot against nickel back Will Parks, who allowed three completions in three targets at Carolina.
2. “(Beasley is) really quick, really savvy,” Fangio said. “He’s played in the slot his entire career and he knows how to run routes, he knows how to get open — really savvy guy with Diggs on the outside and John Brown or Gabriel (Davis) and (Isaiah) McKenzie (also) on the outside, it makes it tough because you have to pay attention to some of those guys, too, and to give the needed help sometimes to the slot (cover man) can be hard.”
3. How the Broncos can stay in the game? Lean on their top-ranked red zone defense. The Bills rank 18th in red zone offense, but quarterback Josh Allen has 19 touchdowns, no interceptions and a 105.7 rating. “They do a good job schematically in the red zone; they take advantage of (Allen’s) ability to run,” Fangio said. “We’ve been pretty good (in the red zone) most years in the past. We spend a lot of time on it, probably practice it more than most teams.”
4. Checking Fangio’s math about his red zone defenses: This is his 10th consecutive year as a play-caller and his defenses have finished in the top 13 in seven of those seasons, including fourth in 2011 (49ers), tied for fifth in ’18 (Chicago) and first last year.
5. The next challenge for quarterback Drew Lock: Stacking good games together. Last year, he threw three touchdowns at Houston, but was 18-of-40 in a snow-game loss at Kansas City. He threw four touchdowns last week at Carolina. For all the chatter about check-downs, the most encouraging thing was offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur calling designed short passes like screens to spark a drive.
6. “All along this year, we’ve been trying to call (boot-legs) and quick throws and things to kind of keep him in rhythm,” Shurmur said. “When you look at it, nobody likes to hear this, but it takes a little time for a system to kick in.”
7. Actually, Pat, I love hearing that because it’s accurate. No offseason program. No preseason games. No Courtland Sutton after Week 2. It was going to take time for this offense and in reality, they’ve had one good complete game this year (last week).
8. KJ Hamler had his breakout game last week (two touchdowns), but Jerry Jeudy had only two catches (a double-move route gained 31 yards). Any judgment on the rookie receivers should be reserved until we get to see them play with Sutton. Diggs is impressed with Jeudy and Hamler.
9. “Watching them, I believe that they’re going to be (darn) good,” Diggs said. “This is their first year in the league and they’ve had some success. I feel like the more they get comfortable with their quarterback, the more time that they put in — and I know Jeudy and the young kid Hamler are definitely guys that will work extremely hard in the offseason — they’ll make another jump and continue to move in the right direction. They have Courtland Sutton (returning). That will be a three-headed monster.”
10. Rookie Netane Muti realizes the benefit of playing for offensive line coach Mike Munchak, whose playing career at guard (and other positions) helped him reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “It’s been a blessing, honestly,” Muti said. “Not a lot of coaches is a Hall of Fame lineman, especially at the position I play. I can trust him and what he says.”
11. What is a game film review like with Munchak controlling the clicker? “More talking about the stuff to fix,” Muti said. “It was just another regular film session (after the Carolina game) with him saying, ‘Good job with this,’ or, ‘This is how you do it better.’”
12. Right guard Graham Glasgow (foot) is expected to start after missing last week. The Broncos’ offensive line will be challenged preparing for the Bills’ third-down look of putting stand-up linebackers in the “A” gaps (between the center and guard). The linebackers can drop back at the snap or rush and the Bills’ edge defenders retreat into zone coverage. “We’ve seen that throughout the year,” Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry said. “We know how to protect it and pick it so we have to be firm with our technique and communication.”
13. Kicker Brandon McManus will have a full two weeks to stew over missing two point-after attempts in the win over Carolina; the first time he’s done that in a game. McManus was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list (close contact) on Monday. “Nothing mechanically (wrong on the misses),” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said. “Operationally on the first one, we had some laces (facing) him and the ball was spinning. The second one, the operation was good, but he missed. It comes down to focus and we have to get the same kick whether it’s 60 yards or from the 15-yard line.”
14. McMahon’s analysis of Diontae Spencer’s 83-yard punt return touchdown against the Panthers, the Broncos’ first in five years: “The first thing is I thought he did a really great job of just focusing on the catch with pressure in his face. He did it perfectly with being gone (with coronavirus) for some time. Then he made two guys miss. He made the gunner miss and then the second gunner. We got that second level blocked. I’m really happy for him. He’s broke a bunch these two years and we had to get him into the end zone. The sky is the limit once you taste that end zone. Hopefully we get a bunch more in his career.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-18--From father to son, Tiger Woods looking only for enjoyment

Tiger Woods and his 11-year-old son were on the practice range together Thursday at the PNC Championship , and social media was blazing with how good Charlie ’ s swing looked , right down to the club twirl .
What got the attention of Justin Thomas was competitive chirping .
He recalled a putting contest they had two years ago in Woods ’ backyard .
Thomas said it was one of the few weeks he occupied the No .
1 world ranking .
“ Charlie was leading going into the last hole , ” Thomas said .
“ Charlie is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 9-year-old beating the No .
1 player in the world and supposedly the best player of all time.
’ He three-putted and I made it .
Shut him up pretty quick.
” The next competition will be on national TV .
Woods and his son are among 20 teams in Orlando , Florida , for the PNC Championship that starts Saturday , a 36-hole event known for many years as the Father-Son Challenge .
Moving with the times , players who won a major or The Players Championship can have sons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Woods is playing for the first time , turning a cozy December gathering into must-see TV .
Is the son too young for so much attention ?
It ’ s all relative considering Woods was 2 when he made his TV debut on “ The Mike Douglas Show.
” “ When I was 11 , it was a totally different world , ” Woods said .
“ I was playing a lot of tournaments , but I wasn ’ t in front of the media like this .
It was so different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and playing and being a part of golf .
And this is part of golf.
” This is not about training the next Tiger .
Stories abound of the late Earl Woods placing his toddler son in a high chair , mesmerized watching his father swing a club .
Earl Woods made his son ask to play golf , and only if his homework was finished .
There were countless teaching moments along the way .
Woods only remembers those days as time spent with his father — just like now .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to see him enjoying the game , ” Woods said after a pro-am round that featured one par 3 where his son hit it to 3 feet and Woods left it some 40 feet away .
“ That ’ s the whole idea .
Enjoy hitting shots and creating those shots .
It ’ s so cool for me to see him enjoy the sport.
” The 11-year-old son already became somewhat of a video sensation last year when he was playing a junior event .
The father of another player noticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and in the background was young Charlie with a sweet swing reminiscent of a tour player with 82 wins and 15 majors .
Woods said if there is any instruction , a big part comes from Mike Thomas , the father of Justin Thomas and a longtime club professional in Kentucky whose specialty is working with juniors .
“ Mike has been very impactful in terms of him enjoying the sport , ” Woods said .
It ’ s rare in golf for sons to follow their fathers .
Jack Nicklaus ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the prestigious North & South Amateur but never had a PGA Tour card .
His third son , Gary , played on tour and once lost in a playoff to Phil Mickelson at the former BellSouth Classic in Atlanta .
Jay and Bill Haas and Craig and Kevin Stadler are among father-son duos with PGA Tour titles .
Then again , this isn ’ t about the tour or even winning .
“ My dad never pushed me to play golf or run cross-country , ” Woods said .
“ Whatever Charlie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as long as he enjoys it .
And he ’ s doing that.
” For Charlie , it ’ s a chance for payback .
He and his father are paired the opening round with Mike and Justin Thomas .
The boy ’ s ability to chirp has been brought up a few times in recent weeks .
Justin Thomas wants to see the 11-year-old Woods play well and soak up the moment .
“ Who wouldn ’ t want to be like your dad if your dad is Tiger Woods ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will get entertainment watching him twirl the club .
As much joking as I ’ ve made , I ’ ll be his second-biggest supporter behind Tiger .
”

