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  • Report: Colorado Ranks 10th in Prosperity Despite Pandemic and Economic Challenges

    Majority of states are enjoying pre-pandemic levels of prosperity according to new report by Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream and Legatum Institute

    WASHINGTON, November 15, 2022 –  Colorado ranks tenth in overall prosperity according to the American Dream Prosperity Index (ADPI), released this month by the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream in partnership with Legatum Institute. The United States continues to see a rise in prosperity, even as we faced the long-term impacts of a pandemic and the economic realities of rising inflation and a shrinking economy. But while the overall trend points to a prosperous nation, prosperity continues to be unequally distributed regionally, often eluding rural communities and Black Americans.

    Prosperity is a multidimensional concept which the American Dream Prosperity Index seeks to measure, explore, and understand. The framework of the Index captures prosperity through three equally-weighted domains which are the essential foundations of prosperity — Inclusive Societies, Open Economies, and Empowered People. These domains are made up of 11 pillars of prosperity, built upon 49 actionable policy areas, and are underpinned by more than 200 reliable indicators.

    Colorado rounds out the top 10 states in overall prosperity. The state’s strengths include ranking first in business environment, seventh in education, eighth in governance, ninth in natural environment, and 11th in social capital. According to the Index, Colorado could focus its improvement on the safety and security (ranked 41st), infrastructure (ranked 34th), and personal freedom (ranked 28th) pillars. Since 2012, Colorado has seen the most improvement in social capital.  

    “While our nation faces many challenges including record inflation, increased gun violence, and a deteriorating mental health landscape, we are encouraged by the resiliency of communities across our country as they work to create prosperous lives for their residents,” said the Center’s President Kerry Healey. “The American Dream Prosperity Index was founded on the principle that better data leads to better decisions and outcomes. It is our goal to make this report one of the most important tools for local, state and federal lawmakers and civic leaders.”

    “We are encouraged by the steady rebound of prosperity post-pandemic, even in the face of unique regional challenges,” said Legatum Institute CEO Philippa Stroud. “The foundations of the U.S. economy continue to stand strong, particularly due to the innovative entrepreneurial mindset that Americans are known for. This forward momentum highlights the genuine push towards prosperity in the face of continued adversity.”

    Across the country, millions of Americans are facing challenges that continue to threaten prosperity. According to the 2022 ADPI, since 2012, all states apart from North Dakota have increased their prosperity, but prosperity remains unequally shared across and within states. For most people, 2022 has been a year of progress as the nation continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and as the economy strengthens. However, this increase in prosperity is tempered by rising gun violence in nearly every state. Also detrimental to the nation’s prosperity is the deteriorating mental health of America, marked by a rise in suicides and opioid-related deaths, even as Americans’ overall health continues to improve.

    ADPI’s key findings also point to waning social cohesion across the country as another roadblock to U.S. prosperity. This is seen in the decreasing number of Americans who have helped a stranger, donated money to charity, volunteered or frequently talked to a neighbor.

    ADPI National Patterns toward Greater Prosperity:

    • In 2022, 26 states have recovered to pre-pandemic levels of overall prosperity, with Oklahoma, New Jersey and New Mexico seeing the biggest improvement. Reasons for the improvement in these states vary, but economic factors such as the increasing number of entrepreneurs played a key role in the post-pandemic rebound and bodes well for further improvement.
    • Over the past decade, Americans’ physical health have improved. Since 2012, rates of smoking have fallen by nearly a third, excessive alcohol use has decreased by 17% and pain reliever misuse has decreased by 21%. 
    • The long-term downward trend in property crime is an encouraging development across the United States, with all but six states improving over the past decade.

    ADPI Key Findings:

    • While U.S. prosperity rebounded post-pandemic in 2022, current record inflation threatens this recovery
    • In 2022, Prosperity has increased in every state except North Dakota, but this progress remains unequally distributed within state and local communities and across ethnic groups
    • High and rising gun violence in nearly every state is impacting American’s individual sense of security and prosperity
    • Mental health has deteriorated in every state, including increased deaths of despair
    • A continuing decline in social cohesion and group relationships at all levels of society creates barriers to prosperity.

    Although the data does highlight a substantial number of barricades to prosperity, ADPI can be used to craft unique solutions across all levels of government. A deeper examination of prosperity, prompted by the Index, can reveal individual issues that each state can tackle in order to advance the prosperity of its citizens. This push towards the development of local data-led initiatives, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach, is essential for transformation across the country.

    The Index has been designed to benefit a wide range of users, including state and county leaders, policymakers, investors, business leaders, philanthropists, journalists, researchers and U.S. citizens.

