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MESA sees increase in hotline calls, wants to…
Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA)
MESA, founded in 1972, provides support and services to survivors of sexual violence, including emotional support, support groups, hospital accompaniment, legal advocacy and case management services, plus gives referrals to other resources from mental health providers to essential supports like housing and food.
By Shelley Widhalm |
Though the year isn’t over, Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) has had more calls to its 24/7 hotline than in its history.
MESA, a sexual violence resource center serving Boulder County, handled 1,879 hotline calls and text line messages through November, compared to 1,458 calls and texts in 2021, the highest year on record.
“It’s too many people needing our services,” said Janine D’Anniballe, a licensed psychologist with a doctorate in counseling psychology and the director of MESA, a program of Mental Health Partners based in Lafayette. “Is it because there’s more sexual violence or because people are reaching out for help, that’s the question.”
“We want to make sure no one has to go through sexual trauma alone,” D’Anniballe said.
The nonprofit was founded when two young girls walking home from a party were lured into a van, taken into the mountains west of Boulder and sexually assaulted with one surviving — a group of volunteers got together and said this can’t happen again in Boulder. The volunteers initially called their group HARM, Humans Against Rape and Molestation, becoming the Boulder County Rape Crisis Team two years later.
D’Anniballe changed the name in 1999 when she became the director.
“I changed it to Moving to End Sexual Assault because it more accurately expressed what we did in terms of the prevention work as well,” D’Anniballe said.
MESA’s mission is to support survivors of sexual violence, to offer victim advocacy and to provide prevention education to help reduce the prevalence and incidence of sexual violence, such as in schools, community groups and professional groups and through outreach at community events.
“There has been a ground swell of community education to understand what sexual violence is,” D’Anniballe said. “We’re taking active steps to change it, but I wish we had more resources to do that work.”
MESA, which has one prevention educator for all of Boulder County, was able to serve more than 7,000 people with prevention programming in 2022, D’Anniballe said.
“It’s a societal problem,” D’Anniballe said. “It’s not an individual mental health problem. It’s rooted in rape culture. It stems from a societal problem we have the ability to change and correct.”
The rape culture, normalization, minimization and victim-blaming (“it’s not a big deal,” “just get over it”) allows the crime and behavior of sexual violence to continue, D’Anniballe said.
“We’re all part of that,” D’Anniballe said. “We’ve all endorsed parts of rape culture at different points in different ways and at different times. We all need to get better.”
According to the research, one in four women and one in six men will experience sexual assault sometime in their lifetime. The #metoo movement in 2016 provided awareness about sexual assault and violence but didn’t solve the problem.
“We still have a ton of work to do to eradicate sexual violence from our culture,” D’Anniballe said. “I want people to know that it’s still an issue and pervasive in our county. MESA is doing our best to lead (that effort), but we need everybody’s help, whether that’s through donations, to volunteer or to subscribe to our newsletter to follow us and know what’s going on. That’s a way to support our mission.”
MESA is funded by local and federal grants, donations and fundraising. To donate or to sign up for MESA’s newsletter, visit movingtoendsexualassault.org.
“We always need more volunteers,” D’Anniballe said, adding that MESA is a team of 8 and more than 30 active volunteers help the staff.
“We are always training new volunteers. They are really crucial to our service delivery.”
A Program of Mental Health Partners
1455 Dixon Ave., Lafayette, CO 80026
movingtoendsexualassault.org | 2022-12-06T19:51:22Z | www.dailycamera.com | MESA sees increase in hotline calls, wants to end sexual violence – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/04/mesa-sees-increase-in-hotline-calls-wants-to-end-sexual-violence/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/04/mesa-sees-increase-in-hotline-calls-wants-to-end-sexual-violence/ |
This Holiday Season, ‘Peace and Justice’…
Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center celebrates 40 years of progressive change
Diffuse Nuclear War rally- A group of activists from RMPJC gathered in October of this year outside Rep. Joe Neguse’s office to support the prioritization of the climate crisis and to protest the use of nuclear weapons.
Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center
RMPJC Staff- The RMPJC staff tie dyed shirts for theEnvision Connection Art Show.
In an era when peace may feel ever more distant, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center of Boulder offers a message of hope grounded in the nonprofit’s forty-year history: Just as the center’s first nonviolent actions precipitated the closure of the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant and the exposure of the plant’s environmental violations, today positive change can triumph through the enthusiasm and persistence of neighbors who care.
Drawing on the nonprofit’s early years, RMPJC administrator Claire O’Brien explained, “Rooted in the spirit of unconditional nonviolence, the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center is dedicated to radically progressive personal and social change.” RMPJC is “a multi-issue organization that works to restore and protect earth and human rights,” she said. “We educate, organize, act and build community in order to create a culture of justice and peace.
As RMPJC looks to celebrate the center’s fortieth anniversary in the coming year, O’Brien and her team are spearheading a multi-pronged campaign focusing on climate change, in addition to the center’s lasting commitments to the termination of nuclear warfare and ongoing advocacy at Rocky Flats. O’Brien said, “While the plant has been closed for decades, the contamination and injustice at the site continues to this day. We continue to raise awareness to this health and environmental concern because it is essential that people understand the risk that is associated with living and recreating on that land.”
Many of the center’s original activists, now in their 70s, remain involved. “Back when it all started, the founders had studied the nonviolent actions of Gandhi and were determined to lead through nonviolent activism,” O’Brien recalled. At least one of the founders engaged in hunger strikes, and in 1983, after months of planning, RMPJC’s founding members coordinated a gathering at Rocky Flats of 17,000 people, who, grasping hands, encircled the nuclear weapons plant’s perimeter. The dramatic action brought national attention to the plant, which had been producing plutonium pits for nuclear warheads since the 1950s, and the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant was shuttered in 1989 after the FBI unearthed evidence of significant environmental violations.
With that victory, RMPJC, dubbed “the Peace Center,” was born. “After the success of the encirclement, the core group of activists wanted to create a hub for organizing and community in Boulder,” O’Brien said. The center’s commitment to the termination of nuclear warfare has never wavered, with one of their current campaigns promoting the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty makes the use of nuclear weapons illegal for signatory states, and 91 countries, not including the United States, have agreed to the terms to date. Acting independently of the U.S. federal government, some American state and municipal governments, including the cities of Denver and Longmont, have passed resolutions or proclamations in support of the prohibition; RMPJC aims to persuade more city councils to join the list of signatories in 2023. “We hope that by increasing internal pressure, we can urge the United States federal government to seriously consider a future free of the looming threat of nuclear war,” O’Brien said.
The Peace Center does not limit its efforts to nuclear warfare and environmental change. For decades RMPJC has been hosting nonviolent direct-action trainings, which teach people “how to engage their constitutional right to protest and how to stay safe while doing it,” O’Brien said. The trainings equip those in a protest, or action, with skills to de-escalate themselves or others in a high-pressure situation, how to use art to portray a message and how to organize community members around a shared goal. Training classes last two to three hours and are held in-person or online. “We’ve engaged with non-violent direct actions and trainings since the 1980s and it has only become more and more important,” she added.
Recent actions have also included RMPJC’s Uinta Basin Railway campaign to bring awareness to the forecasted destruction of habitat. “These are fundamentally peaceful protests,” O’Brien noted. “In a world with a lot of intensity, it means a lot to be able to hold true to our values of nonviolence and personal responsibility.”
She continued, “Now more than ever, in the wake of such a tumultuous few years, building community and holding space for people to gather and connect with one another is essential to a healthy community. Recognizing our common humanity and coming together to advocate for one another and our common goals is incredibly important for the better and more just future we want to create.”
The RMPJC group at the Envision Connection Art Show.
To that end, RMPJC’s global peace collective and economic justice collective meet bi-weekly to discuss their respective issues. “These groups are a really good way to be able to take larger scale issues and understand them and their relevance to Boulder and our community,” O’Brien said.
Likewise, to unite the community around peace and justice in a tangible way, RMPJC hosted the “Envision Connection” art show this fall to showcase “artists who shared their visions for a better world through artwork,” she said. “It was an incredible event that truly encapsulated our common goals and struggles.”
As RMPJC celebrates its fortieth anniversary in 2023, the nonprofit is “hoping to build on the momentum of Denver and Longmont’s proclamations supporting the (United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons) by extending this campaign to more municipal governments in Colorado” and to extend RMPJC’s climate change advocacy. “(Forty years) is a major milestone for a small, grassroots organization like ours,” O’Brien said. “We can confidently say that we would not be where we are today without the support and the passion of the Boulder community.”
Indeed, it’s the strong community ties that have helped the RMPJC flourish. “With such a rich and longstanding history of activism in the Boulder community, the Peace Center brings together multiple generations of activists to create a better world for generations to come,” O’Brien said. “To see people show up in solidarity and to feel connected to one another is really what it is all about. We will only be able to usher in a better future if we work together and to get to experience that collaboration is a beautiful thing.”
To support the nonprofit or subscribe to RMPJC’s newsletter to learn more about the center and how to participate in an action campaign, visit rmpjc.org.
Contact Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center by calling 303.444.6981 or going online to rmpjc.org. | 2022-12-06T19:51:28Z | www.dailycamera.com | This Holiday Season, ‘Peace and Justice’ for All – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/04/this-holiday-season-peace-and-justice-for-all/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/04/this-holiday-season-peace-and-justice-for-all/ |
Coal Creek Meals on Wheels: Serving More Than a…
Coal Creek Meals on Wheels
(Photo: Coal Creek Meals on Wheels).
The Coal Creek Meals on Wheels nonprofit has changed dramatically since a group of dedicated volunteers and an idealistic board of directors launched the group in 1972.
Not only has the area that the organization serves grown and transformed, but the needs of its recipients have shifted and evolved. The broad community in a swath of northern Colorado that includes Lafayette, Louisville, Superior and Erie has changed since the early 1970s, and so have their needs when it comes to sustenance, outreach and basic services.
No one knows about those changes better than Lark Rambo, who signed on as Executive Director of the Coal Creek Meals on Wheels program in August of 2019. Rambo led the CCMOW nonprofit through a historic set of circumstances, a global pandemic that shifted the metrics of the organization’s mission. Many in the community had long depended on the nonprofit for daily, nutritious meals and other support services, but COVID-19 suddenly increased the need for those services exponentially.
Rambo and her dedicated staff met those needs.
“We had to change everything, but honestly, a lot of those changes were for the better. Hopefully, they’ll stick around,” Rambo said. “It’s been so rewarding, and such a desperately needed service for so many in these challenging times.”
Some of those changes had to do with staying true to the mission that’s clear in the organization’s namesake: feeding those who need basic, nutritious sustenance. Another part of the operation, however, boils down to a more profound kind of support, one that allows seniors and those with limited faculties to stay in their homes.
In their work across the community, CCMOW volunteers and staff stay true to this mission, whether it’s through door-to-door visits or at their on-site program called the Coal Creek Café. During regular hours Monday to Friday, seniors have the opportunity to dine at the nonprofit’s home base in Lafayette, a service that provides food as well as social interaction.
Both of these approaches are critical to the nonprofit’s mission, one that stayed clear during the worst of the pandemic, just as it has for 50 years.
455 N. Burlington Ave.,Lafayette, CO 80026
303.665.0566 | coalcreekmow.org
Donate to Coal Creek Meals on Wheels this Colorado Gives Day: www.coloradogives.org/donate/coalcreekmow | 2022-12-06T22:18:34Z | www.dailycamera.com | Coal Creek Meals on Wheels: Serving More Than a Meal Since 1972 – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/02/coal-creek-meals-on-wheels-serving-more-than-a-meal-since-1972/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/02/coal-creek-meals-on-wheels-serving-more-than-a-meal-since-1972/ |
Broomfield City Council votes to opt out of…
In a 7-1 vote, the Broomfield City Council voted to opt out of Colorado’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program.
FAMLI is a social insurance program that provides covered employees with 12 weeks of paid leave from work for certain qualifying reasons, such as care for a new child, care for themselves or a family member with a serious health condition, making arrangements for a family member’s military deployment, or to address immediate safety needs and the impact of domestic violence for themselves or a family member, according to the resolution memo. The program only provides partial income replacement.
The program is set to go into effect Jan. 1, but it gives local governments the choice to opt out because it affects those employees differently than private businesses.
“The Act provides local governments the option to choose whether participation is right for their employees and their organization as participation will have a substantial impact on the governmental entity’s budget, operations and employee relations. Employees of these local governments can decide to participate individually in FAMLI,” the memo states.
Because it is a new program, and program rules have not been fully established, local governments can choose to evaluate the program before choosing to participate.
If the city did not opt out before the start of 2023, it would have to wait three years before declining participation, but since the city decided to opt out, they now have to choose to opt in during any future year. The resolution included a recommendation for the Council to revisit the program next year and reevaluate participation.
Councilmember James Marsh-Holschen was not in favor of the resolution and offered an amendment that failed at Tuesday night’s meeting.
“This is a benefit statewide for the lower-income individuals who really need it, and it’s funded in this manner because that’s the way the state figured out how to fund it,” Marsh-Holschen said. “It’s not an individual benefit in my opinion, and for that reason, I don’t think we should opt out.”
Marsh-Holschen’s amendment asked that CCOB establish a benefit for employees to begin Jan. 1, 2024, that would allow for eight weeks of paid family leave and medical leave, with 100% of their pay, for absences of a covered individual caused by an eligible condition or requirement.
This amendment ultimately failed in a 2-6 vote due to other councilmembers being wary of the unknown financial impacts that the amendment would have.
“I agree with just about everything Councilmember Marsh-Holschen said; I think it is a benefit that our employees should have,” Councilmember William Lindstedt said. “I don’t think I can vote to make it a mandate right now when we don’t know the numbers. I think our employees need to be able to weigh in, and I think we need to have all that information ahead of a requirement, even though I agree with the intention of this amendment.”
Marsh-Holschen was the only member of the Council to vote “no” on the resolution. | 2022-12-07T05:55:46Z | www.dailycamera.com | Broomfield City Council votes to opt out of FAMLI insurance program | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/06/broomfield-city-council-votes-to-opt-out-of-famli-insurance-program/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/06/broomfield-city-council-votes-to-opt-out-of-famli-insurance-program/ |
PLAY Boulder Foundation
(Photo: PLAY Boulder Foundation)
Founded in 1976, the PLAY Boulder Foundation is the official non-profit partner of the Boulder Parks & Recreation Department. Its mission is to create equitable access to recreation, to care for and expand our urban tree canopy, and to enhance local public spaces.
PLAY’s Community Impact
PLAY Boulder’s mission is divided into three pillars: Access, Environmental Sustainability, and Placemaking. The Foundation supports many community programs within these pillars, including the following:
The Tree Trust mobilizes community partnerships and citizen action to support trees in Boulder and to promote a long-term, healthy urban canopy. In the face of climate change, a prosperous urban canopy is one of the best tools to combat rising temperatures and the negative impacts they have on the community’s physical health. In July, NOAA conducted a study to measure the temperature in various parts of town, and the results showed that Boulder experiences some of the most extensive heat extremes of any community studied. At one point in the day, there was a 17-degree difference between the coolest and warmest areas in Boulder. Heat kills more people each year than all other natural disasters combined, meaning that the expansion of green, cooling areas can literally save lives. Through the Tree Trust, PLAY Boulder is striving to expand the urban canopy, specifically in under-resourced areas to address environmental equity and protect community members from the sweltering temperatures of summers to come. With a donation to PLAY Boulder, you can support the Foundation in its plans to expand the Tree Trust in 2023!
The PLAYpass program awards non-cash vouchers to eligible families experiencing financial hardships to be used towards the registration cost of youth sports and recreation programs. The program strives to reduce barriers to fee-based recreation opportunities, so that all Boulder youth have the ability to live healthy, active lifestyles. Dr. Peter Gray, a researcher studying the life-long value of play, champions the importance of recreation in childhood development. His research has shown that unstructured recreational time teaches children valuable skills, including problem-solving, social cues, bravery, and independence. In concurrence with Dr. Gray’s findings, PLAY Boulder advocates for kids’ access to recreation to maintain their physical and mental health. In the new year, the PLAYpass program’s reach will be expanded to serve more participants and continue its efforts to bridge the health equity gap in Boulder. The number of kids who need access exceeds PLAY’s current funding – by donating to PLAY on Colorado Gives Day, you can directly support the funding of more vouchers so everyone can play!
Through PLAY’s Placemaking pillar and its partnership with BPR, the Foundation stewards the expansion and maintenance of green spaces around Boulder. PLAY has previously supported renovations at Scott Carpenter Pool and the Boulder Reservoir, and will supply aid for the renovation of North Boulder Park in 2023. PLAY Boulder whole-heartedly believes in the intrinsic value of staying active and spending time outdoors, and is proud to take part in projects that enhance parks and recreation facilities for the whole community to enjoy.
A donation to PLAY Boulder on Colorado Gives Day, Dec. 6, supports PLAY’s mission and programs. Every dollar donated goes straight back to the community through the creation of equitable access to recreation, the expansion of the urban canopy, and continued placemaking efforts to better Boulder’s beloved communal areas.
#PLAYitForward today by visiting: coloradogives.org/organization/playboulder.
The PLAY Boulder Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. | 2022-12-07T11:58:44Z | www.dailycamera.com | Schedule a Gift to PLAY on Colorado Gives Day! – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/11/29/schedule-a-gift-to-play-on-colorado-gives-day/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/11/29/schedule-a-gift-to-play-on-colorado-gives-day/ |
Guest opinion: Jim Davies: Constitutional error…
By Jim Davies
I know that a gun is only a tool, an inanimate object. I also know that the gun was invented to extend and lengthen the reach of an arm and fist. It was invented to extend the reach of a club, a dagger, a saber, a lance and an arrow. It was invented solely for the purpose of hurling an object through the air to rip through flesh and bone, the target being fowl or beast or human. There is no other use for the tool, so don’t be surprised when it is used for its purpose.
This is not what America has become; it always was. The gun has played a prominent part in our history. To think that we can change our future now is ridiculous. We have not just let the cow out of the barn; we have let the whole damn herd flee the ranch never to return. We have no solution. Instead of learning from our past, we have chosen to continue this path. The interpretation of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has paved this path. Those 27 cursed words get more asinine, more vulgar and uglier with every bullet that is fired into an innocent being.
The Second Amendment is viewed by some as what gives meaning to our guarantee of freedom. Ironically it has done just the opposite. Mass murder has become commonplace. We no longer have any guarantee of life and liberty. It has been taken away from us in our classrooms; it’s been removed from our place of employment, our movie theaters and other entertainment venues. Your place of worship is no longer exempt. Grocery stores and malls have been stained with blood. A parade on Main Street America becomes a shooting gallery. Soon the carnage will be seen at a sports venue near you. It will happen in a school bus, in a polling place at a senior center, at a city council meeting and a daycare. It will happen at the State House and the halls of Congress. It is inevitable.
We didn’t stop it when first graders were slaughtered. We didn’t stop it with 50 dead and 850 wounded in Los Vegas, so why would we pay attention to 22 dead and 44 wounded last week? The resistance to any meaningful regulation of the Second Amendment is jeopardizing the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is not what the framers of our Constitution intended, and it’s their fault. What would they say today? | 2022-12-07T14:03:06Z | www.dailycamera.com | Guest opinion: Jim Davies: Constitutional error has sealed our fate | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/07/guest-opinion-jim-davies-constitutional-error-has-sealed-our-fate/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/07/guest-opinion-jim-davies-constitutional-error-has-sealed-our-fate/ |
Exhibition by former employee to be featured at…
An eclectic collection by eccentric character and former Boulder library employee Joel Haertling will be on display at the Boulder Public Library’s Canyon Gallery & Theater starting this week.
Haertling and curator for the exhibition “To Have and To Hoard,” Andrew Novick, will attend the exhibition’s opening at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Canyon Gallery & Theater. The event will be followed with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m., according to a news release from the city.
Haertling grew up in Boulder and worked for the Boulder Public Library for more than 30 years, the release said.
Novick is based out of Denver, and specializes in creating experiences, including a recent takeover of the Lakeside Amusement Park for a Denver film fundraiser. He has also created several experiential events and installations, including work at Meow Wolf Denver. | 2022-12-08T00:44:26Z | www.dailycamera.com | Exhibition by former employee to be featured at Boulder library | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/07/exhibition-by-former-employee-to-be-featured-at-boulder-library/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/07/exhibition-by-former-employee-to-be-featured-at-boulder-library/ |
Dozens of people attended a CU Divest from fossil fuels protest on the CU campus Friday, which coincided with the United Nations Human Rights Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit at the University of Colorado Boulder, this week. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
Climate change isn’t merely a phenomenon that disrupts our physical world; it’s a problem with broad human impacts that often most negatively affects those who bear the least responsibility for its causes.
Governments, powerful institutions and corporations around the world are hesitant to make the link between human rights and climate change, said Center for International Environmental Law president emeritus Dan Magraw, which is why he and fellow advocates are gathered in Boulder this week at the University of Colorado for the United Nations’ Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit.
Astrid Puentes Riaño, a Colombian attorney and board member of International Rivers, pointed to the Central American nation of Honduras as an example of the intersectionality of climate and human rights. Climate change brings fires, causing crop loss, which results in a reliance on the underground drug economy, which funds corrupt and authoritarian government regimes, which cause residents to flee, resulting in migrant caravans headed toward the United States.
This article was first published by BizWest, an independent news organization, and is published under a license agreement. © 2022 BizWest Media LLC. You can view the original here: UN Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit: Climate change and human rights | 2022-12-08T00:44:50Z | www.dailycamera.com | UN Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit: Climate change and human rights | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/07/un-right-here-right-now-global-climate-summit-climate-change-and-human-rights-2/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/07/un-right-here-right-now-global-climate-summit-climate-change-and-human-rights-2/ |
Haul Out the Jolly with the Denver Gay Men’s…
Michael Chimento
DGMC singers getting in the spirit for Haul Out the Jolly during a weekend retreat in October.
Mark your calendars! This December 9 and 11, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus presents Haul Out the Jolly, a concert performance brimming with festivity, gaiety, and cheer.
Haul Out the Jolly will feature a varied repertoire, including classics such as Bach’s Jauchzet frohlocket and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” (featuring the Grand Organ). Pop selections include “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy,” as made famous by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, and “The Chanukah Song (We Are Lights),” by Stephen Schwartz. Also performed will be a gospel rendition of “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” a new arrangement of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and new lyrics to Broadway’s “Big Spender” from the musical Sweet Charity entitled “Big Santa.” And, as usual, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus’s costumes, choreography, and killer band will round out the holiday camp that audiences have come to love and adore.
Since its establishment in 1982, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus has been an LGBTQ catalyst for change through musical excellence. This 140-member group is currently regarded as the leading LGBT performing arts company in the Rocky Mountain region after performing more than 300 concerts throughout its 41-year existence.
As part of the Rocky Mountain Arts Association, the DGMC’s reimagined choir concerts entertain, educate, inspire, and empower audiences to promote acceptance and tolerance throughout the greater Denver area and Colorado’s Front Range towns with its varied and socially conscious programming.
Rocky Mountain Arts Association is Colorado’s oldest and largest LGBTQ arts organization. As one of Colorado’s leading performing arts organizations, RMAA conducts five subscription concert series year and participates in many free community outreach activities that benefit non-profits, advocacy groups, and commercial organizations. It also offers educational programming.
Haul Out the Jolly Information:
• December 9, 8 p.m. – Boulder’s First United Methodist Church, Boulder, CO
• December 11, 3 p.m. – St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Highlands Ranch, CO
Tickets are available now at denverchoruses.org and at the door. General admission ticket prices start at $30.
Learn more about DGMC online (denverchoruses.org) and on Facebook (facebook.com/DenverGayMensChorus) | 2022-12-08T09:46:22Z | www.dailycamera.com | Haul Out the Jolly with the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/haul-out-the-jolly-with-the-denver-gay-mens-chorus/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/haul-out-the-jolly-with-the-denver-gay-mens-chorus/ |
Guest opinion: Rev. Nicole Lamarche and Rev….
By Rev. Nicole Lamarche and Rev. Jackie Hibbard
For many religious traditions, the creation stories found in the Book of Genesis are not only sacred, but they are also rich and revealing, filled with truths that are timeless. We read that “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day…”
And so begins this epic, where when given a name, a part of the Universe comes to life and, right from the start, the story shows the power of words and their capacity to quite literally invite into existence what wasn’t there before. In a time when so much of our world seems to be in a moment of remaking and reshaping, what if we must more fully claim the power of our words? What if they can build worlds we want and ones we don’t?
The gun violence massacre at Club Q in Colorado Springs on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance that left five people dead is connected in some way, whether we acknowledge it or not, to the words shared over these weeks and months by politicians and religious leaders alike. These words have made our friends and neighbors seem not just different, but less than human and undeserving of equal treatment under the law and in our shared life together, creating the sense of an “us” and a “them,” instilling fear and anxiety, directly targeting the LGBTQIA2+ community.
Early last month the Denver Archdiocese released some updated guidance for all of its Catholic Schools, demanding that they not re-enroll or allow new enrollment of transgender or gender non-conforming students. They were instructed to treat these students and their parents differently in a document entitled “Guidance for Issues Concerning the Human Person and Sexual Identity.” Many of us were troubled by this and Mardi Moore, the Executive Director of Out Boulder County, put out a video strongly condemning the Denver Archbishops’ guidance. Mardi pointed out that such policies and language increases division and she warned that it endangers members of our community. And not even weeks later, the massacre at Club Q.
What if our words are more powerful than we imagine? And what if we can claim that power and end some of these wars from words? What if we can put out some of these fires of rage fueled by hate by offering words of affirmation with compassion?
We have seen an increase in dehumanizing language from members of school boards and local and nationally elected officials and we know that speech of that kind creates worlds of mistrust and hate — worlds of wounds. As part of our faith, we affirm the dignity and worth of LGBTQIA2+ people and all people. We believe each person is a unique expression of the Divine, that we all belong and that each of us can shine as we are. We join faith leaders in the Pikes Peak Region and around the country in urging an end to hate speech against LGBTQIA2+ people and communities.
Let us stop using words as weapons and instead use them as the creative agents that they are. May our words build a world filled with love, hope, and peace so that all people and beings can thrive. Let there be light!
Rev. Nicole Lamarche is a pastor at Community United Church of Christ in Boulder. Rev. Jackie Hibbard is an associate pastor at Community United Church of Christ. | 2022-12-08T13:07:46Z | www.dailycamera.com | Guest opinion: Rev. Nicole Lamarche and Rev. Jackie Hibbard: May our words build a world of love, hope and peace | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/guest-opinion-rev-nicole-lamarche-and-rev-jackie-hibbard-may-our-words-build-a-world-of-love-hope-and-peace/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/guest-opinion-rev-nicole-lamarche-and-rev-jackie-hibbard-may-our-words-build-a-world-of-love-hope-and-peace/ |
Letters to the editor: With Sanders, I fear ‘we…
Michael Birdsong: Buffs: With Sanders, I fear ‘we ain’t seen nothing yet’
I read the Daily Camera story covering the press conference introducing Deion Sanders as the latest University of Colorado-Boulder football coach with a bit of confusion and a great deal of dread.
It was my impression that the CU football players he was addressing are STUDENT-athletes; and that The university has an obligation to fund their educations in exchange for their hard work and sacrifice in representing CU on the athletic field. Last I checked, a college head football coach in such a situation was not supposed to be acting like a manager of a minor league professional team in threatening the players with their academic careers and very futures.
Two other thoughts also came to mind as I read the story.
1) “Jane and Tarzan” comment by Sanders was totally ignorant and sexist.
2) I am reminded of the scandal-filled eras in CU football program history with head coaches McCartney, Barnett and MacIntyre; and I fear “we ain’t seen nothing yet” as Deion Sanders takes over the program.
Michael Birdsong, Boulder
Kate Encelewski: Dance: Reduce focus on dancers’ bodies to promote health
Dance provides a good source of exercise, socialization and personal expression, all of which are very appealing to kids. However, as someone who has danced for over ten years, I have personally witnessed the harmful effects eating disorders have on dancers. The National Institute of Mental Health defines eating disorders as “serious and often fatal illnesses that are associated with severe disturbances in people’s eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions.” Dance has a disproportionally high amount of eating disorders due to factors that promote poor body image. One major factor includes the constant use of mirrors. Mirrors allow dancers to hyperfocus on their bodies and increase negative thoughts about themselves. Not only are dancers looking at themselves in the mirror they are also looking at their classmates. This leads to competition and comparisons between their fellow dancers that can contribute to feelings of inadequacy.
One possible way to help reduce eating disorders in dance is to limit the amount of time that mirrors are used. Diminishing that amount of time per practice could increase positive feelings about one’s body. Additionally, there are benefits to not using mirrors as it builds dancers’ muscle memory and kinesthetic sense. Reducing the amount of time spent in the mirror or even having classes without mirrors can shift dancers’ focus away from how their bodies look and more on how their bodies feel. Solutions to limit factors in the development of eating disorders need to be put in place on every level in the local Colorado area. From family-owned studios in Boulder to the collegiate dance team at the University of Colorado, to the Professional Colorado Ballet, eating disorder prevention should be present.
Kate Encelewski, Boulder
Ethan Stevanus: NCAA: Association needs to prioritize mental health
Every year a new batch of young student-athletes realize the immense toll that collegiate athletics take on one’s mental health. This is due to the immense stress caused by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the NCAA’s broken system. The NCAA consistently fails at providing their student-athletes with the resources they need to help their student-athletes keep a sound mind and body.
One of the main ways the NCAA is failing its athletes is through the hiring process. Several people in authority positions hired by universities under the NCAA have, in my opinion, sacrificed the mental health of athletes for their own malicious intentions. Larry Nassar, a physician at Michigan State University, sexually assaulted over two hundred students and athletes leaving them traumatized. With a more rigorous and thorough background check, this tragedy could have potentially been prevented. This process would ensure that the coaches and trainers would have the players’ best interest at heart and that they are not sacrificing the mental health of their athletes for selfish or malicious reasons.
In addition to this new hiring process, the NCAA needs to instate some form of training for coaching staff at universities to teach them effective ways to address issues of mental health and give athletes the support they need if tragedies like the Nassar case happen again. Coaches have some of the most influence over student-athletes and how they wield that influence is crucial to the mental health and safety of these student-athletes.
The NCAA must take responsibility for its past. The only way this happens is if the public holds them accountable. By discussing the NCAA’s failures more openly, the NCAA will have no choice but to start caring about the well-being of athletes instead of treating their internal struggles as inconveniences and liabilities.
Ethan Stevanus, Torrance, California | 2022-12-08T13:07:52Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: With Sanders, I fear 'we ain't seen nothing yet'; reduce focus on bodies; prioritize mental health | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/letters-to-the-editor-with-sanders-i-fear-we-aint-seen-nothing-yet-reduce-focus-on-bodies-prioritize-mental-health/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/letters-to-the-editor-with-sanders-i-fear-we-aint-seen-nothing-yet-reduce-focus-on-bodies-prioritize-mental-health/ |
Girls cross country: Boulder’s Vaughn tabbed…
BOULDER, CO – DECEMBER 2:From left: Parents Brent Vaughn and Sara Vaughn and Boulder’s Kiki Vaughn pose for a portrait at their home in Boulder on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
Kiki Vaughn’s running chops coarse through her veins. She finally saw the fruition of those genetics and hard work during her junior season with Boulder.
After making the switch from dance to cross country — much to the thrill of her Boulder High coach, Geo Tam — Vaughn began to chart her own course on a path that her parents know all too well. She vaulted herself onto the high school scene with a second-place finish at the Washington Park Invitational at the beginning of her season, the first of five top-three finishes.
That opening time of 18 minutes, 43 seconds soon dropped to her personal best of 17:59 at the Front Range League Championships, where she placed third in a tough field. At the Class 5A state meet in October, she placed 12th overall and clocked in at 18:38.10 on the unforgiving Norris Penrose Event Center course.
“I was kind of sick. That second mile was really rough,” Vaughn recalled. “I started not being able to breathe, because I was so congested but it was still really fun. The hills in the second mile and not being able to breathe, I think, impacted it a lot. And then, like a half mile to go, I was like, ‘I have too much in me.’ So I tried to move up a lot.”
She passed 10 runners before she crossed the finish line.
Boulder High School’s Kiki Vaughn approaches the finish line during the Class 5A girls regional cross country meet at Northwest Open Space Park in Northglenn on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
Her dominant season and performance in the finals earned Vaughn the Daily Camera runner of the year, much to the pride of her parents Sara and Brent, who have made a name for themselves in the sport since their collegiate days at CU under legendary head coach Mark Wetmore in the late 2000s.
Both were All-Americans in college, after having to balance life with baby Kiki, classes and training. Most recently, Sara — whose maiden name is Ensrud — wowed in the marathon by recording a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 53 seconds, the fifth-fastest debut time of any U.S. female, in 2021.
Kiki’s been along for the whole ride, including her parents’ various trips to the Track and Field World Championships. Those experiences helped open her eyes to the possibilities, and her mom has been thrilled to watch her grow in the sport so quickly.
“I’m kind of a little bit of a spazz at all of her races,” Sara said. “No matter how fast she’s running, I’m just really, really excited. I just get so much joy from watching her run, regardless of how fast she’s going or where she’s at place-wise. I’m all over the course. I usually log about half her race distance running around, cheering for her.
“Usually, during the first part of the race, I tell her how good she’s looking, which helps her stay calm and relaxed. And then sometimes I’ll give her specific instructions like try to catch one person or two people on this mile or this lap. By the end, I’m usually just screaming incoherently.”
The advice that her parents have bestowed upon her, whether it’s during competitions or on family runs, has proven invaluable to Kiki’s overall growth, though Sara and Brent admit they try to stay as hands-off as possible.
They know long-distance running isn’t always fun.
“My favorite quote of (my mom’s) is, ‘It’s supposed to hurt. See how bad it can hurt,’” Kiki said. “It kind of replays through my head throughout 5Ks. If I’m hurting, I’m just like, well, I could hurt more. So I keep pushing.”
With one year left in her high school journey, Kiki is excited to see how much farther, how much faster she can go. For now, she’s focused on training for the outdoor track season in the spring, but has her eye on potential college prospects as she gets closer to making a possible commitment.
She’s already off to a phenomenal start as she’s learned to embrace the body aches.
“Once the pain leaves, depending on how long that takes, there’s definitely a reward for running,” Brent said. “You have the dopamine, the hormones, what we say is the runner’s high. It’s a real thing and it’s pretty cool. It’s definitely rewarding when you have a really, really good race and you’ve worked so hard.” | 2022-12-09T00:54:37Z | www.dailycamera.com | Girls cross country: Boulder’s Vaughn tabbed as Daily Camera runner of the year – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/girls-cross-country-boulders-vaughn-tabbed-as-daily-camera-runner-of-the-year/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/girls-cross-country-boulders-vaughn-tabbed-as-daily-camera-runner-of-the-year/ |
Boulder City Council discusses behavioral…
The Boulder City Council on Thursday night discussed tacking a behavioral health response pilot program onto the city’s existing co-response program in an effort to help free up police officers’ time and allow trained clinicians to respond to non-criminal 911 calls.
The pilot program, known as the Community Assistance Response Team, would include licensed behavioral health clinicians and paramedics who would respond to behavioral health calls, human services calls and medical calls as well as case managers who would handle follow-up cases, said Wendy Schwartz, human services policy manager with Boulder Housing and Human Services.
The city’s 2023 budget includes $965,000 for the new pilot program, but an additional $60,000 is needed to fully fund the program, with the biggest cost driver coming from staffing, Schwartz added.
The City Council did not vote on whether it supports the pilot program and moving forward with hiring for it before the Daily Camera’s print deadline Thursday night.
In other discussion, Boulder Deputy Police Chief Stephen Redfearn, Boulder Judge Linda Cooke and Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty all provided quarterly updates on their departments Thursday night.
Redfearn discussed several locations in Boulder that have become high crime areas as evidenced by calls for police service and community concern. He also discussed other area that were high crime areas but have seen reduced crime in recent months. The high crime locations Redfearn mentioned are the Circle K on Canyon Boulevard, the Park-N-Ride on Table Mesa Drive, and the Millennium Hotel. The areas with decreasing calls for service that are still being monitored include the IHOP on 28th Street and the Depot Square Apartments.
In regard to the Circle K, Redfearn said police have been receiving a lot of calls for narcotics trafficking, vehicle theft and weapons. He added that each high crime area is assigned to a commander who works with their team to form a plan to reduce calls for service.
For Depot Square, where a bike “chop shop” was found, Redfearn said police did arrest the two people involved. He added that they were also evicted from their apartment last week.
City Councilmember Tara Winer acknowledged the eviction but asked why it took so long.
Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said the situation was frustrating for police but that the department is not in charge of the eviction process.
“We spent a ton of resources on this case only to see it just day after day after day not get resolved,” she said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t in charge of this process. This is a county process.”
Mayor Aaron Brockett asked Herold about the next steps following the department’s announcement of an internal audit it conducted involving five officers who were investigated by the department. Following the investigation, the Boulder Police Oversight Panel recommended all of the officers be terminated, but Herold disagreed.
Herold said that early next week the department will have a refined analysis of the case.
Boulder City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde added that there is an immediate need to update the panel’s ordinance so that panelists have the authority to speak openly about the cases they review. She said other changes will need to be made to the ordinance down the road.
“I think this may be a phased approach where we come to you with some changes that allow for additional transparency that we’re all seeking,” Rivera-Vandermyde said.
Since the city passed a new ordinance that allows police to address “unreasonable amplified noise” in residential neighborhoods between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., 15 citations were written between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, with all but one occurring on the Hill, Cooke said. Those citations came from 12 calls — four between 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and eight between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Following the presentation, City Councilmember Matt Benjamin asked Cooke if she foresees citations increasing and then dropping off after students learn about the new daytime noise ordinance.