Tiger Woods and his 11-year-old son were on the practice range together Thursday at the PNC Championship, and social media was blazing with how good Charlie’s swing looked, right down to the club twirl.
What got the attention of Justin Thomas was competitive chirping.
He recalled a putting contest they had two years ago in Woods’ backyard. Thomas said it was one of the few weeks he occupied the No. 1 world ranking.
“Charlie was leading going into the last hole,” Thomas said. “Charlie is mouthing off, ‘Here I am a 9-year-old beating the No. 1 player in the world and supposedly the best player of all time.’ He three-putted and I made it. Shut him up pretty quick.”
The next competition will be on national TV.
Woods and his son are among 20 teams in Orlando, Florida, for the PNC Championship that starts Saturday, a 36-hole event known for many years as the Father-Son Challenge. Moving with the times, players who won a major or The Players Championship can have sons, daughters and even fathers as their partners.
Woods is playing for the first time, turning a cozy December gathering into must-see TV.
Is the son too young for so much attention? It’s all relative considering Woods was 2 when he made his TV debut on “The Mike Douglas Show.”
“When I was 11, it was a totally different world,” Woods said. “I was playing a lot of tournaments, but I wasn’t in front of the media like this. It was so different. He’s been handling this and playing and being a part of golf. And this is part of golf.”
This is not about training the next Tiger. Stories abound of the late Earl Woods placing his toddler son in a high chair, mesmerized watching his father swing a club. Earl Woods made his son ask to play golf, and only if his homework was finished. There were countless teaching moments along the way.
Woods only remembers those days as time spent with his father — just like now.
“It’s so much fun for me to see him enjoying the game,” Woods said after a pro-am round that featured one par 3 where his son hit it to 3 feet and Woods left it some 40 feet away. “That’s the whole idea. Enjoy hitting shots and creating those shots. It’s so cool for me to see him enjoy the sport.”
The 11-year-old son already became somewhat of a video sensation last year when he was playing a junior event. The father of another player noticed Woods on the range and took video, and in the background was young Charlie with a sweet swing reminiscent of a tour player with 82 wins and 15 majors.
Woods said if there is any instruction, a big part comes from Mike Thomas, the father of Justin Thomas and a longtime club professional in Kentucky whose specialty is working with juniors.
“Mike has been very impactful in terms of him enjoying the sport,” Woods said.
That’s the word — enjoy — Woods kept repeating.
It’s rare in golf for sons to follow their fathers. Jack Nicklaus’ oldest of four sons, Jackie, won the prestigious North & South Amateur but never had a PGA Tour card. His third son, Gary, played on tour and once lost in a playoff to Phil Mickelson at the former BellSouth Classic in Atlanta.
Jay and Bill Haas and Craig and Kevin Stadler are among father-son duos with PGA Tour titles.
Then again, this isn’t about the tour or even winning.
“My dad never pushed me to play golf or run cross-country,” Woods said. “Whatever Charlie decides to do, as I said, as long as he enjoys it. And he’s doing that.”
For Charlie, it’s a chance for payback. He and his father are paired the opening round with Mike and Justin Thomas. The boy’s ability to chirp has been brought up a few times in recent weeks. Justin Thomas wants to see the 11-year-old Woods play well and soak up the moment.
“Who wouldn’t want to be like your dad if your dad is Tiger Woods?” Thomas said. “You all will get entertainment watching him twirl the club. As much joking as I’ve made, I’ll be his second-biggest supporter behind Tiger.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-18--The Spot: A dilemma for the state legislature, a move to the right in Congress and changes for Denve

The Spot: A dilemma for the state legislature, a move to the right in Congress and changes for Denver’s unhoused

What ’ s The Spot ?
You ’ re reading an installment of our weekly politics newsletter .
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I expect Colorado ’ s legislature will convene its regular , annual session on Jan. 13 at the Capitol .
They ’ ll swear in new members and take care of a few other pieces of must-do business .
Beyond that , I ’ m really not sure of much .
One thing I think is close to certain is that this session will not be a normal , 120-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May .
We wrote about the funky calendar challenges last month , and since then things have only gotten more complicated .
The Democrats who run the legislature and thus control the calendar are extremely wary of a post-holiday spike in COVID-19 cases , though safety concerns will abound even if the current numbers remain stable .
The three-day special session the legislature wrapped a couple weeks ago was hard enough to pull off .
Many members participated remotely .
Compliance with mask-wearing was inconsistent .
The public and lobbyists — two key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically absent from the building .
That ’ s not an ideal way to conduct state business , as many lawmakers have acknowledged to me .
We will almost definitely learn more soon , as lawmakers firm up their plan , but it seems increasingly likely that they ’ ll take a break at some point — maybe multiple points — during the session .
There ’ s been talk of them gaveling in on Jan. 13 , doing a few of those must-do items , then gaveling out for some number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced .
If the goal is to break until it ’ s relatively safe for people to gather in person at the Capitol for an extended period , they might be waiting awhile .
Most Coloradans won ’ t be vaccinated until at least the spring , the state ’ s projections suggest .
And the cold weather , which forces people indoors , isn ’ t going away soon .
What this means is that a whole lot of policy debates and legislative actions could be on hold .
Every session sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic has given lawmakers no shortage of new problems to address in 2021 .
With a break , we ’ d probably see many examples of bills that might ’ ve become law in , say , March , becoming law in April or May .
Throughout this pandemic , Gov .
Jared Polis has had an unprecedented amount of power , and in general the Democrats in charge at the Capitol feel good about his leadership .
Lawmakers have advised him on various things related to pandemic response , and statehouse leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But outside of the special session , the legislature hasn ’ t officially been at work since the spring .
And if it indeed takes a break this winter , Coloradans should settle in for even more of that .
Elsewhere in this week ’ s Spot , Saja Hindi has more on the challenges awaiting lawmakers , Justin Wingerter writes on a lurch to the right among Colorado ’ s shrinking GOP Congressional contingency and Conrad Swanson has the latest on big changes for Denver ’ s unhoused population .
To support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can become a Denver Post subscriber here .
Have a question about the upcoming election ?
Submit it here and it ’ ll go straight to The Denver Post politics team .
President Donald Trump signed into law Thursday legislation establishing a suffragist monument in Washington , D.C. , created by Loveland artist Jane DeDecker .
DeDecker ’ s sculpture , “ Every Word We Utter , ” features Susan B. Anthony , Elizabeth Cady Stanton , Sojourner Truth , Harriot Stanton Blatch , Ida B .
Wells and Alice Paul .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been determined , though an early version of the bill called for it to be placed near the U.S. Supreme Court .
The atmosphere was almost electric .
That ’ s how it felt walking into Poudre Valley Hospital on Monday when health care workers were getting the first COVID-19 vaccines in the state .
State Rep. Kyle Mullica , an ER nurse , told me he felt a similar sense of energy on Wednesday when he got his own shot at Presbyterian St. Luke ’ s Medical Center in Denver .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the start of the end , ” he said .
But expert after expert keeps repeating the same thing : We have a long way to go .
This isn ’ t the time to get lax on our precautions .
There is hope , but this pandemic is not over .
The Pfizer vaccine that Mullica and other health workers have received is two doses — they will get the second dose after about 21 days , and then it will take at least a week before they can count on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with COVID patients are part of the state ’ s first phase of rolling out the vaccine .
The general public in Colorado is expected to have access to the vaccine by the summer .
There ’ s also the uphill battle of ensuring people trust the vaccine — health care workers included — and getting it to marginalized populations .
On the heels of the end of a special session by the Colorado Legislature , new and returning lawmakers are set to begin their new work in January .
As Alex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complications to the schedule .
But lawmakers have a lot to address .
The pandemic wreaked havoc not just on people ’ s health but also their livelihoods .
The 10 bills they passed in the three-day session made a dent in some of those areas , but as we ’ ve reported before , there is so much more to go .
Colorado ’ s unemployment rate is surging .
Hospitality industries are in trouble — a survey by the the American Hotel and Lodging Association released this week expects that nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel over Christmas ( per public health guidance ) and about 71 % of hotels don ’ t think they ’ ll last another six months without some help .
Restaurants are also struggling , many forced to shutter their doors because of restrictions .
Schools are seeing enrollment drops and are worried about loss of funding .
And people are having a hard time affording food and basic necessities , as well as paying rent .
UCHealth Dr. Diana Breyer told me she ’ s hopeful about the vaccine and everyone should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems the pandemic fatigue was leading people not to take them seriously even before the vaccine started becoming available .
The more cases and hospitalizations rise , the harder it will be to get back to any sense of normalcy , and the larger the problems will be to address .
• An eight-hour hearing on election integrity ended with no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Colorado .
• Rep. Kyle Mullica is the first state lawmaker to get the coronavirus vaccine , CPR reports • Millions in state funding to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Colorado GOP loses stature in the halls of Congress , it is moving farther to the right .
There will be three Colorado Republicans in Congress next year , the fewest in a decade .
Two of the three , Reps. Ken Buck and Lauren Boebert , will be members of its most conservative club , the House Freedom Caucus .
And Rep. Doug Lamborn is a hardline social conservative .
All three have discredited the presidential election results .
All three have called for a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden in February .
Expect this trio to make plenty of noise next year .
Expect them to continue their calls for Biden investigations and criticisms of Big Tech .
Don ’ t expect a lot of bipartisanship .
One of Boebert ’ s first votes in Congress , three days after her Jan. 3 swearing in , will be on whether to certify the results of the presidential election .
The congresswoman-elect has suggested she will join a last-ditch effort to challenge that certification — an effort virtually guaranteed to fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election , we may never know the true way people voted in this election , ” Boebert tweeted Dec. 11 .
“ It is up to Congress to make this right and be the final say in this dispute .
That is the what ( sic ) the Constitution stipulates.
” • Jenna Ellis , the Trump attorney from Colorado , was fired from her job as a Weld County prosecutor in 2013 for making mistakes on cases , The Colorado Sun reports .
• CPR News caught up with understated Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • The Colorado Republican Party acknowledged Tuesday that Joe Biden is the president-elect , Colorado Politics reports .
• The Gazette looks at efforts to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado .
Denver ’ s second legal homeless is up and running , officials said Wednesday morning .
And for the time being it appears that ’ s as many encampments as residents can expect , which will come as good news to some and bad news to others .
The new encampment is located at the Denver Community Church ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chandler , executive director of the operating nonprofit , Colorado Village Collaborative , said in a matter of hours the place filled up .
“ This site opened to participants around 10am yesterday , ” Chandler said in an email .
“ By 3pm , all 30 tents were filled and we had welcomed 39 people , 2 dogs , and 1 cat into the Safe Outdoor Space.
” That site joins the city ’ s first , which opened late last month at First Baptist Church in Capitol Hill .
The 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 30 people .
While many advocates hail the two encampments as a success , more work must be done , they have repeatedly said .
The city ’ s homeless population is growing now and will continue along that trend as the pandemic and economic crisis continue .
Chandler has said he hopes another site or two could open early next year but first they ’ d need acceptable sites , which have been difficult to get considering neighborhood pushback across the city .
In the meantime , however , organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure the existing encampments are successful , track their progress and hope they can serve as an inroad to additional ways to help the homeless , advocates have said .
These encampments — while more might be needed — are not the city ’ s only approach to this problem , but rather just one more tool in the toolbox , as they say .
• Denver City Council agreed to defer raises for the city ’ s firefighters and suspend other benefits in an attempt to save millions as the city faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic .
• Reluctantly , Denver City Council cemented a raise for police by approving a controversial union contract for about 1,450 officers .
But not before a few lambasted Mayor Michael Hancock ’ s administration .
• Denver ’ s Department of Finance has earmarked $ 4 million in COVID-19 emergency funds for residents , workers and businesses > hurt by the pandemic , officials announced .
Forward this newsletter to your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe .

For people, policy and Colorado politics
What’s The Spot? You’re reading an installment of our weekly politics newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered straight in your inbox.
I expect Colorado’s legislature will convene its regular, annual session on Jan. 13 at the Capitol. They’ll swear in new members and take care of a few other pieces of must-do business.
Beyond that, I’m really not sure of much. One thing I think is close to certain is that this session will not be a normal, 120-day session that runs uninterrupted until adjournment in May.
We wrote about the funky calendar challenges last month, and since then things have only gotten more complicated. The Democrats who run the legislature and thus control the calendar are extremely wary of a post-holiday spike in COVID-19 cases, though safety concerns will abound even if the current numbers remain stable.
The three-day special session the legislature wrapped a couple weeks ago was hard enough to pull off. Many members participated remotely. Compliance with mask-wearing was inconsistent. The public and lobbyists — two key parts of the government process — were basically absent from the building.
That’s not an ideal way to conduct state business, as many lawmakers have acknowledged to me.
We will almost definitely learn more soon, as lawmakers firm up their plan, but it seems increasingly likely that they’ll take a break at some point — maybe multiple points — during the session. There’s been talk of them gaveling in on Jan. 13, doing a few of those must-do items, then gaveling out for some number of weeks. But no decisions have been announced.
If the goal is to break until it’s relatively safe for people to gather in person at the Capitol for an extended period, they might be waiting awhile. Most Coloradans won’t be vaccinated until at least the spring, the state’s projections suggest. And the cold weather, which forces people indoors, isn’t going away soon.
What this means is that a whole lot of policy debates and legislative actions could be on hold. Every session sees hundreds of new bills, and the pandemic has given lawmakers no shortage of new problems to address in 2021. With a break, we’d probably see many examples of bills that might’ve become law in, say, March, becoming law in April or May.
Throughout this pandemic, Gov. Jared Polis has had an unprecedented amount of power, and in general the Democrats in charge at the Capitol feel good about his leadership. Lawmakers have advised him on various things related to pandemic response, and statehouse leadership is in regular contact with him. But outside of the special session, the legislature hasn’t officially been at work since the spring. And if it indeed takes a break this winter, Coloradans should settle in for even more of that.
Elsewhere in this week’s Spot, Saja Hindi has more on the challenges awaiting lawmakers, Justin Wingerter writes on a lurch to the right among Colorado’s shrinking GOP Congressional contingency and Conrad Swanson has the latest on big changes for Denver’s unhoused population.
To support the important journalism we do, you can become a Denver Post subscriber here.
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Top Line
President Donald Trump signed into law Thursday legislation establishing a suffragist monument in Washington, D.C., created by Loveland artist Jane DeDecker. DeDecker’s sculpture, “Every Word We Utter,” features Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Harriot Stanton Blatch, Ida B. Wells and Alice Paul. An exact location for the sculpture has not been determined, though an early version of the bill called for it to be placed near the U.S. Supreme Court.
Capitol Diary • By Saja Hindi
“The start of the end”
The atmosphere was almost electric.
That’s how it felt walking into Poudre Valley Hospital on Monday when health care workers were getting the first COVID-19 vaccines in the state. State Rep. Kyle Mullica, an ER nurse, told me he felt a similar sense of energy on Wednesday when he got his own shot at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver.
“I’m super excited that this is the start of the end,” he said.
But expert after expert keeps repeating the same thing: We have a long way to go. This isn’t the time to get lax on our precautions. There is hope, but this pandemic is not over.
The Pfizer vaccine that Mullica and other health workers have received is two doses — they will get the second dose after about 21 days, and then it will take at least a week before they can count on full protection. Health care workers who work with COVID patients are part of the state’s first phase of rolling out the vaccine. The general public in Colorado is expected to have access to the vaccine by the summer. There’s also the uphill battle of ensuring people trust the vaccine — health care workers included — and getting it to marginalized populations.
On the heels of the end of a special session by the Colorado Legislature, new and returning lawmakers are set to begin their new work in January. As Alex notes above, COVID-19 is causing some complications to the schedule. But lawmakers have a lot to address. The pandemic wreaked havoc not just on people’s health but also their livelihoods. The 10 bills they passed in the three-day session made a dent in some of those areas, but as we’ve reported before, there is so much more to go.
Colorado’s unemployment rate is surging. Hospitality industries are in trouble — a survey by the the American Hotel and Lodging Association released this week expects that nearly 70% of Americans won’t travel over Christmas (per public health guidance) and about 71% of hotels don’t think they’ll last another six months without some help. Restaurants are also struggling, many forced to shutter their doors because of restrictions. Schools are seeing enrollment drops and are worried about loss of funding.
And people are having a hard time affording food and basic necessities, as well as paying rent.
UCHealth Dr. Diana Breyer told me she’s hopeful about the vaccine and everyone should continue to heed precautions, but it seems the pandemic fatigue was leading people not to take them seriously even before the vaccine started becoming available.
The more cases and hospitalizations rise, the harder it will be to get back to any sense of normalcy, and the larger the problems will be to address.
More Colorado political news
Federal politics • By Justin Wingerter
The new GOP delegation
As the Colorado GOP loses stature in the halls of Congress, it is moving farther to the right.
There will be three Colorado Republicans in Congress next year, the fewest in a decade. Two of the three, Reps. Ken Buck and Lauren Boebert, will be members of its most conservative club, the House Freedom Caucus. And Rep. Doug Lamborn is a hardline social conservative.
All three have discredited the presidential election results. All three have called for a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. Buck floated the idea of impeaching Joe Biden in February.
Expect this trio to make plenty of noise next year. Expect them to continue their calls for Biden investigations and criticisms of Big Tech. Don’t expect a lot of bipartisanship.
One of Boebert’s first votes in Congress, three days after her Jan. 3 swearing in, will be on whether to certify the results of the presidential election. The congresswoman-elect has suggested she will join a last-ditch effort to challenge that certification — an effort virtually guaranteed to fail.
“With all the irregularities in this election, we may never know the true way people voted in this election,” Boebert tweeted Dec. 11. “It is up to Congress to make this right and be the final say in this dispute. That is the what (sic) the Constitution stipulates.”
More federal politics news
Jenna Ellis, the Trump attorney from Colorado, was fired from her job as a Weld County prosecutor in 2013 for making mistakes on cases, The Colorado Sun reports.
CPR News caught up with understated Rep. Scott Tipton as he exits Congress.
The Colorado Republican Party acknowledged Tuesday that Joe Biden is the president-elect, Colorado Politics reports.
The Gazette looks at efforts to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado.
Mile High Politics • By Conrad Swanson
A second, legal homeless encampment opens in Denver
Denver’s second legal homeless is up and running, officials said Wednesday morning.
And for the time being it appears that’s as many encampments as residents can expect, which will come as good news to some and bad news to others.
The new encampment is located at the Denver Community Church’s uptown location on Pearl Street. Cole Chandler, executive director of the operating nonprofit, Colorado Village Collaborative, said in a matter of hours the place filled up.
“This site opened to participants around 10am yesterday,” Chandler said in an email. “By 3pm, all 30 tents were filled and we had welcomed 39 people, 2 dogs, and 1 cat into the Safe Outdoor Space.”
That site joins the city’s first, which opened late last month at First Baptist Church in Capitol Hill. The 22 shelters there can host a maximum of up to 30 people.
While many advocates hail the two encampments as a success, more work must be done, they have repeatedly said. The city’s homeless population is growing now and will continue along that trend as the pandemic and economic crisis continue.
Chandler has said he hopes another site or two could open early next year but first they’d need acceptable sites, which have been difficult to get considering neighborhood pushback across the city.
In the meantime, however, organizations like Chandler’s will work to ensure the existing encampments are successful, track their progress and hope they can serve as an inroad to additional ways to help the homeless, advocates have said. These encampments — while more might be needed — are not the city’s only approach to this problem, but rather just one more tool in the toolbox, as they say.
More Denver political news
Forward this newsletter to your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe.