    View the 2022 ADPI here.

    View Washington’s state profile here.

    View the state-by-state prosperity rankings here.

    View state-by-state rankings in specific categories by clicking on the category below.

  • Gladys Knight’s Christmas: big family gathering, TV movie

    LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Gladys Knight recalls Christmas as more than a family affair when she was growing up in Atlanta.

    “Because Mom and Dad were the way they were, they would just embrace all the kids in the neighborhood,” said the legendary singer. Many of the children were in the same church choir and ”we were just so excited about the music.”

    She counts “O Holy Night” as a favorite Christmas song. The best childhood gift she received? A bicycle, blue and silver, “and it was sharp.”

    Knight will be celebrating the holiday on-screen in the TV movie “I’m Glad It’s Christmas,” airing 8 p.m. EST Saturday on the Great American Family channel. Knight plays matchmaker Cora, who wants to bring together a salesclerk dreaming of Broadway fame (Jessica Lowndes) and a songwriter (Paul Greene) for a small town’s Christmas concert.

    Knight said she and husband William McDowell expect their Asheville, North Carolina, home to be packed as usual this Christmas, given their large brood of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

    “Everybody’s invited to come in a good mood and share the joy,” said Knight, a seven-time Grammy winner known for hits including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.”

  • Cartoonists honor ‘Peanuts’ creator in Saturday funny pages

    By MARK KENNEDY
    AP Entertainment Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) _ Cartoonists across the nation are celebrating the 100th birthday of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz as only they can _ with cartoons.

    More than 75 syndicated cartoonists have tucked tributes, Easter eggs and references to “Peanuts” in Saturday’s funny papers to honor the creator of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and company.

    “It’s a tribute to probably the world’s greatest cartoonist,” said cartoonist Patrick McDonnell, who creates the daily strip “Mutts” for 700 newspapers. “After ‘Peanuts,’ the cartoon world changed. I think most working cartoonists today would say he was the inspiration for them to become cartoonists.”

    The list of participating strips ranges from “B.C,” “Dennis the Menace” and “Rhymes With Orange” to “Zippy the Pinhead” and “Zits.” Each artist was encouraged to come up with their own way to honor Schulz, who was known as “Sparky.”

    John Kovaleski, who draws “Daddy Daze,” has drawn the strip’s father, Paul, and infant, Angus, discussing “Peanuts” on an opened newspaper. “Ba ba?” asks the baby. To which dad replies: “That’s ‘Peanuts’ by Charles M. Schulz. He revolutionized the comics page by adding depth and character and emotion.”

    John Hambrock, creator of “The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee,” drew a visit from World War I pilot Snoopy in his strip and Edison asking his dad for “extra aviation fuel.” The cartoonist has also decorated the family home with framed images of Charlie Brown and Lucy.

    “We left it all up to them. Cartoonists are creative people. When you have a daily deadline, you need to have ideas come to you,” said McDonnell. “I think people enjoyed the challenge of coming up with something to express their love and admiration for that guy.”

    McDonnell, who is a member of the board of directors of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, dreamed up the tribute and he and “JumpStart” cartoonist Robb Armstrong contacted the various cartoon syndicates with their plan.

    “I’m pretty confident that when you open the newspaper that morning, the whole comic page is going to be a tribute to Sparky,” said McDonnell. “I’m personally looking forward to the surprise that Saturday to see what people did.”

    For his tribute, McDonnell repaid a kindness Schulz gave him. In a “Peanuts” strip from 1999, Schulz drew his cartoon boys and girls visiting a museum and Rerun off on the side looking up with respect at a painting of the dog Earl from “Mutts.”

    A framed copy of that strip hangs proudly over McDonnell’s drawing table: “I look at it every day and think of what a wonderful gesture that was and what a wonderful man and what a wonderful comic strip.”

    So, in return, this Saturday, readers of “Mutts” will see Earl at a museum looking up fondly _ his little tail wagging _ at a framed image of Snoopy. “Mines pretty personal,” McDonnell said.

    “Peanuts” made its debut Oct. 2, 1950. The travails of the “little round-headed kid” Charlie Brown and his pals eventually ran in more than 2,600 newspapers, reaching millions of readers in 75 countries.

    The strip offered enduring images of kites in trees, Charlie Brown trying to kick a football, tart-tongued Lucy handing out advice for a nickel at what looked like a lemonade stand and Snoopy taking the occasional flight of fancy to the skies. Phrases such as “security blanket” and “good grief” are a part of the global vernacular. Schulz died in 2000.

