Category: Front Page

Today, the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division issued a Health and Safety Advisory due to the identification of potentially unsafe levels of Total Yeast and Mold contamination in Retail Infused Pre-Roll Marijuana produced by DJR Colorado, LLC DBA High Level Health. 

DENVER, COLORADO, FEBRUARY 1, 2022 –The American Red Cross of Colorado has opened several warming centers for stranded travelers or anyone needing shelter from the extreme cold and winter weather, which are expected this afternoon and may continue overnight into tomorrow, February 2nd. The storm may make travel along I-25, US-36, I-70 and US-285 difficult. The highest totals of snowfall will be across the foothills.

Here is the list of the current places open for people needing to get out of the storm.

• Patriot Learning Center – 11990 Swingline Road, Falcon, CO 80831
• St. Peter Catholic Church – 55 Jefferson St, Monument, CO 80132
• Huerfano County Community Center – 928 Russell St, Walsenburg, CO 81089
• Kilmer Elementary School – 4285 Walker Ct, Monument, CO 80132

 For more details, visit http://cowyredcrossblog.org/Feb22-warming-center. This link will continue to be updated as conditions change.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

DENVER – State of Colorado government offices along the I-25 corridor, including Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 2, due to extreme weather conditions.  

State facilities essential to public health and safety will maintain regular operating schedules and “essential personnel” must report to work at their normal scheduled time.

The Colorado Judicial Branch posts its own information regarding closures and delays related to Colorado’s courthouses and probation offices. Visit www.courts.state.co.us for current information related to courts and probation.

The Colorado General Assembly posts daily schedules at www.leg.colorado.gov.

By MATTHEW BROWN and COLLEEN SLEVIN
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) _ A fire raging in an underground Colorado coal field in 1883 sent so much smoke pouring from cracks in the ground that the scene was likened to burning volcanoes and the state’s first mining inspector deemed the blaze “impossible to extinguish.”

Nearly 140 years later two fires still smolder in the now-abandoned coal field near Boulder _ the same area where a wildfire last month destroyed more than 1,000 homes and buildings and killed at least one person.

It’s still unknown what caused the December blaze that became the most destructive in Colorado history, but Boulder County authorities have said they’re investigating the area’s abandoned coal mines as one of several possible causes, along with power lines, human activity and other possibilities.

Could smoldering coal have started such a fire? History shows the answer is yes, with at least two Colorado blazes in the past 20 years blamed on mine fires that spread to the surface. And in Montana this past summer slow-burning coal reserves fanned by winds sparked a pair of blazes that burned a combined 267 square miles (691 square kilometers) on and around the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Across the U.S. at least 259 underground mine fires burned in more than a dozen states as of last September, according to federal Office of Surface Mining data. There are hundreds and possibly thousands more undocumented blazes burning in coal seams that have never been mined, researchers and government officials say.

Globally, such fires are also a problem, including in India, Australia and South Africa. In China, the world’s largest coal producer, an estimated 10 million to 200 million tons of the fuel annually burn or are left inaccessible by fires, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

As climate change leads to drought across larges swaths of a U.S. West already seeing longer and more destructive fire seasons, experts say smoldering coal fires will pose a continuing threat.

Such fires can be ignited by lightning, humans and even spontaneously at temperatures as low as 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), said Jurgen Brune a Colorado School of Mines engineering professor. Many are impossible to put out, slowly burning underground as the combustion feeds off a small amount of oxygen present in the coal, he said.

“Covering it up and trying to take away the oxygen from the fire puts out most fires. Not for coal fires,” Brune said.

Underground coal seams burn unpredictably and can break through to the surface without warning long after a fire starts, he said.

“It’s like trying to predict an earthquake,” Brune said. “With all the technology we have today they are not coming any closer to predicting them. The same goes for a coal fire.”

The fires emit toxic mercury and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, and cause sinkholes when the ground’s surface collapses into burned cavities below. In Centralia, Pennsylvania, the fumes and subsidence from a coal fire that started beneath the town in 1962 got so bad that more than 1,000 people eventually relocated at a cost of $42 million.

The estimated future cost to control the 200 known abandoned mine blazes across the U.S. is almost $900 million, according to the Office of Surface Mining database.

