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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Colorado News

  • Colorado Celebrates National Voter Registration Day

    Denver, Colo. – In celebration of National Voter Registration Day, Secretary of State Jena Griswold is encouraging eligible Coloradans to register to vote or make sure their current voter registration is up to date.

    “National Voter Registration Day is the perfect day to register to vote!” said Secretary Griswold.  “Registering to vote is the first step in making sure your voice is heard in our elections. I encourage all eligible Coloradans to make sure their voter registration is up-to-date and, if they haven’t registered to vote, to do so today!”

    Coloradans can register to vote or update their registration online at GoVoteColorado.gov. They can also register to vote in person at their local county clerk’s office. For a complete list of county clerks, click here.

    Colorado is one of the country’s leaders in percentage of registered voters. As of September 1, 2022, over 3.7 million Coloradans were registered to vote. During last year’s National Voter Registration Day, which took place on September 28, 2021, a total of 10,252 Colorado voters either registered to vote or updated their voter registration.

    National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan day dedicated to encouraging voter participation and increasing public awareness about state requirements for voting.

    County election offices may begin mailing ballots for the 2022 General Election to registered voters on October 17.

  • VIDEO: Hickenlooper Urges Focus on Preventing Pandemics at Hearing with Fauci

    For video of the exchange, CLICK HERE

     

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper today called for more focused efforts to prevent future pandemics. In a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing, Hickenlooper asked National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci what more needs to be done to prevent future pandemics like COVID-19 and Monkeypox.

     

    Fauci called for more research into countermeasures before pandemics arise, an effort Hickenlooper has led in the Senate. Earlier this year, two Hickenlooper bills passed out of committee. The Early Countermeasure Discovery Act would improve the development of preventative treatment and research into pathogens before they cause the next pandemic. The Modernizing Biosurveillance Capabilities and Epidemic Forecasting Act would modernize and codify Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs that Hickenlooper, Cassidy Introduce Bill to Strengthen Surveillance and Forecasting of Pandemic-Causing Viruses focus on surveillance and forecasting of pandemic-causing viruses.’

     

    Hickenlooper: “In terms of the next public health emergency, how concerned are you that this next public health emergency will be one we don’t have vaccines or therapeutics for?”

     

    Fauci: “There are two approaches that we have described in detail in several publications and several of our white papers – what’s called the prototype pandemic and prototype pathogen response. In other words to look at multiple families [of viruses] and there are about 7-8 high priority families… and to do fundamental core research for example to get commonalities among the pathogens within a family and to start to develop vaccines, put them in phase one, and have them ready to go…”

     

    Hickenlooper: “I support that approach. I think that’s the right direction to go and make sure we are as prepared as one can be for what is unknowable.”

     

    For full video of the exchange, CLICK HERE.

  • ArapCo seeks applicants for Citizen Redistricting Advisory Committee

    LITTLETON — Arapahoe County will redraw boundaries for county commissioner districts in 2023.

    To assist with the process, the county is seeking residents to serve on a Citizen Redistricting Advisory Committee that will help solicit public input and feedback and help draw proposed at least three draft district maps for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners. The process will last 10 months, from December 2022 to September 2023.

    Serving on a county committee can be a rewarding process. Applicants should be aware that committee members are expected to hold themselves to a high standard of privacy.

    Time commitments and a complete list of requirements are below. To apply, visit arapahoegov.com.

    Background

    Under state law, boundaries for county commissioner districts must be redrawn every 10 years based on the most recent U.S. Census. Because of a nationwide delay in states receiving the 2020 data, the Colorado State Legislature delayed the process for counties until 2023 to allow time to analyze it and prepare to redistrict. The new districts will be in effect for the 2024 election.

    Nine members are required for the committee: Three Democrats, three Republicans and three unaffiliated voters. Their voter registration must not have changed since the 2020 General Election, and all committee members must be Arapahoe County residents.

    Applicants will be interviewed by the Board of County Commissioners and selected based on:

    • party affiliation;

    • civic interest;

    • willingness to listen to, respect and understand diverse viewpoints;

    • experience working with others to reach outcomes or decisions;

    • commitment to a fair and equitable process;

    • geographic and demographic diversity; and

    • commitment to attending all meetings as required by law.