thedenverpost--2020-12-18--CU Buffs’ Carson Wells in midst of stellar season

Throughout his first two season with the Colorado football team , Carson Wells flashed his potential .
This season , the junior outside linebacker has been dominant .
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing this season to be delayed and shortened , Wells is in the midst of a sensational season for the Buffs ( 4-1 , No .
25 in the College Football Playoffs rankings ) .
Wells leads the Buffs with 13.5 tackles for loss , and his average of 2.7 per game is No .
1 in the country .
“ I feel healthy , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m learning the system a little bit more than last year .
Last year , I just kind of knew what I was doing .
Now I know what the whole defense is doing around me .
That definitely helps a lot , so I can focus on what the offense is doing .
Just another year staying in the system.
” The 6-foot-4 , 250-pound Wells , from Bushnell , Fla. , played in 22 games the previous two seasons , including 16 as a starter .
After registering 4.5 sacks as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 .
While battling a foot injury , he also finished last year with 57 tackles and four tackles for loss .
This season , he ’ s already matched his career with 4.5 sacks , while posting 34 tackles and five pass breakups .
He credits CU strength and conditioning coach Drew Wilson for getting him ready physically this season .
“ Drew helped me out this summer , and I feel good , ” he said .
In the last 20 seasons , only six players at CU have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and they all played at least 12 games .
( Mustafa Johnson ’ s 18 , in 2018 , are the most during that span ) .
Wells also has at least three TFLs in four consecutive games , the first Buff to do that since Butkus Award winner Alfred Williams in 1990 .
Outside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski has played a key role in Wells ’ success .
“ For most people it ’ s ‘ flip the hips , ’ so you like jump outside , ” Wells said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more just shoulders and get your foot through , so it keeps you tighter .
A lot of times you ’ ll see me on the inside move , I ’ ll just use a little bit of shoulders , two hand swipe to get off the guard or the tackle on the inside .
That ’ s really helping a lot on the TFLs.
” On Wednesday , the Buffs signed 17 players to national letters of intent and the coaches will now turn much of their recruiting to the 2022 class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important , and head coach Karl Dorrell knows there could be current players who decide to leave .
Already , the Buffs have lost backup quarterback Tyler Lytle to the NCAA transfer portal .
“ There ’ s going to be attrition , ” he said .
“ There might be guys that are in our program that I ’ m sure might surprise us ; that say , ‘ I think I want to go somewhere else to play.
’ I ’ m not going to discount that I think that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version of free agency , so to speak , and we don ’ t have all the answers for when those things occur .
I would not be surprised if that happens though , even with our own team , with guys that maybe haven ’ t played as much as they felt they should have.
” On the flip side , the Buffs will monitor players from other teams who enter the transfer portal .
“ We are an attractive place , ” Dorrell said .
“ There ’ s been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have entered the portal and we can ’ t actually have any contact unless they ( are officially in the portal ) .
Yes , there ’ s been some contact at some level with a number of players .
“ We ’ re going to continue to look for players that we think can be ideal that could help us and be really specific about that.
” In general , Dorrell said he prefers adding prep players who can be developed , but the staff will look at transfers who they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , UCLA ( 3-3 ) announced that it would pass on bowl game opportunities , joining Stanford ( 3-2 ) and Washington State ( 1-2 ) as Pac-12 teams to make that choice .
… Pac-12 teams need to be at least .500 to play in a bowl game .
USC ( 5-0 ) , CU ( 4-1 ) , Washington ( 3-1 ) and Oregon ( 3-2 ) have clinched bowl eligibility .
Utah ( 2-2 ) and Arizona State ( 1-2 ) could get there with wins this weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four bowl spots available : New Year ’ s Six game , Alamo , Armed Forces and Independence .