Cooke said it’s too early to predict what will happen but added that she remembers reading one citation where a student said she didn’t know she could be ticketed so early in the evening.
“Hopefully she’s going to spread that through word of mouth, because that’s really how these young adults become aware of this,” she said.
Dougherty put an emphasis on the mental health needs in Colorado and Boulder during his presentation, saying he partnered with Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle to form the first mental health diversion program in the state.
“I also believe Boulder County should pursue a ballot initiative for state resources,” he said. “Larimer County has done so and I would strongly support such an effort.” | 2022-12-09T06:59:26Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder City Council discuss behavioral health response team pilot program | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/boulder-city-council-discusses-behavioral-health-response-team-pilot-program/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/boulder-city-council-discusses-behavioral-health-response-team-pilot-program/ |
Boulder Police Oversight Panel approves new…
In its final virtual meeting of the year on Thursday, the Boulder Police Oversight Panel tackled the panel’s schedule for 2023 and discussed ways to improve its operations going forward.
Formed in 2020, the panel is responsible for reviewing internal complaint investigation files within the Boulder Police Department, and it makes policy, training and disciplinary recommendations. The panel currently has nine members and is in the process of expanding to 11 next year.
During Thursday’s meeting, the panel approved topics for a variety of training modules for panelists that will be conducted by city officials and OIR Group, which independently reviews police practices. Topics include civilian oversight of law enforcement, the history of the Boulder Police Oversight Panel and how the Boulder Police Department trains officers on values and ethics.
“Essentially, it is an attempt to try and talk through … what this whole accountability system is intended to do,” said Michael Gennaco, OIR Group representative.
While some panelists expressed concerns about how much time commitment the sessions will require, others emphasized the training’s importance for upholding the panel’s mission.
“Having more educated panelists is never going to hurt us,” panelist Hadasa Villalobos said.
The panel also voted to move its monthly meetings from Thursday nights to Wednesday nights in order to avoid conflicting with City Council meetings.
“If we continue with these Thursday night meetings, it overlaps with City Council,” co-chair Daniel Leonard said. “I think we’ve already seen the detriment of competing with City Council for public attention.”
The new schedule will begin in February, with meetings taking place on the second Wednesday of each month, at 6:30 p.m. Panelists also noted the intention to begin holding hybrid meetings in the new year, which would give members of the public the option to attend in person.
Panelist Taishya Adams acknowledged recent news coverage of the Boulder Police Oversight Panel, including technical issues with the online submission complaint file and the resignation of panelist Martha Wilson in protest of the panel’s lack of authority in regard to a specific case.
“(Wilson) did participate in our governance committee meeting and has been very communicative about working in tandem,” Adams said.
During the public comment period, panelists were asked by a guest if they agreed with Wilson’s reasons for resigning, as well as what Wilson’s decision means for the panel going forward.
“I think we definitely all agree that there are major gaps and are hoping that we can follow up on any gaps that we see in the future,” Villalobos said.
Leonard ended the meeting by acknowledging the milestone of reaching the end of the panel’s first two full years of the operation.
“We all strive for better, and we know how we can do this work better and improve it in the year to come,” he said. “But we have come a long way.” | 2022-12-09T06:59:32Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder Police Oversight Panel approves new training modules, schedule – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/boulder-police-oversight-panel-approves-new-training-modules-schedule/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/08/boulder-police-oversight-panel-approves-new-training-modules-schedule/ |
Editorial: Supreme Court has chance to deny…
In a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, North Carolina’s Republican state legislature is actively arguing that when it comes to the authority to draw legislative election maps, state constitutions are irrelevant and should be ignored in favor of the whims of elected legislators. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
While many of the country’s political news pundits were focused on former President Donald Trump’s latest calls to “throw out the Constitution,” far less attention has been paid to the efforts of North Carolina elected officials to join Trump in attacking the state and federal Constitution in pursuit of personal power.
In a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, North Carolina’s Republican state legislature is actively arguing that when it comes to the authority to draw legislative election maps, state constitutions — as in all state constitutions — are irrelevant and should be ignored in favor of the whims of elected legislators.
Making an equally corrosive and unnecessarily complicated counterargument is the North Carolina state Supreme Court. It argues that language in the U.S. Constitution that specifically gives certain election-related powers to the legislature should be ignored for the whims of elected state judges.
The case is legally and procedurally complicated, but essentially boils down to two questions:
• Who has the authority to draw legislative maps?
• Who, if anyone, has the authority to review those maps for violations of legal and civil rights?
The North Carolina Legislature argues that under Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, legislative mapmaking is the exclusive right of state legislatures. Therefore, they argue, the maps they draw are not subject to the rules or limitations of the state constitution or state civil rights laws. As such, they are not subject to judicial review by the state Supreme Court. By the North Carolina Legislature’s logic, even a state constitutional amendment couldn’t prevent legislators from gerrymandering districts that discriminate against groups of people who aren’t already covered by federal civil rights acts or the U.S. Constitution, including LGBTQ+ people.
The North Carolina Supreme Court argues that such a position would ignore the will and rights of the voters as expressed in state constitutions and state civil rights laws. As such, they claim that not only do state supreme courts have a right to review legislative maps for violations of a state constitution, but they also have the right to ensure voter rights are upheld by appointing independent third parties to draw new maps when they find legislative maps unconstitutional.
In other words, North Carolina Republicans aren’t even pretending to care about the rule of law or the will or rights of the voters. They’re just looking for power by any means necessary.
While it’s tempting to mock North Carolina officials’ almost comically transparent power grabs, state judges, lawmakers and political operatives across the country are closely watching the case — some with great anticipation and others with dread. The outcome is likely to affect every state where the power to draw legislative maps is held by the state legislature itself. (Colorado uses an independent commission.)
Ultimately, the case could decide the makeup of dozens of state legislative chambers, the U.S. House of Representatives and even the presidency.
Nathan Hecht, the Republican chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, described the case as “the biggest federalism issue in a long time, maybe ever.”
While we agree that the rights and will of the voters as expressed in the state constitution should matter, and thus agree with the North Carolina Supreme Court’s first claim, we also believe that the federal Constitution is clear in delegating map-making authority to the legislatures, and thus disagree with the state supreme court’s second claim.
Fortunately, there is a simple and straightforward middle ground that respects both the federal and state constitutions while maintaining checks and balances and a separation of powers between the branches of government.
The U.S. Supreme Court could rule that the U.S. Constitution specifically gives state legislatures the authority to define district boundaries and thus only a state legislature can delegate that authority, while also ruling that the U.S. Constitution’s delegation of authority does not remove legislative maps from state constitutional judicial review.
This solution would preserve some protection of civil rights while ensuring that authority vested in the state legislatures remains there and is not co-opted by state judges who are often subject to partisan elections.
It would also help ensure that federal legislative districts — which also affect presidential Electoral College districts — are not gerrymandered so badly as to violate the rights and will of the voters, as is currently the case in states like Florida, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
Americans of all political stripes should also take note: The GOP assaults on the will and rights of the people have not stopped simply because Trump is out of office and the “red wave” failed to materialize in last month’s midterm elections. They will only stop when extremists are no longer in power within the party and the people make clear that the legal and civil rights of all Americans matter, even those with whom we disagree.
Reasonable people must continue to speak with one voice, rejecting violence, extremism and disenfranchisement in all its forms and from all corners of the political spectrum. | 2022-12-09T13:26:10Z | www.dailycamera.com | Editorial: Supreme Court has chance to deny Republicans' attempted electoral power grab | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/editorial-supreme-court-has-chance-to-deny-republicans-attempted-electoral-power-grab/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/editorial-supreme-court-has-chance-to-deny-republicans-attempted-electoral-power-grab/ |
Letters to the editor: Understanding traditions…
Omeed Dastgeer: Diversity: Let’s work to understand traditions of all in our community
Accepting everyone’s cultural traditions is a must in a nation as diverse as the United States of America, and this, of course, extends to school and work environments. According to the Colorado Refugee program, the State of Colorado has accepted over 2,700 refugees in the past year, mainly from Afghanistan and Ukraine. With the rise of the immigrant population in Colorado, we should be accepting of their traditions to make them feel welcome and at home. These people worked so hard to get here for a new and better life, and we should encourage these hard-working people to express themselves culturally. To make schools, workspaces and the whole communities more accepting of these cultural celebrations, we should be educated about such celebrations. We might ask, What is the significance of this celebration? What’s the history of the traditions within the celebration? Answering these questions will help the larger community understand the significance of these celebrations.
When the community understands its cultural traditions and celebrations, it will give the new members of our community a positive image. It will also expand one’s awareness and appreciation of diversity, thereby making a stronger and more vibrant community.
Omeed Dastgeer, Broomfield
Anna Eafanti: Education: We cannot afford to let students fall behind
When I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at seven years old, I was fitted with accommodations in school to ensure I was retaining the same information as my peers. These accommodations included one on one interaction with an aid, in-class adaptations to my learning, and ways to divert my hyperactive energy productivity. This improved my academic performance and confidence as a student. I felt comfortable knowing I was able to ask for help and had people ensuring I wasn’t falling behind.
Children with diagnosed conditions qualify for an education plan throughout their education, states KidsHealth, an organization for children’s health. However, students must be determined eligible. This is where I find the main problem, students only get assistance if they are diagnosed with a condition. While this is helpful for them, it leaves students that are undiagnosed or need extra assistance without help.
Schools need to ensure that each student is not falling behind and gets the same attention as their peers. It is too easy for these students to fall through the cracks, and one grade level can dramatically change a student’s entire academic career for the rest of their lives. Education is such a prominent part of society, we as a community cannot afford to have these students fall behind. Not only will it affect them as individuals, but the decisions they make affect the wider population.
If we can create an educational environment that empowers these students to self-advocate and have reliable access to assistance, we can begin to ensure these children’s futures are more secure. All individuals struggle at some point in their academic career, it is a normal part of life. But to only assist those with prominent enough problems, we forgo helping the student body as a whole.
Anna Eafanti, Boulder
Samuel Franks: Socializing: Introverts might need a push to leave comfort zone
College can be a really rough time. Students are really excited to finally be able to go out and party to their heart’s content and make new friends. Others won’t be as thrilled. College can really be a good place to start over, but sometimes that is easier said than done. It’s a pretty common goal for the more introverted kids, to start over and actually make friends. But as the saying goes, the best-laid plans can often go awry, and that’s what often happens. In my first weeks in college, I really wanted to make friends, but my overwhelming anxiety literally stopped me in my tracks, which is to say that my brain wanted one thing and my body refused to fall in line. What I would have liked more than anything was someone to force me to go out and socialize. It’s ok to pull people out of their comfort zone. Some people just can’t make that leap to socialize on their own, and need a catalyst, someone to give them that extra push to actually be able to live their lives. Many introverts like myself would agree that left to our own devices we would rather avoid any chance of negative conflict and be miserable than try to force ourselves to get out there. Being forced to, while it might suck in the moment, will ultimately lead to more interaction and thus less loneliness. If you see your friends struggling to get out there, choosing to stay home on weekends rather than go out, just try to give that extra push they may need. They may resent you for it at first, but could ultimately be happier for it.
Samuel Franks, Boulder | 2022-12-09T13:26:22Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Understanding traditions of our community; don't let students fall behind; introverts need a push | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/letters-to-the-editor-understanding-traditions-of-our-community-dont-let-students-fall-behind-introverts-need-a-push/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/letters-to-the-editor-understanding-traditions-of-our-community-dont-let-students-fall-behind-introverts-need-a-push/ |
Opinion: Priscilla Dann-Courtney: We all need…
Gary Garrison’s editorial from Dec. 4, which focused on mental health, law enforcement and gun violence brought tears of sadness yet also a deep feeling of gratitude that I worked in the mental health field. The recognition that my work makes a difference is something I rarely think about. And it brings up the question for all of us about whether we really believe our work matters in healing a world where so many are vulnerable and suffering?
Garrison and the Editorial Board conclude with how important it is as a community that we dedicate ourselves to helping the most vulnerable among us. We are all important, we all matter way beyond those trained in the mental health field. The more we can embrace the undeniable truth that our individual work past and present has worth, the more hope there is for a healthier world. Yet our self-worth and how valuable we see our contribution often goes unnoticed by ourselves. Like our inhale and exhale, our ability to breathe in self-validation enables an exhale to reach out to others. All our increased mental health and self-acceptance will enable community collaboration to reach the most severe population suffering from mental illness. But we must come from a place of individual strength. Healing one heals all.
The pandemic has ushered in a new time in the workforce. More than 4.5 million people left their jobs. We now are living in a time of the “great resignation,” and according to Gartner research an accompanying description might be the “great reflection.” People are asking themselves, what do I truly value? What makes me feel whole and worthy? How may I contribute? Gartner reports that out of 3,500 employees, 56% wanted to contribute more to society. This is a major shift for millions that validates contributing to making a better world has become paramount to increasing our satisfaction with the jobs we choose. Many feel lost but are committed to finding a deeper sense of self and meaning in their work. The value placed on our individual mental health and satisfaction will nurture us to be better able to find ways to serve those struggling with serious psychological issues and instability. In a sense, we all must become mental health workers providing service in different creative and innovative ways.
The five “A” essentials to achieving a healthier world when it comes to mental health are: 1) Acknowledging the overriding value of all our mental health; 2) aid financially to provide increased services; 3) attention through research into causes and treatment modalities; 4) accessibility and availability for all; 5) adjusting of diagnosis and treatment in consideration of diversity. Simultaneously recognizing there is no “other” when it comes to healing psychologically. It is a common path we all must travel.
There are many factors that influence our employment choices including the overriding financial aspect to provide for ourselves and our families. But the facts support that our individual choices have become subsumed under an overarching job to serve global wellness. To nurture that end, employers are having to even further prioritize an environment that communicates to employees that they make a difference. They are valued, trusted, respected and are serving humanity — no matter how small a service that may be. Connection, collaboration and communication in all walks of life create a powerful community force.
Together we have the power to heal. The annual appreciation days on the calendar need to be instead acts of daily recognition of how we are attending to personal and global mental health. We have all sustained trauma and stress over the last few years. Our coping mechanisms have been stretched thin and the most vulnerable among us often break. May we all embrace ourselves as mental health workers. It is a career choice we can’t afford to ignore. | 2022-12-09T13:26:34Z | www.dailycamera.com | Opinion: Priscilla Dann-Courtney: We all need to be mental health workers | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/opinion-priscilla-dann-courtney-we-all-need-to-be-mental-health-workers/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/opinion-priscilla-dann-courtney-we-all-need-to-be-mental-health-workers/ |
George Laws sentenced to 2 years probation,…
Alejandro Acosta on a ride through Boulder in September 2020. (Courtesy photo)
George Laws was sentenced Friday to two years of unsupervised probation and 100 hours of community service for hitting and killing a cyclist on Lee Hill Road in 2021.
“The simplest word for everything is this is an absolute tragedy, and there’s no ignoring this is an absolute tragedy and it’s an unmitigated tragedy,” Malkinson said.
He added that although Laws, and his defense attorney Barre Marc Sakol, spoke about the safety issues at the Lee Hill Road intersection, the intersection cannot be blamed for Acosta’s death.
“You’ve pled guilty, you’ve taken responsibility, and you were saying I did it,” Malkinson said. “Therefore you did it, and you can’t blame a crummy intersection or a county that isn’t responding with alacrity to some problem for the accident. You did it.”
During the sentencing, Laws said he’s had many sleepless night where he lies awake thinking about the crash.
“I was careful,” Laws said. “I’ve gone over (in) my mind what can I do? There was nothing I could have done then, but there is something I can do now, and for the rest of my life to make restitution to all the future bicyclists and any of the road users.”
“All I have heard over and over and over again is ‘I didn’t see’, she said. “‘It wasn’t me. It was this, this and this.’ So once again, I’m very confused on why he is pleading guilty if he’s not feeling like what he did was really his action?”
Speed and intoxication were not factors in the crash, but prosecutors determined Laws “drove without due regard for the road and his surroundings, thereby causing Mr. Acosta’s death.”
Prosecuting attorney Kokomo Metzger on Friday said multiple witnesses were at the scene, including Laws’ wife, and a bystander who stopped in attempt to resuscitate Alejandro Acosta.
“Mr. Laws did not see Alejandro, he did not stop before he made the turn, and he hit Alejandro and took his life,” Metzger said. “We’re here today because Mr. Laws was at fault for that crash that took Alejandro’s life.” | 2022-12-09T22:37:23Z | www.dailycamera.com | George Laws sentenced to 2 years probation, community service for killing Boulder cyclist | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/george-laws-sentenced-to-2-years-probation-community-service-for-killing-boulder-cyclist/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/george-laws-sentenced-to-2-years-probation-community-service-for-killing-boulder-cyclist/ |
Aquatic invasive plant species confirmed at…
An invasive species that has been detected at Boulder Reservoir is not harmful to public health, and at its current growth levels, there are no impacts to recreation use at the reservoir or its use as a regional drinking water source, officials say. (Camera file photo)
A survey by Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed that an invasive plant is now established at the Boulder Reservoir.
CPW first detected the presence of Eurasian watermilfoil in the reservoir this summer, according to a news release from the city. Then during an additional survey this fall, CPW confirmed its establishment.
The plant is not harmful to public health, and at its current growth levels, there are no impacts to recreation use at the reservoir or its use as a regional drinking water supply, the release said.
EWM is established primarily along the western coves of the reservoir, as well as in areas along the southern and northern shorelines, the release said. The density of EWM is currently low near the swim beach and drinking water intake areas. If it becomes very dense, the plant could impact swimming and boating and cause taste and odor issues with drinking water.
“While the survey confirmed the presence of EWM at the reservoir, we don’t know how it arrived,” said Parks and Recreation Director Ali Rhodes in the news release.
“It can easily be transported by wind, connected waterways, humans fishing, dogs, watercraft, or wildlife, so we encourage anyone who recreates in the water to be vigilant about checking for aquatic nuisance species. The survey did find that there are no other aquatic nuisance or invasive plant species in the reservoir, which is good news.”
Upon initial detection of the plant, the city adjusted operations to include exit inspections on watercrafts, increased education to users and added notification signage, the release said. Because the current impact of EWM is low, the city and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District are not planning to make any additional changes to the water supply operations or recreational activities beyond changes made this summer.
Eradication of EWM from the reservoir is unlikely if not impossible since EWM can reproduce and establish from just one fragment, the release said.
Jeff Stahla, spokesperson for the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, said this is the first time this species has been found in northern Colorado reservoir supplies. He added that while Boulder and CPW are taking the lead on the project, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District will be involved in monitoring the species.
“We deliver water from Carter Lake to Boulder Reservoir, so we will certainly be watching in terms of what they find at the reservoir,” he said. “This is an issue that certainly will capture the attention of water managers throughout the region.”
More information will be posted at boulderparks-rec.org and bouldercolorado.gov/locations/boulder-reservoir. | 2022-12-10T01:05:13Z | www.dailycamera.com | Aquatic invasive plant species confirmed at Boulder Reservoir | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/aquatic-invasive-plant-species-confirmed-at-boulder-reservoir/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/09/aquatic-invasive-plant-species-confirmed-at-boulder-reservoir/ |
Guest opinion: Marc Bekoff: Colorado can lead…
By Marc Bekoff
In 1789, Jeremy Bentham said, “The question is not, Can they reason?, nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?”
It’s time to stop wondering if nonhuman animals (animals) are sentient — they are. Abundant science tells us so. Sentience is the ability to feel a wide variety of emotions including joy, fear and various types of pain and suffering. Animals’ feelings matter to them and they should matter to us.
We know animals suffer when their bodies are violated and their lives compromised by being forced to live in horrific conditions of captivity, when their children are taken away from them, or when they’re severely abused to entertain us.
We also know that animals feel joy and pleasure and like to experience certain activities such as being free to move about and interact with friendly humans and other animals and play. If they didn’t enjoy doing these things, they wouldn’t seek them out.
Colorado can become the first state to declare animals to be sentient beings. Here’s why a strong foundation is already laid.
A recent gift from Robert Brinkmann, Ph.D., DVM to Denver University to establish the Institute for Animal Sentience and Protection (IASP) to expand the scientific understanding of the cognitive and emotional capabilities of animals is a move in the right direction for learning more about animal sentience and helping advance the protection of animals resulting from this evolving knowledge and understanding.
This new institute complements DU’s internationally recognized Institute for Human-Animal connection in their Graduate School of Social Work and the Animal Law Program at the Sturm College of Law. Co-directed by DU’s Philip Tedeschi and Justin Marceau, policy and faculty director of the Animal Law Program, the IASP will be a collaboration between the Graduate School of Social Work and the Sturm College of Law. Tedeschi and Marceau note that it is their hope that the IASP will be a center for collaboration by those prepared to rethink our relationship with animals. There is no doubt it will develop an international reputation.
Brinkmann, with no personal connection to DU, has three goals: 1) to elucidate the extent to which animals across the whole animal kingdom experience meaningful emotional lives; 2) to determine how humans can use our analytic capabilities to better fulfill our responsibilities to non-human animals; and 3) to use societal mechanisms, including the justice system, to create pressures and incentives for people to do the right thing.
A number of countries and cities have formally recognized animal sentience. These include: Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom, among many others.
By officially recognizing animals to be sentient beings, many discussions will follow about what this really means. Most importantly, it will bring the topic of animal sentience to the foreground and generate much-needed exchanges about what we should and must do with this knowledge. It is not an “animal rights” position but rather a move that is 100% supported by scientific research.
All in all, the great science — a database that continues to grow — supports the clear fact that many diverse nonhumans are deeply feeling emotional and sentient beings and provides a strong foundation for people who want to use “being sentient” to protect and respect the lives of animals with whom we interact in a wide variety of venues.
Now that there are formal declarations and laws changing the legal status of other animals, we must use the recognition of sentience to drastically improve animals’ lives. By doing so, we also can positively affect human well-being — caring for nonhumans has positive effects on caring for humans.
All things considered, the time is right for Colorado to declare animals to be sentient beings and set a model for other states. Nothing will be lost, a lot will be gained, and both nonhumans and humans will benefit by this landmark move. My good friend and esteemed colleague Jane Goodall wrote to me: “I’m pleased to learn that Denver University has a new Institute for Sentience and Animal Protection, and I hope that Colorado will become the first state to declare animals to be sentient beings.”
Marc Bekoff is a professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He has won many awards for his research and authored numerous essays and books on this and other animal-related topics. His homepage is marcbekoff.com. | 2022-12-10T13:20:14Z | www.dailycamera.com | Guest opinion: Marc Bekoff: Colorado can lead by declaring animals sentient beings | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/10/guest-opinion-marc-bekoff-colorado-can-lead-by-declaring-animals-sentient-beings/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/10/guest-opinion-marc-bekoff-colorado-can-lead-by-declaring-animals-sentient-beings/ |
Letters to the editor: Halt Gross expansion;…
Diane Lask: Gross Reservoir: Commissioners should halt unnecessary expansion
I support Naomi Rachel’s November 30 letter to the editor regarding an opportunity for a do-over by the Boulder County Commissioners and I would like to add my two cents. The decision to expand the capacity of Gross Reservoir was made years ago when the Denver Water Board determined the environmental impact would be minimal and the increase in water capacity was necessary to fulfill the needs of the growing population. In their studies I don’t believe they included the effects of climate change, which resulted in permits that essentially deny its influence on the project. The modeling used to verify sufficient stream flow to fill the expanded reservoir was based on weather patterns from 1947 through 1991.
In present-day conditions, the expansion impacts residents and the environment much more than expected. An equally important factor to consider is the length of time the additional capacity will take to fill; if ever. The water levels in existing reservoirs in the west are catastrophically lower than they’ve ever been and scientific predictions of continued drought give little hope of filling them. The Denver Water Board should be educating residents about conserving water rather than forging ahead with the expansion of Gross Reservoir. I agree that the Boulder County Commissioners need to halt this unnecessary project.
Diane Lask, Boulder
Isabella Martinez: Mental health: Discussing mental health is important for men
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, men are more than three times as likely than women to take their own lives. November came and went and not many people knew it was Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. However, the issue of mental health is not one that will come and go. There are serious health issues associated with suppressing emotions.
For a long time, the focus of mental health has been on women who have notoriously been considered more “emotional.” However, research reported by Dr. Claudia Elsig concludes that just because emotions are not shown does not mean they are not felt. We must all take time to understand the consequences that come with emotional suppression and do our part by encouraging all loved ones, both male and female, to discuss their emotions. The fight for equality has been an arduous one, and mental health equality should not be left behind.
Let’s make a change.
Isabella Martinez, Lakewood
Margaret Fosselius: Mental health: Safe children is worth any amount of funding
Current research suggests that adolescents who bully and show violent tendencies are more likely to struggle with their mental health. As recently as May of 2022, a fourteen-year-old student threatened to open fire on his high school in Boulder. Police searched this child’s home and detained the child. In all the reporting of investigations, there is no mention of an investigation into this child’s mental health.
This student may have suffered the neglect of an untreated mental illness. We must not wait until a child harms or threaten others to consider their mental health. According to an article by Advanced Psychiatry Associates, violence, bullying and behavioral issues are strong indicators of severe mental health disorders. In order to prevent patterns of violence in schools, the youth’s mental health needs to be taken more seriously. I believe schools must help adolescents suffering from anxiety, depression and bipolar before they possibly become dangerous.
From my personal experience in school, I am familiar with the lack of mental health services for children and the denial of the problem. Concerns are often reported to the parents, which can be dangerous if familial relationships are not strong. Children should have access to therapy in schools, and it needs to be free. Any funding is worth fewer lives lost, fewer bullying victims and reduced neglect of our children. We must insist that schools ensure all children receive the help they need. Schools must be safe havens for our most vulnerable population.
Margaret Fosselius, Boulder | 2022-12-10T13:20:26Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Halt Gross expansion; discuss mental health; fund services for students | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/10/letters-to-the-editor-halt-gross-expansion-discuss-mental-health-fund-services-for-students/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/10/letters-to-the-editor-halt-gross-expansion-discuss-mental-health-fund-services-for-students/ |
A: Twenty years ago we were safe thinking that our online activity was just a proverbial grain of sand in an enormous beach. Our individual Web visits and searches were simply too trivial to be logged and analyzed. In the era of big data, however, everything’s
logged, analyzed, and acted upon by marketing ‘bots and AI-powered social media networks. | 2022-12-11T14:47:11Z | www.dailycamera.com | Dave Taylor: How Can I Use A Privacy-Centric DNS Server? | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/dave-taylor-how-can-i-use-a-privacy-centric-dns-server/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/dave-taylor-how-can-i-use-a-privacy-centric-dns-server/ |
Guest opinion: Hany Farid: AI is powerful and…
Guest opinion: Hany Farid: AI is powerful and easy-to-use for making art – and fakes
This image was generated from the text prompt, “Teddy bears working on new AI research on the moon in the 1980s.” (Hany Farid using DALL-E, CC BY-ND)
This photolike image was generated using Stable Diffusion with the prompt, “cat wearing VR goggles.”
Screen capture by The Conversation, CC BY-ND
Stability AI took yet a different approach, opting for a full release of their Stable Diffusion with no guardrails on what can be synthesized. In response to concerns of potential abuse, the company’s founder, Emad Mostaque, said, “Ultimately, it’s peoples’ responsibility as to whether they are ethical, moral and legal in how they operate this technology.”
Hany Farid is a professor of computer science at University of California, Berkeley. | 2022-12-11T14:47:29Z | www.dailycamera.com | Guest opinion: Hany Farid: AI is powerful and easy-to-use for making art – and fakes | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/guest-opinion-hany-farid-ai-is-powerful-and-easy-to-use-for-making-art-and-fakes/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/guest-opinion-hany-farid-ai-is-powerful-and-easy-to-use-for-making-art-and-fakes/ |
Letters to the editor: Eating disorders are…
Joseph Meade: Health: Eating disorders are ignored in wrestling
Although wrestling has helped me in countless ways, what many people do not see is the dangerous effects the sport has on people’s mental and physical health. Several of my peers have experienced some sort of eating disorder that correlates directly with wrestling. Eating disorders have become a dangerous problem that is being critically ignored in wrestling. Many do not realize that these issues can affect men the same way they affect women. Without proper treatment, eating disorders developed in adolescence can contribute to health issues such as depression and anorexia. The culture that surrounds the wrestling lifestyle has contributed to this problem immensely. Athletes constantly have to cut weight to maintain their weight classes because of the strenuous schedule of up to three events per week. The wrestlers are perpetually pushing their bodies to their limits, all while eating as few calories as possible so they don’t risk gaining any weight. The ways many coaches recommend you lose weight paired with the binge eating that occurs afterward a weigh-in mirror bulimia symptoms. The constant headaches, lightheadedness and pain from your empty stomach become normal because of the conditions these coaches are forcing on the athletes.
This is a systemic problem that is only being perpetuated by coaches who either do not know how to spot these symptoms or refuse to acknowledge them. The coaches need to be educated for the well-being of the athletes. Even if the coaches just have to attend one class a year where a dietitian talks about warning signs I know that that would dramatically help. All you need is one person to spot the problem and then you can work on fixing it. They need to know what problems look like to find them.
Joseph Meade, Boulder
Claire Holzman: Health: Eating disorders are under-acknowledged by universities
Colorado ranks as the 5th most fit state in the United States. But how do you measure that? By how skinny the population is? Then it should come as no surprise that Colorado also ranks 5th highest in eating disorders (ED), according to Robyn Cruze of CBS News. Eating disorders such as anorexia are growing rapidly across the United States, primarily between 18 and 22 year olds. College campuses are a breeding ground for mental health disorders, especially anorexia. This pressing issue goes under-acknowledged at universities across the state.
Although the University of Colorado-Boulder has resources, it does not make them easily accessible to everyone. When I attempted to reach out to their mental health department, CAPS, I was informed I would not be able to be seen for over a month and would have better luck with outside resources that were not covered by the school’s insurance. A month can make all the difference in many cases surrounding eating disorders.
Eating disorders are challenging to see in other people; therefore, we need to teach our youth how to notice the signs in their peers. College campuses must allocate more resources to ED awareness amongst the student body. A study by the National Council on Disability shows that solid ED support on campus will improve students’ school performance, increase their ability to handle stressful situations, and reduce mental illness-related death.
College is an exciting new environment where kids are on their own for the first time, an intermediary step before entering the working world. Adolescents need resources to turn to and aid them through this difficult time. Universities are the first place to get rid of the stigma surrounding eating disorders and begin to offer young adults the help they need.
Claire Holzman, Boulder | 2022-12-11T14:47:47Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Eating disorders are ignored in wrestling; universities under-acknowledge eating disorders | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/letters-to-the-editor-41/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/letters-to-the-editor-41/ |
Opinion: Jim Martin: Changes to Supreme Court…
By Jim Martin |
Confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court has sunk to a historic low.
The Supreme Court has a legitimacy crisis and is losing the faith of the American people. Something must be done. Many people see the passing of term-limits legislation for active Supreme Court justices as one way to tackle this urgent problem.
The framers of the Constitution wanted an independent judiciary, one that would resist politics, corruption and the influence of public opinion. That’s why they included, in Article 3, lifetime appointments of federal judges, “barring impeachment.” (Article 3 said of these judges, “(They) shall hold their Offices during good behavior.”)
Jim Martin for the Camera
We live in an era with a great political divide and citizens questioning the viability of major institutions. I hope that changes. Legislators seek to restore balance and fairness to the Supreme Court by ending active lifetime appointments that have kept justices on the court for far too long.
More than two-thirds of Americans want term limits for Supreme Court justices, according to the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Many Americans are not happy with recent Supreme Court rulings and appointments, with 43% saying they have “hardly any confidence” in the court. That figure was under 27% back on Jan. 1.
Lifetime appointments have led to a longer and more contentious political confirmation process.
One example is that Amy Coney Barrett was appointed to the court two months before the 2020 election — but Merrick Garland, at the time U.S. Circuit Court judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals, was denied confirmation hearings eight months before the 2016 election. The Republicans backed Barrett. And at the direction of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, they made sure that Garland’s confirmation hearing never reached the Senate floor for debate.
The number of 5-4 and 6-3 decisions reflecting the line between Republican-appointed and Democratic-appointed justices has greatly increased in recent years.
The average tenure on the court was 15 years until the 1970s, when it shot up to nearly 26 years. The average justice’s term is now longer than it ever was at any point in U.S. history.
The United States is one of the only constitutional democracies that allow high-court justices to serve for decades without term or age limits. Almost every state imposes term limits on its supreme court justices. In Colorado, terms end after 10 years.
William O. Douglas served the longest of any Supreme Court justice, 36 and a half years, until 1975. John Paul Stevens served for 34. Ruth Bader Ginsburg was in office for over 27 years. Colorado’s Byron White served over 31 years. Stephen Breyer served over 27 years, retiring in June 2002. Antonin Scalia served more than 29 years. Current Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has already served over 31 years.
In 1789, the average life span was only 57 years. That’s one reason why Supreme Court justices were granted lifetime appointments back then.
How long will Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh, 53 when he joined the court, and Coney Barrett, 48, wind up serving?
Also, another issue has emerged that gives the appearance that the Supreme Court is just another political body. Some believe that justices or staffers have leaked decisions, violating normal procedure and ethical practices.
The House Judiciary Committee on Dec. 8 started holding hearings to probe possible Supreme Court corruption.
The investigation centers around the lobbying campaign that led to allegations that Justice Samuel Alito or his wife leaked the outcome of the 2014 Hobby Lobby decision, which determined religious rights.
Dobbs v. Jackson — the abortion ruling — may not have been the only Supreme Court decision that may have been leaked.
Also according to the Associated Press, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, wife of Justice Thomas, has been accused of making false claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent.
President Joe Biden has done his part to begin Supreme Court reform through Executive Order 14023, establishing the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States, which issued its findings in 2021. One major suggestion was to implement term limits of 18 years.
“Setting term limits would create predictability and lower the stakes of confirmation proceedings, de-politicizing the court,” said Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey who introduced the TERM Act (Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization) in the U.S. Senate.
“I think it’s definitely worthy of discussion to have term limits for the Supreme Court. I think there have been too many cases over the history of the Supreme Court where justices have remained as a justice when they start showing signs of age. … There ought to be some kind of limits,” said U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin.
Congress members, both Democrats and Republicans, have shown support for the TERM Act, written in a way to avoid the need for a constitutional amendment.
Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Georgia, introduced the TERM Act in the House of Representatives in July 2022. Among its features:
• It preserves life tenure by ensuring that senior justices retired from regular service continue to hold the office of Supreme Court justice, including official duties and compensation.
• It establishes terms of 18 years in regular active service for Supreme Court justices, after which those who retain the office will assume senior status.
• It would establish regular appointments of Supreme Court justices in the first and third years following a presidential election as the sole means of Supreme Court appointments.
• Finally, it requires the Supreme Court justice who most recently assumed senior status to fill in on the court if the number of justices in regular service falls below nine.
TERM Act supporters believe the benefits of term limits include:
Making justices more reflective of the law’s current application in their decisions in an ever-changing world.
Reducing the political stakes because two justices would be appointed every two years. Every sitting president would be assured of two appointments. Jimmy Carter never had the opportunity to appoint a justice. But Franklin Delano Roosevelt was able to appoint eight, and Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower four each.
There would be less-contentious confirmation hearings.
Finally, it could reduce the growth of political imbalances.
Lady Justice’s blindfold is one of the most prominent symbols involving objectivity, impartiality and fair treatment of all.
Unfortunately, the blindfold occasionally lowers, exposing her to the temptations of political pressure.
As Victor Hugo said, “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
Jim Martin can be reached at jimmartinesq@gmail.com | 2022-12-11T14:47:53Z | www.dailycamera.com | Opinion: Jim Martin: Changes to Supreme Court could help restore trust, legitimacy | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/opinion-jim-martin-changes-to-supreme-court-could-help-restore-trust-legitimacy/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/opinion-jim-martin-changes-to-supreme-court-could-help-restore-trust-legitimacy/ |
Report: CU Buffs adding Jackson State’s Brett…
Jackson State offensive coordinator Brett Bartolone is reportedly come to Colorado to coach the Buffaloes’ receivers. (Jackson State Athletics)
Another one of Deion Sanders’ assistant coaches at Jackson State appears to be heading to Boulder.
On Sunday, Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports reported that Brett Bartolone will be joining Sanders’ staff at Colorado as the receivers coach.
Bartolone has been the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Jackson State this season. JSU ranks No. 8 in the FCS in scoring (38.0 points per game) and 14th in yards (448.3). The Tigers are led by sophomore quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the best offensive player in the FCS.
CU has yet to announce any assistant coach hires, but Bartolone is the fifth JSU coach reportedly coming to Boulder with Sanders, who was announced as the Buffs’ head coach on Dec. 4.
It has previously been confirmed that Tim Brewster (tight ends), Andre Hart (linebackers) and Kevin Mathis (cornerbacks) are also following Sanders from JSU. Dennis Thurman, the Jackson State defensive coordinator the past three seasons, is coming to CU as an analyst.
Prior to joining JSU’s staff this past spring, Bartolone was an analyst and assistant quarterbacks at Nevada from 2020-21. Before Nevada, he spent the previous four seasons in the Division III ranks, at Carleton College (2018-19, OC/QBs), St. Lawrence University (2017, QBs) and Whittier College (2016, receivers).
As a player, Bartolone was a part of Mike Leach’s first recruiting class at Washington State in 2012. As a freshman in 2012, he led the Cougars with 53 receptions, was fifth with 435 yards and tied for second with four touchdown receptions.
He had 10 catches in 2013 before shoulder injuries derailed his career. He remained with the team as a student assistant until his graduation in 2016.
In addition to the Jackson State coaches coming to CU, the Buffs have hired Sean Lewis (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks) and Bill O’Boyle (offensive line) from Kent State.