In the wake of last summer’s fires, local officials in Montana plan to map out burning seams across the state’s southeast in coming months using a federal grant. Controlling them will be difficult and could cost a minimum of $300,000 per site, said Bobbi Vannattan with the Rosebud Conservation District, which is helping to coordinate the mapping.

“The problem with coal seam fires is we don’t know how deep they are or how wide they are until you get in there and start digging,” she said.

In Colorado, officials were monitoring at least 38 underground coal fires as of 2019.

Boulder County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Carrie Haverfield declined to specify which mines were being investigated in relation to the Dec. 30 blaze or what prompted authorities’ interest, which was first reported by KUSA-TV.

At least three efforts were made by authorities to quench or reduce damage from the blaze the state mine inspector first encountered more than a century ago at the abandoned Marshall Mine, located on park land in the vicinity of where investigators believe the recent fire started.

The first came in 1982, when federal officials drilled into the ground to investigate how far the fire extended and later sought to smother it with a 2-foot (60-centimeter) layer of dirt, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report.

In 2005, a small brush fire was traced back to a hot vent from the fire. Crews from Boulder removed vegetation in the area and federal officials tried to fill the vent and others with rocks to try to protect against another fire, according to the Office of Surface Mining. In 2016, after federal officials said the state had taken control of the site, workers excavated and filled in two areas where ground had subsided after fire consumed the underground coal.

When the site was visited two years later by workers for a state contractor, Tetra Tech, they found no evidence of fire _ no melting snow, no smoky odors. The company recommended annual monitoring of the site because of its past erratic behavior but no new steps to abate the potential hazard.

“The fire’s activity is very low and thus presents little potential to start a surface fire,” Tetra Tech wrote in a 2019 report prepared for the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety.

Generally the responsibility of monitoring coal mine fires falls to the property owner, according to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The Marshall Mine fire sits under an open space park owned by the city of Boulder near a state highway.

Boulder officials said they don’t have responsibility to do work on the fire. However, the city is required to notify the state if rangers or trail crews at the popular hiking area see smoke or shifts, city spokesperson Sarah Huntley said.

The state’s mining division said it was not notified of any changes at the mine fire since the 2019 report.

The state receives federal funding to help property owners monitor or mitigate abandoned coal mine fires. But the mining division cannot require any work be done at the sites, spokesperson Chris Arend said.

STATEWIDE (Feb. 1, 2022): Multiple state-managed and partner community testing sites and vaccine clinics will be closed or on a delayed start Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2022 due to winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings across the state. As weather conditions evolve and impact sites throughout the day, we will update covid19.colorado.gov accordingly. 

Testing Sites CLOSED on Feb. 2:

• Aims Community College – Greeley
• All City Stadium – Denver
• Aurora Public Schools – Aurora
• Boulder County Fairgrounds – Longmont
• Centaurus High School – Lafayette
• Chapel Hills Mall – Colorado Springs
• Citadel Mall – Colorado Springs
• Clayton Early Learning – Denver
• Clear Creek Valley Park – Arvada
• Colorado School of Mines – Golden
• Convenient Care Clinic- Alamosa
• Cripple Creek Rec Center – Cripple Creek
• Dr. MLK Early College – Denver
• Eastman Park- Windsor
• Echo Park Stadium – Denver
• Estes Park Fairgrounds – Estes Park
• FLC Stadium Parking Lot – Durango
• Fort Morgan – Lincoln Street – Fort Morgan
• Foundations Church – Loveland
• Fountain
• Fremont County DPHE – Cañon City
• George Washington High School – Denver
• Instructional Support Facility (ISF) – Aurora
• Jefferson County Fairgrounds – Golden
• Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy – Denver
• La Veta Fire Protection- La Veta
• McHarg Community Park- Avondale
• Montbello Library- Denver
• Our Lady Mother of the Church – Commerce City
• Park County Public Health- Bailey
• Pueblo County Fairgrounds – Pueblo
• Pueblo Mall – Pueblo
• Red Rocks Community College – Arvada
• Riverdale Regional Park – Brighton
• Rock Island Trailhead – Falcon
• Rocky Mountain Prep – Denver
• Saguache Community Building- Saguache
• SOAR Academy – Englewood
• Southwest Plaza – Littleton
• St. Vrain Valley Innovation Center – Longmont
• Stazio Ball Fields – Boulder
• Timberline Church – Fort Collins
• Walsenburg Train Depot- Walsenburg
• Wiggins Community Church – Wiggins

