thedenverpost--2020-11-26--Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes flight in COVID-19 times

NEW YORK — The balloons were in the sky and the marching bands took to the streets for the annual Macy ’ s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday , but coronavirus restrictions meant it was without the throngs of people usually scrambling for a view .
Instead of the usual path through Manhattan , this year ’ s parade was kept to the area in front of Macy ’ s flagship store and aimed at a television audience instead of live crowds .
There were some familiar balloon faces , of course , including Snoopy , Ronald McDonald , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were missing the numerous handlers who would normally be walking underneath and holding the ropes .
This year , they were attached to vehicles that kept them moving and decreased the number of people needed .
A number of entertainers performed , including Pentatonix , Keke Palmer and Sofia Carson , and a slew of Broadway shows were represented in taped performances from their casts .
Even with the pandemic protocols , the fact that the parade took place made it a rare festivity in a city that has seen most of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the virus .
The parade organizers recognized that reality , including representatives of some of the New York City parades that hadn ’ t been able to happen — the St. Patrick ’ s Day Parade , the Mermaid Parade , the Puerto Rican Day Parade and NYC Pride March .

NEW YORK — The balloons were in the sky and the marching bands took to the streets for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, but coronavirus restrictions meant it was without the throngs of people usually scrambling for a view.
Instead of the usual path through Manhattan, this year’s parade was kept to the area in front of Macy’s flagship store and aimed at a television audience instead of live crowds.
There were some familiar balloon faces, of course, including Snoopy, Ronald McDonald, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
But the bigger balloons were missing the numerous handlers who would normally be walking underneath and holding the ropes. This year, they were attached to vehicles that kept them moving and decreased the number of people needed.
A number of entertainers performed, including Pentatonix, Keke Palmer and Sofia Carson, and a slew of Broadway shows were represented in taped performances from their casts.
Even with the pandemic protocols, the fact that the parade took place made it a rare festivity in a city that has seen most of its major events canceled over the last year because of the virus.
The parade organizers recognized that reality, including representatives of some of the New York City parades that hadn’t been able to happen — the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the Mermaid Parade, the Puerto Rican Day Parade and NYC Pride March.


thedenverpost--2020-11-26--Holiday trends to watch: Adult Play-Doh, stores that ship

By JOSEPH PISANI and ANNE D ’ INNOCENZIO , The Associated Press NEW YORK — The pandemic is turning this into a holiday shopping season like no other .
Toy companies are targeting stuck-at-home grown-ups with latte-smelling Play-Doh and Legos that turn into Warhols .
Those who added a puppy to their family during the pandemic will see tons of gift options for their new furry friend .
And with more people shopping online , stores are doing double duty as shipping centers to try to get gifts to doorsteps as fast as possible .
Kids aren ’ t the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toy companies are targeting bored adults stuck at home during the pandemic .
Need something to fidget during your next Zoom meeting ?
Hasbro has new moldable Play-Doh varieties that smell like stuff grown-ups would recognize : lattes , fresh cut grass and smoked meats .
Lego , meanwhile , wants adults to put on their headphones and “ forget about the rest of the world ” while turning the plastic pieces in their new kits into hangable art , like Andy Warhol ’ s famous Marilyn Monroe portraits .
Marissa DiBartolo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Toy Insider , says she ’ s seen more coloring books and challenging puzzles being designed with adults in mind .
From YouTube to the toy store The canines on “ Paw Patrol ” better watch their tails .
YouTube stars with millions of viewers are heading to the toy aisle , a place where TV cartoon characters used to rule .
It ’ s all because kids are spending so much time watching YouTube instead of cable TV , says DiBartolo .
That ’ s made stars of the video-streaming site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Figurines of Blippi , a man who wears orange suspenders and hosts educational kid videos on YouTube , are being sold at Target and Amazon .
At Walmart , toys featuring Ryan Kaji , a kid who reviews toys on his Ryan ’ s World YouTube channel , have been hot sellers .
Toy company VTech is playing into the trend in another way , selling a KidiZoom Creator camera that comes with a green screen so kids can add special effects and pretend to be YouTube influencers themselves .
And if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big YouTube stars have become , a 42-foot-tall ( 13-meter-tall ) balloon based on Kaji from Ryan ’ s World will appear in the Macy ’ s Thanksgiving Day parade this year , floating next to TV icons like SpongeBob and , yes , Chase from “ Paw Patrol.
” Retailers including Walmart and Best Buy that were already using their locations as hubs to ship e-commerce orders are now coming up with new strategies to get even faster .
The moves come as they face a holiday crunch expected to tax shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Walmart this week launched a special program for the holidays .
It has some of its online orders being fulfilled directly from stores using delivery services like Postmates and DoorDash instead of carriers like FedEx or UPS .
The aim is to ensure customers will be able to get their orders quickly , even on the same day .
Meanwhile , Best Buy says that 340 of its stores are being specially designated to handle a higher volume of online orders , though all its stores ship e-commerce packages .
Its goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 70 % of its ship-from-store units during the holiday quarter .
And then there are many small-to-medium sized businesses increasingly turning to operators of micro-warehouses — mini-shipping hubs that are located in urban areas — to help pack and delivery goods .
Ben Jones is the CEO and founder of Ohi , which operates five micro-warehouses for various brands like sparkling tonic Olipop , or provides software for third parties at 115 locations for e-commerce fulfillment across the U.S .
He says he ’ s seen more brands using his software @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee delivery by Christmas via standard shipping if items are ordered after the first week of December .
More people adopted puppies and kittens during the pandemic , and stores are pouncing to cash in .
Petco is selling matching pajamas for dogs and their humans with snow flakes and Christmas trees .
And Chewy , the online pet store , is getting more personal , inscribing pets names into bandanas , bowls or beds .
Consulting firm Deloitte expects half of shoppers to spend some of their money on pet treats and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not just frenzied crowds that will be absent this holiday season .
So will impulse shopping — the practice of throwing in extra items like toys or bath balms as shoppers go in and out of the aisles .
Typically , 25 % of holiday shopping is based on impulse , according to Marshal Cohen , chief industry advisor at NPD Group , a market research firm .
This year , Cohen said he expects that figure to drop to about 10 % as shoppers dramatically shift their buying online to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do go to stores , customers will be buying with a purpose , picking up things they need as they try to minimize exposure to COVID-19 “ Impulse shopping is the icing on the cake , “ Cohen said .
“ It is the difference between a successful profitable holiday and a ho hum holiday .
”

By JOSEPH PISANI and ANNE D’INNOCENZIO, The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The pandemic is turning this into a holiday shopping season like no other.
Toy companies are targeting stuck-at-home grown-ups with latte-smelling Play-Doh and Legos that turn into Warhols. Those who added a puppy to their family during the pandemic will see tons of gift options for their new furry friend. And with more people shopping online, stores are doing double duty as shipping centers to try to get gifts to doorsteps as fast as possible.
Here’s what to expect:
Toys for adults
Kids aren’t the only ones who need some fun. Toy companies are targeting bored adults stuck at home during the pandemic. Need something to fidget during your next Zoom meeting? Hasbro has new moldable Play-Doh varieties that smell like stuff grown-ups would recognize: lattes, fresh cut grass and smoked meats.
Lego, meanwhile, wants adults to put on their headphones and “forget about the rest of the world” while turning the plastic pieces in their new kits into hangable art, like Andy Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe portraits.
Marissa DiBartolo, editor in chief of toy review site The Toy Insider, says she’s seen more coloring books and challenging puzzles being designed with adults in mind.
From YouTube to the toy store
The canines on “Paw Patrol” better watch their tails. YouTube stars with millions of viewers are heading to the toy aisle, a place where TV cartoon characters used to rule.
It’s all because kids are spending so much time watching YouTube instead of cable TV, says DiBartolo. That’s made stars of the video-streaming site just as recognizable as those on Nickelodeon.
Figurines of Blippi, a man who wears orange suspenders and hosts educational kid videos on YouTube, are being sold at Target and Amazon. At Walmart, toys featuring Ryan Kaji, a kid who reviews toys on his Ryan’s World YouTube channel, have been hot sellers. Toy company VTech is playing into the trend in another way, selling a KidiZoom Creator camera that comes with a green screen so kids can add special effects and pretend to be YouTube influencers themselves.
And if you need another sign of just how big YouTube stars have become, a 42-foot-tall (13-meter-tall) balloon based on Kaji from Ryan’s World will appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade this year, floating next to TV icons like SpongeBob and, yes, Chase from “Paw Patrol.”
Stores as shipping hubs
Retailers including Walmart and Best Buy that were already using their locations as hubs to ship e-commerce orders are now coming up with new strategies to get even faster. The moves come as they face a holiday crunch expected to tax shipping networks and likely result in delivery delays.
Walmart this week launched a special program for the holidays. It has some of its online orders being fulfilled directly from stores using delivery services like Postmates and DoorDash instead of carriers like FedEx or UPS. The aim is to ensure customers will be able to get their orders quickly, even on the same day.
Meanwhile, Best Buy says that 340 of its stores are being specially designated to handle a higher volume of online orders, though all its stores ship e-commerce packages. Its goal: to have the 340 stores ship more than 70% of its ship-from-store units during the holiday quarter.
And then there are many small-to-medium sized businesses increasingly turning to operators of micro-warehouses — mini-shipping hubs that are located in urban areas — to help pack and delivery goods. Ben Jones is the CEO and founder of Ohi, which operates five micro-warehouses for various brands like sparkling tonic Olipop, or provides software for third parties at 115 locations for e-commerce fulfillment across the U.S. He says he’s seen more brands using his software because many aren’t able to guarantee delivery by Christmas via standard shipping if items are ordered after the first week of December.
Gifts for the pooches
More people adopted puppies and kittens during the pandemic, and stores are pouncing to cash in. Petco is selling matching pajamas for dogs and their humans with snow flakes and Christmas trees. And Chewy, the online pet store, is getting more personal, inscribing pets names into bandanas, bowls or beds.
Consulting firm Deloitte expects half of shoppers to spend some of their money on pet treats and other supplies this holiday season.
Forget about impulse shopping
It’s not just frenzied crowds that will be absent this holiday season. So will impulse shopping — the practice of throwing in extra items like toys or bath balms as shoppers go in and out of the aisles.
Typically, 25% of holiday shopping is based on impulse, according to Marshal Cohen, chief industry advisor at NPD Group, a market research firm. This year, Cohen said he expects that figure to drop to about 10% as shoppers dramatically shift their buying online to avoid physical stores. And when they do go to stores, customers will be buying with a purpose, picking up things they need as they try to minimize exposure to COVID-19
“Impulse shopping is the icing on the cake,“ Cohen said. “It is the difference between a successful profitable holiday and a ho hum holiday.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-26--Empty seats, delivered feasts as virus changes Thanksgiving