    “‘Peanuts’ was everything. I read ‘Peanuts’ books every night, and I wanted to be a cartoonist because of that since I was 4. To actually have my own little cartoon character in ‘Peanuts’ _ it still boggles,” said McDonnell. “Every morning I look at it and I still can’t believe it happened.”

    ___

    Online: https://schulzmuseum.org/tribute

  • States Spending the Most on Health and Hospitals

    The challenges facing the healthcare sector in the U.S. are numerous. The U.S. lags behind other developed nations on many key metrics of health, including life expectancy, chronic disease burden, and avoidable deaths. The population has been growing older on average with the aging of the Baby Boomers, creating increased demand for health services. Longtime public health challenges like obesity, substance abuse, and mental illness have wide-ranging impacts on Americans’ overall health and well-being. And in the last few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed unusually heavy strain on healthcare providers and hospitals.

    With these many interlocking and compounding challenges, the U.S. spends heavily to support the healthcare system. According to federal data, national health expenditures in the U.S. total $4.1 trillion per year, making up nearly 20% of the nation’s GDP. The bulk of this spending comes from the federal government, which contributes 36.3% of expenditures, and U.S. households, which account for 26.1%.

    Often underappreciated in discussions of the U.S. health system is the role of state and local governments. States and localities frequently fund public hospitals, health inspections, mental health and substance abuse programs, water and air quality programs, and payments to private hospitals for public health services. State and local governments funded 14.3% of total national health expenditures in 2020.


    This spending is one of the most significant budgetary responsibilities of state and local governments. Health and hospitals represent the third largest spending category for state and local governments, behind only public welfare and elementary and secondary education. Collectively, governments spend $345 billion on health and hospitals each year, accounting for nearly 10% of all state and local spending.


    State and local spending on health and hospitals on a per-capita basis has also grown over time. In the year 2000, state and local governments spent $678 per capita on health and hospitals in inflation-adjusted dollars. By 2020, that figure had risen to $1,040—an increase of more than 50%.


    However, this trend has not played out the same in all locations. In fact, 13 states have seen a decline in health and hospital spending per capita over the last decade, led by Arizona, where spending has declined by more than 50%. In contrast, other states have seen rapid growth in health spending. Vermont’s inflation-adjusted state and local spending per capita more than doubled between 2010 and 2020, from $355 to $730, and Utah’s 96.2% rate of growth was not far behind.

    Just as trends in health spending have varied by geography, total spending also looks different from state to state. Nationwide, states and localities spend around 9.9% of their budgets on health and hospitals, at a total of $1,047 per capita. But a number of states and localities spend well above these figures, including Wyoming, where the per-capita spending is nearly triple the national average, and South Carolina, where health and hospital spending represents nearly 20% of state and local expenditures.

    The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau. To determine the states that spend the most on health and hospitals, researchers at HowtoHome.com calculated health and hospital spending as a share of total spending. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater total health and hospital spending per capita was ranked higher.

    The analysis found that health and hospital spending in Colorado amounts to an annual $723 per capita—6.9% of the state’s total spending—compared to the national average of $1,047. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • Health & hospital spending as a share of total: 6.9%
    • Total health & hospital spending per capita: $723
    • Total health & hospital spending: $4,196,424,000
    • Total direct expenditures: $60,879,680,000

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

    • Health & hospital spending as a share of total: 9.9%
    • Total health & hospital spending per capita: $1,047
    • Total health & hospital spending: $345,008,758,000
    • Total direct expenditures: $3,494,136,935,000

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on HowtoHome.com’s website: https://www.howtohome.com/us-states-that-spend-most-on-health-and-hospitals/

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  • Giant Thanksgiving storm to bring brunt of impacts to southern US

    The coast-to-coast storm will unleash a wide array of hazards in the region ranging from disruptive rain and thunderstorms to heavy snowfall — and the impacts will be felt into the extended holiday weekend.

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center – November 23, 2022 – The south-central and southeastern portions of the United States are expected to bear the brunt of impacts from a giant cross-country storm beginning on Thanksgiving Day and persisting into the holiday weekend. AccuWeather meteorologists say that the storm will cause numerous delays for holiday travelers and Black Friday shoppers as dangers like localized flooding develop over the extended holiday weekend.

    An upper-level storm, the first ingredient of the large Thanksgiving storm, will sweep across the western U.S. through midweek. As it encounters moisture surging northward from the Gulf of Mexico, a major storm will take shape over the southern Plains and Mississippi Delta region on Thanksgiving Day.