    Time Commitment

    • Limited, 10-month appointment  from December 2022 through September 2023;

    • monthly meetings (60-90 minutes each), beginning in December;

    • potential for bi-monthly meetings (60 minutes each), if necessary;

    • a minimum of three public engagement events over 10 months (60-90 minutes each); and

    • unless otherwise specified, applicants should expect to attend all meetings in person.

    Role and Responsibilities

    Consistent with state statute, commissioners create and present at least three proposed county commissioner district maps to the county commissioners for consideration. They must:

    • understand requirements, data and context to make recommendations;

    • provide input and direction to staff to draw initial maps for consideration in open meetings;

    • provide input on the proposed public engagement plan in open meetings;

    • participate in open advisory committee meetings;

    • advocate for resident engagement in the process;

    • review public feedback and provide direction to staff on incorporating the input into map revisions;

    • present recommendations to the county commissioner in open meetings;

    • recognize that members cannot engage in any discussion of this process with anyone outside of the established public process. Any discussions, “side conversations,” or requests for feedback cannot occur with any elected officials, political party officials, peers, staff or colleagues on this topic outside of scheduled public meetings;

    • conduct oneself in accordance with group norms;

    • recognize that all work is subject to Colorado Open Records Act requirements, including correspondence, work product and communications between and among colleagues and staff; and

    • be willing to submit to a background check.

  • VIDEO: Hickenlooper Introduces Colorado’s Shailen Bhatt as Nominee for Federal Highway Administration

    Bhatt ran CDOT under Hickenlooper’s administration

      

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper today introduced Shailen Bhatt at his Senate Environment and Public Works Committee confirmation hearing to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a critical position responsible for implementing many parts of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. President Joe Biden nominated Bhatt in July.

    —

    For full video of Hickenlooper’s remarks, click HERE.

    “As we implement this massive investment in our infrastructure, I cannot think of anyone better suited to lead the Federal Highway Administration,”said Hickenlooper at the hearing. “[Shailen Bhatt] is focused on results. He is able to bring people from all different backgrounds to the same point of compromise. He really will ensure safety and reliability on our highways at the same time he is creating efficiency and getting things built.” 

    The FHWA supports state and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the nation’s interstate highway system. As FHWA Administrator, Bhatt will help implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investments in roads and bridges nationwide.

    Bhatt served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) during Hickenlooper’s second term as Governor. He also has held senior roles at the Delaware Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation. He is currently Senior Vice President of Global Transportation Innovation and Alternative Delivery at AECOM, a multinational infrastructure consulting firm. Bhatt chairs an external advisory board for the United States Department of Energy, is a member of the Aurora Safety Advisory Board for autonomous driving, and is the Chair of the ITS World Congress Board of Directors.

  • Where CO ranks among best-paying states for woodworkers

    Where CO ranks among best-paying states for woodworkers

    The last few years have brought rising demand for housing construction, home improvement projects, and durable goods. But amid supply chain challenges and an unusual labor market since the COVID-19 pandemic began, construction and related businesses have had a hard time keeping up with demand. Consumers have endured rising prices and delays on projects and big purchases as a result.

    Unfilled jobs in construction and production occupations are a primary cause of the challenges the field currently faces. Construction industry experts have estimated a workforce shortage in the industry of 650,000 in 2022, the product of both today’s high demand and years of inadequate training and hiring in the field. On top of this, production occupations—many of which are vital for manufacturing the materials and fixtures needed to complete construction projects—have also experienced a sustained decline in employment over time.


    Over the last two decades, the number of production workers in the U.S. has fallen off substantially as economic forces like globalization and especially automation have eliminated jobs. U.S. employment in production occupations reached a peak of 11.6 million early in the year 2000 and has declined by 27% since. Today, just 8.4 million people hold production jobs in the U.S. While advances in automation have helped keep productivity up, these job losses are a challenge given recent demand.