CU sources also confirmed to BuffZone this week that Charles Kelly is coming to Boulder from Alabama to be the Buffs’ defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
It has also been reported that Nick Williams, a defensive analyst at Texas A&M last season, is joining the staff as an on-the-field coach for defense. Williams posted a goodbye message to A&M on Twitter on Sunday and has changed his Twitter profile to a CU logo. | 2022-12-12T20:05:07Z | www.dailycamera.com | Report: CU Buffs adding Jackson State’s Brett Bartolone to staff – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/report-cu-buffs-adding-jackson-states-brett-bartolone-to-staff/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/report-cu-buffs-adding-jackson-states-brett-bartolone-to-staff/ |
Tough early slate still has .500 CU Buffs…
In most equations, the Colorado men’s basketball team would rate as decidedly average with its .500 record and 0-2 start in the Pac-12 Conference.
By the metrics that matter, however, the Buffaloes’ goals still are there for the taking.
As the Buffs balance finals week with their preparation for a Thursday home date against North Alabama (6:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network), head coach Tad Boyle’s club is in manageable spots in the NET rankings as well as at KenPom.com.
No doubt, the Buffs must start bringing their A-game more consistently, and the calendar must move ahead at least another month before indulging in more serious conversations about the NCAA Tournament. Nevertheless, the Buffs are ahead of the curve in regard to where a 5-5 record normally would slot a team.
Not that Boyle wants the Buffs to talk about it.
“I didn’t make a big deal of it. I don’t want them thinking about the NCAA Tournament,” Boyle said last week, prior to his team’s home rout of Colorado State. “I don’t want them thinking, ‘Oh, we HAVE to win this game.’ I want them thinking about ‘We need to win this possession when we’re on defense. We have to get a great shot when we’re on offense.’ That’s what I want our players to concentrate on. Not NET rankings. Not NCAA Tournament bids. Not, ‘Oh my gosh, our margin for error is thin.’
“I want to continue to improve and concentrate on the little things that are going to help us win games.”
Despite the .500 record, CU’s early schedule — and the scant number of home games — has benefited the Buffs as they try to take advantage of a four-game homestand. In Sunday’s NET rankings, the Buffs were at No. 46. They started the day at No. 52 at KenPom.
CU’s win against the Rams pushed the Buffs up 18 spots to No. 53 in the NET the following day. In the next two days, while cramming for finals, the Buffs moved up another seven spots, which is a testament to the competition CU has played thus far.
In Sunday’s NET rankings, the lowest-ranked foe for the Buffs through 10 games has been UC Riverside at No. 158. (That will change this week with No. 261 North Alabama). The Buffs likely will rue the missed opportunity at Grambling State, but the Tigers won at Vanderbilt on Friday to jump to No. 106 in Sunday’s NET. Boise State (41) and Yale (47) both were in the top 50. And Arizona State, a pleasant surprise so far in the Pac-12, was at No. 26.
CU likely will continue to reap a huge benefit all season from its Nov. 13 win against Tennessee in Nashville. That remains the only defeat for the Volunteers, who have since posted neutral-floor wins against Butler, USC and Kansas. Tennessee was at No. 4 in Sunday’s NET.
“We all did see the rankings, but we don’t pay attention to that stuff a lot,” CU forward J’Vonne Hadley said. “We’re in charge of our own destiny, but there’s a long way to go. It’s a young season. Rankings don’t really mean that much to us. We just need to go out and handle our business and do what we do, and then let the rankings and stuff be handled later.” | 2022-12-12T20:05:13Z | www.dailycamera.com | Tough early slate still has .500 CU Buffs men’s basketball in solid spot nationally – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/tough-early-slate-still-has-500-cu-buffs-mens-basketball-in-solid-spot-nationally/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/tough-early-slate-still-has-500-cu-buffs-mens-basketball-in-solid-spot-nationally/ |
Frederick High mourns loss of senior killed…
Frederick High students are mourning the loss of senior Marisol Espindola, who was killed over the weekend in Aurora.
Marisol Espindola (GoFundMe)
Though police haven’t publicly identified the victims, family members on social media said Espindola, who was 18 and set to graduate in May, was one of the three family members shot to death in an Aurora home.
Aurora police arrested 21-year-old Christopher Martinez on suspicion of triple homicide early Sunday morning, according to a report in the Denver Post.
The St. Vrain Valley School District sent a counseling crisis team to the school Monday morning to support students and staff members. The district also emailed a letter to Frederick High families Monday afternoon, letting them know about her death and providing grief resources.
“Our most heartfelt thoughts are with Marisol’s family and everyone impacted by this passing,” Frederick High Principal Russell Fox wrote in the letter. “Any experience of loss deeply impacts all of us and causes us to reflect on the importance of every person in our community.”
In a GoFundMe campaign set up for her family, she is described as someone who brought “happiness and sunshine” to those around her. She loved puzzles, coffee, food, oldies music and family, according to the page.
“She always wanted to help people and animals and sought to bring joy to people’s lives,” according to the GoFundMe page. “She attended school with her two cousins and always sought them out in the morning to hug them and start their days off with a smile.”
She was part of the lowrider community, showing the lowrider bike she built with her dad and brothers. After high school, according to family members, she wanted to become a veterinarian and open her own animal rescue. | 2022-12-13T02:18:14Z | www.dailycamera.com | Frederick High mourns loss of senior killed over the weekend – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/frederick-high-mourns-loss-of-senior-killed-over-the-weekend/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/frederick-high-mourns-loss-of-senior-killed-over-the-weekend/ |
Boulder Food Rescue: Helping to Eliminate…
Boulder Food Rescue forms partnerships with food and retail businesses across Boulder to donate their excess food that would otherwise be wasted. (Photo: Boulder Food Rescue).
By Pam Moore |
If you think food insecurity doesn’t affect the Boulder “bubble” it’s time to think again. The ability to access healthy and nourishing food is a serious issue for many Boulderites — and Boulder Food Rescue (BFR) is taking meaningful, sustainable action to change that.
Boulder isn’t immune to food insecurity
Unfortunately, this isn’t a new problem. Pre-pandemic, about one in every nine Boulder County residents experienced food insecurity, says Hayden Dansky, co-director of BFR. Since 2020 however, those figures have increased sharply. “Since the pandemic, that number has ballooned to one in four, primarily for families living on low-incomes, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), people living with disabilities, immigrants, older adults, LBGTQ+ people, and those with less access to employment opportunities and living wages.”
There’s a misconception that in an affluent area like Boulder County, “issues of food security don’t happen here,” says Dansky. “Unfortunately, this sentiment is misguided and leaves out so many people living here on lower incomes that are often invisibilized.” In reality, living in a place with a higher cost of living may actually be a barrier to accessing food. Dansky says that’s because people may not be eligible for subsidies that are based on a federal poverty level that isn’t aligned with the cost of living in this area. So while someone might earn more than the state minimum wage which that federal poverty level is based upon, they still aren’t able to earn a liveable wage in Boulder.
In fact, Boulder’s relatively high cost of living can exacerbate food insecurity because food is a flexible expense, says Dansky.
“For example, rent is a fixed expense. You have to pay all of your rent. So when people prioritize keeping their housing, they use what’s left to spend on food, which is much more flexible.” When there’s not enough left over, people may skip meals, buy inexpensive but undesirable foods, or expend time and energy utilizing charitable organizations to access food.
Even worse, there’s more than enough food to feed our community — but much of it is wasted, which is a problem for people and for the environment. According to Dansky, we waste as much as 40 percent of the food we produce. Fruits and veggies, items that are nutrient-dense but hard to come by at a typical food bank, make up a large chunk of wasted food, they say.
Those numbers look even grimmer when you look at the resources required to produce food. It takes 10 percent of our national energy budget, 50 percent of our land area, and 80 percent of our freshwater resources, “and then we waste nearly half of it,” Dansky says. “In the face of the devastating effects of the climate crisis that is upon us, it’s imperative that we look to larger institutions to change the way we treat resources. We need a complete paradigm shift from a resource-extracting and wasteful economy and culture to one where food systems, and the people affected by them, are treated with respect and care.”
How BFR is helping
“The way we do our work is even more important than what we do,” says Dansky. Since the start of 2022, BFR has distributed over 495,000 pounds of food to 40 different sites, serving over 7,000 people. Clearly, the organization is doing an excellent job of connecting people with food. What sets them apart from other non-profits is the way they’re going about it. For BFR, accessibility and inclusivity are key.
Currently, 150 volunteers distribute about 1,500 pounds of produce to 40 different No Cost Grocery Programs — and they do it all by bicycle. Instead of asking beneficiaries to come to a specific location to get their food, the No Cost Grocery Program brings the food to the people in locations such as community rooms of affordable housing sites, pre-schools and daycares, where they get to decide how to distribute it. “Residents of those sites distribute the food amongst themselves, in a way that works for them,” Dansky explains.
“Community autonomy provides a more affirming, accessible, and effective program for users, which simply works better for people,” says Dansky. The No Cost Grocery program eliminates some of the most common hurdles people face when accessing food, including transportation, and limited or no options for fresh produce and other perishable items. Perhaps most importantly, community members are responsible for the programs, which can seriously reduce the shame and stigma people often feel when accessing food in the charity system.
BFR aims not only to put food on people’s tables but to create a new narrative around food insecurity. “We live in a world that says you are a failure if you cannot put food on the table, and that you have to figure out how to survive it alone,” they say. “By creating No Cost Grocery Programs that are community-led spaces, we are creating the space for people to enact their inherent leadership and for people to come together and realize they are not alone… and it is the failure of the economic system that is responsible for their struggle.” And coming together to create a sense of belonging is a powerful antidote to shame, they say.
Boulder isn’t the only community to benefit from BFR’s initiatives. They’ve also created a national Food Rescue Alliance program, which includes 33 local food rescue organizations that are all working not just with local food rescue but also to propel advocacy and systemic change that target hunger’s root causes.
You can support BFR’s mission in a number of ways. Dansky says they need help distributing food to communities, either by bicycle or by car. While they’d like volunteers to make a weekly commitment, they can use on-call volunteers as well.
There are also opportunities even if hauling food around isn’t a fit for you. BFR has opportunities for volunteers with a number of skill sets, including people to help with outreach, public speaking and website support.
If you’re interested in helping but aren’t totally sure how, it still makes sense to reach out. “We try to match you with a volunteer opportunity that is right for you,” says Dansky. The best way to get in touch is to email volunteer@boulderfoodrescue.org.
For more information, visit boulderfoodrescue.org or call 720.445.5237
Photo courtesy Boulder Food Rescue
Pam Moore | 2022-12-13T10:56:41Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder Food Rescue: Helping to Eliminate Hunger and Food Waste – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/boulder-food-rescue-helping-to-eliminate-hunger-and-food-waste/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/11/boulder-food-rescue-helping-to-eliminate-hunger-and-food-waste/ |
Finals week test: CU Buffs women’s basketball…
University of Colorado Boulder’s Jaylyn Sherrod drives on New Mexico State’s Soufia Inoussa on Nov. 7, 2022.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff photographer)
Typically, finals week is fairly low key for the Colorado women’s basketball team.
It’s often nearly a full week off, concluding with a home game against a lower-level program. Not this year.
The Pac-12 has altered its schedule a bit this year to include some earlier than normal conference games, including the Buffaloes (8-2) heading to No. 13 Utah (8-0) on Wednesday afternoon (3 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
“It’s definitely not ideal, but it is what it is,” CU head coach JR Payne said. “We prepared the same way we prepare for every game. We’ll rise to the challenge, certainly.”
With the exception of the pandemic season of 2020-21, this will be CU’s earliest conference opener ever. That 2020-21 season was the only other time CU has played a conference game before Dec. 29.
Senior point guard Jaylyn Sherrod recognizes the challenge, but is embracing it.
“It puts a lot of stress and everybody, especially with us playing away (on finals week),” Sherrod said. “Honestly, that’s the only downside I see. We’re trying to beat a really good Utah team, so I think it’s a good test for us early in the season.”
Sherrod admits, however, that as she goes through her masters program, her finals week isn’t as stressful as it is for her younger teammates. The Buffs are loaded with academically-motivated players and Sherrod said, “The team is really pushing it through right now. I’m actually proud of them. For being such a young team, they’re handling it really well.”
Handling the Utes will be a significant challenge in itself.
Both teams ended long NCAA Tournament droughts last season and both are off to good starts this year. But Utah has taken its game to another level.
Led by USC transfer Alissa Pili and three of the Pac-12’s best freshmen from last year (Jenna Johnson, Gianna Kneepkens and Kennady McQueen), the Utes have the No. 2 scoring offense in the country at 94.4 points per game. They were No. 1 before scoring only 76 in a win against rival BYU on Saturday.
“Adding Pili is huge,” Payne said. “This is by far her best year of basketball so far. And, they’re just really good. They play with great pace. They’re a threat from every position on the floor. They transition. They take a ton of shots. They rebound well. They do a little bit of everything very well.”
CU will counter Utah’s offensive attack with a tough defense. The Buffs are 21st nationally in allowing only 53.4 points per game.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on defense,” Sherrod said. “We’ve always been a defensive-minded team, so I think it’ll be a good clash of styles. I believe in our defense. … I think we take pride in being able to stop a team that has so much offensive manpower so I’m excited to see how it goes.”
Sherrod said she’s always been impressed with Utah’s cohesiveness on the court, and she enjoys battling the Utes.
“I love playing Utah,” she said. “They’re a competitive team. They’ve just been a good team. I feel like between us and them we’ve both been building our program these past couple of years to be at the level that it is at and both coming off the tournament, so I think I’ll be a really good game.”
While the timing of the game isn’t ideal, Payne is ready to tackle the challenge, too.
“We’ve played some good teams this preseason, but to have such a tough matchup this early in the season, to play a conference game in the middle of December, poses an earlier challenge then than we’ve had in past years,” she said. “We’re excited for the opportunity.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball at No. 13 Utah Utes
TIPOFF: Wednesday, 3 p.m., at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City
RECORDS: Colorado 8-2; Utah 8-0.
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 7th season (102-87; 203-199 career); Utah — Lynne Roberts, 8th season (120-99; 341-274 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Jr. (10.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.1 spg); G Tayanna Jones, 6-1, Sr. (8.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.0 apg); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (14.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.9 spg); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (9.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.5 spg); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, So. (9.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, So. (5.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.9 spg). Utah — F Jenna Johnson, 6-2, So. (11.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.3 apg); G Gianna Kneepkens, 5-11, So. (14.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 spg); G Kennady McQueen, 5-10, So. (11.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.4 apg); G Isabel Palmer, 5-9, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.7 apg); F Alissa Pili, 6-2, Jr. (20.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg).
NOTES: CU brings a four-game winning streak into the start of Pac-12 play. … CU is 3-8 in Pac-12 openers since joining the conference in 2011. Two of those wins have come at Utah (2011, 2019). … The Buffs are also 3-8 in Pac-12 road openers (3-0 at Utah, 0-8 everywhere else). … This is the 41st all-time meeting between CU and Utah and the first time that Utah has brought a national ranking into a matchup with the Buffs. … The all-time series between the Buffs and Utes is tied 20-20, with Utah leading 11-6 in Salt Lake City. The teams split the series 1-1 last year with the road team winning both times. … CU has won its last two games in Salt Lake City, including 66-62 in overtime on Jan. 28. … In their history, the Buffs are 11-106 against AP Top 25 teams on the road, including a current 50-game losing streak. CU’s last road win against a Top 25 opponent was at then-No. 20 Vanderbilt on Dec. 9, 2007. … The Buffs have held four consecutive opponents under 50 points for the first time in program history. … Last season, Utah made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011. … The Utes’ No. 13 ranking is the highest for the program since being ranked No. 12 on March 10, 2008. … Pili transferred from USC this year. She played three seasons with the Trojans, starting 58 games while averaging 12.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. She was the Pac-12 freshman of the year in 2019-20. | 2022-12-14T05:46:33Z | www.dailycamera.com | Finals week test: CU Buffs women’s basketball battles No. 13 Utah – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/finals-week-test-cu-buffs-womens-basketball-battles-no-13-utah/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/finals-week-test-cu-buffs-womens-basketball-battles-no-13-utah/ |
Former CU Buff Ryan Walters named head football…
During its search for a new head coach this fall, Colorado took a long look at former Buffaloes’ safety Ryan Walters for the job.
Ultimately, the Buffs decided to hire Deion Sanders as head coach, but Walters didn’t wait long to get his shot at leading a program.
On Tuesday, Purdue announced it has hired Walters to become its next head coach after his successful run as the defensive coordinator at Illinois.
Walters, 36, is just the second former CU player ever to land a full-time head coaching job at a Football Bowl Subdivision school. The other was Jon Embree, who was the head coach of the Buffs from 2011-12.
“I am incredibly humbled and honored to serve as the head football coach at Purdue University,” Walters said in a Purdue press release. “I am grateful to director of athletics Mike Bobinski and to president Daniels for this incredible opportunity. Purdue is a world-class university, and our football program will pursue the same excellence exhibited across our campus. My wife Tara and I, along with our boys, are beyond excited to join the Purdue and West Lafayette communities. Boiler Up!”
Walters, who starred at Grandview High School in Aurora, played for the Buffs from 2004-08. His father, Marc, was a CU quarterback in the mid-1980s.
During his time at CU, Walters racked up 223 tackles and five interceptions and was a part of three bowl teams.
Following his playing career, Walters was a student assistant with the Buffs in 2009 to kick off his coaching career. He coached at Arizona, Oklahoma, North Texas and Memphis before being hired as the safeties coach at Missouri in 2015.
Walters was at Missouri for six seasons (2015-20), including two as co-defensive coordinator and the last three as defensive coordinator. He went to Illinois in 2021 and has led one of the nation’s best defenses.
This month, 247Sports named Walters as the defensive coordinator of the year and On3 named him the national coordinator of the year. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is annually presented to the top assistant coach in the country.
Illinois leads the country in scoring defense this season, allowing only 12.3 points per game and is second in total defense (263.8 yards per game).
The Illini were 29th in scoring defense last year (21.9), a dramatic jump from 2020 (97th, 34.9). | 2022-12-14T05:46:40Z | www.dailycamera.com | Former CU Buff Ryan Walters named head football coach at Purdue – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/former-cu-buff-ryan-walters-named-head-football-coach-at-purdue/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/former-cu-buff-ryan-walters-named-head-football-coach-at-purdue/ |
Girls basketball: Erie smacks Bear Creek with…
Erie’s Juliet Slater, center, looks to pass under pressure from Bear Creek’s Hannah Anderson, left, and Olivia Kan, right, in Erie on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
ERIE —- Never trust a big deficit when it comes to hoops.
Bear Creek girls basketball learned that the hard way when it visited Erie on Tuesday night and, despite an early 12-point lead, fell 58-44 to a ferocious Tigers team.
A 20-point third quarter for the Tigers erased that earlier deficit, on the backs of junior shooting guard Maddie Hartel’s 21 points and freshman point guard Juliet Slater’s 13. The ladies never lost faith, even though the game tested their resolve from the first whistle.
“It’s a long game, right? And we’re a team of pressure,” head coach Tyler Cerveny said. “We always talk about at some point, we’re going to make a run and we made it tonight in the third quarter. I told them at halftime, ‘Hey, this is what we do. At some point, we’re going to make a run and we’re going to pull away in the second half.’ And that’s what happened. I think they expected it.”
The Tigers started out the night a bit shaky as planted feet and turnovers plagued their court presence. The Bears took advantage, building a 12-0 lead before Erie was able to get the ball rolling. Once the girls started moving their feet more and dialing up the defensive pressure, there was no stopping the Tigers — or, more accurately, Hartel.
Hartel sank Erie’s first point of the night on a free throw midway through the first quarter, then lit up from downtown with two consecutive 3’s for her own seven unanswered points. By the start of the second quarter, the Tigers had erased that large deficit completely.
“I really wanted this win. The past few games haven’t been the best for us, so I was really just fighting for my team. Everyone was giving energy to each other and then we just kept building off of each other,” Hartel said. “We tend to start a little slower. That’s been our struggle for a lot of the year and then we just have a hard time recovering from it. We get down by too many points in the beginning, then we try to fight our way back and just sometimes it doesn’t work.”
It certainly worked on Tuesday night. By halftime, they trailed by just three points, 25-22. Then Alex Ridenour and Slater caught fire.
The Bears went ice-cold at the start of the second half, thanks in part to Erie’s suffocating defense and lights-out shooting on the Tigers’ own end. Erie punished them for it, scoring 20 straight points — including five from Ridenour and six from Slater in the stretch — before allowing Bear Creek to put up a single point off of a free throw with 7.2 seconds left in the quarter.
Boy, that escalated quickly.
Erie’s Maddie Hartel shoots from 3-point range against Bear Creek on Tuesday night. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
Erie led 42-26 heading into the final frame, then coasted through the last eight minutes. The Tigers improved to 3-3 with the win, but face a tough test when they head to Frederick on Friday night.
Hartel can hardly wait.
“I’m so excited to go into Frederick,” she said. “I think we’re going to have a really great time there. We haven’t had too many away games so far, so I think it’s going to be a challenge at first, but I think we’ll have a lot of confidence in each other to be able to just support each other and win.” | 2022-12-14T05:46:46Z | www.dailycamera.com | Girls basketball: Erie smacks Bear Creek with third quarter surge – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/girls-basketball-erie-smacks-bear-creek-with-third-quarter-surge/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/girls-basketball-erie-smacks-bear-creek-with-third-quarter-surge/ |
Two killed in two-vehicle crash Tuesday night…
Two people died on scene and a third was transported to a Longmont hospital Tuesday night following a two-vehicle collision on U.S. 287 at Vermillion Road, just north of Longmont.
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis said the call came in at 7:17 p.m. as a head-on crash, although he said he could not confirm that the collision was head-on. Lewis said the two vehicles involved were a 2018 Hyundai sedan and 2009 Honda sedan, and that one of the vehicles rolled. He had no other information late Tuesday about the details of the crash or any information regarding the victims of the crash.
The one person who was transported from the scene was taken to Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont, he said.
As of 9:50 p.m., the highway remained closed at the intersection. | 2022-12-14T05:47:11Z | www.dailycamera.com | Two killed in two-vehicle crash Tuesday night at U.S. 287 and Vermillion Road north of Longmont | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/two-killed-in-two-vehicle-crash-tuesday-night-at-u-s-287-and-vermillion-road-north-of-longmont/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/two-killed-in-two-vehicle-crash-tuesday-night-at-u-s-287-and-vermillion-road-north-of-longmont/ |
Editorial: Start the presidential primary…
In recent years, the nation has struggled with structural issues that tilt the political playing field toward minority rule. Among these structural issues is a primary election schedule that overlooks the beautiful and stunning diversity of the American electorate.
By giving one set of voters from one state in one geographical region — historically Iowa for caucuses and New Hampshire for primaries — the title “first,” we have also given those voters, states and regions an outsize influence over the perceived viability of presidential candidates moving forward.
Part of this problem was created by the pursuit of a common primary schedule, motivated by budget concerns and simplicity in communicating with voters. However, the nation’s two major political parties have radically different levels of representation among various racial, ethnic and identity groups. Those differences should be reflected in the process for selecting a presidential nominee — as should the reality that the Republican Party is actively seeking to silence certain marginalized communities.
Now, with the future of democracy on the line, Democrats are finally exploring new primary proposals to counter GOP efforts to reduce the power of America’s diverse electorate.
Sadly, the proposals currently being discussed don’t provide a real remedy.
We agree with activists and pundits that Black communities are woefully underrepresented in the current primary process that puts overwhelmingly white Iowa and New Hampshire first. But we disagree that giving South Carolina alone the first primary — as is currently proposed by President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party — solves the problem of misrepresentation or underrepresentation.
After all, South Carolina’s 5% Hispanic population and 0.33% Indigenous population are hardly representative of the United States, let alone the Democratic Party.
No single state should be given the outsize influence of being the “first” primary in the nation and determining who is or is not a viable candidate. Rather, a small group of geographically disparate and racially, ethnically, economically and culturally diverse states should all share the status of first. By holding a small set of geographically and culturally diverse primaries on the same day, we can ensure that the perception of viability is more accurate and increase candidate quality.
Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina could all be part of this collective first day. But so too could perennial battlegrounds with diverse populations and cultures such as Nevada, Georgia and Michigan.
Collectively, these states would represent a cross-section of the American experience. Returns in Michigan, one of the 10 largest states in the country in terms of population, could help candidates and parties better understand the opinions, beliefs and concerns of Rust Belt voters. Meanwhile, South Carolina (the 23rd-most populous state) and Georgia (eighth-most populous) would provide two different yet equally important glimpses into the heavily African American southeastern Bible Belt. And Iowa (32nd-most populous) and New Hampshire (42nd) could provide a view from the rural great plains and New England, respectively. Importantly, some of these states also represent a strong mixture of rural and urban population centers, which allows the sometimes different interests of both to be heard.
Nevada is one potential choice to represent the West. After all, the state has significant Indigenous and Latino populations whose voices deserve to be heard on Day One of the primary process. Nevada is the epicenter of the great western water crisis that will ultimately define the entire West for generations to come. And thanks to friendly tax laws, the state is home to a wide variety of Western voters who previously resided in other states such as California, Utah, Arizona and Idaho — giving a glimpse into the political makeup of the western U.S. writ large.
In addition, candidates would be unable to focus their attention on a single set of voters in a single geographic region and a single set of issues each week, as they currently do in the lead-up to Super Tuesday. Instead, they will be forced to speak to a broader set of voters who reside in diverse geographic regions and have diverse social, economic and cultural interests. Yet with only a small number of states at play on the first primary day (or in any given week), local retail politics would not be sacrificed as it might be if all states held their primary on the same day.
We’ve written extensively in the past about the need to resist unnecessary burdens on voters such as voter ID or other tests of time, money and mobility. And we’ve promoted voter access through mail-in voting, early voting and same-day registration. But removing barriers to voting will have little effect on turnout if voters feel they have no voice in the candidate selection process and thus have no candidates in the general election whom they believe represent their interests. Grouping states in mini “Super Tuesdays” eliminates that problem.
In short, it’s time to do away with any system that grants a single state the power to set the tone for the entire national primary race. The United States is a racially, ethnically, economically, socially, culturally and geographically diverse nation. The president of the United States must represent this diversity and, as such, the system for choosing the candidates for the presidency should reflect that diversity. | 2022-12-14T16:19:23Z | www.dailycamera.com | Editorial: Start the presidential primary calendar with multiple contests | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/14/editorial-start-the-presidential-primary-calendar-with-multiple-contests/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/14/editorial-start-the-presidential-primary-calendar-with-multiple-contests/ |
Guest opinion: Dana Bove: Sombrero Marsh is an…
Guest opinion: Dana Bove: Sombrero Marsh is an environmental treasure worth protecting
By Dana Bove
Sombrero Marsh is designated as one of the City of Boulder’s nine crown conservation jewels, or Habitat Conservation Areas (HCAs). All HCAs, like the Sombrero Marsh, contain rare or unique plant communities and are habitats for threatened, endangered, rare or other species of concern. Yet a 30,000-square-foot modular home factory is planned for construction next to the Sombrero Marsh, which has caught many in this conservation community by surprise. In fact, annexation approval by Boulder’s City Council on Dec. 15, appears to be the final step needed for work on this factory to begin.
Perhaps because the land is owned by the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and is exempt from normal oversight process, is the reason why this plan has traveled well under the radar for so long. In any case, closer examination reveals that a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment was completed for the site only (not the Sombrero Marsh) but a full environmental analysis has not been done, nor have any meaningful agreements been made to assure that the fragile marsh habitat be protected from adverse impacts from noise, lighting and construction-related activity.
With respect to potential adverse impacts from this project on the Sombrero Marsh, it is important to consider that noise impacts to sensitive species is one of the principal environmental concerns. An exhaustive body of peer-reviewed research agrees that the best management practice is to limit noisy human activities from favored songbird breeding habitats. Yet not a single study on potential noise or light impacts has been conducted pertaining to this development. In fact, the only stipulation in the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) is that with respect to factory and construction noise, the city will hire an acoustical engineer “…to understand potential noise impacts to Sombrero Marsh.” But the IGA agreement further specifies the city will only “… consider recommendations made by the engineer on noise reduction,” nothing more.
Except for the IGA agreement stating that the factory will follow the city’s outdoor lighting code, there are no assurances of precautionary protection of the Sombrero Marsh under the current annexation plan. Even in the absence of any supporting environmental studies or data, city staff have proclaimed that the proposed modular factory and construction will not “…increase impacts to the Sombrero Marsh.” In addition, staff have stated that the proposed development and annexation is consistent with environmental assurances in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP). Yet the city’s own Open Space Board of Trustees refutes this statement, citing in letter to the council at least four policies in the BVCP for wetland, riparian and species habitat that are not being abided by.
The Sombrero Marsh HCA is an environmental treasure in our community. We request that Boulder’s City Council deny the annexation agreement and insist first that before any agreement be signed, there are defensible studies completed on alternative siting and access, and studies are conducted to ensure that there are no noise, lighting or other adverse impacts on the precious marsh habitat.
Dana Bove is a member of Front Range Nesting Bald Eagle Studies, a non-profit dedicated to the study and conservation of Bald Eagles in the Front Range. Bove lives in Boulder.
Guest opinion: Ralph Josephsohn: Consumer convenience is best served by competition in wine market | 2022-12-14T16:19:36Z | www.dailycamera.com | Guest opinion: Dana Bove: Sombrero Marsh is an environmental treasure worth protecting | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/14/guest-opinion-dana-bove-sombrero-marsh-is-an-environmental-treasure-worth-protecting/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/14/guest-opinion-dana-bove-sombrero-marsh-is-an-environmental-treasure-worth-protecting/ |
Letters to the editor: A new perspective on…
David R. Kassoy: College: CU should consider a new perspective on education
The recent editorial “Fewer jobs require a college degree, and that’s a good thing” provides an opportunity for universities and colleges to define their objectives in the context of the present. The traditional perspective cited by Cardinal Newman, “… pursuit of knowledge in search of the truth,” is noble but not enough to merit the kinds of investments that parents must make in their children’s education. As a retired faculty member from the Boulder campus with more than 50 years of academic and administrative experience and as a parent who invested considerable resources in the higher education of our two children, my thinking about higher education has evolved considerably from the traditional view. I’ve come to believe that the primary objective of higher education should be to prepare students for their futures as long-time learners, employees, spouses, parents, citizens, caretakers for their parents and those with disabilities, etc. The goals should be to provide the learning skills needed to cope with the uncertainties of Life, its challenges and contingencies as well as to recognize and accept opportunities to contribute to the well-being of their communities in the broadest sense as leaders and innovators. Hence the degrees would be seen as means to specific ends!
I would encourage the faculty and administration of the Boulder campus, as well as its retirees to consider these perspectives as a means for addressing the interests of our Colorado citizenry as well as those of our governor and the legislature. A contemporary perspective on higher education may provide broader support for the state’s institutions!
David R. Kassoy, Boulder
Benjamin Bazarian: Screen time: Parents should encourage kids to develop skills offline
Today, people have become more reliant on technology, more specifically adults, which has been rubbing off on children. Parents today will rely on media to subdue their kids because it is convenient for them and it consumes a large amount of time.
Watching my little brother grow up, I’ve noticed this issue firsthand. Being eight years younger than me, he basically grew up in a different generation regarding advancements in technology. Not only that, but our parents became much more lenient with the amount of screen time he gets versus the amount that I did. I would always have strict time limits on when I had to be done. For example, I would get one hour of screen time every day during the week, then 2 hours over the weekend. I’ve noticed that my brother has become more lazy and unfocused with his school work and I strongly believe it is due to the amount of time he spends in front of screens.
People today are granting children more time on screens as it seems more socially acceptable. The percentage of kids that use screens has only increased in the past decade and they’ve been starting at a younger age. Parents should encourage their children to attain different skills off of screens that will aid with how they develop socially, mentally and physically.
Benjamin Bazarian, Boulder
Bradley Lienhart: Moving: No matter where a child lives, give them the chance to thrive
As a society, we must recognize the negative effects that moving can have on a child. Research has shown that moving can cause disruptions in a child’s education, social relationships and emotional well-being. According to a New York Times article, adolescents who relocated three or more times had double the risk of attempting suicide. As you can see, It is crucial that we take steps to reduce these negative effects and support children who are going through the challenging process of moving.
One way to do this is by providing support and resources for children and their families during the moving process. This idea could include counseling services, help with finding new schools and extracurricular activities, and assistance with making new friends.
Beyond that, we can work to reduce the need for children to move in the first place. A few examples of how to do this are to provide more affordable housing options, increase job opportunities for parents and support families who are struggling financially.
It is important that we take action to address this issue and support children who are affected by moving. Let’s work together to make sure that all children have the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they call home.
Bradley Lienhart, Carlsbad, California
Roman Vigil: Masculinity: Let’s dismantle the gender-coded framework
Anxiety and other mental health issues are only becoming more and more common across the board and as we try and combat this it is important to look at the root causes. For men specifically, a driving factor in day-to-day behavior and their outward perception is masculinity. Men’s masculinity is often the core of their person and other aspects of the personality branch off, so a good way to gain insight into their anxiety is to analyze their relationship with their masculinity.
Their masculinity plays a large role in their fears and outward behaviors because of how much it makes up what men are perceived as by society. This can be seen in several instances where according to a study conducted by Cynthia Turk the situations that men with a social anxiety disorder (SAD) fear more than women are situations like urinating in public restrooms or returning groceries. Both situations have implications for the individual’s masculinity because having to use the restroom next to or near another man could present issues for anxious people and to not be able to do so at all is both realistic and damaging because of how it can be seen as unmasculine.
The best way to prevent these internal masculinity issues is to begin by dismantling the gender-coded framework we see all around the world. A good example of this as we head towards the holiday season is toys and other products marketed for children. How many of these are marketed for boys and girls specifically using tropes and stereotypes rather than the quality of the product? Gender roles are propped up by these little seemingly harmless reinforcements and as we move forward as a society being more conscious of these kinds of things will prevent a lot of headaches.
Roman Vigil, Lakewood | 2022-12-14T16:19:49Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: A new perspective on education; developing offline skills; the difficulty of moving; dismantle the gender-coded framework | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/14/letters-to-the-editor-a-new-perspective-on-education-developing-offline-skills-the-difficulty-of-moving/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/14/letters-to-the-editor-a-new-perspective-on-education-developing-offline-skills-the-difficulty-of-moving/ |
Boulder City Council continues recommendations…
Boulder Police Department patrol car
The Boulder City Council on Thursday night signed off on all but one item on the consent agenda — a recommendation to approve 10 new members and alternates for the Boulder Police Oversight Panel.
Instead, the council agreed to remove the item from the consent agenda and sent it back to the Police Oversight Panel selection committee. The council wants the committee, with guidance of the city attorney, to review all candidates or all recommended panelists to ensure each meets the requirements set forth in the panel’s ordinance to be eligible for the role. The committee will also include written explanations of the steps it took when choosing new members before the item is brought back before the council in January.
“We talked in 2020 — early in my council tenure — about appointing this panel, and council would have a role in approving the nominations, and I advocated vigorously that we not have a role in approving because I was worried it would reflect politicization and that somebody would inevitably be nominated that different sections of the community were strongly for or against,” said City Councilmember Rachel Friend. “I think that’s unfortunately what’s playing out, and I hope that we will revisit that because I don’t think that this is a good role for council to be in nor a good use of our time.”
The six panelists chosen by the selection committee are Danielle Aguilar, CU Boulder Ph.D. student; Maria Soledad-Diaz, shelter program director for Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence; Madelyn Strong Woodley, who served on the panel’s task force; Sam Zhang, a Ph.D. student at CU Boulder; Lisa Sweeney-Miran, vice president of the Boulder Valley School Board; and Talithia Cason, who works with older adults, according to the City Council packet. The four alternatives selected by the committee are Mylene Vialard, a member of the Boulder chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice; Kristen Drybread, a Ph.D. student at CU Boulder; Lizzie Friend, former director of performance management and strategy for the Denver Sheriff’s Office; and Jason Savela, a Boulder criminal defense lawyer.
Boulder City Councilmember Rachel Friend confirmed she is not related to recommended panelist
The selection committee, which consisted of two current members of the panel along with a representative from El Centro Amistad and the NAACP of Boulder County, accepted applications from Sept. 24 to Oct. 14, the packet said. A total of 57 people applied, and the selection committee interviewed 18. The committee met Nov. 20 to discuss the applications and selected six panel members and four alternates.
The City Council this summer agreed to expand the panel from nine to 11 members. A three-year term of service will begin for the new members in February. They can serve up to two three-year terms. | 2022-12-16T05:52:32Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder City Council continues recommendations for new Police Oversight Panel candidates to future meeting | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/15/boulder-city-council-holds-recommendations-for-police-oversight-panel-for-public-hearing/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/15/boulder-city-council-holds-recommendations-for-police-oversight-panel-for-public-hearing/ |
Boulder City Council unanimously approves…
Vehicles pass through the intersection of 65th Street and Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder on Thursday. The Boulder Valley School District is asking to annex land to build a modular home factory. The school board recently agreed to allow the city to change the street where the factory would receive deliveries to 65th Street instead of 63rd Street. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
The Boulder City Council on Thursday night unanimously agreed to annex about 48 acres at 6500 Arapahoe Road that will allow the Boulder Valley School District to construct a modular home factory for students to build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
The annexation, as well as an intergovernmental agreement between BVSD and the city, was brought back to council Thursday for a second reading after it was continued last month. During that November meeting, council members asked staff to meet with BVSD to tweak the intergovernmental agreement to have the factory receive deliveries on 65th Street rather than 63rd Street.
The BVSD School Board, during its meeting Tuesday night, agreed to the council’s request, and the agreement was updated to say deliveries to and from the factory “will only occur on 65th Street during times when traffic impacts on BVSD operations and related safety risks for students, employees, parents and other members of the public using that access are low. Deliveries to and from the factory via 63rd Street will be minimized to the greatest extent possible.”