Vivian Zayas can ’ t keep herself from scrolling through photos of last Thanksgiving , when her mother stood at the stove to make a big pot of rice and beans and then took a seat at the edge of the table .
That was before anyone had heard of COVID-19 and before it claimed the retired seamstress .
Ana Martinez died at 78 on April 1 while recovering at a nursing home from a knee replacement .
The family is having their traditional meal of turkey , yams , green beans and rice and beans — but Zayas is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her home in Deer Park , New York , this year and putting her mother ’ s walker in its place as a reminder of the loss .
“ It ’ s a painful Thanksgiving .
You don ’ t even know , should you celebrate ?
” asked Zayas .
“ It ’ s a lonely time.
” Americans are marking the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday amid an unrelenting pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than a quarter of a million people in the United States .
Turkey and pies will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be on TV , families will still give thanks and have lively conversations about politics .
But this holiday has been utterly altered after months filled with sorrows and hardships : Many feasts are weighed down by the loss of loved ones ; others have been canceled or scaled back with the virus surging .
Zoom and FaceTime calls have become a fixture at dinner tables to connect with family members who don ’ t want to travel .
Far fewer volunteers are helping at soup kitchens or community centers .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of food to residents who are infected with the virus and can ’ t go to the store .
A New York nursing home is offering drive-up visits for families of residents struggling with celebrating the holiday alone .
“ The holidays make it a little harder , ” said Harriet Krakowsky , an 85-year-old resident of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in New York who misses the big Thanksgiving celebrations of years past and has lost neighbors and friends to the virus .
“ I cry , but I get over it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On any normal Thanksgiving Day , Kara McKlemurry and her husband would drive from their Clearwater , Florida , home to one of two places : his family ’ s home in another part of the state or her family ’ s house in Alabama .
This year , McKlemurry informed her family there would be no visits because of the pandemic .
And when her in-laws offered to stop by , the couple said no .
She and her husband have been “ keeping pretty strict lockdown ” since March , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone or getting the virus themselves .
Not everyone followed McKlemurry ’ s example .
Millions of Americans bought tickets to fly somewhere for the holiday , crowding airports despite pleas from officials to avoid travel and gatherings .
Still , McKlemurry , 27 , wanted to do something unique to mark this unusual holiday .
She didn ’ t just want to soothe any lingering tension in the family — she wanted everyone to know that she and her husband feel blessed this year , despite the lack of physical connection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she sat in her backyard and hand wrote notes of gratitude to every member of the family .
She got out colored pens , stickers of owls with scarves , and cute greeting cards .
“ We ’ re so grateful to have you in our lives , ” she wrote on a card with a cartoon fox , “ even if we can ’ t actually be together this year for the holidays.
” In the nation ’ s capital , the convention center is empty unlike in previous years , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve a traditional holiday meal to about 5,000 people , who also got access to clothing donations , medical testing and other services .
In the era of social distancing , the sponsored event had to be reimagined .
Ahead of the holiday , organizers delivered to 20 nonprofits 5,000 gift bags , each with winter clothing accessories , hand sanitizer and a mask , and 5,000 boxes that included a turkey sandwich with condiments , a side potato salad , a cookie and utensils .
From start to finish , Thanksgiving is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a nurse who works the graveyard shift at Olathe Medical Center , in a Kansas City suburb .
For one , Franz , 39 , is celebrating without her mother-in-law , Elaine Franz , who died of the coronavirus on Nov. 10 , just one day before her 78th birthday .
In previous years , her mother-in-law , who was Mennonite , would lay out a spread for her children and grandchildren .
At Franz ’ s work , in a typical year , co-workers would bring food for a potluck .
None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The family is shifting the festivities to Zoom and FaceTime .
It ’ s been hard for her daughters — ages , 2 , 8 and 11 .
Her middle daughter was exposed to the coronavirus at school and is quarantined until Dec. 3 , and her oldest daughter is struggling with the concept of a scaled-back holiday .
“ We had a good conversation that was , ‘ This year may be different , and that ’ s OK .
It is one year .
If things are different this year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of our family next year , it is OK , ’ ” said Franz , who has personally cared for patients dying of coronavirus .
The Thanksgiving gathering at David Forsyth ’ s home in Southern California , meanwhile , comes with a uniquely 2020 feel : rapid virus tests at the door to decide who gets inside .
The kit costs about $ 1,000 for 20 tests , each of which involve pricking a finger and putting a drop of blood on a tray .
Ten minutes later the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antibodies or is positive .
Normally , about 15 to 20 people attend the family ’ s Thanksgiving dinner in Channel Islands Harbor .
But this year , it will only be eight of them : Forsyth , his wife , her four adult sons and the partners of two of them .
His wife started cooking Tuesday .
She ’ s planning a cold cucumber soup for a starter and bunch of appetizers for the early afternoon meal .
The sons are bringing side dishes .
Turkey and the fixings are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Forsyth hasn ’ t seen his family much during the pandemic but wanted to save the holiday .
“ People are trying to live a normal life , ” he said .
“ And , you know , with the second wave coming now , it ’ s not a bad idea to be prepared.
” In Ogden , Utah , Evelyn Maysonet stepped out of her home Tuesday morning to find boxes of food on her front porch overflowing with canned goods , desserts and a turkey .
She has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their home since all three tested positive for COVID-19 over a week ago .
None of them has been able to leave to buy groceries , so they were thrilled to receive the health department ’ s delivery — and the chance to enjoy a meal together and cherish the things that matter most .
“ As long as you have a life and you ’ re still alive , just make the best of it with you and your family , ” Maysonet said .
Associated Press Writers Tamara Lush , Jennifer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taxin contributed to this report .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Regina Garcia Cano, Matt Sedensky, Heather Hollingsworth