    “As the storm evolves from Thursday to Friday, rounds of rain will fill up some rain gauges in the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast, perhaps on the order of 2 to 4 inches, especially from eastern Texas to northern Georgia, upstate South Carolina and western North Carolina,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bill Deger said.

    Local rainfall of up to 6 inches is most likely from northeastern Texas to northern Louisiana and northwestern Mississippi.

    “Because of drought conditions in the area, and with low water levels on most rivers, lakes and reservoirs, the rain is not necessarily unwelcome, but the timing will be inconvenient, as it will arrive just in time for the holiday and impact some outdoor plans and travel,” Deger said.

    Motorists could encounter poor visibility and excess water on the roads in the Interstate 10, 20 and 40 corridors. Given the volume of vehicles on major highways and secondary roads, the weather conditions and traffic could be a dangerous combination. AccuWeather forecasters advise that people allow extra time to get to their destination and remain vigilant of poor conditions and the potential for ponding of water on roadways when driving.

    The bulk of the rain will fall around Dallas and Houston from Wednesday night to Friday. In the zone from New Orleans to Shreveport, Louisiana, the worst travel conditions will be from Thursday to Friday night.

    Farther to the east, a more distinctive double batch of rain is likely to occur as one storm system moves away and another forms and gains momentum.

    For example, around Atlanta, the first primary dose of soaking rain is in the forecast for Thursday night.

    “But, a big round of precipitation will follow from Saturday to Saturday night in Atlanta and much of the busy I-85 corridor, and that is likely to lead to travel delays,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

    AccuWeather forecasters say people headed out for shopping on Small Business Saturday should be aware of another hazard. Thunder and lightning can accompany the rain in the Southeast Saturday. There may be some locally heavy and gusty storms that erupt as well. AccuWeather meteorologists will continue to monitor the situation for any severe weather threats.

    For those spending their extended Thanksgiving weekend at the theme parks in central Florida, both Friday and Saturday will feature highs in the 80s. Thunderstorms are expected Friday across Florida, while Saturday will have occasional showers.

    Multiple rainstorms in recent weeks from near the Gulf Coast to the Ohio Valley have allowed water levels to rise along the Mississippi River periodically. Even though the bulk of the rain from the upcoming storm will focus on the Delta region, it should provide another brief boost in water levels on the waterway and may allow barge traffic to progress for a time.

    A wedge of cool air should be enough to keep a lid on widespread severe thunderstorms with this system through Friday.

    “Still, some robust thunderstorms can get going along the northwestern Gulf coast on Thanksgiving Day and over the north-central Gulf coast on Friday,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said. “Some of these storms can be rather heavy and gusty.” There is a chance that storms could turn severe right along the I-10 corridor.

    At this time AccuWeather forecasters are emphasizing the torrential downpour risk in the area but remained concerned about more intense storms near the Gulf.

    However, the storm may strengthen enough Saturday to bring some last-minute severe weather in portions of the Carolinas and Georgia.

    The storm will have a cold side to it, and that could bring the risk of some winter weather impacts for some.

    As the storm strengthens, just enough cold air will be drawn in on its northwestern flank to produce a patch of heavy, accumulating snow in the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico from later Thanksgiving Day to Friday night and perhaps early Saturday.

    A general 6-12 inches of snow with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 15 inches will blanket northwestern Texas and eastern New Mexico. It is possible that the heaviest snow may end up falling west of Amarillo, Texas. Motorists planning on traveling along I-40 in this area should expect delays and slippery conditions.

    Despite the snow for the southern High Plains, a massive sweep of cold air is not expected to follow the storm across the South Central and Southeastern states, unlike last week.

    Instead, the jet stream will extend from west to east across the nation later this weekend to the start of next week. This configuration generally allows average to slightly above-average temperatures. Highs Sunday and Monday will generally range from the 60s in the I-20 corridor to the 70s along the upper Gulf coast.

    As rain shifts across the Midwest and Northeast, travel conditions will significantly improve Saturday over the South Central region and Sunday in the Southeast. Any rain and fog, which could cause brief travel delays, to start the day Sunday from Florida to the coastal Carolinas should depart by the midday hours.

    Giant Thanksgiving storm to bring brunt of impacts to southern US Full Story) >>

  • Colorado Had the 10th Lowest Credit Card Delinquency Rate in 2021

    Access to credit is an important resource for managing personal finances, whether to pay for major purchases, serve as a bridge to cover regular expenses, or smooth out spending when something unexpected happens. But reliance on debt like credit cards can also mean racking up large balances that are hard to pay off. In the tumultuous economy of the last few years, consumers have experienced both highs and lows when it comes to credit.

