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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Local News

  • Basketball postseason continues this week; first games tonight

    Basketball postseason continues this week; first games tonight

    by Steven Vetter, Managing Editor

    Seven of the eight I-70 Corridor high school basketball teams are still playing this week in their district or league tournaments.

    In 1A, the Deer Trail girls and boys both host a 1A District 7 pigtail contest tonight (Feb. 24). Both teams enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed. The Lady Eagles will host Pikes Peak Christian at 5:30 p.m. with the boys playing Hanover at approximately 7 p.m. If either team wins, they play tomorrow night in the district second round. The girls would either host Colorado School for the Deaf & Blind or travel to Kiowa. The boys would host Cripple-Creek or travel to Colorado Springs to play Pikes Peak Christian.

    Both Byers boys and girls are in the 2A District 4 quarterfinals. The Bulldog boys will host Clear tomorrow night (Tuesday, Feb. 25). The girls travel to Burlington on Wednesday, Feb. 26. If either team wins, they will play in the semifinals Thursday, Feb. 27, at Vista Peak High School in Aurora. The two girls semifinals are at 4 p.m. and approximately 7:30 p.m. while the boys games will be around 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

    Both Bennett teams won their Frontier League pigtail games Feb. 22 and will travel for the quarterfinals tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 25). The Tiger girls will take DSST: Montview at 6 p.m. with the boys traveling to Granby to take on Middle Park at approximately 7:30 p.m. If either team loses, they play in the consolation semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 26. If either team wins, they will play in the championship consolation semifinals at The Pinnacle High School in Thornton; the girls games are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 27, and the boys Friday, Feb. 28. Championship Saturday is on Feb. 29, also at The Pinnacle High School.

    The Strasburg boys are in the consolation semifinals of the 3A Patriot League Tournament and host Brush at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Feb. 25). With a win, the Indians will play in the fifth-place game at about 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. With a loss, Strasburg will play in the seventh-place game about 10:30 a.m. that same day.

     

  • Aurora armed robber sentenced to 50 years in prison

    A convicted felon who committed three armed robberies — shooting a store clerk during one – was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

    Arapahoe County District Court Judge Darren Vahle on Feb. 7 sentenced Stephen Gregory Jones, 24, of Aurora, after a jury convicted him Dec. 11 of 12 counts including attempted second-degree murder.

    “Another multiple-time convicted felon is allowed back onto our streets through a parole system focused more on emptying our prisons than protecting the public. The result is a violent spree of armed robberies that ends in gunfire … of course, this repeat felon gets a gun,” said District Attorney George Brauchler. “As our legislature continues to lessen the consequences for criminal conduct and to find ways to find ways to keep offenders — even repeat offenders — in our neighborhoods, Coloradans should know that our system lacks the resources to adequately supervise them. That leaves us less safe and more vulnerable to the lawless.”

    On March 15, 2018, a man pulled a gun and robbed Aurora Plaza Liquors, 677 N Peoria St. in Aurora. On March 16, 2018, a similar robbery occurred at Dandy Discount Liquors, 12507 E Mississippi Ave.

    A few hours later, an armed robbery took place at Village East Grocery, 1161 S Peoria St. The suspect hit a female clerk in the head with a handgun and shot her in the leg.

    An employee at a nearby barbershop heard screams and gunshots. He went to his car to get his own licensed handgun.

    While at his car, the employee saw the suspect in the parking lot. The suspect threatened the barbershop employee and began rummaging in the employee’s car. The employee fired his gun at the suspect, who fired back and ran away.

    Aurora police located the suspect waiting for a taxi nearby; he had been shot in the face. He was identified as Jones, and evidence tied him to the two previous armed robberies.

    Jones had been convicted of felonies four times previously. He was on parole to community corrections when he committed his most recent crimes.

    Senior Deputy District Attorney Garrik Storgaard tried the case with Deputy District Attorney Arielle Dean.

    “Over the last decade this defendant has continued to escalate his criminal behavior, showing no regard for the law or safety of others,” said Storgaard. “While on parole, he was supposed to be reintegrating into society from his latest prison sentence. But instead he took that opportunity to victimize more innocent people and nearly killed one of them. This sentence ensures the community will be safe from him for the foreseeable future.”