Vivian Zayas can’t keep herself from scrolling through photos of last Thanksgiving, when her mother stood at the stove to make a big pot of rice and beans and then took a seat at the edge of the table.
That was before anyone had heard of COVID-19 and before it claimed the retired seamstress. Ana Martinez died at 78 on April 1 while recovering at a nursing home from a knee replacement.
The family is having their traditional meal of turkey, yams, green beans and rice and beans — but Zayas is removing a seat from the table at her home in Deer Park, New York, this year and putting her mother’s walker in its place as a reminder of the loss.
“It’s a painful Thanksgiving. You don’t even know, should you celebrate?” asked Zayas. “It’s a lonely time.”
Americans are marking the Thanksgiving holiday Thursday amid an unrelenting pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than a quarter of a million people in the United States.
Turkey and pies will still come out ovens, football will still be on TV, families will still give thanks and have lively conversations about politics. But this holiday has been utterly altered after months filled with sorrows and hardships: Many feasts are weighed down by the loss of loved ones; others have been canceled or scaled back with the virus surging.
Zoom and FaceTime calls have become a fixture at dinner tables to connect with family members who don’t want to travel. Far fewer volunteers are helping at soup kitchens or community centers. A Utah health department has been delivering boxes of food to residents who are infected with the virus and can’t go to the store. A New York nursing home is offering drive-up visits for families of residents struggling with celebrating the holiday alone.
“The holidays make it a little harder,” said Harriet Krakowsky, an 85-year-old resident of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in New York who misses the big Thanksgiving celebrations of years past and has lost neighbors and friends to the virus. “I cry, but I get over it. We have to go on.”
On any normal Thanksgiving Day, Kara McKlemurry and her husband would drive from their Clearwater, Florida, home to one of two places: his family’s home in another part of the state or her family’s house in Alabama. This year, McKlemurry informed her family there would be no visits because of the pandemic. And when her in-laws offered to stop by, the couple said no.
She and her husband have been “keeping pretty strict lockdown” since March, and didn’t want to risk infecting anyone or getting the virus themselves.
Not everyone followed McKlemurry’s example. Millions of Americans bought tickets to fly somewhere for the holiday, crowding airports despite pleas from officials to avoid travel and gatherings.
Still, McKlemurry, 27, wanted to do something unique to mark this unusual holiday. She didn’t just want to soothe any lingering tension in the family — she wanted everyone to know that she and her husband feel blessed this year, despite the lack of physical connection.
So, a week before Thanksgiving, she sat in her backyard and hand wrote notes of gratitude to every member of the family. She got out colored pens, stickers of owls with scarves, and cute greeting cards.
“We’re so grateful to have you in our lives,” she wrote on a card with a cartoon fox, “even if we can’t actually be together this year for the holidays.”
In the nation’s capital, the convention center is empty unlike in previous years, when hundreds of volunteers have worked together to serve a traditional holiday meal to about 5,000 people, who also got access to clothing donations, medical testing and other services. In the era of social distancing, the sponsored event had to be reimagined.
Ahead of the holiday, organizers delivered to 20 nonprofits 5,000 gift bags, each with winter clothing accessories, hand sanitizer and a mask, and 5,000 boxes that included a turkey sandwich with condiments, a side potato salad, a cookie and utensils.
From start to finish, Thanksgiving is different this year for Jessica Franz, a nurse who works the graveyard shift at Olathe Medical Center, in a Kansas City suburb.
For one, Franz, 39, is celebrating without her mother-in-law, Elaine Franz, who died of the coronavirus on Nov. 10, just one day before her 78th birthday. In previous years, her mother-in-law, who was Mennonite, would lay out a spread for her children and grandchildren. At Franz’s work, in a typical year, co-workers would bring food for a potluck.
None of that is happening this year.
The family is shifting the festivities to Zoom and FaceTime. It’s been hard for her daughters — ages, 2, 8 and 11. Her middle daughter was exposed to the coronavirus at school and is quarantined until Dec. 3, and her oldest daughter is struggling with the concept of a scaled-back holiday.
“We had a good conversation that was, ‘This year may be different, and that’s OK. It is one year. If things are different this year and that means we get to see all the rest of our family next year, it is OK,’” said Franz, who has personally cared for patients dying of coronavirus.
The Thanksgiving gathering at David Forsyth’s home in Southern California, meanwhile, comes with a uniquely 2020 feel: rapid virus tests at the door to decide who gets inside.
The kit costs about $1,000 for 20 tests, each of which involve pricking a finger and putting a drop of blood on a tray. Ten minutes later the results either show someone is negative, has antibodies or is positive.
Normally, about 15 to 20 people attend the family’s Thanksgiving dinner in Channel Islands Harbor. But this year, it will only be eight of them: Forsyth, his wife, her four adult sons and the partners of two of them.
His wife started cooking Tuesday. She’s planning a cold cucumber soup for a starter and bunch of appetizers for the early afternoon meal. The sons are bringing side dishes. Turkey and the fixings are the main course. Champagne may be cracked.
Forsyth hasn’t seen his family much during the pandemic but wanted to save the holiday.
“People are trying to live a normal life,” he said. “And, you know, with the second wave coming now, it’s not a bad idea to be prepared.”
In Ogden, Utah, Evelyn Maysonet stepped out of her home Tuesday morning to find boxes of food on her front porch overflowing with canned goods, desserts and a turkey. She has been isolating with her husband and son in their home since all three tested positive for COVID-19 over a week ago.
None of them has been able to leave to buy groceries, so they were thrilled to receive the health department’s delivery — and the chance to enjoy a meal together and cherish the things that matter most.
“As long as you have a life and you’re still alive, just make the best of it with you and your family,” Maysonet said.
Associated Press Writers Tamara Lush, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Sophia Eppolito and Amy Taxin contributed to this report.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-11-26--Schools struggle to stay open as quarantines sideline staff