Throughout his first two season with the Colorado football team, Carson Wells flashed his potential.
This season, the junior outside linebacker has been dominant.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing this season to be delayed and shortened, Wells is in the midst of a sensational season for the Buffs (4-1, No. 25 in the College Football Playoffs rankings).
Wells leads the Buffs with 13.5 tackles for loss, and his average of 2.7 per game is No. 1 in the country.
“I feel healthy,” he said. “I feel like I’m learning the system a little bit more than last year. Last year, I just kind of knew what I was doing. Now I know what the whole defense is doing around me. That definitely helps a lot, so I can focus on what the offense is doing. Just another year staying in the system.”
The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Wells, from Bushnell, Fla., played in 22 games the previous two seasons, including 16 as a starter. After registering 4.5 sacks as a freshman, he had just one in 2019. While battling a foot injury, he also finished last year with 57 tackles and four tackles for loss.
This season, he’s already matched his career with 4.5 sacks, while posting 34 tackles and five pass breakups.
He credits CU strength and conditioning coach Drew Wilson for getting him ready physically this season.
“Drew helped me out this summer, and I feel good,” he said.
In the last 20 seasons, only six players at CU have had more than 13.5 TFLs in a season – and they all played at least 12 games. (Mustafa Johnson’s 18, in 2018, are the most during that span).
Wells also has at least three TFLs in four consecutive games, the first Buff to do that since Butkus Award winner Alfred Williams in 1990.
Outside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski has played a key role in Wells’ success.
“For most people it’s ‘flip the hips,’ so you like jump outside,” Wells said. “But B-Mike’s thing is more just shoulders and get your foot through, so it keeps you tighter. A lot of times you’ll see me on the inside move, I’ll just use a little bit of shoulders, two hand swipe to get off the guard or the tackle on the inside. That’s really helping a lot on the TFLs.”
Attrition inevitable
On Wednesday, the Buffs signed 17 players to national letters of intent and the coaches will now turn much of their recruiting to the 2022 class.
Recruiting the current roster is also important, and head coach Karl Dorrell knows there could be current players who decide to leave. Already, the Buffs have lost backup quarterback Tyler Lytle to the NCAA transfer portal.
“There’s going to be attrition,” he said. “There might be guys that are in our program that I’m sure might surprise us; that say, ‘I think I want to go somewhere else to play.’ I’m not going to discount that I think that could happen.
“This is a college version of free agency, so to speak, and we don’t have all the answers for when those things occur. I would not be surprised if that happens though, even with our own team, with guys that maybe haven’t played as much as they felt they should have.”
On the flip side, the Buffs will monitor players from other teams who enter the transfer portal.
“We are an attractive place,” Dorrell said. “There’s been a number of players that have reached out that have entered the portal and we can’t actually have any contact unless they (are officially in the portal). Yes, there’s been some contact at some level with a number of players.
“We’re going to continue to look for players that we think can be ideal that could help us and be really specific about that.”
In general, Dorrell said he prefers adding prep players who can be developed, but the staff will look at transfers who they believe can impact CU right away.
Notes
On Thursday, UCLA (3-3) announced that it would pass on bowl game opportunities, joining Stanford (3-2) and Washington State (1-2) as Pac-12 teams to make that choice. … Pac-12 teams need to be at least .500 to play in a bowl game. USC (5-0), CU (4-1), Washington (3-1) and Oregon (3-2) have clinched bowl eligibility. Utah (2-2) and Arizona State (1-2) could get there with wins this weekend. … Currently, the Pac-12 has four bowl spots available: New Year’s Six game, Alamo, Armed Forces and Independence.


thedenverpost--2020-12-17--Colorado high school wrestling coaches torn on new winter regulations

Like every high school wrestling coach across the state , Ignacio High School ’ s Jordan Larsen wants to see a season play out and culminate with the crowning of a state champion .
But the format currently being floated isn ’ t one he prefers .
CHSAA officials are considering a dual-only , 10-match maximum schedule with a shrunken postseason this winter .
The plan , which was proposed last week , would be challenging for smaller programs such as Class 2A Ignacio , tucked away in the state ’ s southwest corner .
“ Duals are almost impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Larsen said .
“ You have to also consider more travel and higher expenses all for just one match for a few kids.
” Last weekend coaches lobbied to push wrestling into CHSAA ’ s Season C for a better chance at a full season .
But CHSAA stood firm in keeping it in Season B , which itself was pushed back last week to a February start amid rising coronavirus cases .
One of the main reasons for sticking with wrestling in the winter : Avoiding a logjam for schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In trying to be equitable to all schools and athletes , leaving wrestling where it stands works , ” CHSAA assistant commissioner Adam Bright said .
“ It wouldn ’ t be fair to schools that chose spring football because they made that choice with our calendar in place when given the choice by the governor .
They might not have chosen that same season had they known what the variants were.
” Bright said with a baseline established , teams can build schedules with more certainty .
Tournaments are unlikely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use those events to help fund their seasons and provide wrestlers up and down the roster with matches .
However , triangulars and quad meets are still in the cards , while JV matches would happen directly after a varsity event .
“ Duals wouldn ’ t be pretty or neat , but it is a baseline , ” Bright said .
“ We are providing an opportunity for those student-athletes to compete , but we are chipping away to safely add more where we can double the matches and start getting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 10.
” Scheduling might resemble something close to this year ’ s hectic college football season with no limits on classification or geography leading to never-before-seen matchups .
Any season is better than no season , Bright said .
Tim Ottmann led Ponderosa High School to seven consecutive Class 5A state championships .
Now the school ’ s principal , he thinks wrestling is in such a bind that this year ’ s move could impact retaining non-varsity athletes for years .
“ I would like to see a task force from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ottmann said .
“ Get wrestlers , administrators , long-time officials and coaches to come together .
In this case , it ’ s so unique that you have to go outside of the box .
We also need to think about the lower-level athletes .
… They won ’ t stick around very long if we don ’ t do something for them.
” As for a postseason , the new proposal would create a chance to wrestle for a championship with the possibility of a 16-person regional and eight-person state championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be created in the scenario that the traditional route is not approved by CDPHE .
The deadline to decide the format is March 1 .
No matter the proposal it chooses , Ottman said CHSAA will have to remain creative .
He suggested having seven weight classes compete and finish each day to limit possible exposure to COVID-19 .
For Pomona head coach Sam Federico , having even a reduced state tournament would be a huge lift for every wrestler who steps onto a mat this season .
“ The most important thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids to experience a postseason , ” said Federico , the reigning 5A coach of the year .
“ Kids are aiming for that title and some could become a four-timer or it ’ s their first go.
” Bright does not foresee any wholesale changes happening in the next month .
CHSAA will partner with USA Wrestling when it meets with CDPHE in January to propose a safe way to maximize the schedule and avoid putting added stress on smaller programs like Ignacio .
“ We have to look at the glass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duals , ” Larsen said .
“ The truth is , wrestling is good for kids .
I wouldn ’ t be doing it , nor would I think almost every coach in the state would be a part of it if they didn ’ t believe that it makes kids better human beings as a result .
“ So , if there ’ s a chance to participate in any way , no matter the format , having a season would be such a positive in and of itself .
”