    Despite a spike in unemployment at the outset of COVID-19, many households fared well financially during the early phases of the pandemic. Government relief programs like stimulus checks, expanded unemployment benefits, and mortgage and student loan forbearance gave a boost to household finances, while consumers spent less due to lockdowns and concerns about the virus. This allowed debt holders to make progress toward becoming current on payments. Credit card balances in the U.S. declined by more than $120 billion in 2020 and another $28 billion from December 2020 to April 2021.

    Inflation has reared its head over the last 18 months, however, putting new pressure on families. Prices for essentials like food, energy, and shelter have risen rapidly and remained at elevated levels. Savings rates, which had increased to historic heights earlier in the pandemic, are now on the decline, leaving households less in reserve to help weather the effects of inflation. As a result, consumers are turning to credit cards to help manage costs: aggregate limits on credit cards increased by $100 billion from Q1 to Q2 of 2022, while credit card balances increased by $46 billion over the same period.


    Credit card debt today totals $890 billion, which still trails a pre-pandemic peak of $930 billion in Q4 of 2019. But debt has surged over the last year. Credit card debt was 9.1% higher in Q1 of 2022 than the year before and 12.7% higher in Q2. The latter figure represents the fastest rate of growth for credit card balances in nearly 20 years.


    With the amount of credit card debt rising again, cardholders are also increasingly at risk of falling behind on payments. The share of credit card debt in serious delinquency remains at historically low levels after declining across 2020 and 2021. But after two straight years of decline, the percentage of newly delinquent credit card debt rose in the first two quarters of 2022, from 4.1% at the end of last year to 4.76% today.


    Credit card reliance and behavior vary across the country, meaning that rates of usage and delinquency can look different by geography. Many of the states with the highest credit card delinquency rates are found in the Southeast and Southwest, which have relatively low incomes compared to the rest of the U.S. While low-income residents in these areas are less likely to have a card and tend to have lower balances, they are also more likely to struggle with paying off credit card debts.

    Notably, 3 states in the Southeast and Southwest regions — Nevada (12%), Florida (10.66%), and Arkansas (10.23%) — stand out as having more than 10% of credit card debt 90+ days delinquent, which are the 3 highest delinquency rates in the nation. In contrast, the Upper Midwest and New England tend to have the lowest rates of delinquency, highlighted by Wisconsin (5.34%), Minnesota (5.78%), and Vermont (6.03%).

    The data used in this analysis is from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Experian. To determine the states with the highest delinquency rates, researchers at Upgraded Points calculated the share of credit card balances at least 90 days delinquent as of the fourth quarter of 2021. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater total credit card debt per capita was ranked higher. The percentage point change in the credit card delinquency rate was calculated by comparing Q4 2021 to Q4 of 2019.

    Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • Credit card delinquency rate (90+ days): 6.57%
    • Change since pre-pandemic (percentage points): +0.11
    • Per capita credit card debt: $3,480
    • Credit card debt as share of all non-mortgage debt: 19.3%
    • Average credit score: 728

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

    • Credit card delinquency rate (90+ days): 8.22%
    • Change since pre-pandemic (percentage points): +0.10
    • Per capita credit card debt: $3,060
    • Credit card debt as share of all non-mortgage debt: 18.4%
    • Average credit score: 714

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Upgraded Points’s website: https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/credit-card-delinquency-rates-by-state/

  • View the first draft of Colorado’s Wolf Restoration and Management Plan at a virtual meeting in December

    DENVER – The draft Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan will be available for review by the public for the first time on Dec. 9, 2022. Following the presentation of the Plan, the CPW Commission will discuss and take feedback from the public at five upcoming meetings around Colorado. 

    Background

    State statute 33-2-105.8 directs the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to:

    • Develop a plan to reintroduce and manage gray wolves in Colorado;
    • Take necessary steps to begin reintroduction no later than Dec. 31, 2023, on designated lands west of the Continental Divide; and
    • Pay fair compensation for livestock losses caused by gray wolves

    Beginning in April 2021, CPW contracted with Keystone Policy Center to conduct the public involvement effort.

    CPW worked with Keystone Policy Center to hold 47 public meetings in 2021, collecting feedback from more than 3,400 Coloradans.

    Additionally, CPW appointed two advisory bodies: a Technical Working Group (TWG) (contributes expertise towards the development of conservation objectives, management strategies and damage prevention and compensation planning); and a Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) to provide recommendations to staff and the CPW Commission as they took on the drafting of the Plan.