    The jury convicted Jones of the following counts:

    • Attempted second-degree murder
    • 5 counts aggravated robbery
    • First-degree assault
    • Second-degree assault
    • Automobile trespass
    • Theft
    • False reporting
    • Possession of a weapon by a previous offender

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  • House Passes Rep. Michaelson Jenet’s Annual Mental Health Wellness Exams Bill

    The House of Representatives today passed HB20-1086, sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Colin Larson, by a vote of 45-17. The bill would guarantee insurance coverage for annual mental health wellness exams.

    “This is one of the most important bills I have worked on in my time in the legislature, and I am so pleased that it has passed the House,” said Rep. Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. “Too many Coloradans don’t have access to the mental health care they need. This bill will go a long way towards breaking down the barriers, may they be stigma, financial or provider availability, that have made it far too difficult for Coloradans to access life-saving mental health care.”

    HB20-1086 would require health insurance plans to cover an annual mental health wellness examination as a part of their coverage for preventative health care services. The coverage must be comparable to the coverage for a physical examination, comply with federal mental health parity laws, and not require any deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.

    The legislation aims to further break down barriers to mental health care. Our current system often treats mental health on an expensive crisis-by-crisis basis. By enhancing access to preventative care, the bill would help provide treatment for mental health conditions before someone is faced with a crisis. It would also reduce the stigma around mental health by ensuring we value preventative mental health care in the same way we currently value physical health care.

    Colorado is experiencing a persistent and rising suicide rate while far too many residents report barriers to accessing the behavioral health care they need. Suicide is the seventh leading cause of death in Colorado. In 2019, 769,301 Coloradans were unable to get mental health services when needed, and 68 percent reported that cost and insurance coverage were barriers, according to the Colorado Health Access Survey.

    The legislation is supported by Mental Health Colorado, the Colorado AFL-CIO, the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, the Colorado Association for School Based Health Care, the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, and the Colorado Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

    The legislation will now be considered in the Senate.

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  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife enters next phase of ‘Live Life Outside’ campaign with ‘Conservation Starts Small’

    DENVER, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is entering the second phase of the Live Life Outside campaign it started in 2019, designed to help the public better understand and engage with the conservation mission of the agency.

    The second phase of the campaign is Conservation Starts Small, an attempt to bring conservation down to a smaller and more relatable scale for people to more easily participate in. The campaign includes a series of print, outdoor and online ads. Conservation Starts Small highlights the little things anyone can do to help with conservation while living life outside. The new ads point to things like keeping dogs leashed, staying on marked trails, not feeding your snacks to wildlife and cleaning up used fishing line as small things individuals can do that make a big difference.

    Ads like the one above will appear in print, outdoor, and online ads as part of CPW’s ‘Conservation Starts Small’ campaign.

     

     

    “It’s a message to start small and live life outside responsibly,” said Tony Gurzick, Marketing and Creative Services Manager for CPW. “It helps us reach people where they are in their everyday lives and ties into the larger Live Life Outside campaign by creating opportunities to talk about the deep connection between recreation and conservation.”

    “Whether you enjoy hiking, hunting, bird watching, rock climbing or any activity in between, we all need to work together to conserve the resources that make Colorado home,” said Gurzick.

    For more than 120 years, CPW employees have been entrusted to protect the natural resources of Colorado. The agency’s mission charges staff with handling the large scale, ongoing conservation efforts around the state; such as preventing the spread of nuisance plants and animals; managing threatened and endangered species reintroductions and recoveries; maintaining and improving fish and wildlife habitat; conserving Colorado’s 960 species and managing 41 state parks and hundreds of state wildlife areas across the state.

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife is self-funded by the fees received from hunters, anglers, recreational vehicle registrations and state park visitors. Those groups financially support the conservation efforts of the agency along with the Colorado Lottery, Great Outdoors Colorado and federal grants. 

    As the state’s population grows, so does the pressure on our natural resources. This growth also brings social issues like crowding on trails and unsafe encounters with wildlife. The time is right to start asking Coloradans to take simple steps to help protect our natural resources for future generations. 

    The campaign messages are easy things individuals can do on their own, be it backyard or backcountry. Or they can join the agency in their efforts by volunteering, staying informed through CPW social media or practicing the Care for Colorado principles developed by Leave No Trace and the Colorado tourism office. 

