After their 41-34 upset of top-seeded Bennett Nov. 18, the Strasburg Indians travel to the San Luis Valley this weekend where they will take on the third-seeded Centauri Falcons at 1 p.m. Saturday in La Jara (about 15 miles south of Alamosa) for the 1A state football title.
The fourth-seeded red-and black is looking for the program’s second set of back-to-back championships and the fourth gridiron title in school history.
The game will be televised online via CHSAA.tv through the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) Network. A $10 subscription fee is required to access the broadcast.
For additional postseason updates, visit www.i-70scout.com.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reminds Coloradans to keep their families and friends safe from foodborne illness this holiday season by using proper food handling and preparation tips.
The holidays are a wonderful opportunity to spend time with family, and food is typically a major part of the celebration. However, foodborne illness is the one unwelcome guest to avoid during the holidays. – said Troy Huffman of the department’s Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability
Here are 4 rules of food safety:
Clean
Wash hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds before and after handling any food.
Wash fruits and vegetables, but not meat, poultry or eggs.
Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and countertops with hot, soapy water after preparing each food item and before going on to the next item.
Separate
Avoid cross contamination by keeping raw eggs, meat, poultry, seafood and their juices away from all other foods. This applies to shopping, storing, preparing and serving food.
Use one cutting board for meat, poultry, seafood and eggs and a different one for fresh produce.
Use separate plates and utensils for cooked and raw foods.
Cook
Use a food thermometer to ensure meat, poultry and fish are cooked to a safe internal temperature. Color is not a reliable indicator of doneness.
For turkeys, insert a food thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh or wing or the thickest part of the breast. The turkey is safe when the temperature reaches 165 F. If the turkey is stuffed, the stuffing also should be 165 F.
Bring sauces, soups and gravies to a rolling boil when reheating. Heat other leftovers thoroughly to 165°F.
Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm. When making your own eggnog or other recipe calling for raw eggs, use pasteurized shell eggs, liquid or frozen pasteurized egg products, or powdered egg products.
Chill
Refrigerate perishable food within two hours.
Never defrost food at room temperature. Defrost food safely in the refrigerator, under cold running water, or in the microwave. Cook food immediately after thawing in cold water or in the microwave.
Plan ahead to allow enough time to thaw the turkey in the refrigerator. You will need a day for every 4-5 pounds.
Don’t taste food that looks or smells questionable. When in doubt, throw it out.
Use leftovers within three to four days.
Finally, handle and prepare food for others only if you are healthy.If you’re sick, you can transmit viruses and bacteria to food and those who eat it. Older adults, infants and young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems all are at higher risk for foodborne illness.
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY EXPANDS TO BOLSTER FEMALE UNDERGRADS’ OF GEOSCIENCE MAJORS
To retain more undergraduate women in geoscience majors, a supportive network that includes faculty mentorship seems to be a key driver, according to a new study led by Colorado State University.
The study, published earlier this month in the journal PLOS ONE, is the first official result from an ongoing effort led by Emily Fischer, assistant professor of atmospheric science. Fischer and colleagues from seven universities across the Front Range, Wyoming and the Carolinas are in the fourth year of a five-year, $1.7 million National Science Foundation grant for a program called PROGRESS (PROmoting Geoscience Research, Education and Success). They are investigating how best to attract and retain women in traditionally male-dominated science fields, particularly earth and environmental sciences.
“Our program seems to be helping students better identify as scientists, and giving them a stronger intention to remain in the earth and environmental sciences,” said Fischer, who led the rollout of PROGRESS in 2015 at CSU.
Expanding networks
About 150 women across the seven participating universities, including about 30 at CSU, are involved in PROGRESS. The program includes an introductory weekend workshop and pairing students with female mentors, typically graduate students or postdocs. For the study, the PROGRESS women’s outcomes were compared with a separate group not participating in PROGRESS.
Results show that a program like PROGRESS can expand a student’s network of support by connecting them with people, particularly other women, they view as role models. The students are then more inclined to further expand those networks on their own, notably with faculty in earth and environmental sciences.
“As part of our mentoring and professional development activities, we are not always directly connecting our PROGRESS students with faculty, but there is something about their interaction with faculty members that is an important predictor in their intention to stay in the earth and environmental sciences,” Fischer said. “That surprised us; we didn’t expect this to be so important.”
Reducing attrition
The aim of PROGRESS is to reduce the attrition of women who begin college as science majors but don’t stay there, said paper first author Paul Hernandez, assistant professor in the Department of Learning Sciences and Human Development at West Virginia University. “We focus on women in STEM majors within their first or second year of college and work to support those women through to graduation.”
The program was born out of the need to increase diversity among professionals in the geosciences, Hernandez said. This is based on the premise that higher diversity yields more scientific innovation. PROGRESS is largely modeled after a peer mentoring program for professionals involved in the Earth Science Women’s Network.