But the City Council after receiving numerous complaints from residents changed the language in the agreement to say the city will strive to eliminate all factory-related traffic along 63rd Street and ensure that factory deliveries on 63rd Street will not exceed 10 per month. To the extent reasonable, the city will also implement noise reduction recommendations from an acoustical engineer, and it will work with the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department to have ongoing enhanced monitoring of potential impacts of wildlife and water quality at Sombrero Marsh open space, which is adjacent to the campus. Lastly, the city will check in on operations at the factory in one year and will include neighborhood outreach.
“I appreciate all the concerns that have been registered, and I think we’ve been trying to listen to neighbors, but also we’ve got an incredibly important program for the community to move forward,” said Mayor Aaron Brockett. “I think the residents of Ponderosa Mobile Home Park will thank us all very much when they move into these energy efficient homes that were built at this facility.”
In an interview ahead of Thursday’s meeting, Jay Sugnet, Boulder senior planner, said the city staff have been meeting with residents and corresponding with them through email about BVSD’s plans for the modular home factory. He added he believes the city has addressed residents’ concerns as best as it can by working with the acoustical engineer who in January who will measure potential noise impact of factory operations on the surrounding neighborhood and open space. Sugnet added that the city will not finalize a design for the factory until it receives the results from the engineer.
Boulder staff have also consulted with the Arapahoe Nation, as the Sombrero Marsh open space is near the planned modular home site.
Sugnet added that the city has also set up a plan where it will meet with the BVSD and Habitat for Humanity about once every quarter to discuss factory operations.
“If we do hear additional neighborhood concerns, we’ll do our best to modify our operations,” he said.
The council Thursday night approved two annexation agreements: the first is a 19.097-acre property to the west, and the second is 28.882-acre property to the east. The properties include the school district’s administration building, a central kitchen, the Boulder Technical Education Center and Arapahoe Ridge High School, and the Sombrero Marsh Environmental Education Center.
The agreement requires the property’s outside lighting to comply with the city’s “dark sky” rules to eliminate light pollution as well as the city’s 55-feet building height limit and “good neighbor” agreement to limit noise impacts to neighborhoods and nearby wetlands. Boulder Valley also will be required to pay a $2.1 million city stormwater investment fee.
The 31,375-square-foot factory will serve as a teaching location for the construction students at the Technical Education Center. The first homes will be used in the redevelopment of the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park. The building, on the southeast corner of the site, will be designed with a steel frame and will be 36 feet tall at its peak.
The city will ensure the factory’s operating hours will occur no more than five days a week — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Construction of the factory will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Sugnet asid.
Forklifts at the factory will not have back-up alarms, and trash and recycling collection will only occur during operating hours. | 2022-12-16T08:36:03Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder City Council unanimously approves annexation for future BVSD modular home factory | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/15/boulder-city-council-unanimously-approves-annexation-for-future-bvsd-modular-home-factory/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/15/boulder-city-council-unanimously-approves-annexation-for-future-bvsd-modular-home-factory/ |
Opinion: Steve Pomerance: Two governmental…
By Steve Pomerance | stevepomerance@yahoo.com | Boulder Daily Camera
Many of you are probably familiar with Lorie Smith, a website designer, who asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block enforcement of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. This Act would have prevented her from refusing to create wedding websites for same-sex couples. Apparently, Ms. Smith’s objection comes from her religious beliefs, and the case is being argued regarding whether her combined First Amendment rights regarding freedom of speech and free exercise of religion are being violated.
Steve PomeranceFor the Camera
Rather than jump to a conclusion, I’ve tried to sort out the arguments being made. But the analogies and parallels that I’ve read get increasingly convoluted. Finally, I found a government website called “Constitution Annotated — Analysis and Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.” Reading through the First Amendment section, it became clear to me that even the most extensive and sophisticated arguments will not resolve such issues.
So, I tried to step back from the details and asked myself what the point of public religious organizations really is, and how their positions differ (or don’t) from what one derives from direct spiritual experience, which presumably should be the basis of religious beliefs and practices anyway. For me, this goes to the heart of how far the “free expression of religion” really should go.
To me, the golden rule — “…do to others as you would have them do to you…” — is a good example of a fundamental ethical principle. It’s based on an underlying spiritual experience that we are all one, however stated. (By the way, the positively stated version may have come from a much earlier negative version, “Whatever is hurtful to you, do not do to any other person.”) But over the centuries, and even now, there are actions and attitudes promoted by religions that are fundamentally at odds with this principle. So, it seems there need to be limits on the First Amendment’s “free expression.”
This is a long way around to the topic that I’ve discussed recently: the need to fix Boulder’s petition process for initiatives, referenda and recalls. My goal here is that those who make the decisions about the rules do so as if they are the ones that these rules affect. In other words, the decision-makers follow the golden rule.
The good news is that apparently the council’s Charter Committee will promptly take this up at their first meeting in 2023. However, any resulting charter amendments will not be voted on until November. That would leave the whole of 2023’s initiative period under the flawed current rules. And the whole problem with the misstated title for the CU South referendum started right in the beginning with the petition format that the city required. (The city required a title and a summary, whereas the state version just has a summary; the state version would have been used except for the City Code amendment passed a few years ago exempting Boulder from the state law.)
So, I hope the council will swiftly pass ordinances to fix the problems; I have already written up suggested options for them. This would be following my political version of the golden rule — the “3 up rule”: when you screw up, own up and clean it up.
Another issue to which the “golden rule” should apply is Junie Joseph’s recent decision to continue occupying her council seat along with representing District 10 at the state legislature. I have serious problems with her move. She was picked by the Democratic vacancy committee to run for Eide Hooton’s vacant seat partly on the assumption that she would not continue on the council, since she had not asserted otherwise, and the vacancy issue was discussed. And when she won the November election, she confirmed that she would be vacating her council position.
Then, suddenly, she reversed course and decided to keep both her council seat and the legislative position. To me, that’s a plain violation of the golden rule — to let people believe one thing and then violate that trust. And additionally, there is the massive workload and time demand at the legislature added to the council work, as well as the need to refrain from voting when conflicts exist, which are guaranteed to occur, especially for larger cities, like Boulder, and counties. (The state Legislative Office of Legal Services wrote a memo at the end of November discussing these issues in detail.)
Junie should resign her council seat. The council will not only survive with eight members until next November; it will work just fine.
Steve Pomerance is a former member of the Boulder city council. He served as an aide to a state senator in the Legislature in 1983. stevepomerance@yahoo.com
Steve Pomerance
Steve Pomerance is a former Boulder City Council member. Email: stevepomerance@yahoo.com.
stevepomerance@yahoo.com | 2022-12-16T14:43:28Z | www.dailycamera.com | Opinion: Steve Pomerance: Two governmental issues highlight the importance of the 'golden rule' | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/16/opinion-steve-pomerance-two-governmental-issues-highlight-the-importance-of-the-golden-rule/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/16/opinion-steve-pomerance-two-governmental-issues-highlight-the-importance-of-the-golden-rule/ |
Conscious Alliance accuses seller of…
BROOMFIELD — The Conscious Alliance Inc., which harnesses the power of musicians, artists and natural-foods companies to raise awareness and funds for food-accessibility projects, particularly in South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, has sued the seller of a building the nonprofit group bought in 2020, claiming that the company withheld information about use and occupancy restrictions in place at the property.
The lawsuit, filed this month in Broomfield County District Court, accuses defendants E&J Rocky Mountain Properties LLC and Edward Gutierrez of selling real estate to CA that was “non-complian[t] with the fire and building codes,” and therefore “only permitted to host a small number of employees at the property.”
Conscious Alliance paid $2 million for the building at 3801 Industrial Lane, with the intention of using the property as “its national distribution center, as well as to host public events, fundraisers, donor events and other large scale public gatherings,” the lawsuit said.
After the purchase, the nonprofit group was informed by a Broomfield fire official “that any modifications made to the property, or changes in its usage, would require the owner to bring the property up to fire code,” according to the complaint.
CA attorneys allege that communications between Gutierrez and Broomfield officials from years prior to the sale prove that the seller “was cautioned that the property could not be used for any large scale events, solely for simple meetings and operation.”
Gutierrez and E&J could not be reached for comment. Other than a filing with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office from 1999 that shows the company registered to a residential address in Longmont, E&J Rocky Mountain Properties LLC does not have an easily searchable internet presence.
The complaint also indicates that Gutierrez had reason to believe that the necessary improvements to the building “far exceeds the value of the property.”
Conscious Alliance has reached an agreement with fire officials to continue occupying the Industrial Lane site, but only four employees can work there at a time, and no large events can be hosted, the lawsuit claims. “The occupancy use restrictions prevent plaintiff from using its warehouse space to its full potential.”
In addition to the disclosure issues related to use and occupancy restrictions, CA claims that shoddy construction of a drainage system by the defendant led to thousands of dollars of water damage in a series of flooding events.
The lawsuit demands a court award to Conscious Alliance unspecified damages.
The Conscious Alliance Inc. v. E&J Rocky Mountain Properties LLC and Edward Gutierrez, case number 2022CV30325, was filed Dec. 9, 2022 in Broomfield County District Court.
This article was first published by BizWest, an independent news organization, and is published under a license agreement. © 2022 BizWest Media LLC. You can view the original here: Conscious Alliance accuses seller of withholding use, occupancy restrictions for new facility
Boulder’s bankrupt Clovis faces delisting from Nasdaq | 2022-12-16T21:57:42Z | www.dailycamera.com | Conscious Alliance accuses seller of withholding use, occupancy restrictions for new facility – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/conscious-alliance-accuses-seller-of-withholding-use-occupancy-restrictions-for-new-facility/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/13/conscious-alliance-accuses-seller-of-withholding-use-occupancy-restrictions-for-new-facility/ |
Community Editorial Board: Boulder’s behavioral…
Members of our Community Editorial Board, a group of community residents who are engaged with and passionate about local issues, respond to the following question: A proposed behavioral health pilot program in Boulder would send trained clinicians to non-criminal 911 calls. Unlike Boulder’s existing co-response program, clinicians would respond to calls without a police officer. Your take?
A proposed behavioral health pilot program in Boulder would send trained clinicians to non-criminal 911 calls. Unlike Boulder’s existing co-response program, clinicians would respond to calls without a police officer. Your take?
Boulder’s proposed Community Assistance Response Team (CART) one-year pilot program would allow dispatch officers for Boulder 911 and police non-emergency line to send a behavioral health clinician and paramedic, rather than police, to “calls that are not criminal in nature, do not present safety concerns, and may be more appropriate for health care and social
services professionals.” The benefits of doing so would include freeing up police resources for more serious public safety matters, as well as avoiding the potential escalation of nonviolent situations that can occur when police arrive with lethal weapons. What took so long?
As best I can tell, this approach was developed nearly thirty years ago when a group of hippies at the White Bird Clinic in Eugene, Oregon, began an unlikely alliance with the local police department to allow a medic and a crisis worker (rather than police officers) to be the first responders in urgent, non-violent medical or psychological crisis situations. Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets — with the tongue-in-cheek acronym CAHOOTS for its work with law enforcement — has now become a model for such programs across the United States. Recently, Denver began implementing its Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program, which is modeled on CAHOOTS, in part of the city. In its first six months, STAR teams have responded to 2,837 calls for service, and during that period the STAR teams never had to call for police backup due to a safety issue.
Recall that on July 4 this year the Boulder police were overwhelmed in responding to dozens of incidents which delayed their response to shootings and a riot on the Hill. And sometimes when police respond to a mental health situation there are tragic results, as occurred with the recent shooting of a Boulder resident by police in Clear Creek. Freeing up law enforcement to handle public safety issues, while skilled medics and clinicians deal with crisis issues for which they are trained, is a win-win for the community.
There will be practical issues to work out. For example, how to handle potential overlap with the city’s current co-response program. Also, Boulder may be trying to reinvent the wheel by basing the triage at dispatch on whether there is “criminal” conduct — a potentially difficult legal call for a dispatch officer. Eugene, Denver and elsewhere focus on lack of violence instead, and it works. Keep it simple. Given this is a pilot, things can be adjusted.
The role of police has evolved over the years from the good-natured cop on the beat memorialized by the iconic Officer Krupke in “West Side Story” to a group of highly trained officers with specialized SWAT training meant to help deal with dangerous criminals.
Starting during the Reagan-era war on drugs, the military began informally giving surplus equipment to police departments across the country. This program was formalized by Congress in the 1990s. Police departments received tasers, sophisticated weapons and in some cases, even tanks.
Right around that same time, the Reagan administration began closing the large mental health hospitals that were mostly used to warehouse people with mental health problems. The result was an exponential increase in the number of homeless people with mental health issues. Communities were wholly unprepared to deal with the myriad problems that arose in connection with so many unhoused unwell people.
The public funding that had been available to help people experiencing poverty or mental illness dried up beginning with Reagan and accelerated during the Clinton administration. Homelessness and mental health started to be viewed as a safety issue rather than a health issue and the police, by default, became the primary source for dealing with this community-wide situation. But the training police received for these crises was minimal and the interventions too often ended in arrests or even injury.
The significant rise in opioid drug use has exacerbated the problems and there has been a huge increase in what the city calls “behavior health issues.” These are non-criminal emergencies where people are acting in ways where they could harm themselves but are generally considered to be not dangerous. Increased drug use has also increased medical emergencies that don’t require a trip to the hospital.
Last February, Boulder launched the Crisis Intervention Response Team which paired a police officer and a mental health worker to respond to calls involving behavioral health issues. The results were positive. Out of 523 calls to which CIRT responded, only two involved uses of force by the attending police officer and there were only eight arrests.
In 2023, a new program will begin which will allow mental health workers to team up with paramedics to respond to behavioral health crises, human services calls and medical calls without an accompanying police officer, freeing up law enforcement personnel for other critical work. It will hopefully prove to be an effective, more appropriate response to this growing problem.
Years ago, a friend’s son was trying to commit suicide by cop. The kid was brandishing a knife and asked the cop, “What if I run at you?” hoping the response would be: “I’ll shoot you.” The officer responded, “I’ll run away.” I’ll run away… We must remember that most cops are there to “protect and serve.” They aren’t macho Dirty-Harry types itching to fire. But who wouldn’t want help to diffuse a volatile situation?
First and foremost, we need to clearly define the problem and data to measure it. If we can’t measure it, then we have no business trying to solve it. Secondly, we must be clear about what constitutes success before trying the pilot program. Otherwise, we risk defining success as whatever outcome occurs.
The Boulder Police Department gets 80,000 calls per year. How often does one of those calls result in even an officer drawing their gun? About 0.1% of the time — or roughly seven times a month, according to BPD. And that figure has been going down for the past few years. Is that the problem we’re trying to solve? I hope not, as it isn’t one.
Boulder is one year into its CIRT program, which pairs a trained clinician with a police officer on calls concerning mental health. In the first six months, the CIRT team responded to 523 calls, which is less than 2% of total calls. The proposed pilot program would replace the police officer with a paramedic, freeing up the officer from that 2%.
Vera.org did a study of nine cities and found that 62% of 911 calls were for non-criminal activity and that 19% of the calls were for behavioral-health-related incidents. We should have these numbers for Boulder police calls, as it would be crazy to propose a pilot program like this without those numbers. Right?
Police respond to all these calls because that’s who we have to send. This pilot program is a step towards having a more diverse set of options where the 911 operator would select which team to send. What if we had a hierarchy of police officers, where most of the cops weren’t even armed, like British bobbies? We don’t need an armed unit to respond to a loud party. They just need a badge and the authority to issue tickets, shut down parties, and even make arrests, only calling for armed support if they feel at risk.
So, once we have the problem clearly defined and the criteria of success specified, let’s give it a go. What have we got to lose? The funding should come from the reduced police headcount. | 2022-12-17T15:14:26Z | www.dailycamera.com | Community Editorial Board: Boulder's behavioral health 911 response pilot program | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/community-editorial-board-boulders-behavioral-health-911-response-pilot-program/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/community-editorial-board-boulders-behavioral-health-911-response-pilot-program/ |
Letters to the editor: International disaster…
Natalie Cohlmia: Developing nations: International disaster aid shouldn’t be based on status
When disaster strikes, developed countries respond promptly with funds and proper supplies for other developed countries, but need to start having the same response for developing countries.
Back in 2019, when the Notre Dame Cathedral in France was destroyed by a fire, aid was immediate. In the span of 10 days, $835 million was donated, including a $100,000 donation from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. “There is no direct correlation between the cathedral and the university,” according to CNN. On the contrary, there was very little financial aid distributed after an explosion ruined much of Beirut, Lebanon in 2020. This disaster took the lives of 218 people and caused $3.8-4.6 billion in damage, according to Al Jazeera. COVID already struck this country hard, so this explosion lead the country to an economic downfall full of corruption ever since. Private donations outweighed the little international aid Lebanon received, and that is a problem. As a first-generation American myself, coming from a Lebanese background, this obvious split between the responses to the disasters angers me.
This problem is noticeable across most developing countries and it is unacceptable. When disaster strikes in more favorable countries like France, a pool of donations and international aid swarms in because of the economic status of that country. When the same type of event happens in a less favorable country like Lebanon, a prompt response is doubtful because of the economic status of that country.
I believe the international response following disaster needs to be equal in every country, no matter the economic status. Developed countries need to do better. We need to do better.
Natalie Cohlmia, Boulder
Jason May: Mental health: CU could have mandatory mental health meetings
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and its forced isolation, many vital social and mental skills were lost. Students who went through the pandemic during the meat of their high school career are the ones now moving into college. Colleges must have programs to help identify those individuals who are struggling with mental health.
For example, during my sophomore year in high school when the COVID-19 pandemic started, school went virtual and continued virtually until midway through my junior year. It felt like I was missing out on part of my high school experience. Missing out on so many social events and occurrences took away from the social skills that I had put together throughout my life.
I am from Dunwoody, GA, and came to Boulder, CO. I am very far away from my home. When I came to college and knew nobody, I had to move into a new room, live in a different state, and do school all at the same time. With all these new aspects of college being thrown at me, I never found enough time for myself to make sure I was okay. Rather than focusing on my mental health and making sure that was in a good place, I was focused on other things such as school, Greek Life, and social events. Having programs to help reach out and identify those students who need help with the transition or even any other reason would be able to play a big role in improving mental health. The University of Colorado at Boulder can start a program where every student has a mandatory meeting with a mental health advisor once every two weeks. This will force students to practice talking about their issues, and give them an opportunity to work on them with a skilled individual in the field.
Jason May, Boulder
Tyler Christian: Mental health: Teach kids to be aware of over using social media
According to Health Line, after using social media, 85% of kids reported negative effects on self-esteem, 85% reported negative effects on self-image, 83% reported an increase in anxiety, and 81% reported an increase in loneliness. I have experienced these negative side effects firsthand and can confidentiality agree that social media is one of the number one contributors to these problems and we need to regulate its use among younger people. It is known to affect childhood development by making children inattentive, antisocial, and can even lead to addiction. This problem has been trending upward year after year and it’s time to address it and make a change to save future generations.
To address these problems, it is important to teach adolescents to be aware of their social media usage and the potential risks of over-usage. Parents and educators should also take the steps to educate adolescents about the potential risks of over-usage, as well as the importance of setting boundaries for themselves in terms of the time they spend on social media. It is important to help teach adolescents to be open and honest with adults in their lives, such as parents, teachers, or counselors if they are experiencing any of the negative effects of social media. By taking these steps, we can help adolescents to maintain a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.
Tyler Christian, Boulder
Austin Lamkin: Appearance: Stop portraying good looks above all
People are so focused on their looks that they put their appearance before much more important things, which will destroy confidence. So, people will get cosmetic surgeries in the hope of making themselves “look better,” which will supposedly make them “feel better” and cure their insecurities and timidity. But, do these cosmetic surgeries actually have a significant effect on that?
People just need to stop caring so much about how they look in public and instead care more about who they are and how they act in public. Sometimes, the littlest things can control every aspect of someone’s life. But for the future, when found in that situation, take a step back and ask, “Are these bad things about myself really true?” Chances are the answer is always no, not everyone thinks the same way of you. Everyone has different perspectives, and people should love you for who you are as a person, not for some physical feature of yours.
Society needs to stop portraying good looks above all. It’s unhealthy and can be detrimental to specific groups of people. Plastic surgery might make you feel better, but is it worth getting it based on other people’s perspectives of you? Comparing yourself to others is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. Instead of soaking in sadness about the things you don’t like about yourself, find the things you love about yourself, and embrace them. Don’t listen to what society has to say about you, listen to what you have to say about yourself.
Austin Lamkin, Boulder | 2022-12-17T15:14:32Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: International disaster aid; mental health meetings; social media overuse; appearance standards | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/letters-to-the-editor-international-disaster-aid-mental-health-meetings-social-media-overuse-appearance-standards/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/letters-to-the-editor-international-disaster-aid-mental-health-meetings-social-media-overuse-appearance-standards/ |
Roger Cracraft, early Boulder bike path…
Courtesy Carnegie Branch Library for Local History / Albert A. Bartlett Collection
Roger Cracraft and Al Bartlett ride through the ribbon to celebrate the first section of Boulder Bikeways in 1970.
Roger Cracraft was an early champion of Boulder bike trails, a longtime news director at Boulder’s KBOL radio station and had his name included on the Eisenhower Tunnel plaque to recognize his service on the Colorado Highway Commission.
Cracraft died Dec. 10 at his home in Arizona. He was 84.
Roger Cracraft(Courtesy photo)
Born in Wichita, Kan., he graduated from the University of Denver with a journalism degree and spent 14 years as the news director at Boulder’s KBOL radio station. In 1974, he was hired as an executive producer at Denver’s Channel 7. A few years later, he joined KOA-TV as their news director. He changed careers in 1984, working as a stockbroker until he retired in 2010.
While at KBOL, he covered the Apollo 11 launch in July 1969 and considered it a highlight of his journalism career, said son Jim Cracraft. He also was the voice of KBOL news in the early morning and evening and taught journalism at the University of Colorado Boulder.
“Growing up, it felt like everyone in town knew Roger by name,” Jim Cracraft said.
Outside of work, he was active in the Jaycees and Boulder Rotary Club and had a
lifelong interest in urban planning and public transportation.
He was a board member for Boulder Parks and Recreation in the 1960s and the Boulder Planning Board in the 1970s. He was a proponent of the late Al Bartlett’s Boulder Bikeways proposal, which created the city’s first bike path. In 1970 as the chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Cracraft rode through the ribbon for the first section of Boulder Bikeways with Bartlett on a tandem bicycle.
Cracraft also served as a Colorado Highway Commissioner and RTD board member in the 1980s, as well as commissioner to the Colorado Department of Transportation from 1994 to 2001. He continued his transportation service work after retiring to Arizona.
“I hope he is remembered for the significant contribution he made to the state and metro region’s transportation infrastructure,” said his youngest son, John Cracraft. “He was a driving force for the metro light rail and heavy rail systems. And for the the amazing highway projects he was a part of, including Vail Pass, the Eisenhower Tunnel and the Glenwood Canyon.”
His sons said their father was always busy, balancing career, family and public service, and spent many evenings at board meetings, city council meetings, school board meetings or teaching at CU.
“He instilled a strong work ethic for me and my brother,” Jim Cracraft said. “We both have had successful careers and earned advanced degrees at night, which I attribute to the lessons he taught us growing up.”
Cracraft married Jane Minier in 1959, and they raised three sons in Boulder during their 25-year marriage. His oldest son, Paul Cracraft, preceded him in death. In 1990, Cracraft married Linda Capra, and they lived in Aurora until retiring to Arizona. They were married for 27 years. He married Janis Gallagher in March 2022.
His family said he loved traveling to Europe, in part because of the extensive and efficient train network, but also because of the food, wine, history and music. He was a big sports fan and enjoyed attending CU football games and Arizona basketball games.
“He was never happier than when we were getting together with family for holidays and with friends for dinner parties,” John Cracraft said.
He was an avid reader who appreciated quality journalism, as well as a baker. He loved baking fancy deserts, using an Austrian pastry cookbook to create fancy pastries with his friends. He proclaimed his love of sweets with a license plate that read “CHOCLT.” He also survived cancer, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, 25 years ago.
John Cracraft said it hit him this week that he can no longer call his dad on his way home from work, as he often did, to talk about work, life and his grandchildren.
“I will miss those conversations for the rest of my life,” he said. | 2022-12-17T19:05:03Z | www.dailycamera.com | Roger Cracraft, early Boulder bike path champion and radio journalist, dies at 84 | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/roger-cracraft-early-boulder-bike-path-champion-and-radio-journalist-dies-at-84/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/roger-cracraft-early-boulder-bike-path-champion-and-radio-journalist-dies-at-84/ |
• Sugarloaf Road: Boulder County is working on the last 2013 flood recovery-related project on Sugarloaf Road. The project involves the construction of five retaining walls, drainage improvements and reconstruction of approximately 2,000 feet of roadway just up from Colo. 119 and will include a 4-foot shoulder in the uphill lane. Due to an unsafe and confined work zone, Sugarloaf will be closed between Colo. 119 and Betasso Road from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. weekdays. Sugarloaf will remain open in a single-lane configuration through the work zone during all other hours. In addition, Colo. 119/Boulder Canyon Drive will be reduced to one lane from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The project is still ongoing as of Dec. 16.
• Weld County Road 16.5: WCR 16.5 will be closed from WCR 3.25 to WCR 5 from Dec. 19 to 22 for culvert replacement. | 2022-12-17T22:22:34Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder County-area cone zones for Dec. 18-24, 2022 – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/boulder-county-area-cone-zones-for-dec-18-24-2022-2/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/17/boulder-county-area-cone-zones-for-dec-18-24-2022-2/ |
Editorial: Standing up to antisemitism and hate…
Are we indifferent?
It’s a simple-seeming question with a simple-seeming answer. Are we indifferent? Of course not.
Here we are, on the day Hanukkah is set to begin, facing an overwhelming tide of hate. More specifically a contemptible resurgence of antisemitism. The headlines have been hard to miss: celebrities and athletes spewing loathsome tropes, a former president dining with a Holocaust denier, and hate crimes on the rise.
Of course, antisemitism is nothing new. Centuries’ worth of violence have been wrought upon Jewish communities across the globe. Still, according to the Anti-Defamation League, the last five years have seen consistent increases in reports of harassment, vandalism and violence directed against Jews. And last year, 2021, saw the highest-ever number of reported incidents since the ADL began keeping track in 1979 — 2,717 incidents. This year the trend is set to hold steady.
For Rabbi Fred Greene, of Boulder’s Congregation Har HaShem, it’s exhausting and scary but nothing new. Still, Greene began his career believing he’d never have to give a sermon about antisemitism.
“The messages, the myths and the tropes have been around for a really long time,” Greene said. “The difference is, the people who used to be on the fringe now have a seat at the main table.”
The fear and anxiety has been tangible in his congregation. But the message he seeks to impart is one of hope.
“Jewish people in all lands and of all colors, of all backgrounds, have had to deal with some real terrible things,” he said, “but being Jewish is much more than suffering or surviving. It is about what we bring to the world and how we stand shoulder to shoulder with other peoples.”
Rabbi Marc Soloway, of Boulder’s Congregation Bonai Shalom, described the freedom of Jewish expression he felt upon first moving to the United States from Britain, where the shadow of the Holocaust loomed over his youth.
“People here felt this safety and self-confidence to express their experience of being Jewish,” Soloway said. “That literally changed overnight with the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh. Suddenly, everything changed. Almost every single synagogue in the country now has an armed guard outside, including ours.”
And while it is sometimes easy to feel like such division and hatred is elsewhere — in some other bitterly divided city far away from our bastion of tolerance and liberal values — hate resides here, too. Both Soloway and Greene pointed to recent shootings and attempted attacks — not necessarily against Jews — and noted that Colorado is home to several hate groups.
Still, for some, including Esty Scheiner, the daughter of Rabbi Pesach Scheiner of the Boulder County Center for Judaism, the Boulder community has shown up.
“From the non-Jewish community in Boulder I feel an incredible outpouring of genuine concern and compassion,” Scheiner wrote in an email. “When the kind people of our city witness baseless hatred, they are inspired to reach out to express their solidarity and love.”
Which shows that our actions matter. And while we have a track record of being a supportive community, there is work to be done. We cannot look at intolerance and feel like it is distant or abstract or as though we have banished it from our city limits. It is still tangible for many of our neighbors.
“Knowing that we have allies and that we are allies to others who feel unsafe, is really, really important,” Soloway said. “There are people feeling vulnerable, and messages of support mean something. The more that we feel we are one community that has each other’s backs, the better.”
This was a point that both Soloway and Greene stressed: The support must be mutual. Our efforts to uplift any community in a time of need should be returned in the other direction when necessary. These bonds, however you frame them — standing shoulder to shoulder, having each other’s backs — are what build communities. It is one imperative way to fight hate and intolerance — by ensuring no one is left behind in the quest for equality.
“There is a line in the Torah that says, ‘You must not be indifferent,’” Greene said. “But if you really parse it out, it says, ‘You cannot hide yourself.’ You cannot disappear. You cannot pretend you don’t see.”
“The thing about Hanukkah is that during the darkest time of the year, our job is to bring light,” Greene said. “And it shouldn’t just be for ourselves.”
Hate cannot be eradicated overnight. No matter our collective might, we will not be able to return antisemitism to the oblivion of irrelevance where it belongs anytime soon. The battle against intolerance will take time. And it will take resolve.
We are busy people. We have jobs. We have families. We have obligations and debts and friends and hobbies. And all of these things take time and energy. And so too does the fight against antisemitism and hate. It is exhausting. But we have shown before that we can do it. When tragedy strikes, time and again we have proven that we have the courage and the capacity to stand together and support and defend those in need.
What we need now, though, is to show up regularly. Not every day. And not always to protest or protect, but simply to do the determined work of building and maintaining the bonds that fortify a community.
Part of this work is to simply connect. Say hi. Make introductions. Ask questions and take the time to learn about the cultures and traditions that abound in our community. Reach out to friends and acquaintances to let them know they are not alone.
Solidarity goes a long way in the face of hate.
In a letter from the Birmingham, Alabama, jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
We cannot remain indifferent. Solidarity takes all of us. And it takes a daily recommitment.
“Showing up is the hardest thing to do, but it is the most profound,” Greene said. “We’ve all missed the mark. That’s why we have a new year. Let’s try harder.” | 2022-12-18T15:12:18Z | www.dailycamera.com | Editorial: Standing up to antisemitism and hate takes solidarity | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/editorial-standing-up-to-antisemitism-and-hate-takes-solidarity/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/editorial-standing-up-to-antisemitism-and-hate-takes-solidarity/ |
In Retrospect: Humane Society of Boulder Valley…
The Boulder County Humane Society’s first shelter was northeast of Arapahoe Ave. and 48th Street. (Boulder Carnegie Library/Courtesy photo)
By Silvia Pettem |
In 1902, a small group of public-spirited people in Boulder spoke to the need for an organization to care for animals. Dogs ran in packs, and many residents considered them a nuisance. Those who favored a humane society soon realized that their task was far greater than creating a shelter for dogs and cats. The animal advocates first had to change the mindset of many of Boulder’s residents.
Silvia Pettem, In Retrospect
This year, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley is celebrating its 120th anniversary, a good time to reflect on longtime society president Anna Belle Morris. When she died in 1959, the Camera stated, “She grew rich in the rewards money can’t buy and left the community better than she found it.”
The organization’s commitment to serving the community remains the same today.
As the oldest continuously operating humane society in Colorado, HSBV grew out of an even older Colorado organization –– the State Bureau of Child and Animal Protection. Boulder’s humane society, however, kept its focus solely on animals.
Newspapers reported on dog poisonings, and society members urged schoolchildren to report people who harmed animals. The society then offered rewards for the abusers’ arrests.
In addition to teaching kindness to residents, the newly formed organization’s first goal was to build a shelter for homeless dogs and cats. But the nonprofit lacked the funds. Thirty years later, in 1932, they received a $50,000 estate gift from former Boulder resident and dog owner Kate Harbeck. She had moved to New York City but, in Boulder, she and her late husband were known for holding elaborate funerals for their three dogs –– Beauty, Jim, and Rover.
Continuing with its advocacy program, the humane society held a “Be Kind to Animals Week” in April 1933. Three months later, the Camera reported that the society was represented in a Fourth of July parade by a decorated car displaying ‘Be Kind to Animals’ slogans.
The Boulder County Humane Society, as it was called at the time, quickly made up for lost time. In 1934, its members purchased a 67-acre tract, northeast of the intersection of 48th Street and Arapahoe Avenue. There, the organization built its first animal shelter –– a small stone building with kennels in the back –– as well as an adjacent pet cemetery.
The humane society outgrew its Arapahoe Avenue location in 1972 and moved to a new building at 2323 55th St. Remains from the pet cemetery were relocated, as well. In 2001, a state-of-the-art facility replaced the former building.
Meanwhile, programs and philosophies evolved from awareness and basic care to a wide range of services that continue to build on the dreams of the founders.
“In the intervening years, HSBV focused on ending pet overpopulation,” stated Jan McHugh-Smith, HSBV’s CEO in a recent interview. “Today’s services extend beyond adoptions, and include a veterinary hospital, a training and behavior program, disaster response, and safety net services to keep pets and people together.”
McHugh-Smith added, “As a local nonprofit, we depend on community donations to operate. We’re grateful for the community’s support over the last 120 years and hope to serve the pets and people who need us for another 120 years.”
For information on the many services offered, as well as how you can help, see boulderhumane.org/120years/.
Silvia Pettem
Silvia Pettem writes about Boulder County history. She can be contacted at silviapettem@gmail.com. She and Carol Taylor alternate the “In Retrospect” history column. | 2022-12-18T15:12:30Z | www.dailycamera.com | In Retrospect: Humane Society of Boulder Valley celebrates service to the community | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/in-retrospect-humane-society-of-boulder-valley-celebrates-service-to-the-community/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/in-retrospect-humane-society-of-boulder-valley-celebrates-service-to-the-community/ |
Letters to the editor: Harmful social media…
Ellie Eisenberg: Antisemitism: Social media must regulate harmful content
Recent statistics reveal that antisemitism is still very alive and increasing with each generation in America. While institutionalized antisemitism is almost completely eradicated and the Jewish community has gained much respect, it is troubling why this increase is occurring. A report from Statista revealed that Jews experience the highest amount of hate crimes in America of any religious group, recording a whopping 683 hate crime incidents in 2020 (Statista Research Department). After much research, it is evident that a driving cause of this increase in antisemitism is due to the expansion of mass media, specifically social media, in America, and it is vital that more online censorship is enacted to prevent the rise of antisemitism.
With the constant development of new forms of mass media, and social media at its highest use than ever, people are utilizing these platforms to spread hate and misconceptions about Jewish people, exacerbating antisemitism in America. A recent incident of this correlation is shown when Kanye West tweeted about “going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE” and claimed that Jews “black ball anyone whoever opposes your (Jews’) agenda,” according to the ADL’s “Unpacking Kanye West’s Antisemitic Remarks.” Kanye was able to voice his hate towards the Jewish community on a platform where he has 31.5 million followers provoking an antisemitic outbreak across America. In the following days, many people demonstrated their anti-Jewish sentiments with posters, Hitler salutes, and antisemitic posts online applauding Kanye for his statement, causing Jews to feel unsafe.
In the new age of media, hate can spread faster and farther than ever before leading people to believe that it is acceptable to be overtly hateful since they see others acting in such ways. Social media platforms need to regulate people’s harmful posts before antisemitism, and hate in general, becomes more widespread and endangering to society.
Ellie Eisenberg, Boulder
Jimmy Proctor: Mental health: Schools should expand teachings to the realm of the mind
Elementary schools onward should teach actual practical mental health techniques as opposed to leaving children in the dark. When I was in elementary school, the concept of having a healthy mind was only presented to me in the form of cartoon monks that were not meant to be taken seriously. In schools and at home it wasn’t even a concept I had discovered.
By middle school, it had gotten a little better. I was told about counselors, and I was told I could ask them any question I needed. But why should I? Just because they were there doesn’t mean I’m planning on waltzing toward a stranger and telling them I was feeling down. All I treated them as was a resource to have my classes with friends, past that, they were as much strangers to me as the leader of France.
By high school, there was no point in telling anyone in my mind. I had already had it drilled into my head that I couldn’t trust the administration with anything because they were a foreign people to me. They couldn’t understand me, and I sat there alone, with no idea how to figure it out on my own. But I had no choice in the matter.
I simply wish to expand our teachings into the realm of the mind and how to keep it healthy, as well as the body. Rather than just the body with PE. It would help people tremendously.
Jimmy Proctor, Littleton | 2022-12-18T15:12:42Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Harmful social media content; expanding school teachings | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/letters-to-the-editor-harmful-social-media-content-expanding-school-teachings/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/letters-to-the-editor-harmful-social-media-content-expanding-school-teachings/ |
Opinion: Sam Weaver: Holiday thanks and a New…
By Sam Weaver |
This is a time of gratitude, reflection, family time, and looking ahead to another planetary cycle around our solar life-giver. As our city tilts away from the sun’s rays, the environment becomes much less forgiving of inadequate or absent shelter for people. Boulder is lucky to have a network of organizations dedicated to making sure that all have shelter, and others who assist people climbing the ladder of housing security. We live in a society that makes supporting affordable housing a constant struggle between maintaining an economical housing supply and the financial incentives of a profit-maximizing housing market. Governments of all levels get involved, distorting the markets in ways that are intended to increase affordable housing but have the mixed successes of most attempts at market regulation. In this difficult and politically fraught landscape, Boulder is lucky to have hard-working and results-oriented organizations that focus on solutions. I’d like to point out and thank some of these as part of celebrating their work.