    About the Live Life Outside Campaign

    In 2019, the need for a tagline and strategic campaign arose as CPW sought avenues to remind Coloradans of the importance of conservation and responsible recreation as a part of enjoying the Colorado outdoors.

    CPW’s tagline, Live Life Outside highlights the passion and lifestyle of the agency and the Colorado outdoor community, while creating an opportunity to talk about the deep connection between recreation and conservation.

    A recent report from CPW and Southwick Associates shows the $62.5 billion economic impact of outdoor recreation in our state, with 92% of residents claiming to recreate outdoors. These numbers make it clear that the wildlife and wild spaces of our state are the reason why so many of us choose Colorado as a place to work and play. However, Coloradans’ shared appreciation for the outdoors also comes with a responsibility to conserve our natural resources.

    Colorado provides so many opportunities to Live Life Outside. To learn more about volunteering with CPW and supporting conservation through outdoor recreation, visit livelifeoutside.co. Or show how you “Live Life Outside” when you post on social media by using the hashtag #livelifeoutsideCO. 

     

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  • I-70 Corridor to send 15 to state wrestling tournament

    I-70 Corridor to send 15 to state wrestling tournament

    by Steven Vetter, Managing Editor

    DENVER — When the 2020 Colorado State Wrestling Championships commence this Friday (Feb. 20) at Pepsi Center in Denver the I-70 Corridor will be represented by 15 student-athletes from Bennett, Strasburg and Byers.

    Bennett qualified eight and Strasburg four from 3A Region 3 and Byers had three qualify from 2A Region 3. Bennett is tied with seven other teams for the third-most qualifiers in 3A; only three other schools had more — Jefferson and Alamosa with 10 each and Pagosa Springs with nine.

    First-round matches start at 2 p.m. on Thursday with the following locals competing in their respective 16-man bracket:

    BENNETT & STRASBURG IN 3A

    • 106 pounds: Bennett sophomore John Faczak (40-7 record) will face Berthoud freshman Will Moneypenny (27-12) in the preliminaries.

    • 120 pounds: Bennett freshman Carson Hawkins (28-15) will face Pagosa Springs junior Erik Wyman (41-5) in the opening round.

    • 132 pounds: Strasburg freshman Zach Marrero (27-3), a 3A Region 3 weight champion, will take on Platte Valley sophomore Orrin Jackson (26-9). Bennett Freshman Isaak Copeland (25-20) will take on Berthoud senior Colton Williams (21-10).

    • 138 pounds: Bennett freshman Wesley DuBois (26-15) will face off against Woodland Park junior Colton Simonis (11-4).

    • 152 pounds: Bennett senior Joe Jordan (37-7) will take on Eaton freshman Ryder True (21-12).

    • 170 pounds: Bennett junior Mac Copeland (40-2), a regional champion, will take on Olathe junior Wyatt Mansker (20-6). Strasburg junior Blake Coombs (15-7) faces off with Alamosa senior Hunter Smith (41-6). Both Copeland and Coombs are on the bottom side of the bracket and, if both win their first two matches, they would face each other in the semifinals.

    • 182 pounds: Bennett junior Cody DuBois (35-3), the Tigers’ second regional champion, takes on Lamar junior Anthony Martinez (27-8).

    • 195 pounds: Bennett senior Casey Harvey (25-9) faces Steamboat Springs senior John Stowey (37-9). Strasburg senior Trevor Smith (22-12) takes on Delta senior Gauge Lockhart (29-5).

    •  220 pounds: Strasburg senior Chad Sutherland (31-10) takes on Severance sophomore Cody King (27-9).

    BYERS IN 2A

    • 132 pounds: Bulldog freshman Lain Yapoujian (34-6), a 2A Region 3 champion, faces Dolores Huerta junior Xavier Mendoza (29-14).

    • 138 pounds: Bulldog senior Wyatt Yapoujian (37-4), another regional champion and the No. 1 seed entering state, takes on West Grand junior Rene Dominguez (12-9).

    • 220 pounds: Bulldog senior Wyatt Vermeer (11-24) takes on Monte Vista junior Ethan Hotz (28-9).

    Second round action on both the consolation and championship parts of the bracket start Friday morning.