    Prospects among production occupations vary, as some fields have experienced greater decline than others. Production jobs like metal and plastic machine workers or assemblers and fabricators are projected to see continued employment declines in future years, while a number of others are expected to keep pace or even exceed growth in other fields. Production jobs that are expected to fare better include positions like machinists, which have new opportunities from advanced manufacturing, and certain skilled trades, like welders, which are harder to replace through automation.

    Woodworkers are one example of the latter category. These professionals manufacture products like cabinets and furniture using wood, veneers, and laminates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the field is expected to grow by 8% by 2030, which is in line with the growth expected across all occupations.


    But one ongoing challenge for production occupations, including woodworking, is compensation. While jobs are available, typical rates of pay are not high enough to attract workers to the field. The average annual wage for a U.S. woodworker is $37,520, just over half the wage for higher-paying production occupations like supervisors of production ($67,330) or plant and system operators ($66,210). And wages for woodworking and many other production jobs are low relative to the rest of the economy, as the overall mean wage in the U.S. is $58,260 per year.


    Woodworkers’ compensation varies across the country, however. Many states in the South have lower wages for woodworkers. Texas offers the least favorable wages for woodworkers, with an average cost-of-living-adjusted wage of $33,820, and four other Southern states follow as the lowest-paying states. But some other locations offer solid wages for professionals in the field. National leaders Massachusetts, Iowa, and Delaware each offer average adjusted wages above $45,000 per year.

    The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. To determine the best-paying states for woodworkers, researchers at Construction Coverage calculated the mean annual wage for woodworkers, adjusted for cost of living.

    The analysis found that woodworkers in Colorado earn a mean annual wage of $41,076 after adjusting for the cost of living, compared to $37,520 nationally. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $41,076
    • Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $42,253
    • Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $45,400
    • Mean annual wage for all occupations: $62,900

    For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

    • Mean annual wage for woodworkers (adjusted): $37,520
    • Mean annual wage for woodworkers (unadjusted): $37,520
    • Mean annual wage for all production occupations: $43,070
    • Mean annual wage for all occupations: $58,260

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Construction Coverage’s website: https://constructioncoverage.com/research/best-paying-states-for-woodworkers-in-2022

  • Colorado Is One of Just 10 States With No Oscars or Primetime Emmys

    Colorado Is One of Just 10 States With No Oscars or Primetime Emmys

    With the commencement of the fall television season every September, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes achievement in television production at the annual Emmy Awards. The 2022 Emmys will be awarded on September 12. This year, series like Succession, The White Lotus, and Ted Lasso are among the primetime drama and comedy series with the most award nominations and poised for big nights at the Emmy ceremony.

    The Emmys and their film-oriented awards counterpart, the Oscars, today have more content than ever to assess when identifying excellence in the field. With major investments over the last decade from streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Apple, in addition to more traditional production and distribution companies, TV and film creators have abundant opportunities to showcase their talent. These creators include the actors and actresses who power TV and film productions.


    The Emmys and Oscars tend to focus on productions from the U.S., and as such, performers from the U.S. have won a significant majority of acting awards over time. More than four in five Oscar and Primetime Emmy acting awards (81.7%) have been won by actors and actresses from the U.S., compared to around one in five (18.3%) for international performers. In recent years, however, international actors and actresses have increased their share of awards: 59 of the 154 Emmys and Oscars awarded to international performers have been earned since 2000.


    Domestically, New York and California are the leading states for the entertainment industry in the U.S., so it is unsurprising that the two states together account for more than one-third of Oscar and Emmy acting awards. New York’s dominance in television is especially notable: the state’s actors and actresses have earned a total of 137 Emmys, more than double the 56 earned by second place California. New York and California also far surpass other states when it comes to Oscars, with 50 and 40, respectively. The state with the next highest number of Oscars, Illinois, has just 16 awards in comparison.


    Beyond New York and California, most of the locations that have produced acting awards at the Emmys and Oscars are high-population states where actors and actresses have ample opportunity to hone their craft. Illinois, which has strong theater and comedy scenes in Chicago, has produced a total of 44 Emmy and Oscar winners for acting. And performers in neighboring states take advantage of these opportunities too: New Jersey has produced 36 winners, likely due in part to its proximity to New York, while Illinois neighbors Wisconsin and Missouri have together accounted for another 53 winners. But a total of 10 states—mostly smaller or more remote locations—have produced no winners.