PROGRESS leaders are continuing to track their participants and learn more about how the program influencing their academic and career paths.
“It’s promising to have a tangible, doable thing that appears to make a big difference in women’s retention in the sciences,” Fischer said.
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO — BOULDER — INTRODUCES NEW DEGREE
The University of Colorado Boulder is launching an online, post-baccalaureate degree in computer science, a move designed to help meet the changing needs of students as the national computing workforce continues to expand.
The new CU Boulder program was started in part to help those with diverse academic backgrounds enter the computer science field. The new CU Boulder degree is tailored to people who already have a bachelor’s degree but do not have the prerequisite coursework for graduate study in computer science.
Despite an enrollment surge in computer science degree programs in the U.S. and Canada in the past decade, there currently are nearly 500,000 computing jobs unfilled in the United States. This is leading many workers to consider career switches, said Dean Bobby Braun of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
“This year, while schools around the country were struggling to hire faculty, CU Boulder’s Department of Computer Science increased the number of its faculty by 50 percent to leap ahead of the growing demand for computer science graduates across the state,” said Braun. “This new degree is part of our overall strategy to prepare the workforce that the 21st century requires.”
CU Boulder’s computer science department has a history of innovation in computing education, having launched a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2013 to meet demand from students in the College of Arts and Sciences, said Braun.
The new online program will include foundational coursework in topics like algorithms, programming languages and software development, as well as elective options in fields like information visualization and data mining. The program can be completed in one year for someone studying full time, or three years for a part-time student.
“This program is just as rigorous as our on-campus Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degrees, and taught by the same faculty,” said Professor Dirk Grunwald of computer science, one of the new program’s leaders. “The only difference is we focus on core computer science classes so students can complete the degree quickly.”
Applications are being accepted now and the first classes will start in January 2018. For more information about the computer science online program visit colorado.edu/cs.
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY RECOGNIZED AS TOP PERFORMER IN
2017 SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS INDEX
Colorado State University has been recognized as a top performer in the 2017 Sustainable Campus Index, achieving the highest spot in public engagement, tying for first place in research, and ranking second in diversity and affordability.
The 2017 Sustainable Campus Index, a publication of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, highlights top-performing colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, also known as STARS.
Among the highlights, CSU also tied for second place in campus engagement and stood in fourth place in the categories of curriculum; water, encompassing conservation, recycling and reuse; and coordination and planning (tied with three other universities).
“This is great recognition of the incredible work done by our faculty and students to intentionally include aspects of sustainability into the many different things we do at Colorado State,” said Rick Miranda, CSU’s provost and executive vice president. “It is critical that we not only research how to make a more sustainable world, but also that we teach others these critical lessons – and strive to operate our campus in a sustainable way, as an example to all.”
In public engagement, the Education and Outreach Center at CSU’s College of Natural Sciences was highlighted for its work with the National Park Service to develop STEM kits for 4-12 grade students. (STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.) The kits allow students visiting parks in Alaska to learn more about climate change through ice cores and permafrost.
“Being recognized as a top performer in seven different categories ranging from curriculum to research, and from engagement to diversity, demonstrates CSU’s broad and deep commitment to sustainability across campus,” said Tonie Miyamoto, co-chair for the President’s Sustainability Commission and director of communications and sustainability for Housing & Dining Services. “Our students, faculty, and staff should be very proud of this achievement.”
“Colorado State University’s inclusion in this report shows its significant leadership and commitment to advance sustainability,” said AASHE’s Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser. “We recognize CSU for working to secure a thriving, equitable and ecologically healthy world through its comprehensive sustainability efforts.”
DENVER, Nov. 15, 2017 — Today is the last day for voters to “cure” ballots cast in the Nov. 7 coordinated election.
When the Colorado legislature in 2013 created rules for Colorado’s mail-ballot elections, it provided voters an eight-day period after the election to fix signature issues, such as no signature on a ballot envelope or a signature that didn’t match the one file.
In addition, military and overseas ballots had to be postmarked by Election Day, but were allowed the same eight days to arrive in county clerks’ offices. In-state ballots were due by 7 p.m. Nov. 7.
As of this morning, the total number of ballots returned is 1,193,509 of 3,233,531 ballots sent. This will be the last ballot tally until the election results are certified later this month. Included are two attachments, one listing ballots returned by party, age and gender, and another breaking down the totals by county and party.
The turnout figures in previous off-year elections are available here as are the unofficial results for this year’s election. This year’s turnout figure is not yet available.
To receive news releases from the Secretary of State’s office, please visit www.sos.state.co.us and subscribe under the “Email updates” section.
