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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

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  • 2022’s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires

    Do you feel most alive at night, detest garlic, and have a habit of lurking in the shadows?

    Whether you wear a cape daily or just once a year for Halloween, you can fang Lawn Love for ranking 2022’s Best and Worst Cities for Vampires.

    We looked for cities with plenty of warm bodies, blood centers, and vampire-friendly dwellings — aka casket suppliers and homes with basements. We also considered deterrents like garlic festivals and sunshine, as well as community and entertainment factors, such as vampire groups, nightlife options, and vampire tours. 

    Check out the 10 best (and 10 worst) cities for vampires below, followed by key insights from our report. (See where your city ranks here.)

    Key insights:

    • Northern Nosferatus vs. Southern Slayers: NYC is the ideal city for vampires, thanks to having the most potential victims, the most slaughterhouses, and the most vampire groups. Big cities like New York, Chicago (No. 2), and Seattle (No. 13) have plenty of fresh blood, nightlife options, and casket suppliers.

      It’s no surprise that Surprise, Arizona, came in dead last and other sunny Southern cities fell in our ranking, with other Arizona cities plus Nevada and California taking up the bottom 10. While fewer layers of clothing might make it easier to sneak a drink through all four seasons, it’s hard to avoid the sun’s rays with maximum sunshine, minimal cloud cover, few homes with basements, and scarce casket suppliers (especially in California).

    • Transylvania, USA: Is Pennsylvania the Transylvania of America? Maybe so — both of the biggest Keystone State cities made their way into our top 10.

      Philadelphia brings home the bronze with a high number of vampire groups and tours (No. 2 in both). Philly also has a high population, abundant nightlife options, and numerous blood drives to keep vampires well fed and entertained. Pittsburgh isn’t too far behind at No. 6, with plenty of blood centers, casket suppliers, and basements to appease sunless lifestyles.

    • Shadowy histories: Despite lacking in Food and Drink and Lair Safety, New Orleans (No. 15) continues to grow its vampirical legacy. NOLA has the most vampire tours due to local icons like legendary author Anne Rice and infamous vampire Jacques St. Germain. 

      San Francisco (No. 5) follows closely behind in tours (No. 2), thanks to the historically scary Nob Hill neighborhood. The Golden City also has plenty of blood centers, vampire groups, and nightlife options to balance out the sunshine and herb shops. Sunny Los Angeles (No. 4) impresses with the highest number of vampire-friendly nightclubs, in addition to the second highest population and numerous slaughterhouses, casket suppliers, and vampire groups.

    Our full ranking and analysis are available here: https://lawnlove.com/blog/best-worst-cities-for-vampires/

  • The state offers free mammograms to help Coloradans stay up to date on a life-saving cancer test

    In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the State of Colorado is encouraging Coloradans to stay up to date on mammograms so they can find breast cancer early when it’s easiest to treat. Life-saving mammograms are available for free to individuals who qualify through the Women’s Wellness Connection program, which operates at more than 100 clinics across the state.

    “We want people to know their risk for breast cancer, how to reduce that risk, and when to get a mammogram. We also want to make sure they know where they can get a mammogram,” said Emily Kinsella, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Women’s Wellness Connection section manager. “The Women’s Wellness Connection program exists so that cost, lack of health insurance, or immigration status don’t get in the way of individuals getting these crucial screenings to protect their health.”

    In Colorado, over 5,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. . According to the American Cancer Society, only 37% of uninsured women were up to date with breast cancer screening in 2019, compared to 70% of privately insured women nationwide.

    A new statewide campaign to raise awareness of free Women’s Wellness Connection services includes television, radio, and outdoor advertising, plus direct outreach to Colorados through text messages. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, CDPHE will send an additional text reminder to stay up to date on mammograms.

    One in eight women will get breast cancer in their lifetime, but the good news is that nearly everyone can survive breast cancer when it is caught in the early stages.

    “We know that finding cancer early can make a huge difference in treatment and outcome. We also know that in recent years, during the pandemic, many got behind on routine cancer screenings. Making sure we all get caught up on mammograms will save lives,” said Kinsella.

    The Women’s Wellness Connection program serves individuals ages 21 to 64 without health insurance or limited insurance and with demonstrated financial need. In addition to breast cancer screenings, the program provides free Pap tests to check for cervical cancer. To find out more about the program, visit women’s wellness connection.org. People can also call the American Cancer Society at 1-866-951-9355 for help finding a clinic that offers free or low-cost cancer screenings as part of the Women’s Wellness Connection program near them.