    Following the Dec. 9 presentation of the draft Plan, the CPW Commission will discuss and take feedback from the public at five upcoming meetings around Colorado.

    “All Coloradans interested in wolf restoration should plan to virtually attend this presentation or view the recording online at a time that is most convenient for you,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Dugan. “Whether you’ve already submitted your feedback to CPW as one of the more than 3,400 Coloradans we heard from at public meetings over the past year or not, we’re encouraging you to look at the draft plan and submit your input at a public meeting in January and February,” Dugan said.  

    Dec. 9, 2022 – Presentation of the Draft Plan (virtual meeting)

    Zoom/YouTube – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (approximate)

    The draft Plan will be posted online at wolfengagementco.org on Dec. 9, 2022. At the Dec. 9 virtual Commission meeting, CPW will walk through the draft Plan. Time will be provided for Commissioner questions. A form for public comment will be posted at wolfengagementco.org on Dec. 9 and will remain open through Feb. 22, 2023.

    There will not be an opportunity for oral comments from the public at this meeting, but the presentation will kick-off the public input process. Five statewide hearings will be held to acquire information from the public to be considered in developing the Plan. The hearing dates and locations are listed below with approximate times:

    Jan. 19, 2023 – Colorado Springs – 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    Jan. 25, 2023 – Gunnison – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    Feb. 7, 2023 – Rifle – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    Feb. 16, 2023 – Virtual via Zoom – 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
    Feb. 22, 2023 – Denver – 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

    The in-person hearings will begin with CPW providing a brief overview of the plan. All the hearings will provide time for Commissioner questions and discussion.

    April 6, 2023 – Final Draft Plan and Regulations (Step 1 of 2) (in-person meeting) Location TBD, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    CPW staff will present the final draft Plan and associated regulations (Step 1 of 2). In-person public comment will be taken in a similar manner to the hearings and online comments may be made through wolfengagementco.org. The meeting will be streamed to YouTube to listen to live or by recording.

    May 3 – 4, 2023 – Final Plan and Regulations (Step 2 of 2) Approval (in-person meeting) Glenwood Springs – Times TBD

    Commissioners will vote on approval of the final Plan and associated wolf regulations.

    Visit CPW’s Stay Informed page and sign up for the Wolf Reintroduction eNews to stay up to date with CPW’s Wolf Restoration efforts.

  • Where in US will Old Man Winter serve up the best skiing conditions this season?

    AccuWeather meteorologists issued their annual ski season forecast, highlighting that this winter could be “very interesting” for skiers in one of the most populated regions of the country.

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center – November 21, 2022 – The wait is finally over for skiers and snowboarders across the United States as snow has returned and a new ski season is underway, although AccuWeather forecasters warn that some popular mountains could be hurting for snow in the coming months.

    Ski resorts across the country are starting to open for the season, thanks in part to La Niña. La Niña influences the storm track across the United States, and during the colder months, it can dictate where snow falls and how frequently powder blankets the ski slopes.

    A person skiing down a snowy mountainside. (Getty Images/Daniel Milchev)

    “The areas that [have been] getting hit hard over the past couple of weeks have been the Cascades, the Sierra and into the central Rockies,” AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok explained.

    After an unusually warm start to November across the Northeast, it has turned dramatically colder in the region since the middle of the month as Arctic air flowed in from Canada. The frigid air allowed some ski resorts to make artificial snow to allow skiers to hit the slopes before Thanksgiving. The recent bouts of lake-effect snow have also laid down a solid base for resorts across New York and Michigan.

    Skiers and snowboarders looking to experience the best conditions in the country might want to consider traveling to resorts in Washington or Oregon.

    “The best ski conditions this winter [are] probably going to end up being of course across the Northwest,” Pastelok explained. Good skiing conditions are also predicted across the Rocky Mountains from Canada down through Colorado.

    Forecasters say that it will not be a great winter for skiing across California, Utah and Arizona, but it won’t be a bad season either. Storms will occasionally track over this region of the Western U.S., laying down blankets of snow over ski resorts, but spells of dry weather between the snowstorms could impact the slopes.

    Pastelok cautioned that periods of warmer weather throughout the season could affect the snow quality at the bases of the ski slopes.

    Folks across the eastern United States who do not want to travel across the country to ski will still have plenty of opportunities to hit the slopes this winter, although some patience may be required.

    “The back end of the season could be very interesting for the Northeast,” Pastelok said, adding that there could be some bigger snowstorms over the region during the second half of the winter.

    Resorts from North Carolina through Pennsylvania could have to lean on artificial snow during the first half of the winter until the stormy pattern develops during the latter part of the season.