Testing Sites DELAYED on Feb. 2:

Opening at 9 a.m.: 

• Adams State – Alamosa

Opening at 10 a.m.:

• Aurora Center for Active Adults – Del Mar
• Centennial Hospital – Centennial
• Colorado Mountain College – Breckenridge
• Dicks Sporting Goods – Commerce City
• Douglas County Justice Center – Castle Rock
• Front Range Community College – Westminster
• Mesa County Fairgrounds – Grand Junction
• Park Meadows Mall – Lone Tree
• Pirates Cove – Englewood
• Silverthorne Recreation Center – Silverthorne
• Sky Ridge Campus – Lone Tree
• Strings Music Pavilion – Steamboat Springs
• Summit County Community Center – Frisco
• UNC Greeley – Greeley
• Waterworld – Federal Heights

Opening at 11 a.m.:

• Littleton Park and Walk 

All patients with appointments are being provided information about rescheduling. There are numerous state-sponsored community testing sites across the state, as well as dozens of locations offered by private providers. They are free, convenient, and do not require identification or insurance. Visit covid19.colorado.gov/testing for a list of locations. As the weather conditions evolve throughout the day, additional community testing sites may be required to close. We will update the website accordingly. 

Vaccine clinics CLOSED on Feb.2:

• Chapel Hills Mall – Colorado Springs
• Citadel Mall – Colorado Springs

Vaccine clinics DELAYED on Feb. 2:

Opening at 10 a.m.

• Boulder County Fairgrounds – Longmont
• Timberline Church – Fort Collins

All patients who had appointments scheduled are being notified. As  weather conditions evolve throughout the day, additional community vaccination sites may be required to close. We will update the website accordingly.  For help finding or scheduling an alternate appointment, call 1-877-CO VAX CO (1-877-268-2926) or visit covid19.colorado.gov/vaccinefinder. 

Coloradans’ health and safety is our number one priority and we apologize for any inconvenience caused as a result of these cancellations and delays. Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

 

Colorado’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) helps eligible Coloradans keep the heat on this winter

DENVER (Feb. 1, 2022) — CDHS is celebrating Feb. 1 as National Energy Assistance Day. All potentially eligible Coloradans are encouraged to apply for Colorado’s Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), a federally funded program that helps eligible Coloradans pay a portion of their winter home heating costs.

The LEAP program works to keep our communities warm during the winter, November through April, by making a one-time payment directly to the utility company on behalf of each LEAP eligible household statewide. Last season, 77,500 LEAP recipients received an average benefit of $550.25. This season, nearly 75,000 Colorado households have applied for LEAP to date. Applications are accepted through April 30.

“This season, Colorado received a record amount of funding for LEAP,”explains Theresa Kullen, LEAP manager. “While data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows heating bills increasing this winter between 6 and 54 percent depending on the heating source, funding is available to help Coloradans offset these increased costs. We encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to apply and take advantage of LEAP’s many benefits.”

In addition to home heating bill assistance, LEAP recipients may be eligible to receive furnace repair and replacement in heat-related emergencies and weatherization services pending the results of a home energy audit. Currently, LEAP recipients are also eligible for two temporary programs funded by  the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The first of these programs is the Utility Assistance Program, which provides funds to assist with paying down past-due accounts for a home’s energy costs. Secondly, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides a one-time payment to water vendors for eligible households whose account is either in arrears or shut off as long as funding is available. 

To qualify for LEAP, Coloradans may have an income up to 60 percent of the state median income level, which equates to a household income of less than $64,000 a year for a family of four. Additionally, LEAP recipients must pay home heating costs directly to a utility company or landlord as part of their rent, be a resident of Colorado and have at least one U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident of the U.S. living in the household. Specific eligibility criteria can be found on our website. 

To access the LEAP application, visit cdhs.colorado.gov/LEAP. Online applications are processed through the Colorado PEAK system. You can also call the HEAT HELP line at 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) to receive an application via mail or email.