Like every high school wrestling coach across the state, Ignacio High School’s Jordan Larsen wants to see a season play out and culminate with the crowning of a state champion.
But the format currently being floated isn’t one he prefers.
CHSAA officials are considering a dual-only, 10-match maximum schedule with a shrunken postseason this winter. The plan, which was proposed last week, would be challenging for smaller programs such as Class 2A Ignacio, tucked away in the state’s southwest corner.
“Duals are almost impossible with small schools because of roster size,” Larsen said. “You have to also consider more travel and higher expenses all for just one match for a few kids.”
Last weekend coaches lobbied to push wrestling into CHSAA’s Season C for a better chance at a full season. But CHSAA stood firm in keeping it in Season B, which itself was pushed back last week to a February start amid rising coronavirus cases.
One of the main reasons for sticking with wrestling in the winter: Avoiding a logjam for schools that opted to play spring football.
“In trying to be equitable to all schools and athletes, leaving wrestling where it stands works,” CHSAA assistant commissioner Adam Bright said. “It wouldn’t be fair to schools that chose spring football because they made that choice with our calendar in place when given the choice by the governor. They might not have chosen that same season had they known what the variants were.”
Bright said with a baseline established, teams can build schedules with more certainty. Tournaments are unlikely, which creates additional pressure since programs often use those events to help fund their seasons and provide wrestlers up and down the roster with matches. However, triangulars and quad meets are still in the cards, while JV matches would happen directly after a varsity event.
“Duals wouldn’t be pretty or neat, but it is a baseline,” Bright said. “We are providing an opportunity for those student-athletes to compete, but we are chipping away to safely add more where we can double the matches and start getting to that 20-25 (match) range instead of 10.”
Scheduling might resemble something close to this year’s hectic college football season with no limits on classification or geography leading to never-before-seen matchups. Any season is better than no season, Bright said.
Tim Ottmann led Ponderosa High School to seven consecutive Class 5A state championships. Now the school’s principal, he thinks wrestling is in such a bind that this year’s move could impact retaining non-varsity athletes for years.
“I would like to see a task force from people who really know wrestling,” Ottmann said. “Get wrestlers, administrators, long-time officials and coaches to come together. In this case, it’s so unique that you have to go outside of the box. We also need to think about the lower-level athletes. … They won’t stick around very long if we don’t do something for them.”
As for a postseason, the new proposal would create a chance to wrestle for a championship with the possibility of a 16-person regional and eight-person state championship. A team dual state championship would be created in the scenario that the traditional route is not approved by CDPHE. The deadline to decide the format is March 1.
No matter the proposal it chooses, Ottmann said CHSAA will have to remain creative. He suggested having seven weight classes compete and finish each day to limit possible exposure to COVID-19.
For Pomona head coach Sam Federico, having even a reduced state tournament would be a huge lift for every wrestler who steps onto a mat this season.
“The most important thing along with staying healthy, is for kids to experience a postseason,” said Federico, the reigning 5A coach of the year. “Kids are aiming for that title and some could become a four-timer or it’s their first go.”
Bright does not foresee any wholesale changes happening in the next month. CHSAA will partner with USA Wrestling when it meets with CDPHE in January to propose a safe way to maximize the schedule and avoid putting added stress on smaller programs like Ignacio.
“We have to look at the glass half-full, even if it is 10 duals,” Larsen said. “The truth is, wrestling is good for kids. I wouldn’t be doing it, nor would I think almost every coach in the state would be a part of it if they didn’t believe that it makes kids better human beings as a result.
“So, if there’s a chance to participate in any way, no matter the format, having a season would be such a positive in and of itself.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-17--Broncos center Lloyd Cushenberry’s progress part of offensive line improvement during second half

And then there was one .
When left tackle Garett Bolles was a game-day scratch last week at Carolina ( illness ) , it left rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry as the only Broncos offensive player to not miss a snap this year .
Entering Saturday ’ s game against Buffalo , Cushenberry is 854 for 854 .
“ I take a lot of pride in that , ” he said in a phone interview with The Denver Post .
“ That ’ s my goal every year –- play every snap , do well and just be one of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal , but I have to finish the season.
” If Cushenberry plays the final three games like he ’ s played the last five , he can enter the offseason feeling pride he survived the 16-game gauntlet and showed the kind of progress that will allow him to enter 2021 as the starter .
In the first eight games , The Post ’ s game charting booked Cushenberry with a team-high 15 pass protection disruptions ( 4 1/2 sacks , 6 1/2 knockdowns and four pressures ) and one clean sheet ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last five games , Cushenberry has allowed only three disruptions ( one knockdown and two pressures ) and had three clean sheets ( Weeks 11-12 vs. Miami/New Orleans and last week at Carolina ) .
The consistency is getting there , and the technical fundamentals are solid ( only one penalty this year . )
“ The light ( is ) coming on a little bit because he ’ s played more and more and more ; that ’ s a good thing , ” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what you ’ re doing well enough so you can just go and play and there ’ s no anxiety and there ’ s no hesitation and you roll.
” Cushenberry ’ s progress has mirrored that of the offensive line .
Since Week 4 , the Broncos have allowed only 12 sacks , tied for third-fewest in the NFL .
“ Just continuing to work every day and doing our job in keeping ( quarterback ) Drew ( Lock ) clean , ” he said .
“ We ’ re continuing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selected 83rd overall ( third round ) , the third center off the board .
But Cesar Ruiz ( No .
24 to New Orleans ) is playing guard and Matt Hennessy ( No .
78 to Atlanta ) is backing up veteran Alex Mack .
As soon as the Broncos turned the card in for Cushenberry , the expectation was for him to be a plug-and-play starter to replace Connor McGovern , who signed with the New York Jets in free agency .
Cushenberry rotated days of training camp practices with Austin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nod in early September .
As the Broncos used three quarterbacks in the first four games , lost receiver Courtland Sutton ( torn ACL ) and running back Phillip Lindsay ( turf toe injury ) and were generally ineffective on offense , Cushenberry found the sledding difficult .
The Tennessee game was followed by messes at Pittsburgh and against Tampa Bay .
Cushenberry was booked for 1 1/2 sacks and 3 1/2 quarterback knockdowns against the Steelers and two sacks and a knockdown against the Buccaneers .
“ Nothing really stood out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I knew it was going to be physical and I knew it was going to be fast and early on in the season , I had to get used to that .
It ’ s no excuse that we didn ’ t have an offseason .
Everybody was good and it was going to be a battle every week.
” Cushenberry said his first breakthrough was around the Week 4 Jets game ( the Broncos ’ first win ) .
“ I ’ m still not where I want to be or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first four games , things started to slow down , ” he said .
“ I started to get a rhythm .
Early in the year , I would go out there and not to say I wasn ’ t being physical enough , but I was thinking a little bit ( too much ) .
“ Now I ’ m just out there playing and I have confidence in myself and the guys next to me and I can play physical and not think too much .
That ’ s the thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Munchak preaches — play physical and everything will take care of itself.
” And that ’ s the balance for a center in general and a rookie center in particular : The position requires a certain bit of mental gymnastics — calling out the front , making the pre-snap protection changes in communication with the quarterback — and if there is overload of information , the physical play suffers .
Just as the Broncos should feel good about their receivers ( Sutton , Jerry Jeudy , KJ Hamler and Tim Patrick ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true for Cushenberry .
“ He ’ s been very steady and that ’ s his personality , ” Shurmur said .
“ At some point in the offseason , he ’ s going to shake his head and say , ‘ What the heck was that ?
’ and be able to assess ( the season ) and move forward .
”