    To identify the states that have born the best actors and actresses, researchers at HotDog.com ranked U.S. states and territories according to the total number of eligible Oscar and Primetime Emmy Awards won by actors and actresses born in each location. The data was sourced from the Official Academy Awards Database and the Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners database.

    Here are the U.S. states and territories that have born the best actors and actresses.


    State Rank Total awards Total Oscars Total Primetime Emmys Winningest actor/actress Year of most recent award
    New York 1 187 50 137 Julia Louis-Dreyfus (8 Emmys) 2020 (Billy Crudup, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series & Julia Garner, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series)
    California 2 96 40 56 Helen Hunt (1 Oscar & 4 Emmys) & Candice Bergen (5 Emmys) 2021 (Jessica Chastain, Best Actress)
    Illinois 3 44 16 28 Dennis Franz (4 Emmys) 2021 (Gillian Anderson, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series)
    New Jersey 4 36 14 22 Peter Dinklage (4 Emmys) 2019 (Peter Dinklage, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series)
    Massachusetts 5 34 14 20 Allison Janney (6 Emmys) 2020 (Jeremy Strong, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series)
    Missouri 6 29 10 19 Doris Roberts (5 Emmys) & Ed Asner (5 Emmys) 2017 (Sterling K. Brown, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series)
    Wisconsin 7 24 4 20 Tyne Daly (6 Emmys) 2019 (Tony Shalhoub, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series)
    Pennsylvania 8 23 8 15 Bill Cosby (3 Emmys) 2021 (Will Smith, Best Actor)
    Ohio 9 21 6 15 Patricia Wettig (3 Emmys) 2014 (Anna Gunn, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series)
    Texas 10 20 8 12 Jim Parsons (4 Emmys) 2019 (Renee Zellweger, Best Actress)
    Connecticut 11 17 5 12 Katharine Hepburn (3 Oscars) & Christopher Lloyd (3 Emmys) 2009 (Glenn Close, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series)
    Oklahoma 12 15 4 11 Bill Hader (2 Emmys) & Larry Drake (2 Emmys) 2019 (Brad Pitt, Best Supporting Actor & Bill Hader, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series)
    Michigan 13 12 3 9 12 different people with 1 award each 2014 (J. K. Simmons, Best Supporting Actor)
    District of Columbia 14 11 3 8 Michael Learned (4 Emmys) 2007 (Katherine Heigl, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series)
    Minnesota 15 8 4 4 Jessica Lange (2 Oscars) & E.G. Marshall (2 Emmys) 2016 (Louie Anderson, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series)

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on HotDog.com’s website: https://hotdog.com/blog/states-best-actors/

  • Volunteers rally to begin the recovery of the Cache la Poudre River fishery

    Volunteers rally to begin the recovery of the Cache la Poudre River fishery

    Debris flows in 2021 devastated fish populations in the Cache la Poudre River west of Fort Collins

    FORT COLLINS, Colo – A year after a catastrophic debris flow decimated over 20 miles of the Cache la Poudre River fishery, 24 volunteers joined Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists to begin the painstaking process of rebuilding fish populations.

    As a hot morning turned into a rainy afternoon, the team hauled buckets of fish up and down a 40-mile stretch of the river to replace the CPW-stocked rainbow trout and support the self-sustaining brown trout that suffocated when sediment and debris cascaded off the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar and choked the river in a July 2021 flash flood.

    “The plume of sediment and debris that moved downstream from that event led to fatal conditions in the river for fish due to heavy sediment loads preventing fish from exchanging oxygen across their gills, leading to the fish suffocating,” said Kyle Battige, Aquatic Biologist for CPW.

    The recovery effort was necessary after CPW biologists conducted a 10-day sampling effort last fall that found just one brown trout from the Black Hollow Creek confluence to 16 miles downstream at the Narrow sampling station, indicating a complete loss of the fishery. Although trout were captured 20 miles downstream at Stove Prairie, numbers were 80 percent lower in 2021 compared to historic estimates.