COLUMBUS , Ohio — The infection of a single cafeteria worker was all it took to close classrooms in the small Lowellville school district in northeastern Ohio , forcing at least two weeks of remote learning .
Not only did the worker who tested positive for the coronavirus need to quarantine , but so did the entire cafeteria staff and most of the transportation crew , because some employees work on both .
The district of about 500 students sharing one building had resumed in-person instruction with masks and social distancing and avoided any student infections .
But without enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but to temporarily abandon classroom operations and meal services .
“ It boils down to the staff , ” Lowellville Superintendent Geno Thomas said .
“ If you can ’ t staff a school , you have to bring it to remote.
” Around the country , contact tracing and isolation protocols are sidelining school employees and closing school buildings .
The staffing challenges force students out of classrooms , even in districts where officials say the health risks of in-person learning are manageable .
And the absences add to the strain from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken by employees worried about health risks .
It ’ s another layer of the “ tremendous stress ” faced by administrators and educators navigating the pandemic , said Dan Domenech , executive director of AASA , the nation ’ s leading school superintendents association .
The superintendent in Groton , Connecticut , recently announced the entire district would transition to distance learning for two weeks following Thanksgiving — a decision driven primarily by a staffing shortage .
“ When you have the wrong teacher , like an art teacher who over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , you ’ ve got the possibility of a really significant number of contacts , ” he said .
“ It ’ s not being transmitted in schools apparently , but we have lots of cases of children and staff members who are getting it very typically from a family member.
” In Kansas , the 27,000-student Shawnee Mission School District announced recently that middle and high school students would return to remote learning until January because of difficulty keeping buildings staffed .
Scores of employees are quarantined because of known or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to emphasize that this decision is not being made because of COVID-19 transmission within our schools , ” Superintendent Mike Fulton wrote to families .
He said available substitute teachers would be shifted to elementary schools to keep up in-person learning for younger students .
Social distancing , wearing masks , washing hands and completing daily COVID-19 assessments “ seem to be working to keep transmission low within schools , ” Fulton said .
The effects of school staffing struggles have prompted some officials to suggest relaxing quarantine rules .
On Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the state House health committee that too many students are missing in-person classroom instruction because they have been sent home for 14 days to quarantine .
The state health department said it would not recommend any changes to quarantine regulations .
“ We have a lot of healthy kids who are home when they don ’ t need to be , ” West Baton Rouge Parish Superintendent Wesley Watts told lawmakers .
“ We ’ re not asking to do away with quarantine .
We ’ re just asking for some modifications.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Parson took a different approach to trying to keep schools open .
He announced new guidance this month that teachers and students exposed to an infected person no longer have to quarantine for two weeks as long as both people were wearing masks .
He said quarantines had interrupted learning and created staff shortages .
Shortages of substitute teachers have compounded the personnel problems .
“ I think everybody understands when you can ’ t have enough subs to fill the roles , it ’ s also a safety issue : You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without support from adults , ” said Julie Mackett , a kindergarten teacher in Perrysburg , Ohio , who went through her own two-week quarantine early in the school year after a student tested positive .
Staffing shortages in her district in mid-November moved up the start of a return to remote learning around Thanksgiving for Perrysburg ’ s high schoolers , and the district was closely monitoring elementary schools .
Cincinnati ’ s public school system pointed to staffing concerns and surging virus cases in southwest Ohio when it decided to shift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It noted that community spread of the virus directly affects staff absences .
“ Teachers and staff must stay home when sick , when in quarantine as a result of a close contact or as needed to take care of family members , ” the district said .
Associated Press writers Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge , Louisiana , and Michael Melia in Hartford , Connecticut , contributed to this report .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The infection of a single cafeteria worker was all it took to close classrooms in the small Lowellville school district in northeastern Ohio, forcing at least two weeks of remote learning.
Not only did the worker who tested positive for the coronavirus need to quarantine, but so did the entire cafeteria staff and most of the transportation crew, because some employees work on both. The district of about 500 students sharing one building had resumed in-person instruction with masks and social distancing and avoided any student infections. But without enough substitute workers, administrators had no choice but to temporarily abandon classroom operations and meal services.
“It boils down to the staff,” Lowellville Superintendent Geno Thomas said. “If you can’t staff a school, you have to bring it to remote.”
Around the country, contact tracing and isolation protocols are sidelining school employees and closing school buildings. The staffing challenges force students out of classrooms, even in districts where officials say the health risks of in-person learning are manageable. And the absences add to the strain from a wave of early retirements and leaves taken by employees worried about health risks.
It’s another layer of the “tremendous stress” faced by administrators and educators navigating the pandemic, said Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, the nation’s leading school superintendents association.
The superintendent in Groton, Connecticut, recently announced the entire district would transition to distance learning for two weeks following Thanksgiving — a decision driven primarily by a staffing shortage.
“When you have the wrong teacher, like an art teacher who over a two-day period sees as many as 80 children, you’ve got the possibility of a really significant number of contacts,” he said. “It’s not being transmitted in schools apparently, but we have lots of cases of children and staff members who are getting it very typically from a family member.”
In Kansas, the 27,000-student Shawnee Mission School District announced recently that middle and high school students would return to remote learning until January because of difficulty keeping buildings staffed. Scores of employees are quarantined because of known or potential exposure.
“It is important to emphasize that this decision is not being made because of COVID-19 transmission within our schools,” Superintendent Mike Fulton wrote to families. He said available substitute teachers would be shifted to elementary schools to keep up in-person learning for younger students.
Social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and completing daily COVID-19 assessments “seem to be working to keep transmission low within schools,” Fulton said.
The effects of school staffing struggles have prompted some officials to suggest relaxing quarantine rules.
On Monday, leaders of several Louisiana public school systems told the state House health committee that too many students are missing in-person classroom instruction because they have been sent home for 14 days to quarantine. The state health department said it would not recommend any changes to quarantine regulations.
“We have a lot of healthy kids who are home when they don’t need to be,” West Baton Rouge Parish Superintendent Wesley Watts told lawmakers. “We’re not asking to do away with quarantine. We’re just asking for some modifications.”
In Missouri, Republican Gov. Mike Parson took a different approach to trying to keep schools open. He announced new guidance this month that teachers and students exposed to an infected person no longer have to quarantine for two weeks as long as both people were wearing masks. He said quarantines had interrupted learning and created staff shortages.
Shortages of substitute teachers have compounded the personnel problems.
“I think everybody understands when you can’t have enough subs to fill the roles, it’s also a safety issue: You can’t have that many children without support from adults,” said Julie Mackett, a kindergarten teacher in Perrysburg, Ohio, who went through her own two-week quarantine early in the school year after a student tested positive.
Staffing shortages in her district in mid-November moved up the start of a return to remote learning around Thanksgiving for Perrysburg’s high schoolers, and the district was closely monitoring elementary schools.
Cincinnati’s public school system pointed to staffing concerns and surging virus cases in southwest Ohio when it decided to shift to distance learning until after winter break. It noted that community spread of the virus directly affects staff absences.
“Teachers and staff must stay home when sick, when in quarantine as a result of a close contact or as needed to take care of family members,” the district said.
Associated Press writers Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Michael Melia in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report.
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thedenverpost--2020-11-26--“Why now?” Dismay as U.S. considers troop pullout from Somalia

NAIROBI , Kenya — No country has been involved in Somalia ’ s future as much as the United States .
Now the Trump administration is thinking of withdrawing the several hundred U.S. military troops from the Horn of Africa nation at what some experts call the worst possible time .
Three decades of chaos , from warlords to al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabab to the emergence of an Islamic State-linked group , have ripped apart the country that only in the past few years has begun to find its footing .
The U.S. Embassy returned to Somalia just last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Somalia faces a tense election season that begins in the next few weeks to decide the presidency and parliament .
United Nations experts say al-Shabab , supporting its 5,000 to 10,000 fighters on a rich diet of extorting businesses and civilians , is improving its bomb-making skills .
And an ever bigger military force , the African Union ’ s 19,000-strong AMISOM , has begun its own withdrawal from a country whose forces are widely considered unready to assume full responsibility for security .
It is not clear whether President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 700 U.S. military forces from Somalia , following his orders for Afghanistan and Iraq , or whether the reported urge will pass before he leaves office in January .
But the idea is taken seriously , even as U.S. drone strikes are expected to continue in Somalia against al-Shabab and IS fighters from neighboring Djibouti and Kenya — where al-Shabab carried out a deadly attack against U.S. forces early this year .
The U.S. Africa Command has seen a “ definitive shift ” this year in al-Shabab ’ s focus to attack U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report by the Department of Defense inspector general said Wednesday — and the command says al-Shabab is Africa ’ s most “ dangerous ” and “ imminent ” threat .
“ The first thing … it ’ s disastrous for Somalia ’ s security sector , it just causes that first panic reaction : You know , why now ?
” said Samira Gaid , a Somali national security specialist who served as senior security adviser to the prime minister and special adviser to the head of AMISOM .
“ Especially since over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular the security sector really improved , and we tried to work closely with ” the U.S. , she told The Associated Press .
Recent progress includes a “ war council ” between the U.S. and Somali governments , she said , where the U.S. helps to draw up military plans .
“ We call them Somali-led operations , but really the U.S. is hand-holding us through it.
” The U.S. military also trains Somalia ’ s elite Danab special forces that now number around 1,000 , and is providing Danab with air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Danab was expanding , that ’ s why this is so shocking , ” she said .
“ Is it possible to move forward with that plan now ?
” Danab units are now operational in four of Somalia ’ s five member states , the U.S. military says , and they conducted about 80 % of the Somali national army ’ s offensive forces in the quarter ending Sept. 30 and “ nearly all ” operations against al-Shabab .
The Danab forces also serve as a model for how the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ more meritocracy and less clan-focused , ” said Omar Mahmood , an analyst with the International Crisis Group .
The loss of U.S. forces is widely seen as a gain for al-Shabab , and for the far smaller presence of hundreds of IS-affiliated fighters in Somalia ’ s north .
“ From the al-Shabab perspective , they just need to hold out , ” Mahmood said , and they might even ask themselves what need there is for any potential Taliban-style negotiations .
Al-Shabab ’ s messaging has always stressed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security specialist Gaid said : “ These external forces will always leave.
” A U.S. withdrawal will play into that narrative .
Gaid said she doesn ’ t see any other country stepping into the U.S. military ’ s role , though a withdrawal would open space for powers like Russia and China .
Somalia also has some 1,500 special forces that have been trained by Turkish troops , she said , but “ they don ’ t benefit from Turkish advisers on the ground.
” Without U.S. forces , al-Shabab “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , let alone the Somali national army , ” Vanda Felbab-Brown , co-director of the African Security Initiative at the Brookings Institution , told an online event this week .
And with neighboring Ethiopia ’ s conflict increasing pressure to withdraw more Ethiopian forces from Somalia , a U.S. troop withdrawal “ is really just the worst time.
” The support that U.S. forces give AMISOM is “ huge , ” Gaid said , including as a key interlocutor with Somali forces .
And with AMISOM also drawing down by the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tricky time.
” The U.S. has said implementation of the plan for Somali forces to take over the country ’ s security next year is “ badly off track , ” said the new report by the Department of Defense inspector general .
Somali forces can not contain the al-Shabab threat on its own , the report said .
They still rely on the international community for financial support , and yet they “ sometimes go unpaid for months.
” Maybe a U.S. withdrawal would lead the AMISOM force to adjust its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mahmood said .
The U.S. has been the most engaged security partner in Somalia “ willing to get down and dirty , ” he added .
But no other country appears to have the willingness to replace what U.S. forces are doing on the ground And a withdrawal of both the U.S. and AMISOM would risk leaving the impression that “ Somalia increasingly can rely less and less on external security partners , ” Mahmood said .
Somalia is on the brink of elections , with the parliamentary vote scheduled in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What had meant to be the country ’ s first one-person-one-vote election in decades instead remains limited by disputes between the federal government and regional ones — which the U.S. has said also weakens command and control of Somali forces .
At least keep U.S. forces in Somalia until after the elections , Felbab-Brown wrote this week , warning of possible post-election violence or al-Shabab taking advantage of any chaos .
Even though U.S. forces don ’ t provide election security , “ our problem is , with the U.S. focused on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be focused on how the elections are going politically , ” Gaid said .
The U.S. has been one of the most vocal actors on Somalia ’ s election process , she said .
“ We were all expecting after November that the U.S. would be clear on a lot of stuff .
Now it seems we have to wait .
”