And then there was one.
When left tackle Garett Bolles was a game-day scratch last week at Carolina (illness), it left rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry as the only Broncos offensive player to not miss a snap this year.
Entering Saturday’s game against Buffalo, Cushenberry is 854 for 854.
“I take a lot of pride in that,” he said in a phone interview with The Denver Post. “That’s my goal every year –- play every snap, do well and just be one of those guys. It’s a big deal, but I have to finish the season.”
If Cushenberry plays the final three games like he’s played the last five, he can enter the offseason feeling pride he survived the 16-game gauntlet and showed the kind of progress that will allow him to enter 2021 as the starter.
In the first eight games, The Post’s game charting booked Cushenberry with a team-high 15 pass protection disruptions (4 1/2 sacks, 6 1/2 knockdowns and four pressures) and one clean sheet (Week 1 at Tennessee).
In the last five games, Cushenberry has allowed only three disruptions (one knockdown and two pressures) and had three clean sheets (Weeks 11-12 vs. Miami/New Orleans and last week at Carolina).
The consistency is getting there, and the technical fundamentals are solid (only one penalty this year.)
“The light (is) coming on a little bit because he’s played more and more and more; that’s a good thing,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “You have to be able to know what you’re doing well enough so you can just go and play and there’s no anxiety and there’s no hesitation and you roll.”
Cushenberry’s progress has mirrored that of the offensive line. Since Week 4, the Broncos have allowed only 12 sacks, tied for third-fewest in the NFL.
“Just continuing to work every day and doing our job in keeping (quarterback) Drew (Lock) clean,” he said. “We’re continuing to build off each other.”
Cushenberry was selected 83rd overall (third round), the third center off the board. But Cesar Ruiz (No. 24 to New Orleans) is playing guard and Matt Hennessy (No. 78 to Atlanta) is backing up veteran Alex Mack.
As soon as the Broncos turned the card in for Cushenberry, the expectation was for him to be a plug-and-play starter to replace Connor McGovern, who signed with the New York Jets in free agency. Cushenberry rotated days of training camp practices with Austin Schlottmann as the top center before getting the nod in early September.
As the Broncos used three quarterbacks in the first four games, lost receiver Courtland Sutton (torn ACL) and running back Phillip Lindsay (turf toe injury) and were generally ineffective on offense, Cushenberry found the sledding difficult.
The Tennessee game was followed by messes at Pittsburgh and against Tampa Bay. Cushenberry was booked for 1 1/2 sacks and 3 1/2 quarterback knockdowns against the Steelers and two sacks and a knockdown against the Buccaneers.
“Nothing really stood out as surprising,” he said. “I knew it was going to be physical and I knew it was going to be fast and early on in the season, I had to get used to that. It’s no excuse that we didn’t have an offseason. Everybody was good and it was going to be a battle every week.”
Cushenberry said his first breakthrough was around the Week 4 Jets game (the Broncos’ first win).
“I’m still not where I want to be or need to be, but after those first four games, things started to slow down,” he said. “I started to get a rhythm. Early in the year, I would go out there and not to say I wasn’t being physical enough, but I was thinking a little bit (too much).
“Now I’m just out there playing and I have confidence in myself and the guys next to me and I can play physical and not think too much. That’s the thing (offensive line) Coach (Mike) Munchak preaches — play physical and everything will take care of itself.”
And that’s the balance for a center in general and a rookie center in particular: The position requires a certain bit of mental gymnastics — calling out the front, making the pre-snap protection changes in communication with the quarterback — and if there is overload of information, the physical play suffers.
Just as the Broncos should feel good about their receivers (Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and Tim Patrick) moving forward, the same could be true for Cushenberry.
“He’s been very steady and that’s his personality,” Shurmur said. “At some point in the offseason, he’s going to shake his head and say, ‘What the heck was that?’ and be able to assess (the season) and move forward.”


thedenverpost--2020-12-18--Platteville mobile home fire leaves one person and pet dead

A person and a pet were found dead in Platteville following a mobile home fire .
The blaze was reported @ @ @ @ @ Grand Avenue at 2:37 a.m. Friday .
The identity of the person who was killed @ @ @ @ @ and firefighters at the Platteville Gilcrest Fire Protection District did not say what type of @ @ @ @ @ Frederick Firestone Fire and LaSalle Fire were also on the scene , and the fire @ @ @ @

A person and a pet were found dead in Platteville following a mobile home fire. The blaze was reported on the 700 block of Grand Avenue at 2:37 a.m. Friday.
The identity of the person who was killed has not been released, and firefighters at the Platteville Gilcrest Fire Protection District did not say what type of animal was found deceased.
Frederick Firestone Fire and LaSalle Fire were also on the scene, and the fire is under investigation.


thedenverpost--2020-12-18--Denver weather: Snow most of Friday and warmth ahead

A little bit of snow Friday will pave the way for a warmer weekend .
Light snow will begin to @ @ @ @ @ and may lasts all day in Denver and along the Interstate 25 corridor , according @ @ @ @ @ in Boulder .
Most of the city ’ s frosty stuff will melt in the @ @ @ @ @ much is expected to stick to the main roads .
Slick road conditions may persist @ @ @ @ @ make traveling through the mountains difficult .
Friday ’ s high will reach 35 degrees @ @ @ @ @ accumulation in Denver is expected to be below an inch .
Friday night , skies @ @ @ @ @ storm moves out , and the low will plummet to 16 degrees .
By Saturday @ @ @ @ @ with a high of 47 degrees under mostly sunny skies .
The clearness will continue @ @ @ @ @ low of 23 degrees .
Sunday is more of the same as the high temperature @ @ @ @ @ the low will stay above freezing .

A little bit of snow Friday will pave the way for a warmer weekend.
Light snow will begin to fall around 9 a.m. Friday and may last all day in Denver and along the Interstate 25 corridor, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. Most of the city’s frosty stuff will melt in the metro area, and not much is expected to stick to the main roads. Slick road conditions may persist on side streets and will make traveling through the mountains difficult. Friday’s high will reach 35 degrees with light winds. Snow accumulation in Denver is expected to be below an inch.
Friday night, skies will be clear as the storm moves out, and the low will plummet to 16 degrees.
By Saturday, temperatures climb back up with a high of 47 degrees under mostly sunny skies. The clearness will continue through Saturday night with a low of 23 degrees. Sunday is more of the same as the high temperature at 48 degrees, and the low will stay above freezing.


thedenverpost--2020-12-18--Vice President Mike Pence, wife Karen get COVID-19 vaccine injections