    A major step in CPW’s multi-year repopulation effort began August 25 with the help of volunteers from Otterbox, The Nature Conservancy, and Rocky Mountain Flycasters, the local chapter of Trout Unlimited.

    Jake Eichler, assistant manager of CPW’s Glenwood Springs Hatchery, delivered 115,000 one inch rainbow trout fry to be stocked along a 40-mile stretch of the Cache la Poudre River from the Poudre River State Fish Hatchery to the Overland Trail. Fry are recently hatched fish, approximately one inch in length, that have reached the stage where its yolk-sac has almost disappeared and its swim bladder is operational to the point where the fish can actively feed itself. 

    The fry were reared at the Glenwood Springs Hatchery from milt and roe (sperm and eggs) collected from wild brood stock. This hatchery is one of the few that rear rainbow trout from wild stock. 

    Volunteers met with the hatchery truck along Highway 14 to pick up buckets of 500 fish, before driving them to designated stretches of the Poudre River for release. They drove back and forth most of the day, taking bucket after bucket of fish to their new homes. 

    “The goal is to spread the fish out as much as possible to increase their chances of surviving to adulthood,” Battige said. “Fry can only live in the buckets for a short amount of time before they run out of oxygen, so quickly getting them to a calm stretch of water along the river is important.”

    It will be several years before these fish grow to a catchable size; however, the long wait and some afternoon rain weren’t enough to deter Rocky Mountain Flycaster members, including president Mark Miller from doing this important work.

    “Over 20 of our members traveled from Berthoud, Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley and Evans to assist CPW in restoring this fishery,” Miller said. “Rocky Mountain Flycasters has been conserving and protecting Northern Colorado watersheds since 1983 and we are excited to be a part of this effort to improve this amazing resource for the future”

    [VIDEO] Watch CPW and volunteers stock fish in the Cache la Poudre River

    At this time CPW is not stocking brown trout. Brown trout are still present up and downstream of the impacted reaches of the river and the long-term hope is that they will return naturally over time. The intent is to establish rainbow trout populations while brown trout numbers are reduced.

    “Assistance from organizations such as Trout Unlimited is vital to the work that CPW does,” Battige said. “Without them, the amount of time, effort and resources required to stock these fish increases dramatically.”

    “The sportfishing benefits of this effort will not be felt for years to come, but with the hard work and dedicated support of organizations like Trout Unlimited, we were able to take these early steps toward recovery,” Battige said. 

    Learn more about CPW’s history as fishery and aquatic management leaders:
    https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Aquatic.aspx 


  • Colorado Residents Spend the 17th Most on Food

    Colorado Residents Spend the 17th Most on Food

    The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath reshaped many aspects of life in the U.S., and how Americans eat and drink is no exception.

    Disruptions in the initial months of COVID-19 forced food producers and distributors to adapt how food gets to consumers, and ongoing challenges with supply chains and the labor market have led to shortages at grocery stores. In the restaurant business, many restaurants have reoriented their businesses toward takeout and delivery, with the market for food delivery in the U.S. more than doubling during the pandemic.


    The latter trend came in response to major disruption to the food service industry from lockdowns and public health measures early in the pandemic. Bars and restaurants were among the businesses hit hardest by these policies. Unable to host patrons at full capacity, establishments drastically reduced their staffing and turned to takeout and delivery to continue operating while keeping costs low. Employment in the sector fell by nearly half in just two months, from 12.4 million in February 2020 to 6.4 million in April 2020. Even after public health restrictions loosened later in 2020, employment in the sector has been slow to recover. Today, the food and drink services industry employs 11.6 million people, still short of its pre-pandemic peaks.


    While the COVID lockdowns of 2020 provided an initial shock to the industry, shifting consumer preferences have also been a challenge for food service professionals. Bars and restaurants reopened over the course of 2020, but not all consumers rushed back. As fears around COVID persisted, many consumers have opted to spend more of their food budget on groceries for meals at home. This reality quickly reversed trends in food spending over recent years. In 2020, spending on groceries as a share of total household spending reached its highest in two decades, while spending on purchased meals and beverages fell to their lowest levels since the Great Recession.