NAIROBI, Kenya — No country has been involved in Somalia’s future as much as the United States. Now the Trump administration is thinking of withdrawing the several hundred U.S. military troops from the Horn of Africa nation at what some experts call the worst possible time.
Three decades of chaos, from warlords to al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabab to the emergence of an Islamic State-linked group, have ripped apart the country that only in the past few years has begun to find its footing. The U.S. Embassy returned to Somalia just last year, 28 years after diplomats and staffers fled.
Somalia faces a tense election season that begins in the next few weeks to decide the presidency and parliament. United Nations experts say al-Shabab, supporting its 5,000 to 10,000 fighters on a rich diet of extorting businesses and civilians, is improving its bomb-making skills. And an ever bigger military force, the African Union’s 19,000-strong AMISOM, has begun its own withdrawal from a country whose forces are widely considered unready to assume full responsibility for security.
It is not clear whether President Donald Trump will order the withdrawal of the some 700 U.S. military forces from Somalia, following his orders for Afghanistan and Iraq, or whether the reported urge will pass before he leaves office in January. But the idea is taken seriously, even as U.S. drone strikes are expected to continue in Somalia against al-Shabab and IS fighters from neighboring Djibouti and Kenya — where al-Shabab carried out a deadly attack against U.S. forces early this year.
The U.S. Africa Command has seen a “definitive shift” this year in al-Shabab’s focus to attack U.S. interests in the region, a new report by the Department of Defense inspector general said Wednesday — and the command says al-Shabab is Africa’s most “dangerous” and “imminent” threat.
Here’s what’s at stake:
Counterterrorism
“The first thing … it’s disastrous for Somalia’s security sector, it just causes that first panic reaction: You know, why now?” said Samira Gaid, a Somali national security specialist who served as senior security adviser to the prime minister and special adviser to the head of AMISOM. “Especially since over the past three and half years in particular the security sector really improved, and we tried to work closely with” the U.S., she told The Associated Press.
Recent progress includes a “war council” between the U.S. and Somali governments, she said, where the U.S. helps to draw up military plans. “We call them Somali-led operations, but really the U.S. is hand-holding us through it.”
The U.S. military also trains Somalia’s elite Danab special forces that now number around 1,000, and is providing Danab with air cover and intelligence, Gaid said.
“Danab was expanding, that’s why this is so shocking,” she said. “Is it possible to move forward with that plan now?”
Danab units are now operational in four of Somalia’s five member states, the U.S. military says, and they conducted about 80% of the Somali national army’s offensive forces in the quarter ending Sept. 30 and “nearly all” operations against al-Shabab.
The Danab forces also serve as a model for how the rest of Somali military forces can develop to be “more meritocracy and less clan-focused,” said Omar Mahmood, an analyst with the International Crisis Group.
The loss of U.S. forces is widely seen as a gain for al-Shabab, and for the far smaller presence of hundreds of IS-affiliated fighters in Somalia’s north. “From the al-Shabab perspective, they just need to hold out,” Mahmood said, and they might even ask themselves what need there is for any potential Taliban-style negotiations.
Al-Shabab’s messaging has always stressed the extremist group’s staying power, national security specialist Gaid said: “These external forces will always leave.” A U.S. withdrawal will play into that narrative.
Gaid said she doesn’t see any other country stepping into the U.S. military’s role, though a withdrawal would open space for powers like Russia and China. Somalia also has some 1,500 special forces that have been trained by Turkish troops, she said, but “they don’t benefit from Turkish advisers on the ground.”
Security
Without U.S. forces, al-Shabab “will find it easier to overrun AMISOM, let alone the Somali national army,” Vanda Felbab-Brown, co-director of the African Security Initiative at the Brookings Institution, told an online event this week. And with neighboring Ethiopia’s conflict increasing pressure to withdraw more Ethiopian forces from Somalia, a U.S. troop withdrawal “is really just the worst time.”
The support that U.S. forces give AMISOM is “huge,” Gaid said, including as a key interlocutor with Somali forces. And with AMISOM also drawing down by the end of next year, “it’s a tricky time.”
The U.S. has said implementation of the plan for Somali forces to take over the country’s security next year is “badly off track,” said the new report by the Department of Defense inspector general.
Somali forces cannot contain the al-Shabab threat on its own, the report said. They still rely on the international community for financial support, and yet they “sometimes go unpaid for months.”
Maybe a U.S. withdrawal would lead the AMISOM force to adjust its own withdrawal timeline “more realistically,” Mahmood said.
The U.S. has been the most engaged security partner in Somalia “willing to get down and dirty,” he added. But no other country appears to have the willingness to replace what U.S. forces are doing on the ground
And a withdrawal of both the U.S. and AMISOM would risk leaving the impression that “Somalia increasingly can rely less and less on external security partners,” Mahmood said.
Political stability
Somalia is on the brink of elections, with the parliamentary vote scheduled in December and the presidential one in February. What had meant to be the country’s first one-person-one-vote election in decades instead remains limited by disputes between the federal government and regional ones — which the U.S. has said also weakens command and control of Somali forces.
At least keep U.S. forces in Somalia until after the elections, Felbab-Brown wrote this week, warning of possible post-election violence or al-Shabab taking advantage of any chaos.
Even though U.S. forces don’t provide election security, “our problem is, with the U.S. focused on a drawdown of troops, it would not be focused on how the elections are going politically,” Gaid said.
The U.S. has been one of the most vocal actors on Somalia’s election process, she said. “We were all expecting after November that the U.S. would be clear on a lot of stuff. Now it seems we have to wait.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-27--Broncos Briefs: Year after trade, Emmanuel Sanders makes return to Mile High with Saints

Former Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders returns to Mile High on Sunday as a member of the New Orleans Saints , 13 months after he was traded to San Francisco .
The Broncos flipped Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick for third- and fourth-round selections .
The Broncos drafted defensive lineman McTelvin Agim with the third-rounder and traded the fourth-rounder to Jacksonville for cornerback A.J .
Bouye .
Sanders had 404 regular-season catches and 28 touchdowns in 78 games for the Broncos .
He reached the Super Bowl with San Francisco and signed with New Orleans in free agency .
Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three touchdowns .
He missed two games on the Saints ’ COVID-19/reserve list and had only one catch in two other games .
“ Emmanuel ’ s doing well , ” Saints coach Sean Payton said .
“ He ’ s picked up our system .
… He ’ s quick in and out of his cuts .
He has a good feel for man-and-zone coverage .
He ’ s been a good addition for us.
” Sanders was acquired as a complementary player to Michael Thomas , who led the NFL in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 149 ) and appears to have regained his form after missing six consecutive games .
Thomas had nine catches for 104 yards in Sunday ’ s win over Atlanta .
“ ( Thomas/Sanders ) have been good receivers in this league for a while , ” Broncos safety Kareem Jackson said .
“ Anytime you get a chance to see guys like that , you have to be on your ‘ A ’ game as a collective unit .
We have to be up to the task.
” Driskel on COVID-19 list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Driskel on the COVID-19/reserve list before their Thursday ’ s morning practice .
Coach Vic Fangio said discussions between the Broncos and the NFL office began at 4 a.m. to determine if the team could practice .
The natural concern when a player goes on the reserve list is the other players in his position group .
Fangio said the other quarterbacks were around Driskel for “ minimal amounts.
” “ They thoroughly checked those guys that on the ( contract tracers were around Driskel ) for two minutes , three minutes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said nobody else needs to go on the list and they cleared us to have normal activities and normal practice , ” he said .
Driskel joins defensive end Shelby Harris ( out the last three games ) on the COVID-19/reserve list .
Harris was present at practice Thursday as an observer .
Fangio said Harris will need to practice to rebuild his conditioning and “ until you see him off the list and practicing , you can assume he won ’ t play.
” Jeudy sits out .
Fangio said receiver Jerry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bugging him , ” and he was held out of practice Thursday .
During the media viewing period , Jeudy did not take the team stretch and watched individual drills from the side .
Safety Trey Marshall ( shin ) missed a second consecutive day of practice .
Limited were right tackle Demar Dotson ( hand/calf ) , right guard Graham Glasgow ( calf ) , cornerback Bryce Callahan ( ankle ) , outside linebacker Malik Reed ( ankle ) and defensive lineman Sylvester Williams ( elbow ) .
Cornerback Duke Dawson ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( ankle ) were full-go after being limited Wednesday .
Fond memories .
New Orleans was both Fangio ’ s first NFL coaching post ( linebackers ) and his longest stop ( nine years , 1986-94 ) .
Fangio coached the Saints ’ “ Dome Patrol ” linebackers corps of Sam Mills , Pat Swilling , Rickey Jackson and Vaughan Johnson .
“ It was very special for me , ” Fangio said .
“ I had nine great years there .
Coaching good players always makes it more enjoyable .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those players — they text me regularly , which is very nice .
“ Every time I go back there — even though we ’ re not going back there this time — it kind of feels like my second home.
” Watson earning trust .
A practice squad/COVID-19 call-up the last two games , second-year inside linebacker Josh Watson has played 47 special teams snaps .
Watson had a thunderous tackle in kick coverage at Las Vegas in Week 10 .
His three special teams tackles this year are tied for second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said last week .
“ Josh executes his assignment , is a great tackler and studies a ton .
Going into a game , he knows his opponent .
He ’ s really starting to grow into that special team ’ s linebacker who just gets it .
He understands that you can win games by preparing and he understands that ‘ work ’ and ‘ win ’ start with ‘ W ’ for a reason .
”