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Tri-County Health Department (TCHD) will be extending its public health order requiring face masks in schools and childcare facilities through Feb. 4 to give its Board of Health time to consider when to end the mask requirement for schools, childcare facilities and for indoor public spaces. While such a step would not mean that our schools and communities should stop practicing effective COVID-19 prevention measures including masking, it does mean that depending on the Board’s decision, the public health mask requirement for schools, childcares and public indoor spaces could end as soon as Feb. 4.  Such a timeline would give schools, students and parents, as well as our cities, counties, businesses and other partners time to prepare for this transition.

 

TCHD’s Board of Health will hold a Special Meeting Monday, Jan. 31, at 4:30 p.m. to discuss ending the masking public health orders. The meeting will be held virtually and information can be found at www.tchd.org.

 

Cases of omicron COVID-19 cases rose rapidly over the past month, and the more recent decline in cases among all age groups has been just as dramatic. Recently released estimates from the State’s modeling team indicate that over 40% of Colorado residents have been infected by omicron and that 80% of the state’s population will be immune to omicron by mid-February, with cases and hospitalizations predicted to continue to decline.  Given these trends and the growing availability to an array of prevention tools, particularly more effective medical grade masks and rapid tests, in addition to access to free vaccines, TCHD believes it is an appropriate time to consider ending the mask orders.

 

“While COVID-19 is likely to be with us for years to come and challenging new variants are likely to emerge, said John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Director of Tri-County Health Department, “we are increasingly confident that we have sufficient tools at the present time —high levels of immunity through vaccination and recent infection,  an increasing array of better treatments, and solid prevention measures through masking, testing, and improved ventilation–to allow schools, businesses and other members of the community to implement the protections they feel are most appropriate for their situation.”

 

Vaccinations are still the best protection against COVID-19 so it is important to stay up to date on your vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine is available for children 5 to 17 and all persons 12 and up should receive a Pfizer booster five months after completing their primary series. Adults 18 and older can chose from Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines. While vaccine protection is not 100 percent in preventing infection, it is highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death, particularly if kept up to date with recommended boosters. Parents of vaccine-eligible children are encouraged to contact their healthcare providers or visit the TCHD website if you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and where to get it.

 

“The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Colorado almost two years ago, and from the beginning, TCHD and its Board of Health have tried to use the evolving science and data to inform our decisions as to how best to protect our communities,” Douglas said. “We intend to continue monitoring emerging data making relevant prevention recommendations, and working with our communities to help carry out our collaborative prevention efforts most effectively.  We don’t know how long the tunnel will be, but we are increasingly seeing light as to how we can all live with COVID-19 in the months and years to come as normally and safely as possible.”

 

www.tchd.org/COVID19

Tri-County Health Department serves over 1.6 million people in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. It provides over 60 programs and services including birth certificates, immunizations, WIC, restaurant inspections, family planning, STI/HIV Testing, and infectious disease investigations. For more information, visit www.tchd.org, Twitter @TCHDHealth, or Facebook @cotchd.

WHO: Colorado Treasurer Dave Young

Director of Unclaimed Property Bianca Gardelli 

WHAT: A and B roll opportunities for National Unclaimed Property Day. This includes interviews with State Treasurer Young and Director Gardelli, as well as opening the vault for unique, tangible properties that need to be reunited with their rightful owners. The tangible properties include gold and silver coins, baseball cards, jewelry, firearms, deeds from the 1800’s, silver bars, and bottles of champagne.

WHEN: Monday, January 31st 2:00PM – 4:00PM MT. By appointment only. 

WHERE: Colorado State Capitol Building, Treasury Department, Room 140

HOW: RSVP to Sheena Kadi at by Friday, January 28th at 5:00 PM

There’s a chance – at least 1 in 10 – that there’s unclaimed property, like gift certificates, unpaid wages, or uncashed checks, with your name on it. And the Great Colorado Payback wants to make sure that you’re reunited with your money. 

Last fiscal year, The Great Colorado Payback returned almost $43 million to 23,462 claimants through our Unclaimed Property Division, and instituted new rules to simplify the claims process, including launching a pilot program which proactively returns funds.  

February 1st is National Unclaimed Property Day, so why not celebrate by visiting https://colorado.findyourunclaimedproperty.com/to find out if you have unclaimed property? See if the odds are in your favor.