    Time will tell how lasting changes in spending on food will be, especially in light of the high levels of inflation seen over the last year. While since the turn of the century, prices for food consumed at home grew more slowly than those for food consumed outside of the home, the opposite is true since the start of the pandemic. Since 2020, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food at home has risen by 18.2%, while the CPI for food away from home has grown by just 13.5% over the same span. The rate of price growth for food at home has been particularly stark after remaining roughly flat from 2014 to 2020. Though households in the pandemic have been more inclined to choose groceries over meals out, rapidly rising food prices have stretched household budgets as a result.

    Inflation in the cost of food has been felt nationwide, but residents in some locations will feel the effects more than others. In states with lower incomes, especially in the South, residents spend a higher share of their overall household spend on food. Whether buying groceries or dining out, residents in these locations already struggle the most with food costs and will disproportionately feel the effects of inflation.

    To determine the states where residents are spending the most on food, researchers on behalf of Self Financial used data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to calculate all food and beverage spending as a share of total spending. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater grocery spending as a share of total spending was ranked higher.

    The analysis found that—on average—residents of Colorado spend $6,051 per year on food and beverages, which amounts to 12.7% of all spending. Among residents of all states, Colorado residents spend the 17th most on food. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • All food and beverage spending as a share of total spending: 12.7%
    • Grocery spending as a share of total spending: 7.0%
    • Purchased meals and beverages spending as a share of total spending: 5.7%
    • Food and beverage spending per resident: $6,051
    • Total spending per resident: $47,649

    For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

    • All food and beverage spending as a share of total spending: 12.0%
    • Grocery spending as a share of total spending: 7.0%
    • Purchased meals and beverages spending as a share of total spending: 5.0%
    • Food and beverage spending per resident: $5,153
    • Total spending per resident: $43,016

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Self Financial’s website: https://www.self.inc/blog/states-spending-most-on-food

  • Outdoor safety tips for Labor Day weekend celebrations

    Outdoor safety tips for Labor Day weekend celebrations

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    DENVER – Nature belongs to all of us, and recreating responsibly shows you care about keeping our landscapes healthy and wildlife thriving. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is sharing a few safety tips ahead of the holiday weekend to help you balance your outdoor recreation with mindful conservation.

    Know Before You Go
    Be aware of weather conditions, water temperatures and trail closures where you plan to visit.

    • Camping reservations are required at Colorado State Parks.
    • Use the CPW Park Finder to discover outdoor activities available at each state park and to learn about park or trail closures.
    • On a holiday weekend, expect lines and potential gate closures. Have a backup plan and please be kind to park staff and other park visitors.

    Be Bear Aware
    As bears prepare for hibernation and hunt for food, Coloradans may see more bear activity. Below are tips and precautions to help you prevent human-wildlife conflicts that can also save a bear’s life. For more information on bears in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/bears.

    Properly store all trash and lock bear-accessible windows and doors:

    • Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
    • Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors.
    • Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
    • Don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.
    • Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
    • Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
    • Clean the grill after each use.
    • Clean up thoroughly after picnics in the yard or on the deck.
    • If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.

    Cars, traveling and campsites:

    • Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors.
    • When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
    • Keep a clean camp in a campground or in the backcountry.
    • When in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any items with strong odors into your tent.
    • Cook food away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

    Be Careful with Fire
    Colorado’s low humidity can create dry, dangerous conditions that impact if fires are allowed or restricted.

    • Check fire restrictions or bans before you go. Visit www.coemergency.com to find county-specific fire information.
    • Avoid parking or driving on dry grass. Check your tire pressure, exhaust pipes and if chains or exposed wheel rims are dragging from your vehicle that may create sparks.
    • Use designated campfire areas when allowed and available.
    • Keep campfires small and manageable.
    • Put fires out with water until you can touch the embers.
    • Never leave a campfire unattended and report campfires that have been left burning.