  • Colorado lakes, reservoirs remain free of invasive mussels; but more boats found with mussel infestations in 2019

    DENVER, Colo. – More boats requiring decontamination because of infestations of destructive mussels entered Colorado last year than in 2018, but the statewide inspection program coordinated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife again succeeded in keeping invasive mussels out of the state’s lakes and reservoirs.

    While Colorado remains mussel free, CPW officials are concerned that the number of boats entering Colorado that need decontamination continues to increase. CPW will not let down its guard to keep invasive aquatic species out of the state.

    “The Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Program continues to meet the challenge of protecting the state’s water resources and infrastructure from the establishment of Aquatic Nuisance Species,” said Elizabeth Brown, the agency’s invasive species program manager. “Colorado remains free of adult zebra and quagga mussel reproducing populations, while some nearby western states without mandatory inspection programs continue to detect infestations. Colorado has prevented the introduction of this invasive species due to the diligent efforts of watercraft inspection and decontamination, early detection monitoring, education and enforcement efforts.”

    Other western states that have mussel infestations include: Arizona, Utah, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and California. Where there are infestations, mussels can clog up pipes and important infrastructure, cover docks, shorelines, rocks, any hard surface and can ruin powerboat engines.

    Throughout the state last year, 481,543 boat inspections were conducted, 7,000 more than in 2018. A total of 22,947 boats, 281 with attached mussels, were decontaminated, compared with 19,111 in 2018. Unfortunately, the number of intercepted boats fully infested with mussels increased by 40 percent, from 51 in 2018 to 86 in 2019. In 2017, only 16 mussel-infested boats were intercepted.

    Brown said she’s very concerned about the substantial increase in infested boats entering the state.

    Thanks to CPW’s inspection program, Colorado remains free of invasive aquatic mussels. But the number of boats that require decontamination is increasing.

    “This growth trend is directly related to the growing threat invasive mussels pose to Colorado’s water infrastructure, natural resources and outdoor recreation. Along with work by our partners, CPW’s Invasive Species Program is critical to maintaining opportunities for recreation, preserving natural heritage and protecting water supply and delivery infrastructure for municipal, industrial and agricultural use,” Brown said.

    A fully formed adult zebra or quagga mussel has never been detected in Colorado waters. However, the larval stage of the mussels, known as veligers, were detected as recently as 2017 in Green Mountain Reservoir in Summit County and the reservoir is still considered suspect for quagga mussels. For detection, biologists perform three types of sampling to target the three life stages of mussels. CPW confirms all visual detections with DNA analysis to confirm the genus and species of the mussel. If no additional detections are verified in 2020, Green Mountain Reservoir will be delisted.

    In 2019, crews sampled 179 standing, and four flowing waters statewide for veligers. In addition to the sampling efforts performed by CPW, the National Park Service contributed 38 plankton samples. There were no detections of zebra or quagga mussels in Colorado.

    CPW works in partnership with dozens of other agencies, counties and municipalities throughout the state. Help from the partners is critical in maintaining a mussel-free Colorado, Brown said.

    For more information about CPW’s ANS prevention program, see: https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BoatInspection.aspx.

     

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  • Feeding big-game wildlife is selfish and illegal

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds citizens that big-game wildlife does not need our help to get through a winter and that feeding them is not only illegal, but does more harm than good. 

    The annual reminder holds true across the entire state, but this one is being issued after egregious incidences have been discovered by wildlife officers in Jefferson and Park Counties. 

    One incident occurred in the Burland Ranchettes Subdivision of Bailey where a homeowner was feeding deer in his yard and the deer would rush towards the resident from surrounding properties when he was outside. A second act was by an Evergreen resident who was luring deer into her home where she would feed them human food that you can see in the photo blow. 

    Wildlife officers contacted both parties and charges were filed. Violations for feeding big-game wildlife can result in a $100 fine per occasion of feeding, plus mandatory surcharges.

    “It is selfish and unethical to feed big-game,” said Area Wildlife Manager Mark Lamb. “You are going to end up unintentionally killing those animals and also putting yourself in harm’s way. If what you want is a pet or just to connect with an animal, choose a domestic breed that has evolved to live with people.”

    Wild deer are meant to be out in the wild, they are not meant to be pets. Feeding them leads to trouble for both wildlife and humans alike.