Sam Weaver
The City of Boulder and Boulder County have professional and dedicated housing staff who work hard within their governments to support shelter availability in the city, including affordable housing development of all types. City staff work particularly closely with Boulder Housing Partners (BHP) to develop, acquire, renovate, maintain and operate affordable rental properties in the city. BHP is probably the single most impactful housing organization operating in Boulder, and it is a public housing authority operating as an independent entity from the city organization. That said, BHP is named for its mode of partnership in its mission and it coordinates closely with all levels of government. The mission is the creation and operation of affordable rentals in the city of Boulder, and BHP assists over 2,000 households with housing out of our 47,000 or so households in Boulder. The city partners with BHP frequently, and it is no exaggeration that the hundreds of new affordable housing units recently brought online at 30th and Pearl resulted substantially from BHP delivering needed support for a troubled project. Another organization with a similar mission and approach is Thistle, which works across Boulder County, including in partnership with Boulder. Thistle, for example, manages Mapleton Mobile Home Park for the city landowner.
Another indispensable partner is Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), whose mission is to support those in crisis, especially those whose housing status is under threat. EFAA has supported those in precarity in Boulder for 100 years and has always emphasized family safety net support and capacity development. When city staff learns of families in crisis, an agency it often refers them to is EFAA. Another non-profit that supports those most exposed to the elements is the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (BSH). The name is the mission, and BSH has operated over many years as a support of last resort for the unsheltered, and has done so in the face of difficult controversies which have only become more intense. Bridge House serves a similar set of individuals with a path to sobriety and employment available to those inclined. Feet Forward is a recent addition to the list of organizations supporting those in need of shelter and services, providing clothing, food and human warmth. These partners are doing critical work serving those in most need, and in this season they seem like saints.
Looking ahead, the need for housing options to supplement a brutal market will grow unabated. Employment in Boulder has long outpaced housing, and this will continue as it has for decades — it’s the reality of Boulder, the regional jobs center. The implication for housing costs is clear, so the need for affordable units is urgent and growing. There’s only one opportunity I see for a substantial singular impact on the Boulder affordable housing situation. As per Edison, that opportunity comes dressed in overalls and looks like hard work: it’s the Area III Planning Reserve north of Boulder, whose future is substantially uncharted. That should change. Change is controversial, thus the need for overalls.
Long ago, Boulder wisely adopted an urban growth boundary in collaboration with the county. First included in this comprehensive plan in 1993 was the designation of around 800 acres on the north side of U.S. 36 at Broadway as land intended to be developed if needed by the city. This status has been maintained and was adjusted in 2000 to reduce the size of the area but preserve annexation potential for sufficient need and benefit. One COVID disruption was to delay planned work to assess the infrastructure costs of bringing the Planning Reserve into the city. Presumably, any such annexation would be housing-focused, as the de facto standard is 45% of housing as affordable.
A major comprehensive plan update will be considered in 2025, the point for considering a change to this area. The preparatory work required to assess changing the Planning Reserve to Area II and make it legally ready for annexation must start very soon for it to be included in the coming update since the details are complex. If housing is a priority, the planning and community conversations about any annexation must start now. It was originally intended to start in 2019. Current Council Members and 2023 candidates should be able to explain when and how we should make this land available for housing. Should that happen, I’d be immensely thankful.
Sam Weaver is a former Boulder Mayor and Council Member (2013 to 2021). | 2022-12-18T15:12:55Z | www.dailycamera.com | Opinion: Sam Weaver: Holiday thanks and a New Year’s wish for Boulder housing | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/opinion-sam-weaver-holiday-thanks-and-a-new-years-wish-for-boulder-housing/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/opinion-sam-weaver-holiday-thanks-and-a-new-years-wish-for-boulder-housing/ |
No injuries in explosion, fire at north Boulder…
A mobile home in the Boulder Meadows mobile home park caught fire after an explosion on Sunday morning, but the home’s residents escaped uninjured.
Dionne Waugh, Boulder police public information officer, said that the cause of the fire is currently unknown but is suspected to have started from a propane tank. She confirmed that there were no injuries and that there is no fire threat to neighbors. She said that the home appears to be a total loss.
Waugh said that the occupants smelled smoke, saw a flame and were able to leave the home before the explosion.
The first emergency call to report the fire was received at 11:45 a.m., and the fire department arrived at the scene within minutes. At 1:02 p.m., the Boulder Police Twitter page advised residents to avoid the 4500 block of 19th Street while the fire department put out the fire. | 2022-12-19T00:21:15Z | www.dailycamera.com | No injuries in explosion, fire at north Boulder home – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/no-injuries-in-explosion-fire-at-north-boulder-home/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/18/no-injuries-in-explosion-fire-at-north-boulder-home/ |
Boulder fashion brand focuses on sustainability
Atrevete fashion upcycles fabric to create unique pieces.
Martin and the stash of donated fabric, available so that the Atrevate team can sew with it, (Andrea Grajeda, Staff Writer)
A beginner seamstress does not start her own fashion brand, but in Spanish “atrevete” means to challenge yourself and to try boldly, which is what Paula Martin did.
Martin is the founder and owner of Atrevete, a sustainable fashion brand based in Boulder.
Martin was born in Spain and graduated from Grand Valley State University in Michigan in 2020 with a degree in photography. After graduating, a relationship brought her to Boulder. Martin was planning to move back to Spain for a photojournalism internship, but after being snowed in and unable to leave her house, Martin decided she wanted to make a pair of overalls with the help of a friend. In May 2021, Martin wore her overalls to a party, and one of her friends offered to pay Martin to make a pair of overalls for her. And then another friend offered, and then a friend of a friend offered, and then complete strangers were asking for Martin to make them overalls.
Martin was only selling overalls on the side to make some extra money when in the summer of 2021 she sold her car thinking she would no longer need it when she went back to Spain. It was not until one of Martin’s friends suggested that she start a business selling overalls that she decided to take the plunge.
In the fall of 2021, with the $10,000 she made from selling her car, she invested in sewing machines and sewing notions; she started hiring; and her business was formed.
Martin explains and shows how sewing can be a precise art, and how it required one to be in their present mind. (Andrea Grajeda, Staff Writer)
Martin was not an advanced seamstress. In fact, that first pair of overalls she made was the first thing she ever sewed. She said that she jumped right into learning how to become a better seamstress, as now her entire financial livelihood depended on it.
“It was like a super intensive summer camp overnight, and I taught myself how to sew,” Martin said.
Martin shared that one of the best ways to learn is to write down all the mistakes made along the way. In the Atrevete studios, there is a mistake board on the wall. She said that because she was a novice sewer when she started her business, the pressure was on. She said the mistakes were painful, and even more painful when the mistakes got repeated more than once. But, the mistake board held her accountable and made her a better seamstress.
She expressed that sewing is a precise art and requires one to be super focused to get it done right.
Martin said that the mass production of clothes through the fast-fashion industry can force people to wear clothes that they do not identify with. She hopes her business will be that small change, and reminds people that clothes are a great expression of oneself. She also hopes to normalize slow-fashion.
Martin said that when she first started her business, she thought it would be a selfless adventure. Martin thought she would have to cater to her audience. She has come to realize that her audience would find her. She expressed that her team believes that the “spunky work would find its spunky folks.”
“I’m not going to create a pair of overalls that I think people want, I’m just going to create,” Martin said.
Fast fashion refers to the rapid fashion cycle, the mass production of clothing in a short amount of time for a micro-trend that will only last a few weeks. Often this clothing is discarded after only one use and ends up in a landfill. Martin’s business hopes to redirect fabric waste.
Paula Martin hems a pair of pants at the Atrevate’s studio. (Andrea Grajeda, Staff Writer)
Martin pointed out that in recent years, there has been a rise in people choosing to get second-hand clothing and stop participating in fast fashion. She said that while fast fashion is cheap and convenient, it often sacrifices quality and personal touch. She said more people want clothes that they identify with.
Fast fashion has normalized the accessibility to cheap, ready-to-wear clothing. So oftentimes spending more than $20 on a shirt can feel like splurging. She said that it can be frustrating when people forget that it was another human who made their clothes. Martin explained that fast-fashion clothing prices do not reflect the time and skilled labor that goes into making them.
“We forget that it is a human behind every single item of clothing that we’re making or that we’re buying. I think that when we forget that, we forget to honor the clothing,” Martin said.
All of the clothes made at Atrevete are one-of-a-kind upcycled pieces, made with fabric that is donated to them by local businesses and individuals who no longer need the fabric. Martin said that fabric waste is a problem that is near impossible to get rid of. But she hopes that her business has taken the right step in upcycling fabric. Instead of the fabric ending up in landfills, it is given a second life at Atrevete.
Martin said because all fabric is donated, the process of making clothes has its ups and downs. On one hand, what fabric she receives is unpredictable and she cannot plan clothing collections. But on the other hand, every piece is unique.
“Every time that we sew a new pair it’s different,” Martin said, “it’s an explosion of life every time, and a different experience every time and it’s never replicated.”
This photo shows how all of Atrevate’s pieces are one-of-a-kind. (Courtesy Photo)
When the fabric first arrives at Atrevete, she and her team inspect the fabric and check to see if any of the fabric has stains or holes and omit them. After the quality check, the fabric gets ironed and then the team begins putting together fabric bundles. These fabric bundles are textiles they feel would work together to create a pair of overalls.
Because the fabric donated to Atrevete is often not enough to create one pair, overalls at Atrevete are a patchwork design of different fabrics that Martin feels create that “explosion of life.”
These fabric bundles then create the overalls. The fabric gets sewn together to create the pants, vest and pocket portion of the overalls. The finished overalls are inspected one last time, and then get photographed and put on her website.
Martin describes the pieces made at Atrevete like paintings: Each is unique and personal. She hopes people will be drawn to her pieces and appreciate the art and skill of sewing that goes into them.
Atrevete also offers hats, ponchos and dresses, ranging from $50 to $180. Atrevete offers in person shopping from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays in their studio at 4949 Broadway, Unit 130, in Boulder. Atrevete also has online shopping. Those interested in donating fabric can email atreveteboco@gmail.com for more details.
More information about Atrevete can be found at https://upcycledandhandmade.com. | 2022-12-19T17:51:08Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder fashion brand focuses on sustainability – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/boulder-fashion-brand-focuses-on-sustainability/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/12/boulder-fashion-brand-focuses-on-sustainability/ |
Boulder mobile home fire likely related to…
Flames and smoke pour from a home in the Boulder Meadows mobile home on Sunday. (Janet Meyer / Courtesy image)
A mobile home fire in Boulder Meadows on Sunday was likely caused by a problem with the structure’s furnace and heating system, officials said.
The fire was first reported at 11:45 a.m. Sunday in the 4500 block of 19th Street.
The residents of the home were able to evacuate, and there were no injuries to residents or firefighters.
Crews were able to contain the fire, but the mobile home was a total loss and three residents were displaced and connected with Boulder Police Victim’s Advocates and the Red Cross.
In a release issued Monday, officials said the damage to the home was too extensive to find a definitive cause. But “based on interviews and aspects of the investigation that the team could complete, the home’s heating system is the most likely cause.”
“Furnaces and HVAC systems, if not properly maintained and updated, can become fire hazards,” the release read. “Regular maintenance of an HVAC system can help ensure that your HVAC’s electrical systems and gas connections are safe and operating normally and that dust and debris is not clogging or blocking necessary vents, filters or coils.”
Boulder Fire-Rescue, Boulder Police, Boulder Emergency Squad, Louisville Fire District, Boulder Rural Fire Department, American Red Cross and AMR all responded to the call. | 2022-12-19T21:24:11Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder mobile home fire likely related to furnace issues – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/19/boulder-mobile-home-fire-likely-related-to-furnace-issues/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/19/boulder-mobile-home-fire-likely-related-to-furnace-issues/ |
Michael Sandrock: Still running while waiting…
Michael Sandrock: Still running while waiting for a kidney donor
Sue Bennett is looking for a special Christmas gift, something you will not find at a local retailer or on-line — a donor kidney, one to take over the functioning of her kidneys, which have been ravaged by polycystic kidney disease, a non-curable genetic disease that Bennett has been living, and running, with for years, and which has worsened recently.
Mike SandrockOn Running
In the past year, Bennett’s kidney functioning has decreased to 18%, because of the many cysts formed on the organ’s filtering units, called nephrons. Her options? Find someone to donate a kidney or go onto dialysis. Bennett is among the 37 million Americans living with a chronic kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation website.
“My diagnosis (at age 45) was very upsetting, the way it was handled by the surgeon in a non-empathetic way,” Bennett, a retired psychologist, said in an interview earlier this month. “Running saved me. It became my anti-anxiety medicine, my healthy distraction. I literally ran for my life. Running is a part of my identity, and I am trying to hold on to who I am.”
Further numbers provided by the National Kidney Foundation are startling: 660,000 Americans “live with kidney failure,” with 100,000 of those “waiting for a kidney transplant.” That includes Bennett, who said there is an estimated six-year wait for someone with her blood type in Colorado for a deceased donor kidney.
During our visit, Bennett, 68, explained that her “amazing” running friends have helped her cope with the awareness of the mortality that is part of the human condition but which we can avoid when we are fit and fast — which Bennett, a decent masters runner, was over her running career. Now, she says that during runs she stops to look at a flower, an alpaca, a beautiful view. She still does workouts with her team, Gijima, just shortening the distances during tempo runs.
Bennett ran in junior high school, then tried it again later in life. The first run back as an adult was difficult, but after an eight-miler, she was hooked. “I fell in love with running,” she said. “I just go to this place where I feel very happy.”
As her running progressed, Bennett found success with several notable Boulder coaches, including Ric Rojas, Lorraine Moller, Darren and Colleen De Reuck, and now Mark Plaatjes. “I’ve had some good people in my life,” she said. “With Mark coaching me in running and Colleen in sports training and lifting, they are helping me to hold onto some strength.”
Sue Bennett is a local masters runner with the genetic disease polycystic kidney disease. She is among the roughly 100,000 Americans waiting for a kidney transplant. (Brendan Davis / Courtesy Photo)
Bennett is able to continue running despite the high blood pressure and anemia caused by the disease. She added, however, that not everyone with kidney disease is able to be as physically active. “Through no fault of their own, others may not have the same experience and many find it hard just to function daily. And my time will eventually come.”
Bennett was upbeat when we talked, but acknowledged that she has “good days and days when I feel hopeless. ‘What is going to happen? Am I going to live?’ It sounds dramatic, but that is what is on the line. I have a wonderful family and supportive running friends, and I am going to keep going until I can’t.”
While she waits for a donor, Bennett keeps active, running most days and volunteering with her beloved dog, Bodhi, at Boulder Community Health. “It gives me some purpose and brings some lightness and joy to the patients’ day. The doctors and nurses like it, too; they need it as much as the patients. They work so hard. It’s fun, and it helps me to help other people, it really does.”
Bennett left me, and perhaps you, too, with a bit of wisdom, as she reflected on her disease. “There’s nothing like a terminal illness to jerk you into the present moment,” she said, adding: “In the end, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. The body is amazing, when you think about what it does. We can live for a pretty darn long time because of this intelligence we embody.
“It’s incredible; it’s a mystery.”
• For information about polycystic kidney disease, visit pkdcure.org
• To learn about donating a kidney, go to the National Kidney Foundation website, kidney.org/livingdonation or 855-653-2272, or write to nkfcares@kidney.org.
• For transplant information, go to the American Transplant Foundation, americantransplantfoundation.org
• Contact Bennett’s transplant team at www.Centura.donorscreen.org. | 2022-12-20T05:31:11Z | www.dailycamera.com | Michael Sandrock: Still running while waiting for a kidney donor – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/19/michael-sandrock-still-running-while-waiting-for-a-kidney-donor/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/19/michael-sandrock-still-running-while-waiting-for-a-kidney-donor/ |
Letters to the editor: Plastic bag fees won’t…
Don Mayer: Pollution: Small fee for plastic bags won’t solve anything
The Camera reports that the city council has taken a bold initiative to combat the plastic pollution that is partly the cause of the 6th great species extinction, and which in microform is found in all seafood. I am reminded of being in 3rd grade and trying to put out a large tree limb fire started by folks clearing a forest for building. I used chunks of ice from the frozen ground. After two hours, I had failed. If the council had any concern for the profound environmental damage caused by plastic, they would ban all single-use plastic. That would make a dent and set an example.
Charging 10 cents a bag will not deter one single person from accepting a plastic bag. Mandate compostable material only. Mandate that the Camera delivery bags be compostable. Do something that would set an example for others to follow. Stop thinking that tossing ice cubes into a raging fire will do anything at all. Except make you feel righteous I guess.
Don Mayer, Boulder
Laurel Klinger: Mental health: Schools should provide more emotional, academic support
Despite making an effort to raise awareness for students’ mental health, the Boulder Valley School District seems to fail in providing adequate help when kids reach out with their struggles. I’ve heard of a local high school student experiencing this and it is very frustrating. This student who was failing classes and struggling with depression decided to go to the counseling department and ask for help. While her counselor was very kind, she did not offer much advice, especially when it came down to her academic dilemma. And, with this lack of support, it was difficult to really recover and get back on her feet again. This student is not alone. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that over one in five children and adolescents experience a mental health problem during their school years.
While schools do offer basic mental health services like personal counseling meetings, it seems there is more they could do to provide more well-rounded support. As we know, mental health disorders can create several negative consequences for a student — especially poor grades. In a time where academics are exceptionally competitive in most schools, failing classes only causes more stress, and worsens a child’s mental health. With this, it would be very beneficial for schools to provide additional academic resources for kids suffering from mental health disorders. For example, there could be various subject labs (for math, science, writing, etc.) where faculty members are available to work with students who are especially behind. Helping them improve their grades and have that aid would most definitely ease the stress and make the recovery process easier. With both the emotional and extra academic support from schools, I feel it would really help students struggling with their mental health!
Laurel Klinger, Boulder | 2022-12-20T16:06:19Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Plastic bag fees won't solve anything; providing emotion, academic support in school | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/letters-to-the-editor-plastic-bag-fees-wont-solve-anything-providing-emotion-academic-support-in-school/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/letters-to-the-editor-plastic-bag-fees-wont-solve-anything-providing-emotion-academic-support-in-school/ |
Jeff Mitton: Natural Selections: The Darwin…
A beautiful male black swallowtail butterfly emerged in October, eager to mate but destined for disappointment. (Jeff Mitton — For the Camera)
I received an invitation to photograph a black swallowtail butterfly that had just emerged. It would linger only a short while before emerging, so I hurried over. The date was Oct. 13.
The black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes, had bright colors and was just gorgeous. Males and females have the same colors and patterns ventrally, but their dorsal patterns distinguish the genders. All have orange, yellow and black eye spots, but males have two prominent lines of yellow spots and a light dusting of blue spots while females have much less yellow and much more blue. This was a male.
I hereby award this male black swallowtail the Darwin Award. While the idea of the Darwin Award reaches back into the mid-1980s, the award matured around 1993 when Wendy Northcutt, then a graduate student at Berkeley, established the website “darwinawards.com.”
The Darwin Award is a facetious award to people, almost all men, who have improved the gene pool of the next generation by outrageous, idiotic behavior that resulted in their deaths and thereby prevented them from passing their genes on to the next generation.
I am taking a liberty by awarding the prize to an animal, but Northcutt established the animal precedent in 2018 by awarding it to male wooly mammoths. The male swallowtail exhibited foolishly impatient behavior, given that the goal of a male black swallowtail is to mate with as many females as he can. I fear that he did not see another black swallowtail and died a lonely bachelor, but most tragic of all, he died without siring any offspring.
Black swallowtail pupae overwinter in a chrysalis and emerge in spring. Around Boulder, adults will be flying in May, June and July. The average longevity of the adult form is 14 days, so adults disappear by the end of August. This male emerged in mid-October and was probably the only black swallowtail in Boulder.
His lack of offspring is a dead end for his genes, both beneficial and detrimental. The fitness or success of a genotype is measured by its number of offspring. If his tragically early emergence had a genetic component, this is the mechanism by which detrimental genes are selected against — detrimental genes suppress reproductive success. This is natural selection, and it is called natural selection because it is not planned, directed or orchestrated by anything other than weather, climate, competition, disease and predation.
Risky or detrimental actions that we describe as poor choices are not uncommon. One that captured widespread news coverage a few years ago was the discovery that three young gray whales had been found trapped by pack ice near Point Barrow, Alaska. No one knows what events led to their separation from their pod and the elders that would have led them south to mating grounds in Mexico.
Thanks to legions of eager bird watchers, we have many examples of vagrants, defined as birds that deviated from established routes of migration. Point Reyes, because of its geographic location, concentrates birds that are wandering aimlessly as well as birds whose directional compass is not precisely calibrated, or is precisely miscalibrated — e.g., directing flight 40 degrees west of south, rather than east of south. Each year, hundreds of vagrants from dozens of species are documented.
A vagrant that caught an immense amount of attention was a Steller’s sea eagle, a resident of east Asia. It was out of its normal range when this large and distinctive bird was seen over the Denali Highway two years ago. Later it was spotted in southern Texas, then Canada, New England and finally Nova Scotia in April of this year. Many other examples are in the literature. The majority of the vagrant wanderers are doomed to a lonely death with a fitness of zero. Genes leading to inappropriate migration routes are removed from the gene pool each and every year.
Sexual reproduction involves replication of the genes to be packaged in sperm and eggs. DNA replication is quite accurate, but genomes are so large that errors, called mutations, occur regularly. For example, each human is estimated to carry 70 to 200 new mutations. Accumulation of deleterious mutations is opposed by natural selection, which is necessarily relentless. Some mutations promote self-destructive actions so silly that they are celebrated with a Darwin Award. | 2022-12-21T00:09:26Z | www.dailycamera.com | Jeff Mitton: Natural Selections: The Darwin Award goes to a male black swallowtail butterfly | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/jeff-mitton-natural-selections-the-darwin-award-goes-to-a-male-black-swallowtail-butterfly/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/jeff-mitton-natural-selections-the-darwin-award-goes-to-a-male-black-swallowtail-butterfly/ |
Colorado football recruiting: Dartmouth…
Colorado has added two more players to its 2023 recruiting class.
On Tuesday, Dartmouth transfers Shane Cokes and former Arizona commit Carter Stoutmire announced their verbal commitments to the Buffaloes.
The early signing period begins Wednesday as first-year Buffs head coach Deion Sanders looks to lock in his first set of recruits.
Cokes will join the herd after dominating in the Ivy League. A graduate transfer, Cokes is a 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive lineman who was second-team All-Ivy League each of the past two seasons.
This season, he recorded 54 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. As a junior, he had 32 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4 sacks.
Stoutmire is a 5-11, 170-pound cornerback from Prestonwood Christian High School in Plano, Texas. He is a three-start prospect with a handful of Power 5 offers and he visited Boulder this weekend. His father, Omar, played two seasons with Sanders with the Dallas Cowboys (1997-98).
According to MaxPreps.com, Stoutmire had 41 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and six interceptions as a senior at PCHS. He returned two of his interceptions for touchdowns. Stoutmire originally committed to Arizona on June 7, but decommitted Sunday after his visit to Boulder.
CU has 14 high school players and four transfers verbally committed.
Also on Tuesday, CU got a commitment from Kaleb Mathis as a preferred walk-on. He is a 5-foot-9, 160-pound receiver from Grace Prep Academy in Arlington, Texas.
Meanwhile, former CU receiver Chase Penry has a new home. He announced Tuesday his decision to transfer to Boise State. He is the fourth former Buff to find a new team, joining guard Casey Roddick (Florida State), guard/center Austin Johnson (Charlotte) and cornerback Kaylin Moore (California). | 2022-12-21T03:25:13Z | www.dailycamera.com | Colorado football recruiting: Dartmouth transfer, 3-star corner commit to Buffs – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/colorado-football-recruiting-dartmouth-transfer-3-star-corner-commit-to-buffs/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/colorado-football-recruiting-dartmouth-transfer-3-star-corner-commit-to-buffs/ |
It seemed like the entire Broomfield bench came out to play, but Zufall and Benner rose to the occasion most, especially in the second half, with 12 and 11 points, respectively. On the other side of the court, senior guards Eric Quintana and Rocco Bridges netted 14 points apiece and junior guard Eric Portillo added 11 more for the Tigers. | 2022-12-21T06:19:08Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boys basketball: Broomfield’s second-half surge pushes it past No. 1 Holy Family – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/boys-basketball-broomfields-second-half-surge-pushes-it-past-no-1-holy-family/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/boys-basketball-broomfields-second-half-surge-pushes-it-past-no-1-holy-family/ |
Boulder seeks task force members to guide…
Boulder is seeking community members to join a task force, which will guide outcomes of a new pilot project that will utilize federal coronavirus relief funding to provide monthly, unrestricted cash assistance to low-income community members.
The community task force will provide input to city staff and project consultants with Impact Charitable, according to a news release from the city.
Applications are available in English and Spanish and are due by 11:58 p.m., on Jan. 8.
Boulder staff and Impact Charitable will select task force members based on low-income lived experience, diverse personal identities including historically underrepresented communities, experience with design and evaluation of programs that benefit low-income community members, and availability and commitment to the project, the release said.
Most task force activities will take place from January through April, the release said. Task force members are expected to attend three meetings in January, which will be held in-person at the Penfield Tate Municipal Building at 1777 Broadway. Mandatory meetings will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 18, Jan. 24 and Jan. 30.
Participants will receive a stipend, meals during meetings and other services, such as language interpretation, child care and transportation assistance.
More information about the pilot project can be found on the city’s website at bouldercolorado.gov/projects/guaranteed-income-pilot-project or by contacting Elizabeth Crowe at crowee@bouldercolorado.gov. | 2022-12-21T16:59:05Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder seeks task force members to guide guaranteed income pilot project | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/boulder-seeks-task-force-members-to-guide-guaranteed-income-pilot-project/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/20/boulder-seeks-task-force-members-to-guide-guaranteed-income-pilot-project/ |
Letters to the editor: Nonlethal wolf…
Michael Wenzl: Wolves: Nonlethal human-wildlife coexistence is key
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently released its Draft Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan. Their plan allows for wolves to be killed on protected public lands.
It is futile to bring wolves into the state if they are allowed to be killed. In an August 2022 statewide survey of 1,500 Colorado voters, nearly two-thirds said they believed that Colorado’s gray wolves should not be trophy hunted or trapped after they have returned to Colorado. The survey was weighted to Republicans and Western Colorado voters.
Colorado voters also approved Proposition 114 which calls for using scientific data when implementing the gray wolf restoration plan. It is time to embrace sound science. Scientific studies have shown that killing wolves does nothing to reduce livestock losses.
Michael Wenzl, Pueblo
Michael Clinton: Medicine: Living proof of a last-resort treatment
Freda Dolores Sanchez was terrified. She was 13 years old and very sick with pneumonia in the hospital. This was in the tiny railroad town of Belen, New Mexico, in 1949. The prognosis was bad. A priest had been called in to perform last rites. But somebody new had just moved to Belen, a stranger full of new ideas. That person was Dr. A. W. Llewelyn. One of those ideas was the use of a new drug called penicillin. The drug was discovered just 20 years before and wasn’t used on humans until 1941. Towards the end of World War II, the drug was provided to troops but wasn’t available for civilian use in the US until 1945. News traveled slowly back then, especially to small towns in New Mexico. Dr. Llewelyn convinced Freda’s family to try this new drug as a last resort. I am living proof that the treatment worked, because 9 years later, Freda, who was married to Ernest Paul Clinton in January of 1958, gave birth to me in November of 1958. The doctor that delivered me inside that same Belen, New Mexico, hospital was none other than A. W. Llewelyn, saver of lives and future generations.
My mom passed away this past November at the age of 86; 73 years after that terrifying hospital stay and 64 years after bringing me into this world. Rest in peace mom.
Daisia Davis: Mental health: More knowledge about personality disorders
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is an under-researched disorder that is hard to diagnose before the age of 18. Many have heard about misdiagnosis. According to the National Alliance on mental illnesses, 40% of people with BPD get misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2. The misdiagnoses happen because many professionals and the community are not as educated on BPD as other disorders. I believe everyone should have more education on BPD so that we can catch on to the symptoms quicker and eliminate misdiagnoses.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects the way you think about yourself and how you think about others. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition involving significant mood swings between highs, such as mania, and lows, such as depression. BPD and bipolar disorder are commonly confused because of their common traits. According to Bridges of Recovery, these may include irritability and anger, impulsivity, and leading to suicide attempts. The differences between the two disorders are mood swings. BPD mood can shift daily and be influenced by surroundings, while bipolar disorder episodes can last between days or weeks.
Borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder need different treatments. With more knowledge learned on borderline disorder by the community, we may limit the number of misdiagnoses and possibly catch on to the signs of BPD faster.
Daisia Davis, Thornton | 2022-12-21T18:48:19Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Nonlethal wolf management; medical advances; personality disorders | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/21/letters-to-the-editor-nonlethal-wolf-management-medical-advances-personality-disorders/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/21/letters-to-the-editor-nonlethal-wolf-management-medical-advances-personality-disorders/ |
It’s been an entire decade since President Barack Obama, frustrated at the lack of progress on the issue, signed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). That executive order gave Dreamers temporary, renewable legal status and authorization to work. President Donald Trump rescinded the order in 2017, leaving Dreamers in an even more perilous limbo. Their situation became more acute when a federal judge in Texas ruled that DACA was illegal and said that while current Dreamers could remain, the administration of President Joe Biden could not approve any new applications.
Biden said at the time that the ruling “relegates hundreds of thousands of young immigrants to an uncertain future” and that his Justice Department would appeal the decision. Statistics collected by the U.S. government show that more than 90% of Dreamers are employed, and nearly half are students. Many do not even speak the language of their original home countries.
The same year Trump rescinded DACA, Tillis and two other Republicans introduced a bill that would have granted Dreamers conditional permanent resident status. Depending on educational attainment, “good moral character,” lack of criminal history and compliance with tax responsibilities, the SUCCEED bill would have provided a long but eventual path to naturalization. That bill went nowhere, as did 10 previous iterations of the DREAM Act pushed by Democrats.
In a shrinking, aging labor market, the U.S. needs immigrants. We need the vitality and youth that immigrants bring. At the same time, uncontrolled, mass crossings into this country pose a danger and are unsustainable. It should be obvious to all sides that this system is badly in need of updating. | 2022-12-22T16:05:04Z | www.dailycamera.com | Editorial: Another failure on immigration reform | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/editorial-another-failure-on-immigration-reform/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/editorial-another-failure-on-immigration-reform/ |
Guet opinion: Leonard Segel: BVSD should give…
Guet opinion: Leonard Segel: BVSD should give new life to Base Line school
By Leonard Segel
When Ballot Issue 5A passed in the November election, $350 million was added to the resources of the BVSD for an assortment of educational purposes. One of those is to commit $27.7 million to build a new home for the 330 New Vista students, currently housed in the old Base Line Junior High School. Historic Boulder Inc. is supportive of the mission of providing the best public education possible for the students in the Boulder Valley. However, it’s our mission to point out when a disservice is being done to the history of our community, when “legacy” properties are demolished. The existing Base Line school buildings are historically, architecturally and socially significant. They should not be demolished.
Historic Boulder Inc. believes there is another option. A new school for New Vista could be built on that large site and some, or all of the current Base Line buildings could be repurposed. What about the conversion of the classroom wings into housing for our schoolteachers and other service workers? What about a community rec center in the old gym or a new performing arts center based around the existing auditorium?
Historic Boulder Inc. advocates that the BVSD be open to ideas to preserve this existing school because it has many important qualities that contribute to the remarkable spirit of Boulder. These include the following:
Base Line school is historically significant. After World War II, Boulder emerged as one of the most progressive communities in the Rockies. The city had a mission to provide the best K-12 public school education in the state. A plan was developed to create a new junior high school to feed into the already successful pedagogy at Boulder High. Base Line opened to fanfare in the middle of 1953 and immediately became a setting for advances in education methods. As learning practices evolved over the decades, BVSD adapted and created a very successful program for the instruction of young teenagers there. About 20 years ago, BVSD closed Base Line, citing a decline in attendance. It was reopened when the innovative New Vista program moved into the facilities in 2004.
Base Line school is architecturally significant. The city entrusted the design of this new school to the premier firm in Boulder, the office of James Hunter Architects. They were responsible for the Municipal Building, the Public Library, the Boulder Medical Center, the Colorado Insurance office tower, and the Masonic Lodge. It should be noted that all these buildings have been successfully remodeled and added onto over the years.
The architecture of Base Line Junior High was cutting edge for its time with three distinctive components. The first is the round-vaulted gymnasium which used a dramatic structural system to span the athletics areas in a cost-effective manner. The second is the efficient layout of the classrooms in two wings, featuring a continuous ribbon of windows that pours energy-saving daylight into the rooms. The third component is the auditorium with its accordion-like exterior walls which were designed to create a high-quality acoustic experience.
Base Line is socially significant. The building is a recognizable touchstone of the memories of generations of Boulder citizens. Here, thousands of Base Line “Dragon” students experienced their transformational teen years under the guidance of gifted teachers and other dedicated staff. Just seeing the buildings today provides a sense of belonging in a time of alienation in our society. The past brings stability to our present days.
To be sure there are tradeoffs to keeping the Base Line buildings. It would take more deep thinking on the part of the BVSD to repurpose the old school. It would be worth it in so many ways, not the least of which would be a win for the environment. Saving the buildings would show that BVSD “walks its talk” about energy efficiency and stewardship.
Since 1953, Base Line Junior High School has significantly contributed to the spirit of our community. Its impact on Boulder has been immeasurable … its loss would be incalculable. Let’s preserve it and give it new life to serve the community.
Leonard Segel is the executive director of Historic Boulder. | 2022-12-22T16:05:11Z | www.dailycamera.com | Guet opinion: Leonard Segel: BVSD should give new life to Base Line school | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/guet-opinion-leonard-segel-bvsd-should-give-new-life-to-base-line-school/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/guet-opinion-leonard-segel-bvsd-should-give-new-life-to-base-line-school/ |
Letters to the editor: Junipers are ‘green gas…
Chris Hansen: Fires: Junipers are ‘green gas cans’ in need of control
We are nearing an anniversary no one will want to remember, December 30, the Marshall Fire. Without reliving that story of 1,000 homes being destroyed, and people’s lives being upended, let’s do something practical and manageable. The fire risk assessors, who have gone from house to house in Boulder, have looked for Juniper bushes and trees. Why would that be?
Well, there’s the Juniper Fire, south of Bickleton, Washington, in 2019, the Juniper Fire near Nogales, Arizona, in 2013, the Juniper Fire, in Tonto National Forest, Arizona, in 2016, and the Dixie Fire, the largest single fire in California history, which entered Lassen Volcanic National Park near Juniper Lake, in 2021.
Firefighters call your juniper bushes “green gas cans.” They are highly flammable. Why? Junipers retain a lot of dead plant material underneath the surface. They contain volatile oils that can burn intensely and lacy foliage that burns quickly. This common shrub wants to burn your home/building down, possibly before you can escape.
Use a phone app, like “Seek” to identify questionable evergreen plants around you; it can tell you if you have Juniper. It’s not just for you; your whole community wants to feel safe and be safe. If you want, check your own home for its curbside fire evaluation, https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/wildfire-home-assessment.
How about “Junk the Juniper” events in winter, when landscape people are available. Recognition and parties for Juniper Junkers, businesses and homeowners. Who can contribute the most?
Chris Hansen, Boulder
Mike Sawyer: Education: A good start to the holiday break
The last two school days before the holiday break at my favorite “high needs” middle school, as a long-term substitute teacher, I was surprised to receive sweet cards stuffed with gift cards from teachers. So dear to get a bag with a card, two boxes of my favorite green tea, and a YETI tumbler with “Mr. Mike” engraved on it from the custodial staff. On the last day, my exhausted body left school with over 16,000 steps, but my 70-year-old vegan heart was ignited in our below-freezing Colorado temp.
Mike Sawyer, Denver
Bob Norris: Words matter: We all need to understand that we are all different
This is not meant to lessen the extreme damage done by mass shootings or even individual murders committed against the trans and LBGTQ communities.
Everyday comments made to people of color and immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community especially children are hurtful whether intended or unintended. They cause great harm.
Comments directly to children that there is something wrong with them or it is a sin to be gay, lesbian or trans cause great harm. It can cause a lack of self-esteem, dropping behind in school, depression or worse.
An extreme example is conversion therapy practiced by some faiths. It doesn’t work and results in family separations and can potentially increase the risk of suicide.
What we say matters whether it is intentional or not. Whether it is from ignorance or not. Worse when it comes from someone close or from one’s faith organization, Far too much is coming from elected officials. Far too much from the media. Far too much from far too many places.
You do not have to understand completely to be supportive. You do need to understand that we are all different. All cisgender people are not the same. All trans people are not the same.
It is about much more than changing gender.
There are resources on the internet and there is non better than OUT Boulder.
Davey Helfant: Differences: There are lessons to be learned from everyone
Although it can be easy to view people with autism as different or abnormal, there is plenty to be learned from their complex ways of thinking. Oftentimes, autistic minds are less understood because those with autism are the minority. We often neglect to realize that their “normal” is just as valid as our “normal.” As with all people, there are lessons to be learned from those who are different.
From admiring a friend of mine, Jackson, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, I have learned that he truly has a different perspective on what is important in life. Jackson has proved that it’s far more important to be immersed in something that you love rather than wasting time trying to fit in. For people like Jackson, developing social skills isn’t a strength. Research shows that people with autism typically have average to above average intelligence. However, this social concern may be part of the reason why people with autism are so invested in their interests and not so concerned with what other people think.
What you love and how you go about developing your passions define who you are. This is one of the many lessons to be learned from autistic individuals. Accepting everyone for who they are is the first step to creating a more inclusive and accepting society. By learning from and interacting with those who are autistic, we can gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity of human experience and ability.
Davey Helfant, Boulder | 2022-12-22T16:05:23Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Junipers are 'green gas cans'; a good holiday break; understanding our differences | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/letters-to-the-editor-42/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/letters-to-the-editor-42/ |
Top 10: Patty Limerick, co-founder of CU…
Editor’s note: Beginning today, and continuing through Dec. 31, the Daily Camera will count down the top stories of the year, as selected by the newspaper’s editors.