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence was vaccinated for COVID-19 on Friday in a live-television event aimed at reassuring Americans the vaccine is safe .
In remarks after his shot , Pence called the speed with which the vaccine was developed “ a medical miracle.
” “ The American people can be confident : we have one and perhaps within hours two ” safe vaccines , ” Pence said , referring to expected FDA approval for Moderna ’ s vaccine .
Pfizer-BioNTech ’ s vaccine was the first to be approved .
“ Building confidence in the vaccine is what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he added .
Pence ’ s wife Karen and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also received shots during the televised White House event .
President Donald Trump ’ s administration helped deliver vaccinations against the coronavirus earlier than even some in his administration thought possible , launching Operation Warp Speed — the government campaign to help swiftly develop and distribute vaccines — this spring with great fanfare in the White House Rose Garden .
But five days into the largest vaccination campaign in the nation ’ s history , Trump has held no public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t been inoculated himself .
He has tweeted only twice about the shot .
Pence , meanwhile , has taken center stage — touring a vaccine production facility this week and receiving a dose himself on live television Friday morning .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both said Thursday that they will get vaccinated in the next few days .
Pence , along with his wife , Karen , and Surgeon General Jerome Adams , received their shots Friday morning in an office suite in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technicians from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center .
Trump ’ s relative silence comes as he continues to stew about his defeat in the Nov. 3 election and embraces increasingly extreme efforts to overturn the people ’ s will .
He ’ s pushed aside the plans of aides who wanted him to be the public face of the vaccination campaign , eschewing visits to labs and production facilities to thank workers , or hosting efforts to build public confidence in the shot , according to people familiar with the conversations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially for a president rarely shy to take credit , said Lawrence Gostin , a professor at Georgetown Law who focuses on public health .
“ The President ’ s relatively low profile on the COVID response since the election is curious and counter to Mr. Trump ’ s own interests , ” he said .
Gostin , who has criticized Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic in the past , said that he “ deserves a great deal of credit ” for Operation Warp Speed and placing a bet on two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Having exhibited leadership in the vaccines ’ development , he should take great pride in publicly demonstrating his trust in COVID vaccines , ” he said .
Trump did appear at a White House “ summit ” ahead of the Food and Drug Administration ’ s approval of the Pfizer vaccine last week .
That event included an introductory video highlighting the past comments of those — including top government infectious-disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci — who doubted a shot would be ready this year .
But many Trump aides are puzzled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is actually being injected .
They see it as a missed opportunity for the president , who leaves office at noon on Jan. 20 , to claim credit for helping oversee the speedy development and deployment of the vaccine that is expected to finally contain the virus that has killed more than 310,000 Americans .
Trump himself has tried to minimize any credit that might go to his successor , President-elect Joe Biden , who will preside over the bulk of the nationwide injection campaign next year .
Biden expects to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Don ’ t let Joe Biden take credit for the vaccines , ” Trump has told reporters .
“ Don ’ t let him take credit for the vaccines because the vaccines were me , and I pushed people harder than they ’ ve ever been pushed before.
” Despite Trump ’ s claims , FDA scientists were the ones who came up with the idea for Operation Warp Speed , the White House-backed effort through which millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines and treatments are being manufactured even as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the groundwork for the shots was laid over the past decade , including through research on messenger RNA , or mRNA , used in the vaccines developed by both Pfizer and Moderna .
Pfizer developed its vaccine outside Operation Warp Speed but is partnering with the federal government on manufacturing and distribution .
Trump ’ s low-key approach could have an impact on public health .
Fauci told NBC News this week that 75 % to 85 % of the nation needs to be vaccinated to achieve “ herd immunity , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine ’ s safety all the more pressing .
A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only about half of Americans want to get the vaccine as soon as possible .
Another quarter of the public isn ’ t sure , while the remaining quarter say they aren ’ t interested .
Some simply oppose vaccines in general .
Others are concerned that the injections have been rushed and want to see how the rollout goes .
As Trump sat on the sidelines , some of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tucker Carlson , were questioning the safety of the vaccine .
White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern said Trump “ will continue to update the country through a variety of means while giving medical professionals and hardworking staff at OWS the space to do their jobs and save lives.
” While senior officials are beginning to make plans to receive the vaccine in public to help build public confidence , Trump , who was hospitalized with COVID-19 in October , is taking his time .
According to guidance from the Centers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet enough information to determine whether those who have had COVID-19 , like Trump , should get the vaccine .
Still , Fauci recommended that Trump take it publicly without delay .
“ Even though the president himself was infected , and he has , likely , antibodies that likely would be protective , we ’ re not sure how long that protection lasts .
So , to be doubly sure , I would recommend that he get vaccinated as well as the vice president , ” Fauci told ABC News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melania Trump , who came down with COVID-19 at the same time as her husband , would be vaccinated .
“ The last thing I would say to every American is be confident that we have cut red tape , but we ’ ve cut no corners when it comes to the development of this vaccine , ” Pence said this week at an Indiana vaccine production facility .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters this week that Trump , who has previously spread misinformation about other vaccines , was trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delaying his own inoculation .
“ The president wants to send a parallel message which is , you know , our long-term care facility residents and our front-line workers are paramount in importance , ” she said .
Gostin disagreed .
” It will be enormously damaging to public trust in the vaccine if President Trump isn ’ t visibly enthusiastic , including getting his shot on national television , ” he argued .
“ It simply isn ’ t good enough to have Vice President Pence as a proxy.
” Presidents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ display of their vaccinations to boost public confidence .
President Dwight Eisenhower highlighted that one of his grandchildren was among the first wave of American children vaccinated for polio .
In 2009 , President Barack Obama and his wife , Michelle , vaccinated both their young daughters , who were in a higher risk group , for the swine flu .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence and the leaders of the House and Senate received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday as they tried to reassure the American public that the shot is safe. Pence, in a live-television event, celebrated the milestone as “a medical miracle” that could eventually put an end to a raging pandemic that has killed more than 310,000 people nationwide.
Conspicuously absent: President Donald Trump, who has remained largely out of sight five days into the largest vaccination campaign in the nation’s history.
“I didn’t feel a thing. Well done,” Pence told the technicians from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Friday morning as he became the highest-ranking U.S. official to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, the first authorized in the U.S.
Later, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, tweeted photos of themselves receiving the vaccine from the Capitol physician, who urged all members of Congress to join them.
The public displays come as top U.S. health officials are trying to persuade regular Americans who may be skeptical of the vaccinations to get them to pave the way for the end of the pandemic.
A recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that only about half of Americans want to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Another quarter of the public isn’t sure, while the remaining quarter say they aren’t interested. Some simply oppose vaccines in general. Others are concerned that the injections have been rushed and want to see how the rollout goes.
Trump, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 in October, has been largely absent from the effort to sell the American public on what aides hope will be a key part of his legacy. He has held no public events to trumpet the rollout. He hasn’t said when he will be inoculated. And he has tweeted fewer than a handful of times about the shot despite sending a flurry of tweets about other topics.
Trump’s relative silence comes as he continues to rage about his defeat in the Nov. 3 election and embraces increasingly extreme efforts to overturn the people’s will. He’s pushed aside the plans of aides who wanted him to be the public face of the vaccination campaign, eschewing visits to labs and production facilities to thank workers, or hosting efforts to build public confidence in the shot, according to people familiar with the conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity to speak candidly.
Instead, Pence has been the one in the spotlight highlighting the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, touring a production facility this week before headlining Friday’s event.
Pence didn’t flinch during the quick prick, nor did his wife, Karen. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who is Black, also received a shot during the televised White House event and stressed the importance of communities of color seeing people like him being vaccinated to build trust.
“Today, Karen and I wanted to step forward and take this vaccine to assure the American people that while we cut red tape, we cut no corners,” Pence said. “Hope is on the way.”
Trump’s lack of visibility has been surprising, especially for a president rarely shy to take credit, said Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown Law who focuses on public health.
“The president’s relatively low profile on the COVID response since the election is curious and counter to Mr. Trump’s own interests,” he said. Gostin, who has criticized Trump’s handling of the pandemic in the past, said that he “deserves a great deal of credit” for Operation Warp Speed and placing a bet on two vaccines that use groundbreaking mRNA technology.
“Having exhibited leadership in the vaccines’ development, he should take great pride in publicly demonstrating his trust in COVID vaccines,” he said.
Trump did appear at a White House “summit” ahead of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine last week. But many Trump aides are puzzled by his low profile now that the vaccine is actually being injected. They see it as a missed opportunity for the president, who leaves office on Jan. 20, to claim credit for helping oversee the speedy development and deployment of the vaccine that is expected to finally contain the virus.
Trump himself has fretted about credit going to his successor, Biden, who will preside over the bulk of the nationwide injection campaign next year.
“Don’t let Joe Biden take credit for the vaccines,” Trump has told reporters. “Don’t let him take credit for the vaccines because the vaccines were me, and I pushed people harder than they’ve ever been pushed before.”
In fact, FDA scientists were the ones who came up with the idea for Operation Warp Speed, the White House-backed effort through which millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines and treatments are being manufactured even as they are still being evaluated. And much of the groundwork for the shots was laid over the past decade, including through research on messenger RNA, or mRNA, used in the vaccines developed by both Pfizer and Moderna.
Trump’s low-key approach could have an impact on public health. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious-disease expert, told NBC News this week that 75% to 85% of the nation needs to be vaccinated to achieve “herd immunity,” making the public education campaign about the vaccine’s safety all the more pressing.
Trump has said he would be open to taking a vaccine. White House deputy press secretary Brian Morgenstern told reporters that, because Trump already had COVID-19, his doctors have been trying to determine when he should take it.
“When the time is right, I’m sure he will remain willing to take it,” he said.
According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is not yet enough information to determine whether those who have had COVID-19, like Trump, should get the vaccine.
But White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany offered an alternate explanation. She told reporters this week that Trump, who has previously spread misinformation about other vaccines, “wants to send a parallel message which is, you know, our long-term care facility residents and our front-line workers are paramount in importance.”
Gostin disagreed. ”It will be enormously damaging to public trust in the vaccine if President Trump isn’t visibly enthusiastic, including getting his shot on national television,” he argued. “It simply isn’t good enough to have Vice President Pence as a proxy.”
Some lawmakers have said they are reluctant to be among the first to be vaccinated so they’re not seen as jumping the line. But others enthusiastically made appointments.
“Millions of Americans are waiting for shots, many of whom are workers on the front lines of this pandemic,” tweeted Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, who was among those to receive one. “I am not more important than they are, but national leaders must lead by example.”