Former Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders returns to Mile High on Sunday as a member of the New Orleans Saints, 13 months after he was traded to San Francisco.
The Broncos flipped Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick for third- and fourth-round selections. The Broncos drafted defensive lineman McTelvin Agim with the third-rounder and traded the fourth-rounder to Jacksonville for cornerback A.J. Bouye.
Sanders had 404 regular-season catches and 28 touchdowns in 78 games for the Broncos. He reached the Super Bowl with San Francisco and signed with New Orleans in free agency. Sanders has 35 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns. He missed two games on the Saints’ COVID-19/reserve list and had only one catch in two other games.
“Emmanuel’s doing well,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “He’s picked up our system. … He’s quick in and out of his cuts. He has a good feel for man-and-zone coverage. He’s been a good addition for us.”
Sanders was acquired as a complementary player to Michael Thomas, who led the NFL in catches the previous two years (125 and 149) and appears to have regained his form after missing six consecutive games. Thomas had nine catches for 104 yards in Sunday’s win over Atlanta.
“(Thomas/Sanders) have been good receivers in this league for a while,” Broncos safety Kareem Jackson said. “Anytime you get a chance to see guys like that, you have to be on your ‘A’ game as a collective unit. We have to be up to the task.”
Driskel on COVID-19 list. The Broncos placed third-string quarterback Jeff Driskel on the COVID-19/reserve list before their Thursday’s morning practice.
Coach Vic Fangio said discussions between the Broncos and the NFL office began at 4 a.m. to determine if the team could practice. The natural concern when a player goes on the reserve list is the other players in his position group. Fangio said the other quarterbacks were around Driskel for “minimal amounts.”
“They thoroughly checked those guys that on the (contract tracers were around Driskel) for two minutes, three minutes, four minutes and they came back and said nobody else needs to go on the list and they cleared us to have normal activities and normal practice,” he said.
Driskel joins defensive end Shelby Harris (out the last three games) on the COVID-19/reserve list. Harris was present at practice Thursday as an observer.
Fangio said Harris will need to practice to rebuild his conditioning and “until you see him off the list and practicing, you can assume he won’t play.”
Jeudy sits out. Fangio said receiver Jerry Jeudy’s ankle has been “bugging him,” and he was held out of practice Thursday. During the media viewing period, Jeudy did not take the team stretch and watched individual drills from the side.
Safety Trey Marshall (shin) missed a second consecutive day of practice. Limited were right tackle Demar Dotson (hand/calf), right guard Graham Glasgow (calf), cornerback Bryce Callahan (ankle), outside linebacker Malik Reed (ankle) and defensive lineman Sylvester Williams (elbow).
Cornerback Duke Dawson (chest) and inside linebacker Josey Jewell (ankle) were full-go after being limited Wednesday.
Fond memories. New Orleans was both Fangio’s first NFL coaching post (linebackers) and his longest stop (nine years, 1986-94). Fangio coached the Saints’ “Dome Patrol” linebackers corps of Sam Mills, Pat Swilling, Rickey Jackson and Vaughan Johnson.
“It was very special for me,” Fangio said. “I had nine great years there. Coaching good players always makes it more enjoyable. I’m still in touch with some of those players — they text me regularly, which is very nice.
“Every time I go back there — even though we’re not going back there this time — it kind of feels like my second home.”
Watson earning trust. A practice squad/COVID-19 call-up the last two games, second-year inside linebacker Josh Watson has played 47 special teams snaps. Watson had a thunderous tackle in kick coverage at Las Vegas in Week 10. His three special teams tackles this year are tied for second on the Broncos.
“Physical,” special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said last week. “Josh executes his assignment, is a great tackler and studies a ton. Going into a game, he knows his opponent. He’s really starting to grow into that special team’s linebacker who just gets it. He understands that you can win games by preparing and he understands that ‘work’ and ‘win’ start with ‘W’ for a reason.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-27--Denver weather: Cool and clear for Thanksgiving weekend

It ’ s the start of a slight warmup for the Front Range .
Friday ’ s forecast calls for @ @ @ @ @ near 47 degrees , according to the National Weather Service in Boulder .
Winds are @ @ @ @ @ the day .
By Friday night , the skies will remain mostly clear with a @ @ @ @ @ NWS reports that lows will be in the single digits in places in higher elevations @ @ @ @ @ the Thanksgiving holiday weekend , expect more sunny skies and a slight warmup with a @ @ @ @ @ and 44 degrees Sunday .
Lows will fall into the mid-20s for both nights .

It’s the start of a slight warmup for the Front Range. Friday’s forecast calls for sunny skies with a high near 47 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. Winds are expected to be light throughout the day.
By Friday night, the skies will remain mostly clear with a low of 26 degrees. NWS reports that lows will be in the single digits in places in higher elevations.
For the rest of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, expect more sunny skies and a slight warmup with a high near 57 degrees Saturday and 44 degrees Sunday. Lows will fall into the mid-20s for both nights.


thedenverpost--2020-11-27--On the hunt in Colorado: A successful elk harvest amid downward national trend of youth hunters

WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST — On the fifth day of the hunt , he appeared before me , crossing a meadow 300 yards downhill between aspen and pine groves , with antlers that cast long shadows on the morning snow .
A crown atop the animal king of the Colorado high country .
I ’ m seated on a ridgeline at 10,000-feet of elevation a month ago on public land when muscle memory calms a surge of adrenaline .
The black stock of a 270 Winchester rifle tucks into the crease of my right shoulder .
The elk , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thick brown coat , walks slowly into the view of my scope .
A peaceful quiet is about to erupt with a sudden… Hot lead fires from a long silver barrel .
Seconds pass like minutes .
The blast echoes over frozen mountain valleys and a soft breeze carries the scent of gunpowder .
My heart races and my eye returns to the scope to find the elk … unharmed .
I ’ ve missed .
A young bull stands frozen in his tracks .
His antlers tilt back .
He sniffs the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not over .
On this Thanksgiving , a time to honor family customs , the tradition of harvesting elk in the Rocky Mountain backcountry is on the decline .
The number of hunters across the nation fell by 2.2 million between 2011 and 2016 , according to the most recent findings published by the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service .
The same survey showed the most significant drop among younger hunters , ages 25-34 .
In 1991 , their demographic made up for 28 % of all U.S hunters .
That millennial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
RELATED : Fewer young people are taking up hunting , which has hunters worried about the sport ’ s future In Colorado , the number of total big-game hunting applications has dropped by 39,119 between 2018 and 2020 .
It should worry anyone , including non-hunters , who enjoy outdoor space managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife .
“ Hunters and anglers are the primary funders of conservation efforts when it comes to habitat improvement and biological research that ’ s necessary for healthy wildlife populations across the state , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordinator for hunter education .
“ Some of the older hunter population is dropping off and is not always being replenished by the younger hunter population .
It has a long-term impact on how we fund our agency as the stewards of wildlife and the habitat for that wildlife.
” Colorado ’ s big-game hunting also suffered the consequences of an active wildfire season .
In 2020 , CPW reports it has processed about 12,000 tag refunds with an approximate impact of $ 3 million .
The refund application process remains open .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ our annual elk hunt , an emergency helicopter flew overhead on our walk up the mountain .
It carried a water bucket , presumably empty , for aerial firefighting elsewhere .
We needed to be careful in dry conditions , but two days later , our concerns relented .
Praise Mother Nature .
It snowed nearly one foot .
I can ’ t tell you my exact location .
Call it a well-guarded secret among family and trusted friends .
Just know , that in the mid-1980s , a few Front Range outdoorsmen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forest — a 2.3-million-acre expanse of mountain recreation in Northwest Colorado — for the most remote location to successfully hunt high-country elk .
Their search led to the base of what looks like an extinct volcano , about 2 miles from a dead-end on the nearest public access road , where lava rocks are scattered across rolling mountain meadows , thick timber and steep cliffs .
The area is inaccessible to motorized vehicles , so camp is hauled up the mountain in packs or pulled on a wheeled cart .
The hunters found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tucked away in the timber near a spring-fed pond for drinking water .
Three decades later — with my father , Dan , among the original members of the hunting party — we return to the same spot each fall for a second-season rifle elk hunt .
Our annual commitment , with bare necessities in an unforgiving climate , is a reflection of hunting success .
But it ’ s not our only calling .
My older brother , Matt , shot an elk this year , late in the afternoon toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hunt .
Field dressing a 500-pound animal in nature is difficult .
It requires several hands and knives to skin and process the elk into four quarters ; including the backstraps , tenderloin and heart .
We packed the meat into sanitary bags , placed them in large frame packs , and carried the elk down the mountain .
My shoulders ached from the roughly 60-pound pack as we marched through the snow — mentally and physically exhausted .
We hadn ’ t eaten dinner .
The temperature dropped .
Funny how no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red and orange colors danced on the horizon that evening before giving way to a full moon that lit our journey back to camp .
The white landscape seemed to glow and discomfort gave way to awe .
My brother turned to me , my dad , and my stepbrother , Trevor , in the quiet moonlight .
“ I ’ m loving every second of this , ” Matt said .
Our bodies hurt .
Our brains knew better .
My brother spoke for us all .
I rack the empty shell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chamber , and quickly relocate the bull with cautious optimism .
The long shot and downward trajectory spooked the elk with no clear direction of the threat .
He ’ s back in my scope… There is an initial profound sadness , for me , in the harvest of an elk .
They are incredible animals .
What provides solace , though , as an omnivore , is the challenge of the hunt , the collective family bond it creates , and the stopping ability of a high-powered rifle .
My bull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before dropping to the snow .
A clean and quick exit .
We respect his memory by not wasting his gifts .
When the coronavirus pandemic subsides , my family will gather for large meals , making up for a canceled Thanksgiving to celebrate togetherness over elk steak .
We ’ ll re-tell stories of the hunt — with details exaggerated more each time — to preserve the feeling we had walking down that mountain in the moonlight .
Or the great fortune of a second shot that doesn ’ t miss .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s healthiest elk populations with an estimated 287,000 statewide in the winter of 2018 , per the state ’ s latest survey , with 52 % of all herds above their target numbers goal .
CPW is working actively to engage a younger population with fishing and hunting through outreach programs that connect kids and adults with experienced outdoorsmen and women .
Educate yourself on gun safety and hunting laws .
Create a memory and fill your freezer .
This Thanksgiving , Coloradans should be thankful for the almighty elk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adventurist , to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox .

WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST — On the fifth day of the hunt, he appeared before me, crossing a meadow 300 yards downhill between aspen and pine groves, with antlers that cast long shadows on the morning snow. A crown atop the animal king of the Colorado high country.
A bull elk.
I’m seated on a ridgeline at 10,000-feet of elevation a month ago on public land when muscle memory calms a surge of adrenaline. The black stock of a 270 Winchester rifle tucks into the crease of my right shoulder. The elk, with long legs carrying his muscular frame and thick brown coat, walks slowly into the view of my scope. A peaceful quiet is about to erupt with a sudden…
Breathe in. Breathe out.
BANG.
Hot lead fires from a long silver barrel. Seconds pass like minutes. The blast echoes over frozen mountain valleys and a soft breeze carries the scent of gunpowder. My heart races and my eye returns to the scope to find the elk … unharmed. I’ve missed.
A young bull stands frozen in his tracks. His antlers tilt back. He sniffs the cool mountain air.
The hunt is not over.
***
On this Thanksgiving Day, a time to honor family customs, the tradition of harvesting elk in the Rocky Mountain backcountry is on the decline.
The number of hunters across the nation fell by 2.2 million between 2011 and 2016, according to the most recent findings published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The same survey showed the most significant drop among younger hunters, ages 25-34. In 1991, their demographic made up for 28% of all U.S hunters. That millennial portion tumbled to 16% in 2016.
In Colorado, the number of total big-game hunting applications has dropped by 39,119 between 2018 and 2020. It should worry anyone, including non-hunters, who enjoy outdoor space managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
“Hunters and anglers are the primary funders of conservation efforts when it comes to habitat improvement and biological research that’s necessary for healthy wildlife populations across the state,” said Travis Long, CPW’s statewide coordinator for hunter education. “Some of the older hunter population is dropping off and is not always being replenished by the younger hunter population. It has a long-term impact on how we fund our agency as the stewards of wildlife and the habitat for that wildlife.”
Colorado’s big-game hunting also suffered the consequences of an active wildfire season. In 2020, CPW reports it has processed about 12,000 tag refunds with an approximate impact of $3 million. The refund application process remains open.
Last month, as my family started our annual elk hunt, an emergency helicopter flew overhead on our walk up the mountain. It carried a water bucket, presumably empty, for aerial firefighting elsewhere. We needed to be careful in dry conditions, but two days later, our concerns relented.
Praise Mother Nature. It snowed nearly one foot.
***
I can’t tell you my exact location. Call it a well-guarded secret among family and trusted friends.
Just know, that in the mid-1980s, a few Front Range outdoorsmen studied maps of the White River National Forest — a 2.3-million-acre expanse of mountain recreation in Northwest Colorado — for the most remote location to successfully hunt high-country elk.
Their search led to the base of what looks like an extinct volcano, about 2 miles from a dead-end on the nearest public access road, where lava rocks are scattered across rolling mountain meadows, thick timber and steep cliffs. The area is inaccessible to motorized vehicles, so camp is hauled up the mountain in packs or pulled on a wheeled cart. The hunters found refuge inside sleeping bags and a tent, tucked away in the timber near a spring-fed pond for drinking water.
Three decades later — with my father, Dan, among the original members of the hunting party — we return to the same spot each fall for a second-season rifle elk hunt. Our annual commitment, with bare necessities in an unforgiving climate, is a reflection of hunting success. But it’s not our only calling.
My older brother, Matt, shot an elk this year, late in the afternoon toward the end of our family’s hunt. Field dressing a 500-pound animal in nature is difficult. It requires several hands and knives to skin and process the elk into four quarters; including the backstraps, tenderloin and heart. We packed the meat into sanitary bags, placed them in large frame packs, and carried the elk down the mountain. My shoulders ached from the roughly 60-pound pack as we marched through the snow — mentally and physically exhausted. We hadn’t eaten dinner. The temperature dropped.
Funny how no one seemed to mind.
Pink, red and orange colors danced on the horizon that evening before giving way to a full moon that lit our journey back to camp. The white landscape seemed to glow and discomfort gave way to awe. My brother turned to me, my dad, and my stepbrother, Trevor, in the quiet moonlight.
“I’m loving every second of this,” Matt said.
Our bodies hurt. Our brains knew better. My brother spoke for us all.
***
The hunt continues.
I rack the empty shell from my rifle, load another in the chamber, and quickly relocate the bull with cautious optimism. The long shot and downward trajectory spooked the elk with no clear direction of the threat. He’s back in my scope…
Breathe in. Breathe out.
BANG.
There is an initial profound sadness, for me, in the harvest of an elk. They are incredible animals. What provides solace, though, as an omnivore, is the challenge of the hunt, the collective family bond it creates, and the stopping ability of a high-powered rifle. My bull elk took only a handful of steps before dropping to the snow. A clean and quick exit.
We respect his memory by not wasting his gifts. When the coronavirus pandemic subsides, my family will gather for large meals, making up for a canceled Thanksgiving to celebrate togetherness over elk steak. We’ll re-tell stories of the hunt — with details exaggerated more each time — to preserve the feeling we had walking down that mountain in the moonlight. Or the great fortune of a second shot that doesn’t miss.
Colorado is home to one of the nation’s healthiest elk populations with an estimated 287,000 statewide in the winter of 2018, per the state’s latest survey, with 52% of all herds above their target numbers goal. CPW is working actively to engage a younger population with fishing and hunting through outreach programs that connect kids and adults with experienced outdoorsmen and women. Educate yourself on gun safety and hunting laws. Create a memory and fill your freezer.
This Thanksgiving, Coloradans should be thankful for the almighty elk.


thedenverpost--2020-11-27--Opt outside this Friday with these accessible hikes perfect for the whole family