Patty Limerick, former faculty director and board chair for the center at CU Boulder, was terminated this fall after an internal investigation found Limerick “blurred the lines” between personal and professional relationships with staff.
Almost four decades after she helped found the University of Colorado Boulder Center of the American West, Patty Limerick was fired.
Limerick, former faculty director and board chair for the center at CU Boulder, was terminated this fall after an internal investigation found Limerick “blurred the lines” between personal and professional relationships with staff.
On the evening of Sept. 23, Glen Krutz, the campus’ new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences emailed a letter to the CU Boulder College of Arts and Sciences letting the department know that Limerick “is no longer the director of the center,” the letter stated.
Limerick’s dismissal from the center does not affect her tenured position as professor of history or her ability to conduct research, according to a statement from the campus.
The statement from a CU Boulder spokesperson said the university “appreciates former director Patty Limerick’s significant scholarly contributions to academia and the American West. This transition is the result of a lengthy period of addressing repeat complaints from center employees regarding leadership of the center. Dean Krutz considered professor Limerick’s perspective in the process, but did not see a pathway to resolve outstanding issues surrounding her role as director.”
The statement goes on to say that Colorado law specifically requires that the center’s faculty director will be an employee-at-will.
University of Colorado Boulder history professor Tom Zeiler has since been named interim faculty director of the university’s Center of the American West.
Limerick disputed the complaints referred to in the statement, saying via text message Tuesday night “they have never been validated by a responsible, evidence-based investigation by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Without such a credible investigation, the Center of the American West cannot be positioned to make a ‘continued contribution’ to the well-being of the American West.”
In addition to the university’s statement that describes complaints from center staff, the internal investigation by CU’s Department of Internal Audit began after a center employee in April issued a complaint about Limerick’s mistreatment of center employees.
The audit focused on allegations of fiscal misconduct that said Limerick “involved center employees in planning her personal events, including a funeral, a wedding and a birthday party. Because the events included center business acquaintances, the staff felt they had to work the events,” the audit said.
Auditors interviewed CU Boulder employees, including Limerick, and were told about times when they felt Limerick had a “lack of respect for boundaries,” and “often blurred the lines between her professional relationships and her personal relationships,” the audit said.
Recommendations to the campus in the audit noted that Limerick’s relationship with her staff is “fractured.” They said oversight, performance evaluation and direction from campus leadership have been inconsistent and recommended the campus work with human resources to organize a team-building event, evaluation process or develop another course of action to improve the center’s working environment. | 2022-12-22T16:05:42Z | www.dailycamera.com | Top 10: Patty Limerick co-founder of CU Boulder Center of the American West fired | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/top-10-patty-limerick-co-founder-of-cu-boulder-center-of-the-american-west-fired/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/top-10-patty-limerick-co-founder-of-cu-boulder-center-of-the-american-west-fired/ |
Boulder has pushed back the deadline for shoveling sidewalks to Saturday due to the extreme cold.
A city ordinance typically requires all city property owners clear their sidewalks of snow and ice 24 hours after last recorded snowfall, which would have been 6:55 a.m. Thursday.
But city officials said that due to the extreme cold, the deadline has been extended to 6:55 a.m. Saturday, a 48-hour window.
Boulder saw an overnight low of -18 and temperatures are not expected to get above single digits today. | 2022-12-22T20:24:09Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder pushes back deadline for shoveling snow | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/boulder-pushes-back-deadline-for-shoveling-snow/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/boulder-pushes-back-deadline-for-shoveling-snow/ |
Niwot community rallies around vandalized…
The window of Inkberry Books in Niwot sits broken on Wednesday after a rock was thrown through it in early December. Co-owner Gene Hayworth is enlisting the community’s help to fund its replacement. (Dana Cadey / Staff writer)
An act of destruction turned into an outpouring of community support after a business in Niwot was vandalized earlier this month.
Thanks to a GoFundMe campaign, Inkberry Books will be able to replace its damaged window without requiring co-owner Gene Hayworth to empty his pockets. The bookstore in Cottonwood Square has been a feature of the town since it was opened in 2018 by Hayworth and his partner, Keith Waters.
“Many of the customers consider it a community hub,” Hayworth said. “We have author readings, we feature a new artist in the bookstore every month, and we have music sometimes outside the store.”
The morning of Dec. 3, Hayworth received an email from a fellow business owner alerting him that a rock had been thrown through the storefront window. He said he was heartbroken when he arrived and found broken glass strewn underneath a gaping hole.
“Honestly, at first I thought it was a joke,” he said, recalling his initial reaction to the news. “It just didn’t seem like the kind of thing that would happen here.”
The hole was covered first with plastic, then with plywood, and finally with plexiglass. The store stayed open the whole time, but Hayworth said the plywood — which was up for a week — was a big deterrent for customers.
“Everyone thought we were closed, so we didn’t really do any business at all,” he said.
Hayworth launched the GoFundMe campaign on Dec. 8 after learning that, since he doesn’t own the building, his insurance wouldn’t cover the window’s replacement. In its first day alone, the fundraiser brought in over $500. As of Thursday, there have been 25 donations totaling $1,725 – surpassing the campaign’s $1,500 goal.
“I wasn’t really expecting this to be successful, so when it started growing so quickly, it amazed me,” Hayworth said. “It showed me how much the community really values our being here.”
One contributor who donated $200 left a comment on the campaign site saying she looks forward to Inkberry Books’ next window display. Another comment read, “I love books and (the) owner of this particular book store!”
“(The support) reinforced the fact that this was just some random act of vandalism,” Hayworth said. “You always think when something like this happens that it’s pointed directly at you, but the care and kindness that people have shown us really convinced me that was not the case.”
Jim Mitchell, who helps run the store on Wednesdays during the busy holiday season, said he was astounded and disappointed to hear about the vandalization but happy to see the fundraiser’s success.
“It shows the Niwot community bands together when someone suffers some kind of loss,” he said.
Hayworth said the extra money will help offset his purchase of the plexiglass and the increased cost of heating the store this month. The new window is expected to arrive Jan. 19. | 2022-12-23T03:19:01Z | www.dailycamera.com | Niwot community rallies around vandalized bookstore – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/niwot-community-rallies-around-vandalized-bookstore/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/22/niwot-community-rallies-around-vandalized-bookstore/ |
Marisa Aragón Ware’s paper sculptures pay…
The Boulder-based ‘paper sorceress’ works in a variety of mediums
Artist Marisa Aragón Ware works in a variety of mediums. (Marisa Aragón Ware/Courtesy photo)
From origami to quilling, paper art has the ability to take many different forms — each filled with nuance, grace and sometimes wonder.
Artist Marisa Aragón Ware works on a paper sculpture on Dec. 21, 2022. (Colin Mills/Courtesy photo)
Marisa Aragón Ware, an art professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, takes the delicate material to new heights with paper sculptures that seem to defy the laws of physics and gravity.
“Lepidoptera,” a paper sculpture by Marisa Aragón Ware. (Michael Allen/Courtesy photo)
Her Instagram bio reads “paper sorceress,” and from just one look at her striking creations, it’s clear to see this title is well deserved.
From winged insects to hummingbirds and anatomically accurate skeletal pieces, her intriguing work continues to wow onlookers.
Blossoming flowers, butterflies, cicadas and split-tongued serpents are just a few of the subjects she has fashioned from paper.
Ware has also dabbled in the art of tattooing, created poster art for bands such as The String Cheese Incident, Rising Appalachia and STS9 and made illustrations for big-name companies including Disney, Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster, Gallo Wines and many others.
We caught up the Boulder-based creative to learn more about her process, how a passion for environmentalism and locale terrain fuels her craft and what we can expect from her next.
Kalene McCort: Your paper sculptures are so lovely. What inspired you to work in this medium, and what’s your creative process like most days?
Marisa Aragón Ware: I actually work in a lot of different mediums, and my creative process differs depending on the project. My paper sculpture work is typically for fine art commissions or gallery shows, while my pen and ink and digital work are usually for commercial illustrations. I’m also a tattoo artist, although I only occasionally work in that medium these days.
Because I wear a lot of different hats artistically, my routine is always shifting — but the ways in which I nurture my creativity stay the same regardless of the medium I’m working in. Scientists who study creativity have identified a brain state called transient hypofrontality, which is when the frontal lobe of the brain is less active — often called a flow state. During transient hypofrontality, the judging and analyzing part of our brain gets a rest, which allows other creative functions to become more dominant. It’s possible to deliberately invoke this state, and I spend a portion of my day cultivating the environment for this to occur. For me, meditation and either walking or running in nature are the two most reliable ways to trigger a successful flow state. I also find that playing piano before I sit down at my drafting table helps grease the wheels of my creative mind.
“River of Life,” a paper sculpture by Marisa Aragón Ware. (Michael Allen/Courtesy photo)
Once I have prepared my mind for working, I’ll sit down at my desk and begin with a warm up drawing in my sketchbook. I’m always studying and trying to improve my skills, so I often start with copying a drawing from an anatomy book or drawing some wildlife from reference photos. Then I’ll dive into my work and lose track of time while listening to music or audiobooks.
Working with paper is particularly energy and time-intensive, and I’ll end up making thousands of cuts with my X-Acto knife in a day. I find paper to be an endlessly fascinating medium not only because it is so versatile, but also because it is such an ordinary material that everyone has handled countless times. When an artist is able to make something extraordinary from a humble, everyday substance, it evokes a lot of surprise and wonder in the viewer. I love seeing people’s reaction when their eyes widen and they ask in disbelief, “that’s paper?”
Paper is also one of the oldest mediums, having been invented by the Chinese about 2,000 years ago. Paper cuttings have been a part of traditional folk art for many cultures throughout time, and I love being a part of the contemporary expression of that lineage and craft.
KM: Where in Colorado did you grow up, and would you say this state’s landscape and wildlife continue to act as muses?
MAW: Having been born and raised in Boulder, I garnered a deep appreciation for nature from a childhood spent roaming the forests and meadows of the Rocky Mountains. I would often go hiking with my scientist father who knew the names of all the plants, as well as which were edible and which were poisonous. We would crouch down to study the subtle identifying differences in flower petals or to inspect the anatomy of an earthworm. I learned how to gently catch and release snakes, identify the most poisonous of mushrooms, and — most importantly — how to pay attention to details and appreciate the ordinary beauty all around us. My mother would always have paints and art supplies ready for me, and she really encouraged and celebrated my attempts at painting the flora and fauna I would find as reference in our backyard.
“Metamorphosis,” a paper sculpture by Marisa Aragón Ware. (Michael Allen/Courtesy photo)
These formative experiences heavily influenced my perception of the world and forever formed me into a passionate environmentalist. Connecting with nature has always been effortless for me, and I see now that this leisure time exploring the forests as a child was a privilege that not everyone was granted. Most people in our modern culture are cut off from the natural world, and therefore unaware of the immeasurable benefits of spending time in the woods, the desert, the beach or any solitary, wild place. This disconnect is not only a disservice to our very humanity, but it also causes a lack of care and concern in how we as a culture relate to the environment.
Through my work, I strive to depict the magic of the natural world in order to help others connect with — and therefore cultivate care for — the environment. Whether that is through researching endangered species and then creating imagery to raise awareness or through making delicate paper sculptures depicting the intricate beauty of an ordinary forest floor, I attempt to awaken the viewer to the reality of the world we are living in, where so much is at stake. I spend a lot of time hiking with my dog in the mountains of Colorado, and much of my imagery is inspired by these experiences. I also have a strong passion for animal rights, extending beyond wildlife to include domesticated and farm animals. Because of this, I’ve been vegetarian for 19 years and vegan for seven, and I often try to use my platform as an artist to raise awareness about the cruelty these animals are subjected to.
“Reciprocity,” a paper sculpture by Marisa Aragón Ware. (Marisa Aragón Ware/Courtesy photo)
KM: I know you have also authored and illustrated two children’s books. What prompted you to want to tell these stories, and can we expect any more books from you in the future?
MAW: I grew up loving Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Maurice Sendak and Roald Dahl, and that love of reading grew into a love of literature as I got older. Telling stories that have meaning and substance to them is such a human endeavor, and I’ve always wanted to make whatever small contribution I can to that tradition.
My first book, “Where’s Buddha?” is for 0- to 4-year-olds and is a colorful, sweet and rhyming book that little ones seem to find very entertaining as they search to find Buddha through the various pages of hot air balloons, safari animals, forests, airplanes and underwater scenes.
My second book, “Bodhi Sees the World,” is for 3- to 7-year-olds and follows a little girl as she experiences the wonders of visiting a foreign country. At first, she is overwhelmed by the differences, but once she quiets her mind, she begins to notice all of the things that humanity shares in common.
I have so many ideas for more children’s books and am working on one right now that was inspired by my amazing rescue dog Echo. It’s a story about the power that friendship has to help us be brave and go beyond our fears.
KM: Do you have any holiday rituals you practice this time of year?
MAW: Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always identified as a bit of a witch. For me, that means being in tune with the changing of the seasons, communing with the silence of nature and spending time connecting with the primordial power of this planet and the universe beyond it. I’ve found the practice of gardening to be an incredible way to experience and participate in all of the seasons. I love the cycle of planting seeds in the spring, tending to the plants as they grow in the summer, harvesting them in the fall and then eating the preserved and pickled vegetables in the winter. During this time of year, I stare out of my window and imagine the garden in spring, making plans for the flowers and veggies I’ll be planting. I love making little altars of evergreen boughs, pinecones, dried thistles and other wintry decorations.
“Moonshadow,” a paper sculpture by Marisa Aragón Ware. (Marisa Aragón Ware/Courtesy photo)
While I grew up celebrating Christmas and still participate in exchanging gifts and hanging holiday lights, I’ve been a practicing Buddhist since I was in my early 20s. I have a wonderful Buddhist community here in Boulder, and we often get together to practice meditation. We celebrate Losar, or Tibetan New Year, in February, and it’s always a joyous occasion of meditation, feasting and being together.
KM: What are some artistic and personal goals you hope to accomplish in 2023?
“Halcyon Song,” a paper sculpture by Marisa Aragón Ware. (Michael Allen/Courtesy photo0
MAW: For the last few years, I’ve been teaching art at the University of Colorado, and it has become one of my favorite things I do with my time. I never expected to become a professor, but I have found that teaching is one of the most rewarding, inspiring and fulfilling activities I’ve ever done. Interacting with my students keeps me motivated to continue learning and pushing my craft, and I aspire to be the best instructor possible for them. I also teach private lessons, and find that one-on-one interaction to be such a powerful learning experience for both my students and myself.
With my personal work, I want to keep exploring the crossover of paper sculpture and wearable art. I’ve begun making some masks and have plans for headdresses and even clothing. I have so many ideas for different things to create, and I’ll be happy if I make even 10% of them. I also love doing private commissions, and find a lot of meaning in making art specially to suit someone’s unique vision.
More than anything, I want to keep unearthing my authentic creative voice. It’s such an ineffable pursuit, but every artist can relate. I want to make art that comes straight from the core of my being, without a filter of concern for how it will be received. As René Magritte said, “Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist.” I think it’s a lifelong pursuit to try to strip down the hesitations and judgments of ego in order to create something that is true — so that’s what I’m going to keep working on, year after year, in my own way. | 2022-12-23T18:41:44Z | www.dailycamera.com | Marisa Aragón Ware’s paper sculptures pay tribute to flora and fauna – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/marisa-aragon-wares-paper-sculptures-pay-tribute-to-flora-and-fauna/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/marisa-aragon-wares-paper-sculptures-pay-tribute-to-flora-and-fauna/ |
A man reported missing out of the Louisville area was later found dead in Superior.
Robert McCrudden, 30, was found Tuesday in open space near South 66th Street and West Coal Creek Drive in Superior, according to a release from the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.
The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.
According to social media posts by friends and family, McCrudden was reported missing on Monday and his vehicle was found parked near Coal Creek Golf Course in Louisville.
Friends have established a gofundme account to help pay for some of his funeral expenses. | 2022-12-23T18:41:50Z | www.dailycamera.com | Missing man found dead in Superior | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/missing-man-found-dead-in-superior/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/missing-man-found-dead-in-superior/ |
Top 10: Bolder Boulder 10K marked pivotal…
Runners in the ‘A’ wave take off from the start during the 42nd Bolder Boulder 10K Classic in Boulder on Monday, May 30, 2022. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
For the first time since 2019 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the well-known and loved Bolder Boulder 10K hosted approximately 34,000 runners once again for its 42nd annual race on Memorial Day this year.
Marking one of the pivotal returns from the pandemic, the race had its usual route through the streets north of the University of Colorado Boulder campus and finished at Folsom Field.
This year, one of the race’s founders, Frank Shorter, served as the official starter in honor of the 50th anniversary of his 1972 gold medal Olympic marathon run.
The fun and colorful costumes were present once again, including crayons, giraffes, Where’s Waldo, and bananas, according to reporting by the Daily Camera.
Runners from all over the country come out to participate in this event year after year, and even after a short pause, this year was no different.
The Bolder Boulder 10K is a massive community event that involves more than just the participating racers. Community members show their support for the runners by offering fun challenges, dressing up, and even the occasional Jello shot.
Along with the race, there was live music, a Slip ’N Slide, an Elvis impersonator, belly dancers, and drummers.
Since the race is on Memorial Day, it concludes with a tribute to honor fallen service members, presentations to honor local living veterans, the national anthem and Taps, and a 21-gun salute. | 2022-12-23T18:41:57Z | www.dailycamera.com | Top 10: Bolder Boulder 10K marked pivotal return from pandemic – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/top-10-bolder-boulder-10k-marked-pivotal-return-from-pandemic/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/top-10-bolder-boulder-10k-marked-pivotal-return-from-pandemic/ |
Guest opinion: Don Tocher: Careful amendments…
Guest opinion: Don Tocher: Careful amendments to Gun Control Act could fix a broken system
By Don Tocher
The notion of banning assault weapons is a non-starter as the barn door has been open too long. And, since “banning” implies confiscation, such a regulation would be tied up in litigation for a decade or more. And, “assault weapons” do not include the many tens of million (almost as dangerous) semiautomatic handguns in the country.
According to Wikipedia, “Title II of the Gun Control Act of 1968 is a revision of the National Firearms Act of 1934, and pertains to machine guns, short or “sawed-off” shotguns and rifles, and so-called “destructive devices” (including grenades, mortars, rocket launchers, large projectiles, and other heavy ordnance). Acquisition of these weapons is subject to prior approval of the Attorney General, and federal registration is required for possession. Generally, a $200 tax is imposed upon each transfer or making of any Title II weapon.”
I propose that the act be amended to include:
• Any centerfire semiautomatic weapon capable of holding five or more cartridges. Also, The prospective owner will be required to pass a federal background check and the payment of a $200 fee for the first and a $100 fee for each additional weapon. A license will then be issued for each weapon with a five-year renewal (and background check) required, again with a fee of $100 for each weapon.
• The background check should be completed within 30 days of application. If not, all fees to which the applicant is subject to are to be reduced by 50%.
• The penalty for possessing a non-licensed firearm is confiscation of the weapon and a $500 fine for the first offense and a $5,000 fine, confiscation and one year in prison for subsequent violations.
• All penalties under this act will be waived for two years after enactment. This “grace period” applies to anyone who encounters law enforcement regarding unlicensed subject weapons.
• The existing laws are to be codified at the federal level with specific reference to the semiautomatic licensing program.
• Any law-enforcement officer may, with probable cause, search a person, home or vehicle. If the officer encounters an unlicensed (subject) weapon, they may (temporarily) confiscate the weapon(s) and cite the person accordingly. If this occurs during the grace period, that person has a stipulated time to properly license the weapon(s) in question.
• Anyone residing in a home in which a subject weapon is maintained and who has failed a background check would also be subject to appropriate sanctions. (Remember the Connecticut school shooter.)
• Since there are an estimated 300 million firearms in the country and many would be subject to this legislation, this program could be phased in in accordance with the urgency/lethality of the weapons in question. For example, those holding state-issued licenses to carry might be exempted until their state permits expire.
• Concurrently, the effectiveness of the federal background check should be improved to include more rigorous mental health elements. The mental health community needs to step up to the plate here, as there is a need to give up some privacy for the sake of safety.
• The principal complaint about his sort of program from the gun lobby will be that the associated database would facilitate government confiscation. Surely if a revolution was to install a sympathetic dictator, that could happen. However, many guns are now licensed locally. And, there are many ways to protect the privacy of individuals.
• Because this proposed regulation is consistent with existing federal machine gun laws, it does not infringe on the second amendment.
• If enacted, this could persuade some owners to agree to surrender some guns via a buy-back program.
• Rimfire (.22 cal) weapons are not included here. Although they can clearly be lethal, they are much less of a threat than centerfire weapons.
Don Tocher lives in Boulder.
Guest opinion: Bill Press: Yes, I’m woke – and proud of it!
Guest opinion: Arabinda Basistha: The savings rate for Americans is at an all time low
Guest opinion: Mike Manning: How to stop experienced educators from quitting the classroom | 2022-12-24T19:13:15Z | www.dailycamera.com | Guest opinion: Don Tocher: Careful amendments to Gun Control Act could save lives | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/guest-opinion-don-tocher-careful-amendments-to-gun-control-act-could-fix-a-broken-system/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/23/guest-opinion-don-tocher-careful-amendments-to-gun-control-act-could-fix-a-broken-system/ |
Football: Fairview’s Lewis named Daily Camera…
BROOMFIELD,CO:December 16: Zach Lewis, of Fairview High School, is the 5A player of the year. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
Longtime Fairview coach Tom McCartney went on a fact-finding mission through the program’s storied football past. He needed to know just how good senior Zach Lewis’ 2022 season really was.
In the fall, the Daily Camera defensive player of the year was the only player in Colorado to record more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 100 tackles in the regular season.
Impressive. How much so? McCartney dug into Fairview’s history to find out.
The Knights’ 30-year coach knew he’d never had a player under him accomplish anything like it. That went back into the early 90s.
Boulder High School’s Tate Franz (No. 5) chases after Fairview High School’s Zach Lewis (No. 15) on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
He then put in a call to the school’s legendary coach before him, Sam Pagano. He talked with him, some of his family members and several former players. Could they remember something like what Lewis did with all the big names to have come through before him? The answer was a unanimous no.
He also asked the Knights’ current linebacker coach — former CU great Barry Remington — if he ever witnessed anything like it when he was an All-American linebacker at the school in the late 70s and early 80s.
“Barry said just to get 100-plus tackles is incredible, and if you were just doing 1,000 yards rushing on a season, that’s incredible,” McCartney said. “To do both is something we’ve just not seen.”
Lewis finished the season with 120 tackles (18 for loss), 1,066 rushing yards, 134 receiving and 18 touchdowns. All were a team-best.
Coming into the fall, the 6-2, 215-pound senior was tabbed to be the heart of the defense. The second-year captain is fast, smart, a leader on and off the field, his coaches revel.
But it was his emergence as the team’s offensive star that will place him in high school football lore.
“It’s definitely almost torture playing both ways,” Lewis cracked. “It’s not crazy, but the fact we were running the ball as much as we did, and I was running back and playing linebacker, it was tough. But you got to do what you got to do. If you want to win games, you got to do what’s best.”
Lewis’ leading role on the offense came after McCartney lost his D-I caliber quarterback Bekkem Kritza to a California transfer before the season. He then lost his other two running backs to injury.
And despite Lewis’ 176 touches, he still managed enough energy to have a career-best season at linebacker. His 77 solo tackles were top 10 in Class 5A. He also had a pick-six and a sack.
Fairview’s Zach Lewis celebrates a tackle for loss against Chatfield Friday, November 4, 2022.
“He just put us on his back,” said McCartney, whose team won nine games and a league championship. “He entered beast mode.”
Lewis signed with Division-I Lindenwood University on National Signing Day Wednesday. He also had offers from Coastal Carolina and San Diego, per 247Sports.
For now, he’s in recovery mode. A lot of it is “sitting around and eating food,” he admits.
He said he’d lost 15 pounds during the season. And now he’s building back up.
“I have six eggs every morning, two bagels with cream cheese on them, bacon and sausage,” Lewis began to list. “And then at lunch I have two peanut butter and jellies, like fat ones. Just fill them up with peanut butter. And then salami and like a 1,500-calorie protein shake.
“And then whatever mom makes for dinner.”
Keep feeding him. | 2022-12-24T20:02:45Z | www.dailycamera.com | Football: Fairview’s Lewis named Daily Camera defensive player of the year – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/24/football-fairviews-lewis-named-daily-camera-defensive-player-of-the-year/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/24/football-fairviews-lewis-named-daily-camera-defensive-player-of-the-year/ |
With 2022 almost in the books, investors have faced one of the most challenging years in memory. As I write this, the S&P 500 index of U.S. large companies is down close to 20% year to date. The MSCI EAFE index made up of large international companies is not doing much better, off 16% for the year. Perhaps the greatest insult to investors has been the decline in the value of bonds, which has happened due to the Federal Reserve’s campaign to increase the federal funds rate to bring inflation under control. Accordingly, the S&P US Aggregate Bond Index is down 12%.
To give you some context about how unusual this is, try to imagine the last time that U.S. stocks and bonds were down in the same year. According to investing data giant Callan, it was in 1969. With international stocks down as well, we may not be in unprecedented territory but it’s been at least two generations since we’ve seen performance like this.
You may be disheartened by this news. We, naturally, as investors tend to look forward with an eye to the rearview mirror. If your 401(k) has declined in value, it’s natural to believe that it’s likely to continue to do so. While it’s certainly all right to rue the money we have lost as investors, let’s not conflate the performance of the last year for what is to come. Consider these reasons for optimism in 2023.
We are prepared for down years. Many clients have been surprised this year to see that their financial independence plans, or retirement plans, are on track even after this year’s challenges. How could they be in good shape with all investment categories trending down? If you’re working with a competent financial advisor, most likely when they run projections, they are not assuming that investment performance will be average every year. Financial planning applications will often use Monte Carlo simulations that consider variability in returns from year to year. Other guidelines such as the 4% sustainable withdrawal rate look back on the worst 30-year periods of investments returns in the past. We know there are going to be down years and the industry’s tools build in this uncertainty.
Bond yields have improved. While bond prices have declined this year, the bond yields have increased dramatically. For the first time since the global financial crisis, one year Treasury bonds are yielding over 4% annual interest. This compares to close to 0.5% a year ago. As a result, the stage has been set for those who rely in part on their portfolio to support their spending. If you can earn 4% on your safe investments and inflation is brought under control (as many expect), you could potentially make a better case for a successful retirement. Even inflation-protected Treasury bonds are yielding close to 2% above inflation at some maturities, which far exceeds the negative real yields we saw a year ago.
Stocks usually perform well after entering bear markets. The Wall Street Journal published a chart earlier this year detailing stock performance in the months after the start of every bear market for the last 65 years. Over this time, the median return in the 12 months after entering a bear market is 23.9%. We entered an S&P 500 bear market, defined as a 20% decline from a recent high, on June 13 this year. We don’t know what will happen this time, but we can take comfort that over the last three generations that returns have been quite good after moving into bear market territory.
David Gardner is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Mercer Advisors practicing in Boulder County. The opinions expressed by the author are his own and are not intended to serve as specific financial, accounting, or tax advice. They reflect the judgment of the author as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Some of the research and ratings shown in this article come from third parties that are not affiliated with Mercer Advisors. The information is believed to be accurate, but is not guaranteed or warranted by Mercer Advisors. Content, research, tools, and stock or option symbols are for educational and illustrative purposes only and do not imply a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell a particular security or to engage in any particular investment strategy. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. | 2022-12-25T17:06:10Z | www.dailycamera.com | David Gardner: Looking Forward to a Better Year | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/25/david-gardner-looking-forward-to-a-better-year/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/25/david-gardner-looking-forward-to-a-better-year/ |
‘We saw that there was a need:’ Free Christmas…
Bridge House hosts its 12th annual Christmas Day meal
Christmas is a time for receiving presents but also a time to give back to the community.
On Sunday, First Congregational Church hosted Bridge House, a nonprofit organization based in Boulder that provides a variety of programs, resources and services for people experiencing homelessness, for a Christmas meal.
Scott Medina, director of community relations at Bridge House, said the organization has been serving Christmas meals for the past 12 years and has plenty of experience hosting meals for large groups of people. Brena Pearson, director of development at Bridge House, also said that they host a variety of meals throughout the year, and the Christmas meal was just another addition.
It was simple: people needed a warm holiday meal and Bridge House was in a position to provide it.
“We saw that there was a need. There wasn’t a big meal that was happening,” Medina said.
Medina said that the meal was completely free and open to anybody, but that they see many people experiencing homelessness and low-income households who come in for a meal.
Before the pandemic, the meal was served indoors at a variety of restaurants who volunteered their space. During the pandemic, Bridge House gave out “grab and go” meals in outdoor locations. Medina said that this year’s meal was the first one back indoors. Pearson said that having the meals back indoors has been great, especially after the cold snap that came before Christmas.
“We’re just very happy to be back indoors,” Pearson said, “and give people a warm place to stay.”
First Congregational Church volunteered its space, and Bridge House had more than enough volunteers to run the meal program.
“We’re always blessed with a lot of volunteers,” Medina shared.
He said that the Christmas meals see the highest number of volunteers. He expressed that people want to give more this time of year, and that volunteering is a beautiful way to experience the Christmas season.
Medina said that all the food is made by Bridge House. This year, the menu consisted of braised beef, ham, potatoes, vegetables as well as dessert. This Christmas meal served approximately 125-150 people. Medina shared that they used to serve more than 200 meals, but that the pandemic broke that momentum. However, they are looking to pick things back up.
Medina said that alongside the meals, Bridge House also gives out stockings. He said that those were stocked with socks, gloves and other various things. He exclaimed that he is always surprised by the donations they get at Bridge House, whether those come from schools, businesses or individuals. | 2022-12-26T01:04:39Z | www.dailycamera.com | ‘We saw that there was a need:’ Free Christmas meal hosted by local nonprofit – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/25/we-saw-that-there-was-a-need-free-christmas-meal-hosted-by-local-nonprofit/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/25/we-saw-that-there-was-a-need-free-christmas-meal-hosted-by-local-nonprofit/ |
Editorial: Republican political stunts offer no…
The outcome of two lawsuits in the past week demonstrated the stark differences between Democratic and Republican party leadership and underscored that the party of so-called “fiscal responsibility” is anything but.
Both lawsuits came in response to audacious actions by state governors. But while Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stunt will cost taxpayers around $4 million and result in significant challenges to state and federal laws regarding abortion rights and gun rights, Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s stunt will cost around $200 million and accomplish quite literally nothing except for the visible destruction of a national forest.
The California case originated in July, when Newsom signed Senate Bill 1327 into law. The bill bans the manufacture, sale and distribution of certain assault weapons and .50-caliber machine guns in California (which was already illegal), allows members of the public to sue gun manufacturers who produce weapons that are illegally distributed in California in a private right of action, and shifts legal fees to those manufacturers if they fail to win on any element of their case.
Newsom admitted that the bill was a stunt at the time. He designed it to model a Texas abortion law that effectively bans all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, grants a private right of action against those seeking and providing abortions, and shifts legal fees to lawyers who defend those seeking or providing abortions.
More simply, both laws ban an act, deputize private citizens to enforce the ban and block defendants from fighting back in court by making it prohibitively risky and expensive to defend themselves. Both laws are unconstitutional and should be struck down — which was precisely the point Newsom was trying to make and the outcome he hopes to achieve. Newsom even included a provision that automatically repealed the California law should the Texas statute ever be struck down or repealed.
So when U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez — a hero in conservative circles for his staunch support of the Second Amendment — issued a ruling this week declaring a portion of SB1327 unconstitutional, Newsom thanked him.
“We have been saying all along that Texas’ anti-abortion law is outrageous. Judge Benitez just confirmed it is also unconstitutional,” Newsom said. “The provision in California’s law that he struck down is a replica of what Texas did, and his explanation of why this part of SB1327 unfairly blocks access to the courts applies equally to Texas’ SB8. There is no longer any doubt that Texas’ cruel anti-abortion law should also be struck down.”
Only the Supreme Court can decide if Newsom’s gambit will lead to a checkmate, but in just a few months, and with just a few million dollars, he created a credible challenge to the rapid erosion of women’s rights in the United States.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Arizona, Ducey tried to pull off a Jedi mind trick of his own, but is looking more like the stormtrooper who hit his head on the doorway.
After years of federal inaction at the southern border, Ducey took matters into his own hands in October and started erecting a wall of cargo containers. While he claims it was a serious plan to stop illegal migration into the U.S., his decision to focus the wall on a stretch of federally owned land makes his claims dubious. The land sits in the middle of the Sonoran Desert — inside the protected Coronado National Forest where almost no illegal border crossings occur due to the harsh and dangerous conditions.
Given the rugged landscape and the inflexibility of cargo containers, the “wall” is also completely ineffective. There are large triangular gaps where changes in elevation make it impossible for the containers to line up properly. Not to mention that the tops are wide and flat, making it quite simple to climb a ladder on one side, stand safely on the top, move the ladder and climb down the other side. It’s starting to look like a prerequisite to be a Republican office holder in this country is to be a clueless loon whose very best ideas are laughably inane. Immigration is a serious issue that requires serious minds, not performative pratfalls by clueless leaders more interested in a tweet than governing.
Yet despite these obvious design flaws, Ducey moved forward with the project, spending more than $80 million in taxpayer money to construct just a small portion of what he conceived of as a massive border wall. In the process, he destroyed hundreds of square miles of protected national forest land as semitrucks carrying hundreds of cargo containers and heavy equipment used for assembling the wall rumbled across a previously pristine desert landscape.
As if that wasn’t wasteful enough, the contract Ducey authorized for the construction of the wall didn’t include any provisions for tearing it down if the project was abandoned or declared illegal, which was essentially a certainty given that it was built illegally on federally protected land.
This week, Ducey agreed to abandon the project and voluntarily tear down the already-constructed portion of the wall — presumably attempting to avoid a lawsuit filed by his own constituents living along the border — that could have resulted in court-ordered full restoration of the landscape and ecosystem. But even without a court-ordered restoration, Ducey just put Arizona taxpayers on the hook for an additional estimated $100 million in demolition fees.
Ducey’s incompetence echoes that of his Republican counterpart in Florida, Ron DeSantis, who faces multiple lawsuits and even a potential criminal investigation for his botched attempts to fly immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard. DeSantis is accused of defrauding the migrants and is facing difficult questions over how more than a million dollars in taxpayer funds disappeared.
Talk is cheap but Republican showmanship is not. Americans should stop listening to the rhetoric of supposedly “fiscally responsible” Republicans and start paying attention to their absurdly wasteful actions.
— The Las Vegas Sun | 2022-12-26T19:00:37Z | www.dailycamera.com | Editorial: Republican political stunts offer no real solutions but cost taxpayers real money | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/26/editorial-republican-political-stunts-offer-no-real-solutions-but-cost-taxpayers-real-money/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/26/editorial-republican-political-stunts-offer-no-real-solutions-but-cost-taxpayers-real-money/ |
Top 10: No. 6: NCAR Fire caused almost 20,000…
Fire crews work along the fire lines while battling the NCAR Fire as it moves closer to homes on March 26 in south Boulder. (Cliff Grassmick — Staff Photographer)
Editor’s Note: Continuing through Dec. 31, the Daily Camera will count down the top stories of the year, as selected by the newspaper’s editors.
A wildfire near the National Center for Atmospheric Research caused almost 20,000 evacuations and burned 190 acres in south Boulder on March 26.
What became known as the NCAR Fire started about 2 p.m. March 26 in Bear Canyon, and did not reach 100% containment until March 31. The evacuation area included 8,000 homes before it was lifted March 27.
After the initial 8,000-home evacuation lifted, only the town of Eldorado Springs, the Devil’s Thumb neighborhood west of Lehigh Street and Mesa Elementary remained under evacuation. This brought the number of evacuated homes down to about 1,600-to-1,900.
No structural damage or injuries were reported from the NCAR Fire, but officials did report that the fire came within about one-tenth of a mile from homes in the area. It was reported that rainy weather throughout the week aided in the containment of the fire.
The East Boulder Community Center opened up as an evacuation point and overnight shelter, while the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont were made available to take in animals.
Multiple hikers and rock climbers that day reported fleeing the flames as they saw the fire growing. In the wake of the Dec. 30, 2021, Marshall Fire, this was unnerving for many in the area.
Later on in April, Boulder County investigators reported that they believed the NCAR Fire was human-caused but had no leads or suspects at the time.
Officials reported that the precise origin of the fire was determined to be a few feet off the Bear Canyon Trail inside Boulder city limits. In previous Daily Camera reporting, Boulder County sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Haverfield said there were remnants of a small campfire just off the trail, but no associated campsite.
Over 20 tips from the public were investigated, video and photographic evidence was reviewed, and potential witnesses were interviewed, but no suspects were identified through the investigation. | 2022-12-26T19:01:08Z | www.dailycamera.com | Top 10: No. 6: NCAR Fire caused almost 20,000 evacuations in south Boulder | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/26/top-10-no-6-ncar-fire-caused-almost-20000-evacuations-in-south-boulder/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/26/top-10-no-6-ncar-fire-caused-almost-20000-evacuations-in-south-boulder/ |
Letters to the editor: CU’s fossil fuel…
Art Hirsch: CU: Divestment away from fossil fuels is smart choice
I am an alumnus of the University of Colorado, and I received my Master of Science Degree in Environmental Engineering in 1983. I have worked in the environmental field for over 30 years.
I attended the student protest meeting and march on Dec. 2 against the university investing in fossil fuel companies. I was happy and proud of the students, teachers and alumni speaking out against the university’s investments.