    Attracting deer to your property by providing food for them causes animals to congregate in one area. It disrupts their natural migration patterns, can lead to resident herds that degrade habitats, enables the spread of diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease and also attracts predators.

    “If you are training deer to come and stay in your backyard, you are asking mountain lions to be in your neighborhood as well,” Lamb said. 

    Feeding issues involving big-game are a common problem seen across Evergreen, Conifer and Bailey where wildlife officers contacted a dozen individuals for feeding big game back in January. 

    Not only does the feeding of big-game animals change their natural migration, but it disrupts their digestive systems. Big-game animals can die if fed the wrong food.

    “Whether you believe feeding is correct or not, it is against the law,” said Wildlife Officer Scott Murdoch.

    “I commonly find that mountain residents believe feeding deer and elk is a helpful and harmless act, but doing so habituates these animals to people in ways that completely alter the natural distribution of elk and deer and disrupts their natural wild behavior,” said Wildlife Officer Joe Nicholson. “Turning your yard into a virtual zoo by feeding deer and elk is not safe for people, not healthy for wildlife and is truly a selfish act. The proper way to enjoy viewing wildlife is to do so from a safe distance and without artificially introducing feed, salt, or other attractants that alter their natural use of the landscape and aversion to people.” 

    To learn more about the dangers of feeding wildlife, please see the links below from the informational video series on not feeding wildlife:

    Wildlife in Winter: Winter Ranges

    Wildlife in Winter: Finding Enough Food

    Feeding Wildlife: Harmful Not Helpful

     

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  • Polis Administration Unveils ‘Roadmap to Cannabis Banking & Financial Services’

    Polis Administration Unveils ‘Roadmap to Cannabis Banking & Financial Services’

    ARVADA – Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) released a bold roadmap to provide clarity and guidance for state-chartered financial services industries that serve or seek to serve legal cannabis-related businesses. Gov. Polis was joined by DORA’s Executive Director Patty Salazar, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, Treasurer Dave Young and Sundie Seefried, CEO of Partner Colorado Credit Union. 

    The “Roadmap to Cannabis Banking & Financial Services”, aims to increase the number of financial service providers in Colorado who serve the state’s legal marijuana and industrial hemp industries.

    “As the first state to establish a legal marijuana industry and one of the first to implement an industrial hemp program, Colorado has become a national economic leader in the cannabis industry,” said Governor Jared Polis. “We are excited to release a bold, forward-thinking roadmap to provide much-needed guidance, clarity and support to state-chartered financial service providers that work with or are interested in working with the state-legal cannabis industry.” 

    Under the leadership of DORA’s Executive Director Patty Salazar, two DORA divisions have been the primary drivers of this initiative: the Division of Banking, which is responsible for the regulation of state-chartered commercial banks, trust companies, and state-licensed money transmitters; and the Division of Financial Services, which is responsible for the regulation of state-chartered credit unions and savings and loan institutions.

    “The lack of federal clarity creates a level of uncertainty and apprehension for our Colorado state-chartered banks and credit unions to provide basic financial services to legal cannabis-related businesses,” said DORA Executive Director Patty Salazar. “This roadmap is designed to lay out a path whereby our state-chartered financial institutions can explore whether or not they are in a position to provide services to this industry.”

    The roadmap’s seven primary areas of focus include providing clear regulatory guidance, encouraging new and emerging technologies in the banking and financial services space, reducing barriers while upholding consumer protection guardrails, and demonstrating state support for financial businesses wishing to explore cannabis banking.

    “Unbanked cannabis businesses often operate solely in cash, creating a significant risk to public safety,” said Treasurer Dave Young. ”By providing essential banking services to cannabis businesses, Colorado can lead the way in protecting public safety and promoting financial transparency.”

    The Governor was also joined by Congressman Ed Perlmutter, the lead sponsor of landmark legislation to reform federal cannabis laws and reduce the public safety risk in communities across the country. H.R. 1595, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act of 2019 (SAFE Banking Act). The bill passed the U.S. House with overwhelming bipartisan support and currently awaits action in the U.S. Senate.