LONGMONT, CO — Democratic candidate for Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District Dr. Karen McCormick released the following statement in response to the new tax plan released by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans:
“In Colorado we believe in an economy where hard work is rewarded and where everybody pays their fair share, but the budget-busting tax plan unveiled by Donald Trump and D.C. insiders like Rep. Ken Buck will overwhelmingly benefit millionaires and giant corporations at the expense of hard-working Americans.
“The Republican tax bill will slash Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and education, and will target the middle class with hidden tax increases and by capping 401(k) contributions. Donald Trump and his family stand to save over $1.1 billion from this tax plan, and middle class families will be forced to pick up the tab.
“Republicans like Rep. Ken Buck need to get serious about real tax reform and join Democrats in promising that not one penny in tax cuts will go to giant corporations or the 1%. Coloradans believe that everybody – not just those at the top – should have a fair shot at success and a chance to get ahead, but this tax plan will cause long term damage to our national budget and permanently harm the middle class.”
About
Karen McCormick is a veterinarian, small business owner, and a resident of Longmont, Colorado of over 20 years. Karen will work across the aisle to fight special interests and will be a strong voice for rural Coloradans and their families in Washington D.C.
Betsy Markey endorses Karen McCormick for U.S. House of Representatives in Colorado’s 4th District
Ft. Collins, CO – Dr. Karen McCormick, candidate for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District increased her impressive list of early endorsements on Wednesday, as she announced the support of Fmr. U.S. Congresswoman Betsy Markey.
“It is absolutely honor to have the support of Congresswoman Betsy Markey. Both Betsy and I owned and operated successful businesses and like her, I believe in an economy where hard work is rewarded, where everyone pays their fair share and that all Coloradans –not just those at the top –should have an opportunity to get ahead,” said Dr. McCormick.
Betsy Markey has served in government in several capacities. She worked for the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. State Department before co-founding the software company Syscom Services. After working for U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, representing his office to the North Central and Eastern Plains of Colorado, Betsy was elected in 2008 to represent this region in the U.S. Congress. While in Congress Rep. Markey sat on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Agriculture.
“In these times of political gridlock and division, the people of Colorado’s 4th District deserve a leader that is not entangled in corrupt special interests or long-standing political rivalries but instead, they deserve a leader that will work across the aisle for a government that is focused on building a stronger middle class, higher household incomes, affordable higher education and job training programs and a future that includes a safe and secure retirement and Karen McCormick is just that candidate. I am proud to endorse Dr. Karen McCormick for U.S. House of Representatives in Colorado’s 4th District,” said Betsy Markey.
Last quarter, Dr. Karen McCormick was the only Democrat to out raise Rep. Ken Buck.
State Labor Department Kicks Off National Apprenticeship Week
Governor Hickenlooper has issued a proclamation declaring November 13 through November 19 Apprenticeship Week in Colorado. This is the third annual National Apprenticeship Week.
Apprenticeships have trained millions of Americans for over 75 years through a network of over 150,000 employers in more than 1,000 occupations. Today, there are over 545,000 apprentices being trained in all sectors of the economy.
In conjunction with National Apprenticeship week, the Colorado Department of Labor (CDLE) and its network of partners, including CareerWise Colorado and the Colorado Workforce Development Council, will be promoting a website that showcases Colorado’s apprenticeship programs and their real-world advantage in building the state’s talent pipeline.
The website, www.apprenticeshipsincolorado.com, is designed to highlight apprenticeship and work-based learning programs and educate businesses on the benefits of hiring apprentices.
Colorado is a recognized leader in the development of the apprenticeship and work-based learning models. In 2016, the state received an Apprenticeship Accelerator Grant to advance awareness and interest among businesses and industries in registered apprenticeship programs. Colorado currently has over 5,000 registered apprentices enrolled in over 200 registered apprenticeship programs.
Did you know employers get approximately $1.50 return on investment for every $1 spent on apprenticeships. By reducing employee turnover and increasing productivity, apprenticeships are simply good for business. *U.S. Department of Labor >
Most workers who complete an apprenticeship find employment with a starting wage of more than $50,000. In fact, successful apprentices are upgrading their skills and being put on a career path that will result in higher lifetime wages than their peers who were not in apprenticeship programs.
About National Apprenticeship Week
National Apprenticeship Week is a yearly focus on the tools available to every industry in developing a highly skilled workforce. The week also demonstrates to individuals how they can earn a salary while learning the skills necessary to succeed in high-demand careers. In Colorado, an investment in apprenticeships is already underway as innovative on-the-job training programs, coupled with mentorships and classroom education, are creating a model that meets the demands of emerging industries as well as those that are undergoing rapid innovation such as manufacturing. Many colleges are awarding credit toward a degree for completing an apprenticeship program and workforce development agencies such as CDLE are working to enhance those efforts.