I feel that the university is sadly greenwashing the students and the public. The university advertises how “sustainable” the institution is by reducing greenhouse gas emissions as mentioned by the sustainability director in the past; however, emission reduction at the university is only part of the sustainability concept and caring for the planet. The investment of $270.5 million by the university into fossil fuel funds, supports and promotes the use of more polluting carbon energy and less green renewable technologies. The university’s investment approach sends a poor message to the students, the community and the public regardless of the fact that it constitutes 5% of the total university investment fund.
As I joined in the protest, I talked to numerous students about the university’s investments. They really had no idea about this investment policy until the protest was announced or were informed by their instructors.
I appreciate that Chancellor Phillip DiStefano supports the students, employees, and alumni in the activism; however, the decision to divest from fossil fuels is ultimately the university’s regent’s decision. It would have been great to see an administration representative attend the protest rally.
I urge the regents to re-evaluate the university investment strategy and divest away from fossil fuels sooner rather than later. Join other universities such as Harvard, the California State University System, Dartmouth College, Amherst College, and the University of Michigan to name a few, in divesting away from fossil fuels. Student enthusiasm and activism seem unlikely to subside and campaigns are now armed with a growing body of data to show that divestment is a safe, fiduciary choice.
Art Hirsch, Boulder
Karen Mullins: Addiction: Drug use in the library is unacceptable
That people in Boulder, young and old, were exposed to any levels of meth at the Boulder Public Library is completely unfathomable. Our elected leaders need to focus on a real solution to this public health emergency immediately. We can blame their drug-related policy decisions, those related to decriminalizing certain amounts of drugs, for this epic failure to protect people who use the library and surrounding areas.
Addiction is an issue. I believe it is inhumane to allow people who are addicts to kill themselves, so we need to get them into jails and/or other facilities where they belong until they aren’t a danger to the public or themselves anymore.
Instead of prioritizing the rights of drug addicts to use drugs anywhere they want, we need to start protecting the good people of Boulder, and their rights, first.
I have nothing left to say except that what happened is unacceptable, and I really think people in Boulder ought to elect different public officials, ones that put the tax-paying citizens first. Let’s get Boulder back to being the wonderful, safe community it once was.
Karen Mullins, Boulder
Robert Porath: Buffs: Don’t expect Sanders to hang around for too long
The list is long, but Neon Deion is by far the flashiest Knight in Shining Armor riding in on a multi-million dollar contract to rescue CU’s Damsel in Distress football program. His arrival has enchanted fans palpitating in vicarious excitement and expectation. Whether he succeeds or not, don’t expect him to hang around for long. There are bigger paychecks pending.
Robert Porath, Boulder | 2022-12-27T17:55:05Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: CU's fossil fuel investments; drug use in the library; Sanders' future paychecks | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/letters-to-the-editor-cus-fossil-fuel-investments-drug-use-in-the-library-sanders-future-paychecks/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/letters-to-the-editor-cus-fossil-fuel-investments-drug-use-in-the-library-sanders-future-paychecks/ |
Three people were taken to the hospital after a Longmont explosion led to a structure fire Monday night.
Longmont Public Safety spokesperson Robin Ericson said an explosion was reported at 9 p.m. Monday in the 100 block of Placer Avenue.
Crews arrived and found a garage fully engulfed in flames. An adjacent home was also damaged in the explosion and subsequent fire.
One man was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, while the other two were transported by private vehicle. The extent of their injuries is not known at this time.
Ericson said the cause of the explosion is under investigation, and firefighters and members of the Boulder County Bomb Squad are on scene today. | 2022-12-27T17:55:17Z | www.dailycamera.com | Three taken to hospital after Longmont explosion | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/three-taken-to-hospital-after-longmont-explosion/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/three-taken-to-hospital-after-longmont-explosion/ |
Marshall Fire: Superior restaurant owner finds…
BOULDER,CO:December 14: Gurjeet Dhanoa, owner of the Tandoori Grill Restaurant in Boulder, is a survivor of the Marshall fire.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
When the Marshall Fire swept through Gurjeet Dhanoa’s neighborhood, she and her family lost not one, but three houses. The home she shared with her husband and son, the house she owned but was renting to her parents, and a third rental property she owned all burned to the ground.
But over the last few months, Dhanoa, who has co-owned the Tandoori Grill at 619 S. Broadway in Boulder with her husband, Paul, for 25 years, has found solace in hosting weekly dinners at her restaurant for fellow Marshall Fire survivors. The dinners, which she described as being “my form of therapy,” have provided a space for the community to come together, grieve and share experiences.
“Feeding people is the one thing I can do,” Dhanoa said. “This way I get to meet people and hear their stories.”
On Wednesday evenings, Dhanoa sets up a buffet for her guests in the bar area of the restaurant. About 30 to 40 people usually come to the dinners, she said. Many of them are from Louisville, Superior and Lafayette, and they have many different stories to share. Some of their homes partially burned in the fire. Others were struggling with being underinsured. Still others were older members of the community without the means to rebuild what they had lost.
Although the dinners sometimes feel overwhelming, Dhanoa said, she feels a kinship with the people who come and a sense that “they know what I’m going through.”
Dhanoa, her husband, her 15-year-old son, Arjun, and their dog, Holly, lived in a house on Andrew Drive, in the Rock Creek subdivision in Superior. In their home, Dhanoa’s favorite room was her office, which was full of personal items and everything she “held dear.” She had hundreds of books she’d been collecting for 30 years — books given to her by friends with pages full of handwritten notes.
In the aftermath of the fire, people told her things like, “at least nobody got hurt” or “it’s just stuff that was lost.” But to Dhanoa, her office had been her space, her sanctuary. The space and the items she lost were irreplaceable.
“It mattered to me,” Dhanoa said. “It’s not ‘just stuff.'”
Still, when she thinks about what could have happened, Dhanoa feels grateful. She and all of her family members got out of their homes safely. Her mother, a cancer survivor with lung disease, needed to be physically moved out of her home in order to evacuate, but Dhanoa’s brother was able to carry her to safety.
Dhanoa and her husband closed the restaurant for five weeks after the fire. She and her family stayed with a friend of hers for several months. Now, they live in a rental home two blocks from their old house, and they are currently in the process of having the original house rebuilt, a process she was told could take eight to 10 months (construction started in May).
Her parents are hoping to rebuild their home, as well, though they don’t have the money now. Although Dhanoa lost three houses in the fire, her insurance only paid her enough money to rebuild one.
What does the future hold? It’s hard to think about that right now, she said. She and her husband are planning to sell the restaurant in the near future, but Dhanoa isn’t sure what she wants to do next. In the meantime, she’s focusing on cultivating a positive outlook and moving forward with life.
“I’m always trying to look at the positive,” Dhanoa said. “When I start talking about it, there’s a lot of anger. There’s a lot of hurt. There’s a lot of hope. … It’s very upsetting what happened, but at the same time, it’s okay.” | 2022-12-27T23:39:42Z | www.dailycamera.com | Marshall Fire: Superior restaurant owner finds comfort in hosting dinners | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/marshall-fire-superior-restaurant-owner-finds-comfort-in-hosting-dinners/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/marshall-fire-superior-restaurant-owner-finds-comfort-in-hosting-dinners/ |
According to an arrest affidavit, Alspaugh caused a three-vehicle wreck on Dec. 18 in the area of Pike Road and Industrial Circle.
Child abuse charges were filed because police said Alspaugh’s 2-year child was in her car, but was not injured.
She was released on a $20,000 personal recognizance bond and is set for a status conference on Jan. 10. | 2022-12-27T23:39:48Z | www.dailycamera.com | Woman charged with vehicular assault in reported DUI crash | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/woman-charged-with-vehicular-assault-in-reported-dui-crash/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/27/woman-charged-with-vehicular-assault-in-reported-dui-crash/ |
Boulder cardiovascular surgeon leads…
Study shows catheter valve has longer lifespan than surgically implanted valve
Dr. Daniel O’Hair, a cardiovascular surgeon at Boulder Community Health, led a study that showed a heart valve implanted using a catheter rather than by open-heart surgery has a slower rate of deterioration. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
A first-of-its kind study led by a Boulder Community Health cardiovascular surgeon found that a specific type of heart valve that is implanted using a catheter rather than by open-heart surgery has a slower rate of deterioration — an exciting discovery as the catheter method has become the most common form of aortic valve replacement.
Over the past decade, many hospitals have shifted away from surgical aortic valve replacements, which are done through cutting open a patient’s chest, and now prefer transcatheter aortic valve replacements. Transcatheter valves use a catheter that’s fed through a patient’s leg and replaces the patient’s valve with a sophisticated bio-prosthetic valve. The replacement valve widens the valve opening and takes over aortic valve’s job of regulating blood flow.
“There are more valves implanted (by catheter) than with open surgery because the results have been so good,” said Daniel O’Hair, cardiovascular surgery program chair at BCH and lead scientist for the study, which was published this month.
“What’s different is we never knew how long those valves were going to last. Patients want to know, (and) that’s a very important question, ‘Am I going to have to have this done (again) in two more years or five more years or 10 more years?'”
The international study gave researchers the answers they were seeking and produced promising findings — revealing that deterioration is almost three times higher for surgical valves than for a specific transcatheter aortic valve made by medical device company Medtronic.
“What data is showing for the very first time is structural valve deterioration is significantly less common in transcatheter valves, which just means … better outcomes for the patients, longer durability, (and) it keeps them out of the hospital more,” O’Hair said.
The study was published Dec. 14 in Journal of the American Medical Association. It documented outcomes for 4,700 patients, collected from December 2010 to June 2016 and analyzed from December 2021 to October 2022 to determine the frequency of structural valve deterioration at five years for those who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement and those who underwent surgical aortic valve replacement, the study said.
An aortic valve is the most common valve that surgeons replace, O’Hair said. The valve opens to let blood flow from the left ventricle — a large chamber at the bottom of the heart — to the aorta. It also closes to prevent blood from flowing in the wrong direction. The closed valve keeps blood from leaking from the aorta back into the heart.
“This valve wears out with age, so there is an aging phenomenon and then there are some people who are born with a minor irregularity in the shape of that valve or the way it’s put together, which doesn’t cause a problem for many, many years, and then in their 60s or so, the valve starts to wear out,” O’Hair said.
During the study, researchers examined Medtronic’s transcatheter aortic valve, which was favored when compared with one other implant in a separate study, O’Hair said. He added that Medtronic’s aortic valve is the first catheter implant that has been found to be superior to the surgical valves.
A spokesperson with Medtronic, who declined to be named for this article, added that this finding will have a major impact on patient choice. This valve, which started as an option for a niche patient population who couldn’t undergo surgery, will become the norm for patients needing a heart valve replacement.
“That’s being driven by the data but also by patient choice,” the spokesperson said. “It’s a much less invasive surgery for patients.”
Most of the valves implanted through open-heart surgery are similar to each other, but this specific valve made by Medtronic is designed differently, O’Hair said. For one, its leaflets — the parts that open and close — are situated higher than they are on other valves, allowing for a larger opening and more blood flow. They are also made out of a very thin pig tissue. Additionally, the frame that contains the leaflets is made of nitinol, which comprises nickel and titanium. This material is unique for its strength and moldable characteristics. When the frame is cold, it can be bent, but when warmed, it immediately returns to its original shape. This allows it to be made small, inserted into the body, then resume its original shape.
A commonly used surgical valve also has leaflets, which are made of bovine tissue, but unlike Medtronic’s valve, its shape cannot be altered, O’Hair said.
Since O’Hair began using transcatheter aortic valves in 2010, he has implanted about 2,000, he said. This type of valve is generally given to someone 65 or older, but O’Hair said he has used this approach on a patient as young as 46.
“If we can get 15 years out of these things, I think that’ll be a huge step forward for many patients, and I do think that the age of implant will continue to come down,” he said.
O’Hair said the oldest data recorded on this specific valve looks at its durability about nine years after implementation. He added more studies are to come as hospitals continue using this method of aortic valve replacement.
“I think what we’ve learned from the design of this transcatheter valve is going to translate into better systems and better valves for open (heart) surgery as well because the transcatheter valve is so unique and this data is so unique,” O’Hair said.
“I think there’s a lot of lessons that can be learned to improve the other valves that we use for implants.” | 2022-12-29T01:21:36Z | www.dailycamera.com | Boulder cardiovascular surgeon leads international study on longevity of structural heart valve | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/28/boulder-cardiovascular-surgeon-leads-international-study-on-longevity-of-structural-heart-valve/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/28/boulder-cardiovascular-surgeon-leads-international-study-on-longevity-of-structural-heart-valve/ |
Winter storm: Multiple vehicle slide-offs and…
Multiple vehicle slide-offs and crashes were reported across Boulder County on Wednesday evening as a winter storm brought freezing weather and several inches of snow to the area.
By 8:45 p.m., the temperature in Boulder was 32 degrees, and there were 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground. The storm comes a week after an extreme cold front and winter storm swept across the Front Range.
State Trooper Josh Lewis said the Colorado State Patrol had received numerous reports of slide-offs and crashes throughout Boulder County, but as of 8:40 p.m., he did not have an estimate of how many vehicles were affected.
A single-vehicle rollover crash was reported on Boulder Canyon Drive just before 5 p.m., according to police scanner traffic. Two hours later, at 7:17 p.m., at least a dozen vehicles had reportedly veered into a ditch with some property damage in the Gold Hill area, although no injuries were reported. More slide offs were reported at 7:24 p.m. near Sugar Court and Sugarloaf Road.
At 7:53 p.m., a CDOT snow plow slid into a ditch. Reports of slide offs continued to roll in at 8:13 p.m., when a hazard was reported at Magnolia Drive and Old Whiskey Road.
At 8:28 p.m., a rollover crash was reported near 63rd and Diagonal. Five minutes later, four vehicles were said to have been towed from northbound McCaslin Boulevard approaching Via Appia Way.
As of 8:51 p.m., Boulder Police announced that the city of Boulder was on crash alert due to the weather conditions. | 2022-12-29T04:51:27Z | www.dailycamera.com | Winter storm: Multiple vehicle slide-offs and crashes reported in Boulder County – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/28/winter-storm-multiple-vehicle-slide-offs-and-crashes-reported-in-boulder-county/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/28/winter-storm-multiple-vehicle-slide-offs-and-crashes-reported-in-boulder-county/ |
Top 10: No. 2: Prime Time electrifies CU Buffs…
The Colorado athletic department made a splash in hiring Deion Sanders to be the next head coach of the Buffs football team on Dec. 3. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
“Now that I’ve gotten here and I see it and understand it, Rick, I can grasp it and I can touch it,” the Pro Football Hall of Famer said during his introductory press conference Dec. 4 in Boulder. “I can feel it and I can taste it. I truly understand what you want. All you want is the opportunity to win, to compete, to dominate, to be amongst the elite, to be amongst the best. And darn it, I’m gonna give you that.”
Sanders’ sway, and his swagger, is far-reaching. He’s managed to swing five-star recruits his way to JSU the past few years, and he’s already forging a path to bring prominent prospects to Boulder the likes of which have not been seen much since Gary Barnett’s tenure.
CUBuffs | 2022-12-30T16:54:29Z | www.dailycamera.com | Top 10: No. 2: Prime Time electrifies CU Buffs football fan base | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/30/top-10-no-2-prime-time-electrifies-cu-buffs-football-fan-base/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/30/top-10-no-2-prime-time-electrifies-cu-buffs-football-fan-base/ |
Women’s basketball: Quay Miller, Aaronette…
BOULDER,CO:December 7:Colorado Buffaloes’ Aaronette Vonleh shoots over Southern Utahs’ Bryar Tronnier in NCAA basketball on December 7, 2022.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
Going against Aaronette Vonleh for just one rep in practice is enough for Colorado’s Quay Miller.
“It’s hard going against Netty,” Miller said.
Colorado Buffaloes’ Quay Miller shoots over Southern Utah’s Lizzy Williamson in NCAA basketball on December 7, 2022.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
Miller and the Buffs want to see that out of Vonleh more consistently, however.
CU (10-3, 0-1 Pac-12) will return to conference play at Washington (9-2, 1-0) on Friday afternoon (3 p.m. MT, Pac-12 Network) and the duo of Miller and Vonleh will be crucial to the Buffs’ success during the next few months.
“I think we have really great balance this year and I think everyone that’s playing is really important. I don’t think we’re as good without any of them,” Buffs head coach JR Payne said. “They all have different roles, but each role for everyone who’s playing is really significant. … But those two definitely set the tone inside.”
The Buffs have a deep backcourt led by Jaylyn Sherrod, Frida Formann and Kindyll Wetta, but they’re developing a fairly dynamic duo in the paint with Miller and Vonleh.
Miller, a 6-foot-3 senior, leads the Buffs in scoring (14.2 points per game) and rebounding (7.6 per game). She’s also second in the conference in 3-point percentage (.500) and has been remarkably consistent all season.
“I just feel like it’s natural,” she said of stepping into a leadership role this year. “I haven’t done too much thinking on it. I shoot the ball when I’m open. I try to make my layups. I think maybe because I’m playing well, I’m loving it so much. … I’m just trying to dominate and execute.”
Vonleh is a physically imposing 6-3 who Payne said is nearly impossible to move when she’s got good position. After playing sparingly at Arizona last year, she transferred to CU and has posted 10.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
“I definitely say it’s been like a process,” Vonleh said of gaining her comfort on the court. “At first, I was kind of unsure about myself and kind of holding back. But I feel like as the season’s been going on, I’ve kind of built more confidence and been wanting myself to do more, because I keep hearing everybody like, ‘Oh, you’re capable of this, you have the potential to do this,’ but I never really believed in myself.”
Those practice battles have confirmed to Miller, however, that Vonleh is capable of dominating. When Vonleh isn’t playing to her potential, Miller said, “I just give her that look.”
“It’s easy for her to take criticism, and it’s easy for her to apply it,” Miller said. “I know when Netty’s in her head. I can tell on her body language, facial expressions. In practice, it’s like, ‘Netty, let’s go,’ and she snaps out of it.”
Those moments are becoming less common as the season goes along. After scoring just two points in 22 minutes against Air Force on Nov. 19 – her fourth single-digit game in the first five games – Vonleh has reached double figures in scoring the last eight games, including a 16-point, six-rebound effort against Marquette on Dec. 21.
“I think it’s been really good so far,” Vonleh said of playing with and learning from Miller. “She has the experience, so I’m able to learn from her and kind of get that big sister, mentor type thing. So that just gives me confidence. And, then I’m just trying to, I guess, be like her in a way. Be a good player, be impactful to the team.”
CU lost a pair of talented forwards and leaders (Mya Hollingshed and Peanut Tuitele) after last season, but Payne has enjoyed seeing the Miller/Vonleh duo grow.
“It’s really fun to watch because it wasn’t there initially,” Payne said. “Now it’s gotten to a place where it’s all pretty solidified as far as who needs to talk, who needs to coach, who needs to respond, who needs to do all of those things. I think they’re playing really, really well together. I think their chemistry is great. They can coach each other, but they also can tease each other and it’s been good.”
With the Buffs starting the meat of the Pac-12 schedule, Miller is eager to get rolling personally, but also to see Vonleh’s game go to a new level.
“I’ve seen spurts of Netty, like, going beast mode,” Miller said. “I’m ready for Netty to really just understand that nobody can stop her because once she has that mindset it’s over for the other teams.”
CU Buffs women’s basketball at Washington Huskies
TIPOFF: Friday, 3 p.m. MT, at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle.
RECORDS: Colorado 10-3, 0-1 Pac-12; Washington 9-2, 1-0
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 7th season (104-88; 205-200 career); Washington — Tina Langley, 2nd season (16-18; 142-79 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Jr. (11.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.6 apg); G Tayanna Jones, 6-1, Sr. (8.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (14.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.0 spg); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.3 apg, 2.4 spg); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, So. (10.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, So. (5.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.8 spg). Washington — F Dalayah Daniels, 6-4, So. (11.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.5 bpg); G Jayda Noble, 5-11, So. (7.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 2.2 spg); F Lauren Schwartz, 5-11, Jr. (6.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg); G Hannah Stines, 5-11, Fr. (7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.0 apg); F Haley Van Dyke, 6-1, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.8 spg)
NOTES: CU resumes Pac-12 play after a pair of wins to wrap up non-conference play. … The Buffs lost the conference opener 85-58 at Utah on Dec.14. … CU’s weekend road trip concludes Sunday at Washington State at 5 p.m. MT. … Washington leads the all-time series with CU, 16-14. The Buffs, however, have won four of the last five matchups, including 2-0 last year. … Since joining the Pac-12, CU is 2-7 on the road against the Huskies, but won its last game in Seattle on Feb. 21, 2021. … The Buffs are third in the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting (.382) and second in 3-point defense (.259). … Washington is last in the Pac-12 in 3-point shooting (.229) and 11th in 3-point defense (.352). … CU is second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (allowing 54.9 points per game), but Washington is third (55.9). … The Huskies are last in the conference in scoring (67.0). … Washington is the second-best rebounding team in the conference with a plus-13.36 margin. CU is sixth (plus-7.46). … Sherrod is the Pac-12’s active career leader in assists (368). … Van Dyke is nine points away from 1,000 for her career. She is also the Pac-12’s active career leader in steals (177). … Daniels transferred to UW from California this year. … Washington has already surpassed its win total from each of the previous two seasons (7-16 last year, 7-14 in 2020-21). … The Huskies were last in the Pac-12 a year ago. They were projected by media and coaches for a 10th-place finish this year. | 2022-12-30T22:02:03Z | www.dailycamera.com | Women’s basketball: Quay Miller, Aaronette Vonleh forming dynamic duo in paint for CU Buffs – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/30/womens-basketball-quay-miller-aaronette-vonleh-forming-dynamic-duo-in-paint-for-cu-buffs/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/30/womens-basketball-quay-miller-aaronette-vonleh-forming-dynamic-duo-in-paint-for-cu-buffs/ |
Opinion: Doug Hamilton: It is time to build a…
By Doug Hamilton | For the Camera
The status quo is not working. The illnesses are mounting up, and we can no longer look away and pretend they are not happening in our blissful disillusionment. Last year, life expectancy dropped to its lowest level in 25 years, 107,000 people died of drug-related overdoses (nearly 300 people per day), nearly 48,000 died by suicide in 2021, housing is unaffordable, our economic system has left hundreds of millions of people financially insecure (to say the least), the leading cause of death for children in 2022 is gun violence, and we don’t appear to be self-correcting from our downward spiral into climate disaster.
In Boulder, we see the issues play out at the local level. None of us have been untouched by the death by suicide or accidental drug overdose of acquaintances, friends or family. We see drug use (or its signs) in our public indoor and outdoor spaces. We see people suffering from houselessness living in our public spaces, in parking lots, and on our couches with no place left to go. We see families moving away because of financial instability and housing unaffordability which is causing BVSD school enrollment to drastically shrink.
The illnesses we see don’t arise from nothing, they are all manifestations of how we have chosen to organize our society, and, while painful, often hold valuable lessons as to their causes and treatments. For instance, a housing market that prioritizes profits over housing people leaving thousands unhoused and millions insecure; a health care “system” that prioritizes profits over actually caring for those with mental and physical wellness leaving many in debt or without care; and an economic system that leaves a very few with everything and the rest struggling to get by.
We have choices about how we organize our society. We can continue to do what we are doing: live in a state of disillusionment and pretend the problems don’t exist or that we are powerless to change them, and hope we will someday see a different result — not likely. Or we can roll up our sleeves, face our issues, and get to work collectively remaking our system into a society that puts care for people and the environment first and allows folks to enjoy their freedom without fear.
But be warned: when you leave the state of disillusionment and turn and face our issues, the path isn’t easy. Small victories are hard-won and take the dedication of countless volunteers and organizers working evenings and weekends. Those seeking change encounter disagreements, arguments, and uncomfortable truths about themselves. People, including, possibly, you and me, who currently benefit from maintaining the status quo won’t let change happen without a struggle. We may have to give something up to make the change.
Take this inquiry, for instance, if unhoused residents living in public spaces is a problem in our community, why haven’t we embarked on a massive project to build housing to house them? We have the space. We have the know-how. We can find the resources. What is stopping us from quickly building the necessary number of homes? What would we have to give up to make it happen? The same inquiry applies to affordable homes for the elderly, workers and families.
Here is another one: if drug addiction and drug use are issues affecting our community, why haven’t we started a free or very low-cost, addiction treatment program to help our neighbors? We can all imagine a program where people receive housing, food, and financial support, while they receive treatment for their addiction. While it’s only treating a symptom of the societal trauma that leads to drug addiction, it’s at least a start while we tackle the larger societal traumas that are at the root of the problem. What would we need to sacrifice to make it happen?
If we want to live in a better community, one that works for all of us and isn’t rooted in insecurity and fear, we must get to work. We have the power to change it. YOU have the power to change it.
We must go forward with the knowledge that it isn’t going to be easy, it’s going to take time, we are going to lose some issues and get things wrong, we will need to self-correct while still maintaining our optimism that our vision is sound and we will build a future that is better.
Doug Hamilton is a parent, lawyer, engineer and human who believes in free public spaces and a more participatory society. He is a member of the Boulder Library Champions. Contact him at hamilton1801@aim.com or @doug_c_hamilton on twitter. | 2022-12-30T23:21:11Z | www.dailycamera.com | Opinion: Doug Hamilton: It is time to build a society that puts care for people and the environment first | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/30/opinion-doug-hamilton-it-is-time-to-build-a-society-that-puts-care-for-people-and-the-environment-first/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/30/opinion-doug-hamilton-it-is-time-to-build-a-society-that-puts-care-for-people-and-the-environment-first/ |
Community Editorial Board: New Year’s…
Community Editorial Board: New Year’s resolutions for Boulder
Members of our Community Editorial Board, a group of community residents who are engaged with and passionate about local issues, respond to the following question: There is no time for a fresh start like a new year. Boulder needs some New Year’s resolutions to kick off 2023 on the right foot. Your take?
Those of us who make New Year’s resolutions are optimists. We feel positive about the future, and we want to be part of it. A new start is energizing.
So, let’s start by saying that Boulder is awesome! It is truly an unusually successful small city. People and organizations come from around the world to see our downtown and seek help making their cities and towns more like Boulder.
There’s nothing like hosting visitors who are new to Boulder and seeing Boulder afresh through their eyes. I had three friends visit me in September who had never been here before. They swooned as they took in the view from the rooftop of Avanti and from Corrida. They were enchanted with Chautauqua where we managed to score a table on the porch for lunch. They could not get over the Mall with the flowers, the buskers, the beautiful shops. I think they may have accounted for a significant percentage of the city’s sales tax revenue that day.
We forget sometimes how the foresight of those who were here before us created much of the city’s beauty including the much beloved open space and the Blue Line, not to mention the wondrous Pearl Street Mall, which is slated for a refresh this year.
We are lucky to still have a hometown newspaper, the Daily Camera, where the editorial page is always teeming with rousing debates and passionate opinions that reflect how much we care about our city.
We have a community full of people who volunteer their time to make this a better place. Our citizens sit on the many boards and commissions of the city all aimed at improving this city. We have organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Boulder Partnership, Museum of Boulder, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art to name a few, that are dedicated to creating more opportunities for our citizens and add to the richness of our city both business-wise and culturally.
Boulder is clearly not perfect and many here take seriously the need to improve the equity and diversity in our institutions, businesses and culture and become a more inclusive place. We need to keep working on that in 2023 and beyond. It should be a goal to have everyone who lives here from every background feel equally welcome and at home.
Boulder is a great town and there are so many opportunities to build on the things we already love about the place. Here’s to a great 2023, Boulder!
What if, as a New Year’s resolution, Boulder residents make an effort in 2023 to reach out to friends or relatives with seemingly different political views, engage in conversation on topics we would typically avoid and respectfully listen to understand the other person’s position and rationale?
An international group called More in Common recently conducted surveys of American citizens regarding the teaching of U.S. history — a subject of divisive nationwide debate. Not surprisingly, the study found that “(m)any Republicans believe most Democrats want to teach a history defined by shameful oppression and white guilt,” while “(m)any Democrats believe that most Republicans want to focus on the white majority and overlook slavery and racism.” But surprisingly, the study found these beliefs to be wrong. For example, “about twice as many Democrats believe students should not be made to feel guilty or personally responsible for the errors of prior generations than Republicans estimate (83 percent versus 43 percent).” And likewise, “more than twice as many Republicans think schools should teach shared national history as well as the history of specific groups such as Black, Hispanic and Native Americans than Democrats think Republicans believe (72 percent versus 30 percent).” The fascinating report contains numerous other examples and concludes, in part, that some of the most divisive culture war issues are simply misperceptions “fueled by conflict entrepreneurs — political and media actors who stoke polarization by finding examples of ideologies outside the mainstream and portraying them as representative of a mass movement.”
How does one sort out these misperceptions, particularly when they are driven by common sources of information? Generating conflict seems to be inherent in the business model of social media, politicians are constantly exaggerating the positions of their opponents, and it is easy to simply accept stories with villains and stark contrasts between good and evil. Save for a few exceptions, modern journalists also fail at critical thinking and digging deeper.
Perhaps a more grass-roots approach is in order. We all have relationships that we can develop to further understand and reduce conflict. What about that childhood friend in Minnesota, the uncle in Arizona, or maybe the neighbor we went toe-to-toe with during the last local election? Chances are, if we sincerely, thoughtfully, and respectfully ask questions and listen, we will find that we have more in common than we thought. Or we might even learn something. I plan to try.
Boulder should resolve to live by the Serenity Prayer:
Grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Boulder can, should and has made a positive difference in the lives of its citizens, but the money spent on climate change isn’t wise. We need to accept that we can’t change the world and direct those funds toward the things we can change. And be brave in confronting them. Think of the change possible if climate funds were redirected to the homeless situation.
Boulder’s new library district should resolve to give good value to all the homeowners now paying their bills. First up, clean up the area around the main branch, including the meth-infused bathrooms.
We should resolve to have a monster snowstorm hit each year on the eve of the Marshall Fire anniversary. We’ll have as much effect on this as any other part of the climate. And we’re off to a good start. Go us.
Boulder should resolve to address rising crime and make it a priority for the police. The county of Boulder can resolve to continue its great support for the victims of the Marshall Fire by relaxing building codes and easing the permitting process.
I question the insane money spent on college football and I’m a big football fan (season-ticket-holder to the equally woeful Broncos). Yet, given the current situation, Boulder should resolve to be optimistic about our new Neon coach. Dare we dream of big things? I think so. I believe we won’t be the worst in the nation in 2023. If things really come together, we could be in the top 100!
All this critique on Boulder isn’t to imply that I don’t have resolutions myself. I resolve to visit my parents more often, devise trips to spend more time with my sons, to be a more supportive friend and a better husband. Maybe eat a bit less ice cream and watch a bit less Netflix, too.
Lastly, and optimistically, I was reminded this year that when you feel pessimistic, concentrate not on the current situation, but on the direction things are moving. In this respect, especially after the last election, I think we’re moving closer together. And I remember Churchill’s words: “I’m an optimist. It does not seem too much use being anything else.” | 2022-12-31T14:32:38Z | www.dailycamera.com | Community Editorial Board: New Year's resolutions for Boulder | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/community-editorial-board-new-years-resolutions-for-boulder/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/community-editorial-board-new-years-resolutions-for-boulder/ |
Letters to the editor: Negotiating with Putin;…
Letters to the editor: Negotiating with Putin; CU’s Eastman embarrassment
James H. Maguire: Ukraine: Putin’s lies mean we shouldn’t negotiate with him
Vladimir Putin lies frequently to his own people and to the rest of the world. He says that his Russian military does not target hospitals, schools, orphanages and residential buildings; but the video reports of the BBC, CNN, Fox News and Al Jazeera have shown that Putin is lying.
It’s also true, however, that Putin sometimes tells the truth. He has said that Russia should take back all the lands that were once part of the Russian Empire. Because his actions show that he is trying to forcibly seize those lands, we can see that he’s telling the truth about what he believes. Unfortunately, he seems to be suffering from delusions of grandeur, likening himself to Tsar Peter the Great, for example.
Because Putin is so untrustworthy, it would be a big mistake to negotiate with him for a peace deal at this point of the war in Ukraine. The U.S. and NATO should continue to support Ukraine; and when Ukraine has gained back all of the territory that Putin has stolen from it, then Ukraine can negotiate from a position of strength. Then we can stay alert to make sure that Russia doesn’t violate any of the terms of the peace agreement. Concessions to Putin now would probably lead to the same result as Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler in 1938: i.e., much more war.
James H. Maguire, Boulder
Mark Hereim: John Eastman: Diversity of opinion is important, but Eastman went too far
The Associated Press recently reported that the CU Board of Regents chair referred to John Eastman as “an embarrassment.” I agree with that assessment, but I think the real embarrassment is how long it took the university administration to work up the courage to do anything other than offer timid excuses for Eastman’s actions. Rather than being fired immediately, Eastman was permitted to continue his “free-speech rights” (vote-denying efforts) for several months on the university’s dime.
Incidentally, the decidedly illegal “legal” theories promoted by Easton as “Scholar of Conservative Thought” make me wonder why the Benson Center exists. Evidently, “conservative scholarship” can’t stand on its own in an academic environment, but the university makes sure “conservative thought” has a safe space in Boulder. The Benson Center is ostensibly paid for by private donors (i.e. dark money), but the university also contributes to the center through the general fund.
It is one thing to support a variety of political opinions, but wholly unacceptable for the University of Colorado to spend public money promoting white nationalism and an attempted coup of the United States government.
Mark Hereim, Erie | 2022-12-31T14:32:44Z | www.dailycamera.com | Letters to the editor: Negotiating with Putin; CU's Eastman embarrassment | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/letters-to-the-editor-negotiating-with-putin-cus-eastman-embarrassment/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/letters-to-the-editor-negotiating-with-putin-cus-eastman-embarrassment/ |
New Year’s Eve parties and other Boulder events…
New Year’s Eve parties will be roaring on Saturday. (Julia Larson — Courtesy Photo)
New Year’s Eve dance party: New Year’s Eve includes music from Banshee Tree and Rob Pate Trio, casual dinner buffet, champagne at midnight and beads; 7 p.m. Saturday, Gold Hill Inn, 401 Main St., Gold Hill; eventbrite.com.
New Year’s Eve at WOW!: Ring in the New Year with noisemaker crafts, face-painting, balloon animals, kids’ karaoke and playtime in the museum; 10 a.m. Saturday, WOW! Children’s Museum, 110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette; $5-$13; blackbaudhosting.com.
New Year’s Eve Bash at Avalon Ballroom: Dance the night away in three rooms, each designated for a specific dance style — jazz, salsa and bachata, and West Coast swing. Be sure to dress to impress; 7 p.m. Saturday, The Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder; $45-$55; dancelaughlove.com.
New Year’s Eve Party with Von Disco: Dance into the new year with this speakeasy party. Dress to impress, and ring in 2023 with live music from Von Disco, champagne toast and late-night bites; 8 p.m. Saturday, License No. 1, 2115 13th St., Boulder; $25; cli.re.
New Year’s Eve at the Velvet Elk Lodge: Don your best retro ski attire and travel back to the ’80s with this aprés-ski party. Shot-skis, lodge eats and endless daffys await. Tickets include two drink tickets, appetizers and a champagne toast at midnight. Goonies hit the stage at 10 p.m.; 8 p.m. Saturday, Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder; $100; velvetelklounge.com.
‘Eternal — A New Year’s Celebration’ at DV8 and Junkyard Social: Take a walk between worlds and experience eternity with DV8 Distillery and Junkyard Social Club. Dance the night away at two different venues, each one designed to tantalize and help attendees explore their desires, fantasies and wishes; 8 p.m. Saturday, DV8 Distillery, 2480 49th St., #E, Boulder; $10-$50; eventbrite.com.
Houndmouth at Fox Theater: Houndmouth is an American alternative rock band from New Albany, Indiana, consisting of Matt Myers (guitar, vocals), Sam Filiatreau (bass, vocals), Shane Cody (drums, vocals) and Caleb Hickman (keyboard, vocals); 9 p.m. Saturday, The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder; $35-$40; z2ent.com.
2023 New Year’s Eve Celebration with Funkiphino: Ring in 2023 at the St. Julien with funk band Funkiphino. Tickets include open premium bar, passed apps, balloon drop and champagne toast; 9 p.m. Saturday, St. Julien Hotel & Spa, 900 Walnut St., Boulder; $125-$175; boulderdowntown.com.
Lotus at Boulder Theater: Lotus is a five-piece instrumental band formed while members were in college and has evolved and grown over 20-plus years. They were early adopters of fusing electronic beats and sounds from dance music with jam music, but also draw on psych-rock, post-rock, disco, funk and jazz; 8 p.m. Saturday, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; $35-$80; z2ent.com. | 2022-12-31T14:32:50Z | www.dailycamera.com | New Year's Eve parties and other Boulder events for today | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/new-years-eve-parties-and-other-boulder-events-for-today/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/new-years-eve-parties-and-other-boulder-events-for-today/ |
Boulder Rural Firefighters work to protect structures on the 200 Block of Vaquero Drive from the Marshall Fire in Boulder on Dec. 30, 2021. The inferno would destroy over 1,000 homes and prove to be the most destructive in state history. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
Editor’s note: The Daily Camera has been counting down the top 10 news stories of the year, as selected by the newspaper’s editors. This concludes the series.
The tail end of last year brought a rare winter wildfire that blazed through southern Boulder County, causing sweeping devastation and turning many lives upside down in the process.
On Dec. 30, the Marshall Fire made history as Colorado’s most destructive fire after it destroyed more than 1,000 homes, charred more than 6,000 acres of land, killed two people and displaced over 30,000 others. The total financial losses have been estimated at over $2 billion.
The grass fire began at around 11 a.m. near Marshall Road and Colo. 93, just southeast of Boulder. Fueled by extreme dry conditions and wind gusts that reached up to 115 mph, the fire tore eastward toward Superior and Louisville. The fire was said to have jumped over U.S. 36 at 12:46 p.m.