    “Too many Colorado businesses, employees and communities have been targets of assault, robbery and other crimes due to the conflict between state and federal law when it comes to cannabis banking. I appreciate Governor Polis and his team working to improve access to the financial industry for Colorado cannabis and cannabis-related businesses. However, it is critical that Congress acts, including by advancing the SAFE Banking Act. Only by aligning state and federal law can we fully resolve the issues necessary to get cash off our streets and improve public safety in our communities,” said Congressman Ed Perlmutter. 

    The ‘Roadmap to Cannabis Banking & Financial Services’ was unveiled at Partnership Colorado Credit Union in Arvada this morning.

    “As a credit union, we saw the need to help pioneer a way to offer basic banking services to the cannabis industry to safeguard communities and our monetary system.  Fortunately, the state of Colorado shared these goals,” said Sundie Seefried, CEO of Partner Colorado Credit Union.

     Watch the press conference here. 

     

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  • Bennet, Democratic Senators Press Federal Government for Updates on Novel Coronavirus

    Bennet, Democratic Senators Press Federal Government for Updates on Novel Coronavirus

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and 30 of his Democratic Senate colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar requesting updates on the administration’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak and information on the steps being taken to keep families safe.

    In the letter, the senators asked HHS to provide the latest information regarding the severity of the disease, the country’s capacity to diagnose cases, what steps are being taken to prepare U.S. health care workers, what screening systems were in place at U.S. airports, and the status of a novel coronavirus vaccine. The senators also urged the department to continue its robust, scientifically-driven response to the outbreak and asked what steps Congress should take to support their efforts to keep families safe.

    The letter comes on the heels of an announcement from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) which said that two patients under investigation in Colorado have tested negative for the coronavirus and test results for a third patient are pending.  

    “We write to express concern about the rapidly evolving 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), to urge your continued robust and scientifically driven response to the situation, and to assess whether any additional resources or action by Congress are needed at this time. A quick and effective response to the 2019-nCoV requires public health officials around the world work together to share reliable information about the disease and insight into steps taken to prevent, diagnose, and treat it appropriately,” wrote Bennet and the senators.

     Despite the Trump Administration regularly calling for cuts to public health programs, Congress recently passed a budget deal that increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Infectious Disease Rapid Response Reserve Fund, which provides the agency with an immediate source of funding to prevent, prepare for, or respond to an infectious disease emergency either at home or abroad.

     In addition to Bennet, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angus King (I-Maine), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

     The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

     Dear Secretary Azar,

     We write to express concern about the rapidly evolving 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), to urge your continued robust and scientifically driven response to the situation, and to assess whether any additional resources or action by Congress are needed at this time. A quick and effective response to the 2019-nCoV requires public health officials around the world work together to share reliable information about the disease and insight into steps taken to prevent, diagnose, and treat it appropriately.

     Chinese health officials confirmed the first case of 2019-nCoV in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019.[1] Since then, the case count has exploded in China, with nearly 3,000 confirmed cases as of the writing of this letter. At least 80 people have died.[2] Cases have now been confirmed on four continents.[3] On January 21, the first U.S. case was confirmed in Washington state, where state and local public health officials quickly responded with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[4] A second U.S. case was confirmed in Chicago on January 24.[5] Subsequently, CDC confirmed two cases in California and one in Arizona, bringing the total U.S. case count to five.[6] Airport screening procedures have been put in place to screen all passengers arriving in the U.S. from Wuhan. In Wuhan, and across China, officials have enacted travel restrictions and canceled planned festivals to celebrate the Lunar New Year.[7] Even with these steps, the case count in China is expected to continue to rise, along with additional cases in the U.S. and around the globe. The World Health Organization is monitoring the situation closely, but has determined it is too early to formally designate this as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.[8] A quick, robust, and comprehensive approach to this outbreak is critical, while also remaining aware that, according to CDC, “the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time.”[9]

    Unfortunately, the 2019-nCoV outbreak follows troubling proposals from the Trump Administration to cut the budgets of core public health programs at home and abroad. Yet, outbreaks like this serve as a solemn reminder of the need for an unwavering commitment to global health security and the need for strong public health programs worldwide.

     We recognize the situation is evolving quickly and appreciate the information you have already provided. We ask you keep us apprised of developments as they occur, including any information related to the following questions:

     1)      What can Congress do to fully support the U.S. Government response to this outbreak?