    Wear a Life Jacket
    Enjoy the water, but always do so with a life jacket on – they save lives. Before going onto the water make sure you are carrying essential safety gear:

    • Wear your life jacket​
    • Check your boat and all required boating safety gear.
    • Avoid boating alone and tell someone where you are going.
    • Boat sober. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.
    • Stand-up paddleboards are considered vessels in Colorado and require a life jacket on board at all times.
    • Protect yourself from the dangers of cold water immersion and shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency.

    For more information on outdoor recreation in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us.

  • Labor Day 2022: America’s workforce is stronger than ever

    Labor Day 2022: America’s workforce is stronger than ever

    By Marty Walsh, U.S. Secretary of Labor

    On Labor Day we honor the achievements of America’s workers, and in 2022 we have a historic victory to celebrate. Our nation’s working people have come all the way back from the depths of a global pandemic, regaining every job lost and more.

    This milestone seemed impossible to reach on Labor Day two years ago. The pandemic was out of control. Millions of Americans were out of work, and economic forecasters said unemployment could remain elevated for years to come.

    Some commentators even lost faith in our national work ethic. Even today, some still say that  Americans “don’t want to work anymore.”

    What nonsense. This sour view of workers seems rooted in the belief that they should be happy with whatever they get. A deadly pandemic exposed the limits – and the disrespect – of that attitude.

    The truth is, Americans were eager and ready to get back to work. They just needed the right opportunities, the kind President Biden’s American Rescue Plan delivered. It got vaccines to the people, relief to families, and support for schools and businesses to reopen safely. With these conditions in place, America got back to work – and in a big way.

    Since President Biden took office, we’ve added 9.5 million jobs to the economy. The unemployment rate has plunged to 3.5 percent, matching a 53-year low.

    Here in Colorado the unemployment rate is 3.3 percent as Coloradoans are seizing opportunities like never before.

    This job growth has been broad and widely shared. Some said construction would be slow to return. As of July, there were 82,000 more construction jobs than before the pandemic.

    Healthcare workers battled bravely through the pandemic and, by this summer, nearly every single job in that vital sector was recovered.

    Some said thinking we could restore America’s manufacturing was naïve. Well, manufacturing has more than fully recovered – and with the new CHIPS and Science Law, we are set to lead the world in the industries, and good jobs, of the future.

    Ours is a remarkable story of resilience and recovery. I must say, as a former construction worker, I’m not surprised. Working people are proud of their work and who they are. That hasn’t changed.

    As I travel the country as Labor Secretary, I talk to workers and jobseekers and – everywhere I go – Americans want a fair chance to earn decent wages, support their families, make meaningful contributions, and achieve financial security.

    Consider the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It’s creating thousands of good-paying jobs that don’t need a college degree. America’s workers are doing what they do best – rebuilding their communities, revitalizing our industries and securing a healthy future for our children.

    We’re also reducing inequality. In this recovery, wages have gone up the fastest for workers of color and workers with less than a high school diploma. We are determined to continue this progress. To unlock the full potential in our economy, we must empower all of our nation’s workers, especially those who got shut out in the past.

    We advance all our goals now from a position of strength. The Inflation Reduction Act will not only lower costs for working families; it’s also going to create good jobs for years to come. America’s workers – diverse and determined – are going to win our clean energy future.

    Every recovery has a lesson to teach. Here’s one for this Labor Day: Never bet against America’s workers.

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    Espanol

     

    Día del Trabajo 2022: La fuerza laboral de Estados Unidos es más fuerte que nunca
    Por Marty Walsh, Secretario de Trabajo de EE. UU.

     

    En el Día del Trabajo honramos los logros de los trabajadores de Estados Unidos, y en 2022 tenemos una victoria histórica que celebrar. Los trabajadores de nuestra nación han regresado desde las profundidades de una pandemia global, recuperando cada empleo perdido y más.

    Este hito parecía imposible de alcanzar en el Día del Trabajo hace dos años. La pandemia estaba fuera de control. Millones de estadounidenses se quedaron sin trabajo y los analistas económicos dijeron que el desempleo podría seguir siendo elevado en los próximos años.