    Farther north in New York and into New England, the season as a whole is forecast to be good, although Pastelok stated that early snowpacks could turn icy by the middle of the winter.

    Even better ski conditions are in the forecast across the Midwest, especially in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

    Pastelok said that these areas could “get hit pretty hard” with snow early in the season, laying down a solid base of snow that will stay intact throughout most or all of the winter.

     

    Where in US will Old Man Winter serve up the best skiing conditions this season? (Full Story) >>

  • Developing storm could wreak havoc on travel around Thanksgiving

    AccuWeather forecasters say a wide-ranging storm could develop and move across the country, just in time to disrupt travelers on Thanksgiving and in the days immediately after the holiday.

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center–November 17, 2022 – AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the potential for a significant storm to cause a slew of hazards across the eastern United States, including heavy rain, snow and gusty winds, next week with the potential for holiday travel disruptions in the days leading up to Thanksgiving — and impacts may continue beyond the holiday as well.

    The adverse weather will initially develop as two smaller storms form and travel thousands of miles, impacting millions of people around the holiday from the nation’s midsection to the East Coast. Travelers in parts of the Midwest and Northeast may need to factor in the potential for wintry weather in their travel plans later in the week.

    For those getting a head start on their holiday travel this weekend into Monday, people in a large swath of the nation will enjoy quiet weather conditions, and the vast majority of people will encounter few weather-related travel issues.

    One of the ingredients for this potentially significant storm, an area of low pressure, will start to impact travelers beginning on Tuesday. Heavy rain and mountain snow will move into the Northwest and western Canada. This part of the storm will pack most of the energy needed for the bigger storm to form later in the week.

    On Wednesday, the second ingredient, moisture emerging from the Gulf of Mexico, will help spark showers and thunderstorms across eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley, slowing pre-Thanksgiving travel there, including in Houston and Dallas.

    Those two separate systems will begin to combine into a larger storm over the Midwest, Mississippi and Ohio valleys and parts of the South on Thanksgiving.

    Thunderstorms packing torrential downpours will make for a soggy Turkey Day in cities such as Lake Charles and New Orleans, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi. Meanwhile, snow showers will make for a wintry scene and slick roads in parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, including in Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota.

    While the strength and positioning of any developing storm are still uncertain a week out, there is the potential for further strengthening to occur as the storm reaches the Atlantic coast around Friday. Combined with fresh cold air rushing in from Canada, a swath of snow can interrupt post-Thanksgiving travel in parts of the Great Lakes and interior Northeast from Friday into next weekend.

    Impacts can also occur along the coast, from the Carolinas to New England, including strong winds, high waves and tidal flooding, as the storm strengthens offshore.

    If the two storms end up being weaker or the colder air ends up pushing farther south, the ingredients may not come together in the right position or in time to produce significant travel-impacting precipitation in the East.

    Regardless, travelers should plan in advance for the potential of flight delays or cancellations at major airports, including Chicago-O’Hare, Atlanta-Hartsfield and the airports in the New York City tri-state area, as well as slow travel on major highways such as interstates 40, 70, 80, 90 and 95.

    The potential for more snow in the Great Lakes will come in the wake of a major lake-effect snow event late this week and weekend, where several feet of snow is expected to accumulate, including in Buffalo.

    Developing storm could wreak havoc on travel around Thanksgiving (Full Story) >>

  • Governor Polis Announces Chief of Staff Transition

    DENVER – Governor Jared Polis announced updates to his senior staff. 


    Governor Polis announced that after serving for over fifteen years alongside Governor Polis as his top staffer, his long-time Chief of Staff Lisa Kaufmann will be scaling back her role and stepping down as Chief of Staff effective January 1, 2023. Kaufmann was one of his first hires in 2007 for his first bid for Congress, served as Chief of Staff in his Congressional office, was the Chair of the Governor’s successful 2018 gubernatorial campaign, Chaired his Gubernatorial transition committee in 2018, and has served as the Governor’s Chief of Staff for the entirety of his first term in office. Kaufmann has been instrumental in shaping the Governor’s political career and his Governorship. As Polis’s gubernatorial Chief of Staff, she led the state through many emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic, tragic shootings, and wildfires.  Kaufmann is credited for being the architect and chief strategist for the Governor’s ambitious first-term successful agenda of enacting his bold four initiatives of free kindergarten and universal preschool, saving people money on healthcare, 100% renewable energy, and tax reform. In addition, she championed the expansion of new state parks and ongoing revenue for public lands, oil and gas reform, infrastructure funding, and climate preparedness. Coloradans last Tuesday delivered Gov. Polis another term by a historic margin.