     2)      How many HHS officials are currently engaged in the 2019-nCoV response domestically and abroad and in what capacities?

     3)      What is HHS’s best current judgment about the clinical severity of this disease? 

     4)      What is the current domestic diagnostic capacity? How many facilities across the country are able to diagnose 2019-nCoV?

     5)      What is currently known about the risk 2019-nCoV poses to health care workers? How is CDC communicating with U.S. health care facilities to ensure providers remain healthy and safe? What additional guidance is being supplied to health care providers?

     6)      How many passengers have been screened by the airport screening procedures that are in place at American airports? How many potential cases have been identified as a result of this screening? Are there any planned changes to airport screening procedures?

     7)      What progress has been made on the development of a 2019-nCoV vaccine?

     Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue.

     Sincerely,

     

     

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  • Blue Mesa Reservoir Lake Trout Tournament starts Feb. 1; $10,000 in cash prizes

    Blue Mesa Reservoir Lake Trout Tournament starts Feb. 1; $10,000 in cash prizes

    GUNNISON, Colo. – A six-month-long fishing tournament with $10,000 in prize money sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife starts Feb. 1 at Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison in western Colorado.

    The tournament, which continues through July 31, is aimed at maintaining adequate kokanee fry survival by limiting predation from lake trout. Anglers are asked to target smaller-sized lake trout, those that are 24 inches in length or smaller. 

    “By sponsoring this tournament, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking anglers to be our partners in helping to manage the renowned Blue Mesa Reservoir fishery,” said Dan Brauch, aquatic biologist for CPW in Gunnison. “We know we can have an excellent kokanee fishery and a trophy lake trout fishery, but we need to continue our work for both species and we need the help of Colorado’s anglers.”

    Here’s how the tournament works: Anglers who catch lake trout 24 inches or smaller will remove the heads and place them in a plastic bag provided at one of three boat ramps at the reservoir: Iola, Elk Creek and Lake Fork. Heads can also be turned in at CPW’s offices in Gunnison (300 W. New York Ave.) or Montrose (2300 S. Townsend Ave., U.S. Highway 550). There is no fee to participate in the tournament.

    Cash prizes will be awarded in three categories at the conclusion of the tournament:

    1) CPW has tagged 23 fish in the reservoir but anglers won’t know if they’ve caught one. CPW will scan the heads later to check for tags and those who caught them will receive $250 for each.

    2) Anglers catching the most fish: 1st place, $1,000; 2nd place, $500; 3rd place, $250.

    3) Anglers will be entered in a raffle for every lake trout head turned in. A total of 20 winners will be selected and each winner will receive $200.

    Kokanee provide the greatest draw for overall catch and harvest while lake trout provide the greatest draw for their trophy potential. Lake trout require plentiful kokanee as prey to achieve trophy size.

    Some lake trout that weigh over 50 pounds and 44 inches in length have been caught at Blue Mesa Reservoir. 

     A change in water management in the early 1990s at BMR resulted in improved conditions at lake trout spawning areas in the fall and now they reproduce naturally. As the number of lake trout grew, they feasted on kokanee which resulted in a significant population decline. Recently, through angler harvest and CPW’s lake trout suppression work, the number of predatory lake trout has been reduced and kokanee abundance has improved.

    CPW research shows that smaller lake trout, those 24 inches and smaller, consume the most kokanee. Consequently, the lake trout harvest tournament is focused on removing fish of those sizes.

    “Anglers harvest about 6,000 lake trout each year,” Brauch said. “But we need increased harvest of small lake trout to keep population growth in check and to reduce the need for additional lake trout suppression work by CPW.”

    Maintaining abundant kokanee will support quality fishing opportunities for kokanee and a source of kokanee eggs for restocking needs at up to 25 waters in Colorado while allowing for continued growth of trophy lake trout.

    There is no limit on the number of lake trout under 32 inches that can be caught in a day at BMR, but only one fish more than 32 inches may be kept.

    “By utilizing anglers’ skills and expertise we’re confident that we can maintain balance of the BMR fishery,” Brauch said.

     For more information about fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, including how to catch lake trout, research studies and management planning go to: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/BlueMesaReservoirFisheryManagement.aspx.

     You may also call the Gunnison wildlife office at: 970-641-7060.

     

     

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