On Veterans Day, Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) visited with World War II veteran Donald Stratton at his home in Colorado Springs. Stratton who was stationed on the USS Arizona, is a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack. Stratton and Gardner discussed Stratton’s “continuing effort to have the sailor who saved his life awarded a posthumous medal.”
KOAA covered the visit and reported, “For one Colorado Springs veteran, Saturday morning meant a visit between him and Senator Cory Gardner. As the senator sat down on Donald Stratton’s couch, the senator remarked it was one of the best Veteran’s Days he’s ever celebrated.”
Gardner reflected on the visit, saying, “On Saturday, I had the honor of meeting with Donald Stratton and his family in Colorado Springs. Surrounded by memorabilia from the USS Arizona we talked about his heroic rescue on December 7, 1941. I shared with him the gratefulness of our nation for his service and the promise to always care for the generations of men and women who have and continue to serve our nation.”
In July, Gardner met with Stratton and fellow USS Arizona survivor Lauren Bruner in his office in Washington. Stratton and Bruner were in Washington to visit with Members of Congress and President Trump to advocate for Joe George, the man who saved their life on December 7, 1941, to be awarded a medal posthumously for his heroic actions.
Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service. It is also not to be confused with Armed Forces Day, a minor U.S. remembrance that also occurs in May, which specifically honors those currently serving in the U.S. military.
VETERAN’S DAY EVENTS
The Colorado Department of Human Services Hosts Veterans Day Events
Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons
1919 Quentin St. Aurora, CO 80045
10:30 a.m. VFW Band to Perform
2:00 p.m. Walk of Faith to sing
Governor Hickenlooper Declares November “Hire a Veteran First” Month
DENVER – Governor Hickenlooper has declaredNovember “Hire A Veteran First” Month. With Veterans Day falling every year on November 11, the month has long been a time to honor our veterans and ensure they are returning home to opportunity. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) and its network of veteran employment specialists in Workforce Centers throughout Colorado will be hosting events to help connect veterans with employers and training resources to lead to good paying jobs.
CDLE’s veterans employment specialists provide assistance to veterans in finding employment, acquiring skills and planning for the future. Each year, these specialists – who are themselves veterans – offer a full spectrum of services. So far this year, almost 19,000 veterans have received services through their local Workforce Center.
This November, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is also helping make those connections with the redesigned Hire a Colorado Vet website. This website provides veterans with employment and training information and provides employers with information on the benefits of hiring those who have served.
At the site, veterans can also learn about hiring events and resource fairs in November including those below.
Job Seeker Online Workshops for Northwest & Rural Resort Region: Sign up for these free weekly online job seeker workshops each Tuesday beginning at 2pm. You can attend in person at the Workforce Center or login from your home PC or personal device. These workshops provide individual career coaching, networking ideas & making a great first impression!
Thursday, November 16: Fort Carson Mini-Job Fair: Don’t miss this hiring event at Fort Carson where Department of Defense Operation Warfighter and Education and Employment Initiative Regional Coordinator Craig Whiting will be available to discuss employment opportunities or other resources.
Employers interested in learning more about hiring veterans and what these job candidates can contribute to a business should contact their nearest Workforce Center or go tohttp://hireacoloradovet.gov/ for more information.
With Veterans Day, always on November 11, falling on a Saturday this year, many government agencies and court systems are observing the holiday on Friday, November 10. Here are the openings and closings you can expect:
Local government offices: Like in the vast majority of states, most government offices of counties, cities, towns and other official entities will be closed on Friday.
Arapahoe County Government offices closed Friday for Veterans Day
Adams County Government offices will be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day.
Banks: The vast majority of banks, such as the Big Four — JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citibank — will be open on Friday and will be closed on Saturday.
Post offices: Post offices are open Friday but closed Saturday. Mail pickup and delivery are on the same schedule.
Schools: Closings vary district by district. For instance, New York City public schools will be open on Friday while those in the Los Angeles Unified School District will be closed.
Libraries: Local libraries, such as Anythink Bennett and Kelver Library (Arapahoe County Libraries) are open today. However, most public libraries are closed on Saturday and some, such as those in New York City and Los Angeles are closed today.
Markets: Stock, bond and futures markets are open on Friday.
Federal offices: Non-essential federal offices will be closed on Friday. Federal courts also will be closed.
National Parks will be open on Friday and will have free entrance on Saturday and Sunday. Many state parks also will be offering free admission on Veterans Day weekend.
State offices: Most state offices and courts will be closed on Friday. However, in a few states, such as Wisconsin, which does not recognize Veterans Day as a holiday, they will remain open. And in Rhode Island the holiday is observed on Monday.
Retail businesses: Most commercial enterprises will remain open on Friday as well as on Saturday. In fact, the period around Veterans Day has become a time for sales and offers.