    As Chief, Kaufmann helped Gov. Polis and his team safely and effectively lead Colorado through the unique challenges created by the pandemic and help keep the state on a path toward continued economic prosperity and a job recovery rate that continues to substantially outpace the national average. Early in the first quarter of next year, Lisa is expected to transition into her new role in the Polis-Primavera administration as a strategic advisor for public-private partnerships in the Department of Personnel and Administration. 


    “I couldn’t be more grateful to Lisa for her leadership over the past four years. She has been an excellent Chief of Staff and trusted advisor during an unprecedented time for our state. Together, we delivered real results for Coloradans, and I am honored to have worked shoulder to shoulder with her on behalf of our beloved state,” said Governor Polis. “Lisa’s strategic thinking has been essential to helping guide my administration, and I am excited that she has agreed to continue with the administration focused on showcasing my second-term priority of expanding transit and more transit-oriented housing.”


    “Filling her shoes will not be easy. Lisa Kaufmann is a uniquely skilled, strategic, and effective leader. But I am confident that Alec Garnett is the best choice and will do an outstanding job,” said Governor Polis. 


    Kaufmann is the longest-serving member of Gov. Polis’ staff, Kaufmann is only the third woman to serve as a Colorado governor’s chief of staff, co-founded New Era Colorado, and is Denver Business Journal 40 under 40 winner.

    “Serving alongside Governor Polis who is as optimistic as he is brilliant will forever be my greatest honor and privilege. We have been through many highs and lows over the last 15 years, but the thing that always remains constant is Jared’s even-keeled, clear-eyed approach to getting results for the people of Colorado and his sense of humor – that’s what kept me doing this tough job for so long,” said Lisa Kaufmann. “As we close the chapter on the first term, I am proud of what we have accomplished for my children and all people of Colorado and I am excited to pass the torch to my very capable friend Alec Garnett who is going to do an excellent job leading the second term.”


    “Lisa is fearless and I want to deeply thank her for her leadership, vision, and commitment to delivering transformational change for our communities. Lisa has been a driving force behind much of the work we’ve accomplished for Coloradans these last four years and beyond – from innovative ways to save people money on health care, to protecting the freedoms of Coloradans to ensuring we have an administration that serves all of Colorado, not special interests,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “Lisa’s strategic and responsible leadership is unmatched and while Alec has big shoes to fill, I am confident that he will continue to help deliver real results for hardworking people and families.”


    Kaufmann will remain as Chief until January 1st when Alec Garnett will step into the role.


    “No one can replace Lisa Kaufmann, who has been one of Colorado’s most successful Chiefs of Staff. Her strategic vision and pivotal role serving alongside Governor Polis over the last 15 years led to the passage of landmark legislation that is right now helping Coloradans in every corner of our state. Her leadership and steady hand guided Colorado through a global pandemic and devastating wildfires, and I’m honored to follow in her footsteps. I’m excited to advance Governor Polis’ bold vision for Colorado, implement recent legislative achievements, and continue serving the state I love,” said Alec Garnett


    “Lisa has been an incredible public servant, and her problem-solving skills and ability to develop strategic solutions to our state’s most pressing challenges is simply unmatched. The Governor, myself and our congressional delegation in Washington, and our state have all greatly benefited from her wise counsel. And while I’m happy she and her family will have the opportunity for some much-deserved time away, I’m confident she’ll continue to serve our state for years to come,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. 


    “There is no better strategic mind or team leader than Lisa – she faces challenges head-on and puts people in the best possible positions to not only succeed but grow and thrive,” said Senate President Steve Fenberg. “And she manages to do it all with an amazing amount of heart and compassion.”


    “Lisa has been the force behind making Governor Polis’ policies a reality. From universal preschool to an ambitious renewable energy economy, Colorado is where it is thanks to her. I can’t wait to see what Lisa does next,” said U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper.


    Alec Garnett is the outgoing Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives representing House District 2, central Denver. Speaker Garnett just finished his eighth and final session as a state representative. During his time serving in the legislature, he championed solutions centered on affordable housing, investments in public education, gun violence prevention, and economic opportunity for all. He has passed bills to provide universal pre-K to all Coloradans and created a commonsense red flag law in Colorado to prevent gun violence.

     

    Garnett is a fourth-generation Coloradan who grew up in Boulder. Garnett and his wife, Emily, live in the Capitol Hill neighborhood with their young children. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and completed a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Colorado, Denver.