     

    Algunos comentaristas incluso perdieron la fe en nuestra ética de trabajo nacional. Incluso hoy en día, algunos todavía dicen que los estadounidenses “ya no quieren trabajar”.

    Qué tontería. Esta visión agria de los trabajadores parece arraigada en la creencia de que deben ser felices con cualquier trabajo que obtengan. Una pandemia mortal expuso los límites – y la falta de respeto – de esa actitud.

    La verdad es que los estadounidenses estaban ansiosos y listos para volver al trabajo. Solo necesitaban las oportunidades adecuadas, del tipo que entregó el Plan de Rescate Estadounidense del presidente Biden. Llevó vacunas a la gente, alivio a las familias y apoyo para que las escuelas y las empresas reabrieran de manera segura. Con estas condiciones en su lugar, Estados Unidos volvió al trabajo, y a lo grande.

     

    Desde que el presidente Biden asumió el cargo, hemos agregado 9.5 millones de empleos a la economía. La tasa de desempleo se ha desplomado a 3.5 por ciento, igualando un mínimo de 53 años.

     

    Aquí en Colorado, la tasa de desempleo es del 3.3 por ciento, ya que los habitantes de Colorado están aprovechando las oportunidades como nunca antes.

     

    Este crecimiento del empleo ha sido amplio y ampliamente compartido. Algunos dijeron que la construcción tardaría en regresar. Hasta julio, había 82,000 empleos de construcción más que antes de la pandemia. Los trabajadores de la salud lucharon valientemente durante la pandemia y, para este verano, casi todos los trabajos en ese sector vital se recuperaron.

     

    Algunos dijeron que pensar que podríamos restaurar la fabricación de Estados Unidos era ingenuo. Bueno, la fabricación se ha recuperado más que por completo, y con los nuevos CHIPS y la Ley de Ciencias, estamos listos para liderar el mundo en las industrias y buenos empleos del futuro.

    La nuestra es una historia notable de resiliencia y recuperación. Debo decir que, como ex trabajador de la construcción, no me sorprende. Los trabajadores están orgullosos de su trabajo y de quiénes son. Eso no ha cambiado.

     

    Mientras viajo por el país como Secretario de Trabajo, hablo con trabajadores y solicitantes de empleo y, dondequiera que vaya, los estadounidenses quieren una oportunidad justa de ganar salarios decentes, mantener a sus familias, hacer contribuciones significativas y lograr seguridad financiera.

    La semana pasada estuve en San Antonio con el representante federal Joaquín Castro para reunirme con trabajadores, líderes sindicales, líderes de la industria local y funcionarios de la ciudad. Vi a aprendices aprendiendo habilidades avanzadas y preparándose para buenos trabajos y carreras por SA Ready to Work, uno de los programas de capacitación laboral más impresionantes del país.

     

    Considere la Ley de Infraestructura Bipartidista. Está creando miles de empleos bien remunerados que no necesitan un título universitario. Los trabajadores de Estados Unidos están haciendo lo que mejor saben hacer: reconstruir sus comunidades, revitalizar nuestras industrias y asegurar un futuro saludable para nuestros niños. Estamos decididos a continuar este progreso.

     

    También estamos reduciendo la desigualdad. En esta recuperación, los salarios han aumentado más rápido para los trabajadores de color y los trabajadores con menos de un diploma de escuela secundaria. Para liberar todo el potencial de nuestra economía, debemos empoderar a todos los trabajadores de nuestra nación, especialmente a aquellos que fueron excluidos en el pasado.

     

    Avanzamos todos nuestros objetivos ahora desde una posición de fuerza. La Ley de Reducción de la Inflación no solo reducirá los costos para las familias trabajadoras; también va a crear buenos empleos en los próximos años. Los trabajadores de Estados Unidos, diversos y decididos, van a ganar nuestro futuro de energía limpia.

    Cada recuperación tiene una lección que enseñar. Aquí hay uno para este Día del Trabajo: Nunca apuestes contra los trabajadores de Estados Unidos.