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    Colorado ofrece mamografías gratuitas para ayudar a las personas a mantenerse al día en una prueba de cáncer que salva vidas 

    (REMOTO) Octubre 27, 2022: En apoyo al Mes de la Concientización de Cáncer de Seno, el estado de Colorado alienta a las personas a mantenerse al día con sus mamografías para poder detectar el cáncer de seno en una etapa temprana, haciendo más fácil el tratamiento. Las mamografías que salvan vidas están disponibles gratuitamente para las personas que califican a través del programa Women ‘s Wellness Connection, que funciona en más de 100 clínicas en todo el estado.

    “Queremos que las personas conozcan su riesgo de cáncer de seno, cómo reducirlo y cuándo hacerse una mamografía. También queremos asegurarnos de que sepan dónde pueden hacerse una mamografía”, dijo Emily Kinsella, gerente de sección de Women´s Wellness Connection del Departamento de Salud y Medio Ambiente de Colorado. “El programa Women ‘s Wellness Connection existe para que el costo, la falta de seguro médico o el estatus migratorio no se interpongan en el camino de las personas para que se realicen estos exámenes cruciales para proteger su salud”.

    En Colorado, más de 5,000 personas serán diagnosticadas con cáncer de seno este año. De acuerdo con la American Cancer Society, solamente 37% de las mujeres sin seguro estaban al día con sus pruebas de cáncer de seno en el 2019, comparado con 70% de mujeres con seguro privado a nivel nacional.

    Una nueva campaña estatal para crear conciencia sobre los servicios gratuitos de Women ‘s Wellness Connection incluyen televisión, radio y publicidad en exterior, además de contacto directo con los habitantes de Colorado a través de mensajes de texto. Durante el Mes de la Concientización del Cáncer de Seno en octubre, el Departamento de Salud y Medioambiente de Colorado mandará un recordatorio de texto adicional para mantenerse al día con las mamografías. 

    Una de cada 8 mujeres tendrá cáncer de seno en su vida, pero las buenas noticias es que casi todas pueden sobrevivir cuando es detectado en etapa temprana.  

    “Sabemos que la detección de cáncer en etapa temprana puede hacer una gran diferencia en el tratamiento y en el resultado. También sabemos que en los últimos años, durante la pandemia, muchos se atrasaron en sus pruebas de rutina de detección de cáncer. Asegurándonos de que todos se pongan al día con las mamografías, salvará vidas”, dijo Kinsella. 

    El programa Women ‘s Wellness Connection atiende a personas de 21 a 64 años sin seguro médico o seguro limitado y con necesidades económicas comprobadas. Además de las pruebas de detección de cáncer de seno, el programa ofrece pruebas de Papanicolaou gratuitas para detectar cáncer de cuello uterino. Para obtener más información sobre el programa, visite womenswellnessconnection.org. Las personas también pueden llamar a la American Cancer Society al 1-866-951-9355 para encontrar una clínica que ofrezca pruebas de detección de cáncer gratuitas o de bajo costo como parte del programa Women ‘s Wellness Connection cerca de ellas.

  • A Haunting Experience: Ye Be Warned – Classic Halloween & Scary Movies

    A Haunting Experience: Ye Be Warned – Classic Halloween & Scary Movies

    5th Annual Haunted House Presented by “The Boo Crew” and Bennett Arts Council

    Fun for everyone!

    Safe fun for kids and adults! Visible from the roadway. Bring your friends! Return as many times as you’d like! Tell your friends!

    This year we have recreated some classic scenes from scary/classic movies. After a spooky walk you’ll visit the pirates in the pirate ship. You’ll enter a witches coven and then meet Jack and Sally from Nightmare before Christmas. Pass through the Pet Sematary and then Dracula will greet you in his castle. If you make it through the zombie horde, you can check in at the Bates Motel. Check out the crop circles from Signs. Watch out for Jack the Ripper and Predator. Finally, have a delicious meat pie at Sweeney Todds. Oh, is that a chainsaw I hear?

    Lit up every night through Halloween, but animatronics turned on and can walk through at times below. We’re dying to see you.

    Scare level is mild – it is suitable for all ages. You don’t need to be in costume to attend. Mostly animatronics. Actors will do their best to scare you, but will NOT touch you. Accessibility – Two steps to access ship, gravel uneven walkway, narrow passages, strobe lights. Treats – No contact grab and go treats available at concession stand

    Visit www.facebook.com/ahauntingexperience.yebewarned/ for pictures and more information.