Even with wildfires and the change of season , hiking is still on for those interested in some quality outdoor time .
Whether you ’ re hiking solo or with family to burn off your Thanksgiving food coma , there are trails for every ability and interest on the Front Range in every season .
A few things to factor in when hiking at this time of year : There might be snow and ice on the trail , even if the weather is warm and sunny where you live .
Invest in a pair of microspikes , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoes to minimize the risk of a slip and fall during your hike .
Check trail conditions before leaving the house to find out if a trail is closed or if you need additional gear .
Trails may be closed because of wildfire damage , mud , wildlife activity or for other reasons .
Social media accounts and websites for various land managers should be updated for hikers .
Sunscreen — if not a hat to block the sun — will still be needed on most days out on the trail since Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even when it ’ s chilly out .
Also note : Although the state ’ s newest COVID-19 regulations do not prevent anyone from traveling to the mountains to hike , take precautions ( masks , etc . )
and check the rules in the county to which you are heading .
Now that you ’ re prepared , it ’ s time to explore some flatter trails with plenty of spots for a rest .
When considering hiking options for the whole family , you ’ ll want to beef up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gain and miles so that little kids or others with physical constraints can enjoy the experience too .
Roxborough State Park is a gorgeous spot with jutting red rocks marking the scenery .
Try the Fountain Valley Trail which gives you a 2.5-mile loop with benches , a historic home and rock formations .
While not officially ADA accessible , strollers and wheelchairs are permitted on this trail .
The visitor center at the trailhead has restrooms .
Sign up for a state park pass or be prepared to pay the $ 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a mix of trails , history , and a unique Track-Chair program by reservation .
The Track-Chair program is a way for people living with disabilities to explore the park in a large and comfortable seat that can move over rocks and tree roots on the trails .
Many of the trails here can be combined , and be aware that some trail segments on the website are only accessible after hiking in from another trail .
I recommend either the Davis Ponds loop of 2.3 miles or taking the Staunton Ranch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loop at the Historic Cabins Trail for a total 2.5-mile hike .
There is so much to learn about on this hike in one of Colorado ’ s newer state parks .
Sign up for state park pass or be prepared to pay the $ 9 daily entrance fee .
If you ’ re in Denver and driving to the mountains isn ’ t an option , explore the Sand Creek Greenway and select one of the stops without doing the whole 14 miles of paved pathways .
Try the Bluff Lake Nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the namesake lake for a mix of urban and natural history on how this spot came to be what it is today .
For those who can not navigate the steps or a steep gravel ramp , there are places to sit and take in the view of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the west on a clear day .
There is no fee to walk here .
The Waterton Canyon Recreation Area lets hikers choose their distance since it ’ s basically just a dirt road alongside the South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is no traffic on this road ; it ’ s used for limited access by Denver Water only .
Near the trailhead there is a wheelchair-accessible spot for fishing in the river and here and there along the trail/road there are picnic tables and restrooms .
There are no dogs allowed here , though , because of the bighorn sheep herd that you are likely to see in the hillsides above you , or even on the road as they come down for a drink of water .
There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trail at Garden of the Gods Garden of the Gods is no secret hike , but sometimes those of us who live here might forget how spectacular it can be — and just how accessible it is .
Some of the trails are paved sidewalks , making it easy to walk around and stare up at the rock formations , getting those Instagram-worthy shots .
There are guided tours available for $ 5 per person , but otherwise , it ’ s free to hike here .
Start with the 1.5-mile Perkins Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skies and red rocks , then check in at the visitor center for other trail conditions , as some can be steep in spots even if short in distance .
Another gem nearby for exploring is the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site , on the south side of the Garden of the Gods .
Just off Highway 93 between Golden and Boulder is the Flatirons Vista Trail , with pretty great views of , yes , the flatirons , but also the peaks of the Rocky Mountains and Eldorado Canyon State Park just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loop that at times weaves through ponderosa pine trees is not designated ADA accessible but can be used by people who are in wheelchairs .
There is a $ 5 fee to hike here , so bring exact cash or pay online in advance for the annual permit .
Wherever you are hiking , make sure to follow all trail rules , which are generally posted at the trailhead .
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter , The Adventurist , to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox .

Even with wildfires and the change of season, hiking is still on for those interested in some quality outdoor time. Whether you’re hiking solo or with family to burn off your Thanksgiving food coma, there are trails for every ability and interest on the Front Range in every season.
A few things to factor in when hiking at this time of year:
There might be snow and ice on the trail, even if the weather is warm and sunny where you live. Invest in a pair of microspikes, such as Kahtoola, which can be strapped onto shoes to minimize the risk of a slip and fall during your hike.
Check trail conditions before leaving the house to find out if a trail is closed or if you need additional gear. Trails may be closed because of wildfire damage, mud, wildlife activity or for other reasons. Social media accounts and websites for various land managers should be updated for hikers.
Sunscreen — if not a hat to block the sun — will still be needed on most days out on the trail since Colorado gets so many sunny days a year, even when it’s chilly out.
Also note: Although the state’s newest COVID-19 regulations do not prevent anyone from traveling to the mountains to hike, take precautions (masks, etc.) and check the rules in the county to which you are heading.
Now that you’re prepared, it’s time to explore some flatter trails with plenty of spots for a rest. When considering hiking options for the whole family, you’ll want to beef up on scenery and scale back on elevation gain and miles so that little kids or others with physical constraints can enjoy the experience too.
Fountain Valley Trail at Roxborough State Park
Roxborough State Park is a gorgeous spot with jutting red rocks marking the scenery. Try the Fountain Valley Trail which gives you a 2.5-mile loop with benches, a historic home and rock formations. While not officially ADA accessible, strollers and wheelchairs are permitted on this trail. The visitor center at the trailhead has restrooms. Sign up for a state park pass or be prepared to pay the $9 daily entrance fee.
Davis Ponds and Historic Cabins Trail at Staunton State Park
Staunton State Park has a mix of trails, history, and a unique Track-Chair program by reservation. The Track-Chair program is a way for people living with disabilities to explore the park in a large and comfortable seat that can move over rocks and tree roots on the trails. Many of the trails here can be combined, and be aware that some trail segments on the website are only accessible after hiking in from another trail. I recommend either the Davis Ponds loop of 2.3 miles or taking the Staunton Ranch Trail for 1.8 miles to the .7-mile loop at the Historic Cabins Trail for a total 2.5-mile hike. There is so much to learn about on this hike in one of Colorado’s newer state parks. Sign up for state park pass or be prepared to pay the $9 daily entrance fee.
Sand Creek Greenway
If you’re in Denver and driving to the mountains isn’t an option, explore the Sand Creek Greenway and select one of the stops without doing the whole 14 miles of paved pathways. Try the Bluff Lake Nature Center for a little 1-mile loop around the namesake lake for a mix of urban and natural history on how this spot came to be what it is today. For those who cannot navigate the steps or a steep gravel ramp, there are places to sit and take in the view of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the west on a clear day. There is no fee to walk here.
Waterton Canyon Recreation Area
The Waterton Canyon Recreation Area lets hikers choose their distance since it’s basically just a dirt road alongside the South Platte River. Don’t worry, there is no traffic on this road; it’s used for limited access by Denver Water only. Near the trailhead there is a wheelchair-accessible spot for fishing in the river and here and there along the trail/road there are picnic tables and restrooms. There are no dogs allowed here, though, because of the bighorn sheep herd that you are likely to see in the hillsides above you, or even on the road as they come down for a drink of water. There is no fee to hike here.
Central Garden Trail at Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is no secret hike, but sometimes those of us who live here might forget how spectacular it can be — and just how accessible it is. Some of the trails are paved sidewalks, making it easy to walk around and stare up at the rock formations, getting those Instagram-worthy shots. There are guided tours available for $5 per person, but otherwise, it’s free to hike here. Start with the 1.5-mile Perkins Central Garden Trail to soak up the blue skies and red rocks, then check in at the visitor center for other trail conditions, as some can be steep in spots even if short in distance. Another gem nearby for exploring is the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, on the south side of the Garden of the Gods.
Flatirons Vista Trail
Just off Highway 93 between Golden and Boulder is the Flatirons Vista Trail, with pretty great views of, yes, the flatirons, but also the peaks of the Rocky Mountains and Eldorado Canyon State Park just a few miles west. This 3.5-mile loop that at times weaves through ponderosa pine trees is not designated ADA accessible but can be used by people who are in wheelchairs. There is a $5 fee to hike here, so bring exact cash or pay online in advance for the annual permit.
Wherever you are hiking, make sure to follow all trail rules, which are generally posted at the trailhead.
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.