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management began receiving calls from residents who saw the fire and advising those residents to evacuate. The whole town of Superior was ordered to evacuate just before 1 p.m., and Louisville was evacuated over an hour later, at 2:17 p.m. Thousands of people lost power.
It was not until around 5 p.m. that the winds began to subside. The following day, Dec. 31, a winter storm brought 10 inches of snow to the burn area, a relief to responders who continued to fight the blaze. The Marshall Fire was 100% contained by Jan. 3, and evacuation orders were lifted on Jan. 5.
A year later, many survivors are still contending with the aftermath of the fire as they struggle to grieve the loss of the life they once knew and move forward. Some are also fighting to get their losses covered by their insurance companies.
Although officials have been investigating possible causes, including human activities and an underground coal mine fire, it has still not been disclosed how the fire started. Initially, the fire was thought to have been caused by a downed power line, though that theory has been disputed. Some experts believe the fire may have had multiple sources.
A press release confirmed the Boulder Sheriff’s Office is planning to complete its investigation and release a cause and origin report for the fire in early 2023. | 2022-12-31T14:33:08Z | www.dailycamera.com | Top 10: No. 1: The Marshall Fire and its aftermath | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/top-10-no-1-the-marshall-fire-and-its-aftermath/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/top-10-no-1-the-marshall-fire-and-its-aftermath/ |
Broomfield’s ‘Her Own Hero’ program hosts class…
Broomfield Police Department’s “Her Own Hero” self-defense program hosted a class for college-aged women on Tuesday. Among things participants practiced was a technique with a volunteer instructor. (Sydney McDonald/Staff Writer)
After hosting a series of free self-defense classes, the Broomfield Police Department hosted its first class for college-aged women between the ages of 18 and 23 on Tuesday evening.
“Her Own Hero” is BPD’s series of free self-defense classes for women where they can learn to prevent and protect themselves against violent or threatening situations.
Jamie Hobbs, a dispatcher for BPD and North Metro Fire Department who has taught women’s self-defense for many years, said when she brought the idea to BPD Chief Enea Hempelmann she was completely on board.
“Cheif Hempelmann understood the importance of these classes and was very supportive of getting the program started,” Hobbs said.
Hempelmann describes the classes as empowering and educational in a letter to participants.
“While everyone can be a victim, women are statistically more likely to be targeted in domestic, violent and sex-related crimes,” Hempelmann wrote. “We live in an unpredictable world; by taking these classes you are making your safety a priority.”
Broomfield Police Department’s “Her Own Hero” self-defense program hosted a class for college-aged women on Tuesday. Participants are viewing and testing different self-defense weapons. (Sydney McDonald/Staff Writer)
While most of the previous classes have been open to all women over the age of 18, Tuesday night’s three-hour long class was targeted at women in college, who are likely living on their own and in a new city for the first time.
Along with the usual criteria, including reviewing self-defense law, learning the difference between a soft and hard target, and basic verbal and physical maneuvers to protect yourself, the instructors included information specific to college students like drink safety, dating app safety, and knowing your campus and how to get help if needed.
Many of the participants were home on break for the holidays and were hoping to gain useful knowledge to take back to campus with them.
“I’m just hoping to learn how to take care of myself and defend myself if needed,” said Landry Longmore, who recently started college in Arizona. “It’s always good to be prepared.”
This class was a basic introduction to self-defense that walked participants through some easy techniques to get out of wrist holds, how to verbally draw attention and ward off possible attackers, and punching techniques.
Broomfield Police Department’s “Her Own Hero” self-defense program hosted a class for college-aged women on Tuesday. A participant is viewing and testing different self-defense weapons with one of the volunteer instructors. (Sydney McDonald/Staff Writer)
“I was pretty nervous, particularly for the physical aspect of the class,” Maya Mowery-Evans, a junior at Colorado School of Mines, said. “It ended up being a lot easier than I thought it would be. I’m walking out with a level of confidence in my head that I didn’t have to come in.”
“Her Own Hero” also offers advanced classes for those who have participated in a beginner class. The advanced classes get even more hands-on with more intricate and difficult maneuvers.
For more information about the program and a schedule of upcoming classes, visit broomfield.org/3936/Womens-Self-Defense-Classes. | 2022-12-31T18:52:56Z | www.dailycamera.com | Broomfield’s ‘Her Own Hero’ program hosts class for women in college – Boulder Daily Camera | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/broomfields-her-own-hero-program-hosts-class-for-women-in-college/ | https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/31/broomfields-her-own-hero-program-hosts-class-for-women-in-college/ |
Supporters of legislation that bans hair discrimination are vowing to continue their fight after last month’s setback in the U.S. House.
DALLAS — To be your true self is to be empowered. And that is why supporters of legislation that bans hair discrimination are vowing to continue their fight after last month’s setback in the U.S. House and last year’s disappointment in the Texas Legislature.
“That’s the only way we're going to move forward if we can come to the table as who we truly are authentically and present ourselves in the ways we feel good and comfortable,” state Rep. Rhetta Bowers said on the most recent episode of Y’all-itics.
Bowers is the author behind HB 392, the Texas CROWN Act, which would have banned discrimination on the basis of hair texture or style. CROWN stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. While the bill made it out of committee, and Bowers proudly touts that it had bipartisan support, the legislation ran out of time and was never considered by the full House.
Undeterred, the Democrat from Garland says she will introduce the legislation again during the 88th legislative session next year. And she says she’s learned some lessons that will help.
“I want to get it filed early this time so that hopefully we can get a lower bill number, get a hearing sooner and realize that it definitely is an education lesson. It’s a lesson for a lot of us. People are unaware,” she said. “A fourth of the House is going to be new members. So I’m going to have to start all over again.”
Bowers says she’s still constantly getting calls from folks who have their own stories of hair discrimination. And the Democrat from North Texas even has her own examples.
“My colleagues look at me daily with my hair straightened. But if I wet my hair, it's going to go right into its curly, natural state and I too would be discriminated against or looked at differently in their eyes,” Bowers said. “And when I said that laying the bill out and got back on the floor to shop it around and make sure I could get it voted out, many of my colleagues just said I had no idea. I had no idea. I didn't even know we needed something like this.”
And sharing the stories of hair discrimination is a big part of educating folks about the problem. There were plenty of testimonials during the last legislative session. And Rep. Bowers expects there to be plenty of new stories next year.
“Black women, for sure, when getting ready for a job interview have to decide do I wear my hair blown out? Do I straighten my hair? Do I take my braids down so that I don't have this look for the job interview? It is a journey that I think we've all been on and it's starting to happen at a younger age,” she said.
As for the national bill that would have banned hair discrimination, it failed in the U.S. House on the last day of Black History Month, with 235 votes for and 188 votes against … all of those "no" votes by Republicans. And that is one reason why Bowers is so proud of the bipartisan approach she helped foster here in Texas.
And she won’t be waiting until the next session starts on Jan. 10, 2023 to get to work.
“We will pick it up again and we'll file it as early as when early filing begins in November,” Bowers said. “And it will definitely be a bill that looks at education, but not only education, it has to deal with the workplace as well. And we’ll have to have that housing component in there so that across the board, black women, men and children are not being discriminated against.”
WFAA’s Tashara Parker also joined Jason Whitely in this episode of Y’all-itics. She’s been shining a bright light on this issue for years, primarily through her Rooted series. And Tashara even testified before lawmakers in Austin, providing perspective on the issue. Listen to the latest episode of Y’all-itics to hear what she thinks needs to happen next in this ongoing battle to end hair discrimination.
CROWN Act, anti-hair discrimination bill, dies in Texas House | 2022-03-15T16:01:37Z | www.wfaa.com | CROWN Act: Why its supporters are continuing their fight | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/yall-itics/yallitics-crown-act-what-if-blondes-and-redheads-were-outlawed-the-fight-for-making-natural-hair-a-basic-right/287-0e3792e7-c8aa-464a-b153-5cd4ded69f2b | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/yall-itics/yallitics-crown-act-what-if-blondes-and-redheads-were-outlawed-the-fight-for-making-natural-hair-a-basic-right/287-0e3792e7-c8aa-464a-b153-5cd4ded69f2b |
This comes one day after the Cowboys brought back defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on a three-year, fully-guaranteed $30 million deal.
DALLAS — After initial reports had Randy Gregory returning to the Dallas Cowboys, multiple NFL journalists say he has instead agreed to a deal with the Denver Broncos.
The Cowboys had Tweeted Gregory was coming back to Dallas but later deleted the post. The Broncos appeared to reference this situation around 11:18 a.m. Tuesday, sending out a Tweet that included a GIF with the word "surprise."
Denver Broncos lead writer Aric DiLalla published an article soon after, saying the Broncos had signed Gregory while also referencing the conflict in reporting earlier in the day.
As of 11:45 a.m., the Cowboys had not released any official confirmations on Gregory.
Stunning reversal with DE Randy Gregory headed to the #Broncos after his agent confirmed a deal with the #Cowboys. https://t.co/6UTVpsyQCK
— Joe Trahan (@JoeTrahan) March 15, 2022
Around 9:38 a.m. Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter was first to report the Cowboys were re-signing defensive end Randy Gregory to a five-year, $70 million deal with $28 million guaranteed.
However, then as the Broncos posted the "surprise" Tweet, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport sent a Tweet saying that Gregory was signing with Denver after problems with Dallas' "contract language." Other NFL reporters have also said Gregory is going to Denver instead of Dallas.
This situation comes one day after the Cowboys brought back defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on a three-year, fully-guaranteed $30 million deal.
Lawrence's contract allows the 29-year-old to get more guaranteed money while Dallas lowers its salary cap number.
The Cowboys gave former Indianapolis Colts safety Malik Hooker a two-year, $8 million deal Tuesday, sources say.
Gregory played in 12 games last season, starting in a career-high 11 starts. He finished the year with 19 tackles, a career-high-tying six sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception. Head coach Mike McCarthy also added him to the team's players' leadership council in 2021.
Originally drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Florida native only played in two games during the 2016 season and missed all the games in 2017.
Gregory missed two seasons and 14 games during another one because of suspensions related to the league's substance-abuse policy.
During his NFL career, Gregory has 16.5 sacks in 50 total games. | 2022-03-15T17:34:25Z | www.wfaa.com | Conflicting reports about where Randy Gregory is signing | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-cowboys-give-defensive-end-randy-gregory-five-year-70-million-deal/287-8a1fa67d-18ac-4d6a-aea9-47259988af5e | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-cowboys-give-defensive-end-randy-gregory-five-year-70-million-deal/287-8a1fa67d-18ac-4d6a-aea9-47259988af5e |
After it looked like the Dallas Cowboys had secured a new contract for DE Randy Gregory, a change in contract terms had him reversing course for a deal with Denver.
DALLAS — If you think it’s hard being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys, try being someone who plays for them.
As the second day of legal tampering dawned where free agents can agree to deals before officially signing them, the Cowboys initially had a fresh contract worked out with one of their prized players on the open market.
Defensive end Randy Gregory was set to return to the Cowboys on a five-year deal worth $70, with $28 million guaranteed. The deal seemed all but signed and was shared triumphantly on the team’s official Twitter account.
The Cowboys were getting Gregory back to terrorize quarterbacks with returning DE DeMarcus Lawrence as his bookend partner.
The early stages of free agency had been good for the Cowboys. Then it all came crashing down.
Suddenly reports came flooding in that the Denver Broncos had swooped in and signed Gregory to a deal for the same terms. The Broncos had been one of the strongest suitors for Gregory, so the connection made sense.
It didn’t take long for the confirmation that Gregory had indeed spurned the Cowboys and signed with the Broncos. Now, it was a done deal.
RELATED: Reports conflicting about where Dallas Cowboys DE Randy Gregory is signing
What didn’t make sense was how the Broncos had landed Gregory when the Cowboys had already announced that they had agreed to a deal. Why would there be such a swift and surprising reversal, especially after the Cowboys organization had stood by Gregory since he was selected in the second round of the 2015 draft?
Initial reports suggest the Cowboys tried to slip in some contract language after the terms of the deal had been agreed upon and the new contract had been announced on social media.
Gregory and his representatives, naturally, didn’t approve. If true, that's a shady way for the Cowboys to conduct business and Gregory bolted for a similar offer from the Broncos.
It’s hard to blame Gregory if the Cowboys did indeed try to alter a deal after it had been agreed to.
The former Nebraska standout missed 54 games over his first seven seasons in the league stemming from multiple suspensions after violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Gregory has been outspoken about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health as he worked his way back to contribute six sacks with three forced fumbles in 11 starts for Dallas in 2021.
Frankly, if the organization wanted to protect itself with Gregory, they should have stated that upfront instead of trying to include it at the last minute. Instead, in the aftermath, we’re left with an awful look by the Cowboys and an embarrassing situation overall.
After being a shoulder to lean on while helping Gregory turn into the person he’s become, the franchise showed an extreme lack of faith in Gregory because of the money being invested. If the Cowboys believed in Gregory, there would have been no last-minute additions.
In the short term, the Cowboys now have an issue at defensive end. Lawrence is one of the best players at the position, but Dallas doesn’t have much help for him on the other side.
The Lawrence and Gregory show was supposed to be in full swing in 2022 and moving forward. They had waited eight years for the tandem to be an elite duo.
With one swift, indefensible move at the last minute, the Cowboys blew what they had waited so long for. Now, there’s a hole where Gregory should have been and it’s back to the drawing board at a premium position for a defense that had turned the corner in 2021.
In the long term, this could prove to be a cautionary tale for other free agents that are approached by the Cowboys and the front office braintrust. It’s a terrible way to do business, and makes the team look bumbling at best and underhanded at worst.
There are still a lot of quality free agents out there, some at defensive end, who will now be wary of what the Cowboys might do in the fine print. That’s a tough position for the organization to be in, especially at this point in the offseason.
Just when you thought the Dallas Cowboys couldn’t get any lower or be any more embarrassing than they’ve been in the last 25 years, along comes a day like today. It doesn’t get any worse than the bait and switch that the Cowboys tried to pull on Randy Gregory, a player they’ve stood by for years.
This was an abject failure by the Cowboys and they deserve every bit of ridicule that comes their way.
Do you think the Cowboys messed up by failing to get Randy Gregory back in the fold? Share your thoughts with Ben on Twitter @BenGrimaldi. | 2022-03-15T20:38:35Z | www.wfaa.com | Randy Gregory contract debacle a bad look for Dallas Cowboys | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/opinion-defensive-randy-gregory-contract-debacle-embarrassing-look-for-dallas-cowboys/287-79820dc7-e5a3-44b8-be09-5fb9b2c96169 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/opinion-defensive-randy-gregory-contract-debacle-embarrassing-look-for-dallas-cowboys/287-79820dc7-e5a3-44b8-be09-5fb9b2c96169 |
The time to book summer travel is now
“She’s closer than a sister to me, and that’s why I would love to share everything I have with her,” Irinia Hawk told WFAA.
FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s the kind of lifelong friendship one would move mountains for.
Fort Worth resident Irinia Hawk is devastated by the news of the war in Ukraine, where her childhood best friend, Olesia, lived with her family.
“She’s so close to me,” Hawk said. “I see her as my family.
Olesia was the only bridesmaid in Hawk’s wedding. The two grew up on the same street in Kyrgyzstan and formed a bond before they could even walk or talk.
“We went together in kindergarten, pre-K, all the way until we became adults,” Hawk said.
As adults, Hawk moved to the U.S. and landed in Fort Worth. Olesia moved to Ukraine.
“My heart is broken, not just for my friend, for all people,” said Hawk.
Her friend, Olesia, lost her husband to COVID-19 not long before the Russian war in Ukraine erupted.
When Russia invaded Olesia’s city of Odessa, the widow hopped on a crowded train with her two young kids and fled.
“She she had no choice. She took her kids, got whatever she could, her jackets, clothes, then went to Romania,” said Hawk.
With Hawk’s help in coordinating a place to stay, Olesia and her children were introduced to a stranger in Romania who welcomed the three of them into her home.
“I still can’t believe how much love and generosity people showed us from America to Romania,” Hawk said. “So much kindness… helps me see light in this world through these people.”
Now, Hawk is on a mission to bring Olesia and her children to Fort Worth.
“She’s closer than a sister to me, and that’s why I would love to share everything I have with her,” said Hawk.
Hawk launched a GoFundMe to cover Olesia’s travel costs. In just two days, donations quickly poured in, and Hawk has raised nearly $2,000. However, getting her friend to the U.S. is not so simple.
Olesia has a passport and a U.S. visa, but her children don’t have a passport. Hawk told WFAA that when Olesia went to the Ukrainian embassy to obtain passports for her children, she was told the building and computers, which held the information, were destroyed in the war.
Now, it’s evolved into a legal hurdle that Hawk is trying to help her friend navigate.
“Very stressful,” said Hawk.
Hawk told WFAA she’s hanging onto her faith and believes that if her friend got so far through the help of strangers, then the journey isn’t over.
For now, Hawk is praying for a reunion with her lifelong friend. | 2022-03-15T23:43:43Z | www.wfaa.com | Texas woman raises money to bring Ukrainian best friend to US | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-woman-is-on-a-mission-to-bring-her-ukrainian-best-friend-to-the-us/287-f5c3f66d-6e8c-473b-a019-a1373462bdee | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-woman-is-on-a-mission-to-bring-her-ukrainian-best-friend-to-the-us/287-f5c3f66d-6e8c-473b-a019-a1373462bdee |
"It was reckless. It was irresponsible, not appropriate,” said Chief Eddie Garcia, Dallas Police Department.
DALLAS — The Dallas district attorney is asking for a judge to reconsider the bonds she lowered on Julio Guerrero.
Judge Chika Anyiam has been under fire after lowering the Guerrero’s bonds.
Guerrero initially was being held on more than $6 million in bonds for murder and aggravated assaults, including the shooting of a child and shooting at officers when they went to arrest him.
Judge Anyiam lowered his bonds not once, but twice to about $500,000. She states in court records”…the defendant remained in jail unable to post the current bond so bond is reduced.”
The National Latino Law Enforcement Organization held a news conference condemning the judge’s actions.
”It insults the families of the victims and our law enforcement officers in the City of Dallas,” said George Aranda, NLLEO President.
WFAA also reported the defense attorney in this case, Tom Cox donated $5,000 since 2015 to Judge Anyiam’s campaign.
”She should have excused herself from this hearing and allowed another judge to come in and here this case,” said Aranda.
Tuesday morning after WFAA’s story aired the judge raised Guerrero’s murder bond from $100,000 to $600,000, but Anyiam didn’t raise the other bonds.
RELATED: Dallas repeat offender, murder suspect not yet released from jail after posting bond
Now, the DA is asking for a hearing for the judge to reconsider all of the bond amounts stating, “…when enforcement attempted to apprehend the defendant, not only did he again resort to violence, but he also attempted to flee the scene armed."
The state believes this defendant poses a threat to the community and is a flight risk.
"Hopefully, we get this message across to the judges and we are going to hold every judge accountable if they do release violent criminals under their watch,” said Aranda.
Texas law allows all defendants to have a bond, but in some cases, bond can be denied or set high enough so a person who poses a threat is held in jail until trial.
Judge Anyiam’s court sent WFAA a message, saying she does not comment on going cases. Tox Cox also did not return multiple calls for comment.
Aranda also criticized the DA and said he was pulling his organization’s endorsement of the DA.
“Although he did state he did not agree with these actions, he’s still the Dallas DA... it’s bothersome that violent criminals are being released under the DA's watch," said Aranda.
He went on to say, “ Within recent weeks or months, he has gone though a witch hunting campaign to come after law enforcement officers to justify his campaign goals.”
The DA's office fired back with the following statement:
“The record clearly reflects the DA’s Office has vigorously opposed the reduction of bond for Mr. Guerrero every step of the way, and any assertions to the contrary are patently false. Notably, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia himself has not indicated that the DA’s Office is at fault. We do not make policy in consultation with police unions, and we quite well understand what our responsibilities are in the court.
The DA’s Office has requested a copy of the court transcript and has filed a Motion to Reconsider. If the NLLEO read the transcript, they would see what they are alleging is false. Once again, as I have stated repeatedly, the DA’s Office does not set bonds, Judges do.
Furthermore, the NLLEO has not endorsed DA Creuzot for the 2022 campaign. In fact, they endorsed his primary opponent, Elizabeth Frizzell, and contributed $250 to her campaign, as reflected in the most recent filing with the Texas Ethics Commission.” | 2022-03-16T01:14:07Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas judge in Julio Guerrero's case increases bond | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-judge-increases-bond-amount-for-murder-suspect-after-facing-backlash-from-city-leaders/287-1085d9bb-e6b8-4a56-89a4-dd747abb16ba | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-judge-increases-bond-amount-for-murder-suspect-after-facing-backlash-from-city-leaders/287-1085d9bb-e6b8-4a56-89a4-dd747abb16ba |
UFC fighter takes down gunman at Texas restaurant
The planned H-E-B would be across from a development of stores, including a Walmart Supercenter and a Kroger.
FORNEY, Texas — You're either tired of hearing about it, or can't get enough: Another H-E-B grocery store is coming to North Texas.
The popular San Antonio-based grocery chain, which had long delayed a full-on entrance into the North Texas market, now has plans for a store in Forney, the Kaufman County suburb east of Dallas.
Forney city officials announced Tuesday night that the city council approved a site plan for an H-E-B near Farm Roads 548 and 1641, near a McDonald's and RaceTrac gas station.
The location, just south of Texas Highway 80, won't be short on shopping options.
The planned H-E-B would be across from a development of stores, including a Walmart Supercenter and a Kroger. Forney also has a Brookshire's grocery store several miles away.
Forney officials don't have an expected date for when construction of a store might begin, and more building plans would have to be approved by the city.
But it's yet another example of H-E-B expanding to North Texas, where the grocer has had a presence in surrounding communities, like Forney.
It wasn't until last year that H-E-B began moving into one of the Metroplex's four largest counties, announcing plans for three stores in Collin County.
Last month H-E-B broke ground on a location in McKinney, and the chain plans to open under-construction stores in Frisco and Plano this year.
The grocer currently has stores in Weatherford, Burleson, Cleburne and Waxahachie.
And as hopeful shoppers know, H-E-B has long been a player in North Texas real estate, scooping up parcels of land across the area. Some of the purchases have been for the H-E-B-operated Central Market, and some have just been locations that H-E-B is holding onto.
Earlier this year, H-E-B purchased a vacant Albertsons grocery store in southern Dallas "in anticipation of future growth" near U.S. 67 and Interstate 20, but no concrete plans have been made.
H-E-B also owns several parcels of land in Tarrant County, from Mansfield to far north Fort Worth.
Even so, H-E-B hasn't rushed expansion in North Texas, where Kroger, Tom Thumb and Walmart dominate the grocery market.
H-E-B just bought more property in Dallas. Here's what that means - for now
Midwest grocery chain Hy-Vee won't expand to Texas over H-E-B competition, report says | 2022-03-16T12:47:40Z | www.wfaa.com | H-E-B in DFW: Another grocery store is coming to North Texas | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tired-of-hearing-about-h-e-b-dfw-north-texas-forney-or-cant-get-enough-well-another-is-on-the-way/287-f577587c-53fe-4aaf-aee8-e53d4b94ea5e | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tired-of-hearing-about-h-e-b-dfw-north-texas-forney-or-cant-get-enough-well-another-is-on-the-way/287-f577587c-53fe-4aaf-aee8-e53d4b94ea5e |
“Come From Away” making their way to DFW
For more information, visit DallasSummerMusicals.org.
“Come From Away" is a critically acclaimed musical that is based on the story about the airplane passengers who - after the tragedy of 9/11 - were stranded in a small newfoundland town for months, and they want to invite you! | 2022-03-16T18:51:33Z | www.wfaa.com | “Come From Away” making their way to DFW | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/come-from-away-making-their-way-to-dfw/287-e2135c18-f3a1-4883-b7ef-4675f32cdb3f | https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/good-morning-texas/come-from-away-making-their-way-to-dfw/287-e2135c18-f3a1-4883-b7ef-4675f32cdb3f |
Aikman and Buck have spent a current league-high 20 NFL seasons together in the booth for FOX, including six Super Bowls and more than 300 total games called.
DALLAS — Editor's note: the video above is from a WFAA interview in January 2022.
ESPN has signed former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman to be one of the new voices of Monday Night Football, the cable sports channel announced Wednesday.
While Aikman will be the football analyst, he'll be joined by long-time booth partner Joe Buck, who will be the play-by-play commentator. These two have spent a current league-high 20 NFL seasons together in the booth for FOX, including six Super Bowls and more than 300 total games called.
This season with Monday Night Football will make their 21st NFL season together. That matches the legendary Pat Summerall and John Madden’s all-time record as on-air NFL partners.
“The opportunity to be a voice on Monday Night Football, adding to its legacy and being a part of the future of the NFL on ESPN, has me motivated and reflective," Troy Aikman said in ESPN's press release. "As a kid in California, the voices of Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, and my mom’s personal favorite, Don Meredith, echoed throughout our living room each week. Joe and I are humbled to be part of that same tradition that has existed for more than 50 years across generations of football fans. I am looking forward to the next several years with ESPN and all our new teammates.”
ESPN signed these two to multi-year deals, and as part of the agreement, Aikman and Buck will both contribute content to ESPN+ as well. The Monday Night Football season debut is Sept. 12, 2022.
Commentator Lisa Salters, Monday Night Football’s longest-tenured sideline reporter, will return for her 11th season. John Parry will be the officiating analyst again.
Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli will return for a second season.
Wednesday morning, Aikman posted a Tweet about the announcement, saying in part, "You can only imagine my excitement to be part of the legacy of MNF & continue working w Joe Buck."
In the upcoming 2022-23 NFL Season, ESPN will increase its number of broadcasted games from 20 to 22, with the addition of a Monday Night Football game on ABC and a Sunday international game on ESPN+.
With the addition of the Week 18 doubleheader, which began the past season, ESPN will have three weeks with multiple games this season. That number jumps to five beginning in the 2023-24 season and will continue for 10 seasons.
From 1989-2000, Aikman played all 12 of his seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, winning three Super Bowls and eventually being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
RELATED: Opinion: Gregory contract debacle an embarrassing look for Cowboys
Aikman still spends plenty of time in Texas, and calls Dallas home. In February, Aikman traveled down to Austin to help debut a new beer brand he co-founded. The 55-year-old served the first pints at Lavaca Street Bar in The Domain.
Buck is an eight-time Emmy Awards winner and a Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award winner as well. He joined Aikman in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Both Aikman and Buck have been nominated for Sports Emmy Awards multiple times with Buck winning a record-tying eight times for play-by-play.
“Everything about Monday Night Football, including the broadcast, set the standard for the modern NFL experience," Joe Buck said in ESPN's press release. "My earliest memories of walking around football stadiums are tagging along with my dad as he called Monday Night Football on the radio. To return to the stadium on Monday nights with Troy – who I have the utmost comfort with and confidence in – and begin a new chapter, for us and ESPN, has me excited about this season and our future.”
Aikman and Buck began their partnership in 2002 as a three-man booth with analyst Cris Collinsworth before becoming a duo in 2005.
Over their 20 seasons together, they have called more than 275 regular-season games, more than 40 playoff matchups, 18 NFC Championships and Super Bowls XXXIX, XLII, XLV, XLVIII, LI and LIV.
“Joe and Troy’s resume and longevity together is unparalleled amongst today’s NFL broadcasters," ESPN Head of Event and Studio Production Stephanie Druley said. "Throughout their many marquee games, including an impressive six Super Bowls, their knowledge has made viewers smarter and their passion is evident. They’ve been there for some of the NFL’s biggest moments and we are fortunate to bring that experience to Monday Night Football. Together, with the excellent reporting and storytelling of Lisa Salters, Joe and Troy will provide the foundation for this new era of Monday Night Football.” | 2022-03-16T18:52:04Z | www.wfaa.com | Troy Aikman and Joe Buck headed to Monday Night Football | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-cowboys-legend-troy-aikman-headed-to-monday-night-football-with-joe-buck/287-53edd78a-c915-47fe-b682-00842203a639 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-cowboys-legend-troy-aikman-headed-to-monday-night-football-with-joe-buck/287-53edd78a-c915-47fe-b682-00842203a639 |
The department said the officer was involved in an incident where he discharged a firearm while he was off-duty and intoxicated in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Editor's note: The video published above is a WFAA report about Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes' plan to reduce violent crime.
The Fort Worth Police Department announced Wednesday it had terminated an officer for off-duty conduct stemming from an incident that occurred in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
Police officials said its Internal Affairs Unit was notified in October 2021 that Corporal Marshall Meyer, a 14-year veteran of the department, was involved in an incident where he allegedly discharged a firearm while off-duty and intoxicated.
Meyer was placed on restricted duty, which involves the removal of all police powers, during the course of the administrative and criminal investigations, the Fort Worth Police Department said in a press release.
Termination announcement. pic.twitter.com/nPOT7le6Lc
Corporal Meyer is the third Fort Worth police officer to face discipline this year.
In mid-February, a Fort Worth officer was arrested after he was allegedly driving a police vehicle while intoxicated, authorities said. A few days later, the department placed a sergeant on restricted duty and stripped him of all police powers as they investigated a complaint that he destroyed evidence.
After the investigation into Meyer's incident concluded, he was fired, according to the department.
"Corporal Meyer’s off-duty conduct was not in keeping with the high standards expected of a Fort Worth police officer, and unjustly reflects upon the rest of our officers who maintain those standards every day and work hard to ensure the safety of our community," the Fort Worth Police Department said in a statement.
Fort Worth police chief reveals plan to help reduce violent crime
Fort Worth police officer on restricted duty, stripped of powers after accused of destroying evidence | 2022-03-16T22:23:48Z | www.wfaa.com | Fort Worth officer fired after firing weapon while off-duty | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-police-department-officer-terminated-marshall-meyer/287-87a15250-5709-4acb-9f18-4a92ae4c5e00 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/fort-worth-police-department-officer-terminated-marshall-meyer/287-87a15250-5709-4acb-9f18-4a92ae4c5e00 |
We’ve seen the tweets and Facebook comments from North Texans talking about all the new eateries and grocery stores coming to Dallas-Fort Worth.
DALLAS — Doesn’t matter which one you’re most excited for: Maybe it’s Nashville-hot chicken in Deep Ellum, Chicago hot dogs in The Colony, or the H.E.B. grocery stores planned for Collin County or Forney.
They all point to the same fact: North Texas is growing.
We’ve told you about North Texas’ red hot housing market.
“Everybody wants to talk about people coming from California. That is very real, but there are also people coming from all over North America,” real estate broker Todd Tramonte said.
“And when you have more people living here, you're going to have more of the kinds of things we're all seeing: You're going to need more housing and more schools and more shopping centers,” SMU Cox School of Business economist Mike Davis said.
We’ve seen the tweets and Facebook comments from North Texans talking about all the new eateries and grocery stores coming to DFW.
“They've been talking about coming to North Texas for quite some time, so there's a lot of anticipation for H-E-B,” Texas Retailers Association Grocery Industry Consultant Gary Huddleston said. “But there's also strong grocery retailers within the Dallas-Fort Worth area that's been here for a good while.”
As a result, H-E-B’s arrival to North Texas will create competition that your wallet should benefit from, Huddleston said.
“Grocery retailing industry is very competitive, and so each grocery retailer will be trying to attract more customers by price and value, location, customer service,” Huddleston said.
Forney city officials announced plans for a new H-E-B on Tuesday. But North Texas shoppers will need to be patient.
“It's marketing,” Dallas City Councilman Tennell Atkins said. “Because they make an announcement, it don't mean they're going to open the store tomorrow. It might be within one year or two years or three years.”
Construction hasn’t started yet on the property H-E-B bought in Atkins’ District 8. He said he views the move as an acknowledgement of his district’s growth.
“We need groceries and I’m glad H-E-B put their brand in our neighborhood and I just can't wait for the time to be the first one to go through the door and buy some groceries,” Atkins said.
Atkins told WFAA the Kroger Customer Fulfillment Center should be opening in District 8 soon. The online grocery fulfillment facility will also provide jobs for the community, Atkins said.
It’s a trend Huddleston said he’s noticed.
“Several grocery retailers are opening fulfillment centers around North Texas to ensure that they're doing that business and capitalizing on both home delivery and order online and pick up at the store,” Huddleston said.
Restaurants are hungry to take advantage of what North Texas has to offer, too.
“We've said this throughout the whole pandemic: Thank, God we're in Texas,” Texas Restaurant Association Chief Operating Officer Joe Monastero said. “We've been in a much better position than many other states within the United States as a whole. We've been open in one shape or form or another since May of 2020.”
Monastero said the restaurant industry is well on its way to recovery: Just over 1,000 new TABC licenses were issued in the greater DFW metroplex since January of 2021.
“We are still floating somewhere between 15 to 18% of restaurants that we had prior to the COVID-19 pandemic permanently closed, but there are new restaurants that are starting to open,” Monastero said. | 2022-03-17T00:08:56Z | www.wfaa.com | DFW homes for sale, new restaurants and grocery stores | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/from-hot-housing-market-to-new-grocery-stores-to-out-of-state-restaurant-chains-north-texas-is-growing/287-a6379dd4-344d-47ee-bf2d-d3e8364fd954 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/from-hot-housing-market-to-new-grocery-stores-to-out-of-state-restaurant-chains-north-texas-is-growing/287-a6379dd4-344d-47ee-bf2d-d3e8364fd954 |
Tyler James was a Killeen native and attended Killeen High School in 2014. He was starting his first season as head coach of the men's and women's golf program at University Of The Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico, according to university's website.
The National Transportation Safety Board say they're sending a 12-member team to investigate the crash. | 2022-03-17T13:36:08Z | www.wfaa.com | Killeen HS alumni identified among 9 dead after major crash in west Texas | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/killeen-alumni-identified-among-9-dead-after-major-crash-in-west-texas/500-818e9c49-5858-4ca4-838d-cc14d9ea2cfe | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/killeen-alumni-identified-among-9-dead-after-major-crash-in-west-texas/500-818e9c49-5858-4ca4-838d-cc14d9ea2cfe |
The holiday honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who is known for bringing Christianity to the country over 1,000 years ago.
DUBLIN, Ireland — It's that time of year: March 17 marks the emergence of shamrock sunglasses and green attire in celebration of Irish heritage known as St. Patrick’s Day.
The holiday honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who is known for bringing Christianity to the country over 1,000 years ago, according to the National Museum of Ireland. One of the mainstays of St. Patrick's Day are the parades, especially in Dublin, Ireland.
Two marching bands from the North Texas area were in attendance at the parade in Dublin to take part in the holiday. The marching band from Wylie High School and the University of North Texas Green Brigade participated in the event.
Wylie High School was scheduled to perform in the Dublin parade in 2021, but it the school decided to postpone its invitation to the 2022 parade. The band is one of the best in the nation, advancing to the Texas State Marching Championships several times, as well as being awarded Grand Champion or finishing in the top 3 at most marching festivals. They band has also performed at The Midwest Clinic, International Band and Orchestra Conference in December of 2017. Now, they take their talents overseas.
WFAA's Sean Giggy spoke with the North Texas Green Brigade before the team left the U.S. UNT Green Brigade Daniel Cook joked with WFAA that it was convenient for the "green brigade" going to Ireland's St. Patrick's Day.
"You couldn't get more perfect than that," Cook said.
Cook told WFAA the trip to Ireland is the first time outside of the U.S. for many members of the band.
Our first full group photo from our Ireland trip! The Cliffs of Moher were a beautiful start to the day! @JohnWRichmond2 @UNTWindStudies @UNTCoM pic.twitter.com/J6thE6TNKk
— UNT Green Brigade (@UNTGreenBrigade) March 15, 2022
Our first two days in Ireland have been an absolute blast! We’ve visited the Rock of Cashel, The Blarney Castle, Cobh, Cork City, Killarney, and we’re hesded to Limerick for the night! @JohnWRichmond2 @UNTCoM @UNTWindStudies @stpatricksfest pic.twitter.com/yrmshhIiAL
You can watch Sean Giggy's story here:
The Ireland parade marks the UNT's first international trip since the 1970s.
For both of these bands, the Dublin St. Patrick's Day parade gives them the opportunity to showcase their talents to the rest of the world. | 2022-03-17T15:46:33Z | www.wfaa.com | St. Patrick's Day: North Texas bands march in Dublin parade | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/holidays/st-patricks-day-parade-north-texas-green-brigade-wylie-hs-band-march-in-dublin-ireland-wfaa/287-3a70056f-3558-4000-ab56-66f3f861577f | https://www.wfaa.com/article/life/holidays/st-patricks-day-parade-north-texas-green-brigade-wylie-hs-band-march-in-dublin-ireland-wfaa/287-3a70056f-3558-4000-ab56-66f3f861577f |
Police said the victim was crossing the street when a Toyota Tacoma driven by an alleged drunk driver hit him.
DALLAS — A 27-year-old man was struck and killed by a car Thursday morning in northwest Dallas, according to police.
Dallas police said the victim was crossing the street at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of Hudnall Street, near Maple Avenue and Denton Drive, when he was hit by a 2021 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
The Tacoma, which was heading west, was driven by Richard Alexander Rojas, 27, according to a police news release.
Police said Rojas was traveling at a high rate of speed and hit the victim with the right front side of the vehicle.
The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he later died in surgery, according to police. Police arrested Rojas and said he faces a charge of intoxication manslaughter. | 2022-03-17T15:46:45Z | www.wfaa.com | Dallas fatal crash: Man killed near Maple and Hudnall | wfaa.com | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-auto-ped-hudnall-street-maple-avenue-march-17-wfaa/287-2bb47a7f-1565-4567-af7f-fb3079c0c200 | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-auto-ped-hudnall-street-maple-avenue-march-17-wfaa/287-2bb47a7f-1565-4567-af7f-fb3079c0c200 |
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