    —

    Admission: FREE OPTIONAL Donations to the Bennett Arts Council Accepted

    Location: 985 Pinehurst Ct., Bennett CO, 80102 Date: Thu, Fri, Sat & Mon – Oct 27, 28, 29, 31

    (Closed Sunday) Hours: 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

  • 2022 Denver Nuggets Basketball Clinic for Special Olympics Colorado Athletes

    Kroenke Sports & Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) are pleased to bring back a once in a lifetime opportunity for SOCO Athletes. You’re invited to join us for this heartwarming event featuring Denver Nuggets players leading a basketball skills clinic for Colorado athletes with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). This event is at full capacity and booked up in record time.  
     
    LOGISTICS 
     
    When: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 
     
    Where: Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, CO 80204 
     
    Time: Registration: 12:45 pm, Clinic: 1:30pm – 2:30pm 
  • Additional invasive zebra mussels found at Highline Lake State Park

    Additional invasive zebra mussels found at Highline Lake State Park

    LOMA, Colo. – CPW staff has discovered the presence of additional invasive zebra mussels at Highline Lake located at Highline Lake State Park north of Loma, Colorado. The discovery comes following increased testing after CPW found a single adult zebra mussel on an artificial PVC substrate in the lake during routine invasive species sampling on Sept. 14.

    The discovery of additional invasive mussels in the water is indicative of an established population in the reservoir and has prompted CPW to change the status of the body of water from “Suspect” to “Infested.” This is the first time a body of water has been categorized as infested with zebra mussels in the state of Colorado. 

    There is currently no boating on the lake because Highline Lake closes to all surface-water activities for the season annually on October 1. 

    “Thanks to Colorado’s robust early detection sampling and monitoring program, we were able to make this discovery,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Dugan. “As more and more people use our water resources for boating, we must continue to work tirelessly to prevent the spread of these harmful invasive species.”

    The State of Colorado requires boats to be professionally inspected if:

    • a boat has been in any body of water that is positive, or suspect for ANS
    • a boat has been in any body of water outside of Colorado
    • a boat will be entering any water body where inspections are required

    Boats exiting infested waters that are not cleaned, drained, and dry are subject to mandatory decontamination requirements.

    The establishment of invasive species can lead to millions of dollars in damages to water-based infrastructure, impact water quality and limit recreational opportunity. CPW’s invasive species experts are evaluating next steps and will have more to communicate on the actions it is taking at Highline Lake at a later date. 

    Please help CPW stop the movement of harmful invasive species, such as zebra mussels, into new waters. Public awareness and participation is the best weapon in the prevention of invasive species. 

    Please visit the CPW website for more information about zebra and quagga mussels.

  • ATF and the Denver Police Department seek public’s help

    Denver, Colorado — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the Denver Police Department, are offering a reward up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the April 8th, 2022, murders of 14-year-old Adrian Foster, 13-year-old Jayden Hoyle and Mr. Uriel Reyes-Medina.
     
    The murders occurred in the 3700 block of North Peoria Street in Denver. It is believed the suspects are three to four young men known to law enforcement, however, more information is needed to bring charges against them.
     
    Anyone with information about this crime should contact ATF at (888) ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477). Information can also be sent to  or through ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit® app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.
     
    ATF regulates the firearm industry and is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.

  • 2022’s Best Cities for Pumpkin Lovers

    Pumpkin nuts (not to be confused with the “pumpkin nut” latte from Starbucks) need somewhere to enjoy the Great Pumpkin this fall, but where?

    Ahead of Halloween and National Pumpkin Day on Oct. 26, LawnStarter ranked 2022’s Best Cities for Pumpkin Lovers.

    We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on seven pumpkin-friendliness factors. We looked for cities with easy access to pumpkin patches, pumpkin treats and beverages, and pumpkin-related events.

    Find out which 10 cities squashed the competition (and which 10 had a lack o’ lanterns) below, followed by some highlights and lowlights from our report. (See where your city ranks.)

    Highlights and Lowlights:

    • (Pumpk)inspired Portland, Oregon: Step aside, Floydada, Texas, and Morton, Illinois! You might be the national and world capitals of pumpkin, but for the second consecutive year, the City of Roses reigns supreme as our No. 1 destination for pumpkin lovers. 

      Taking the pumpkin cake in the “Access” category, Portland boasts the highest number of pumpkin patches, in addition to bakeries, coffee shops, and breweries galore serving up pumpkin-flavored goodies. The city also ranked No. 22 in Google searches for pumpkin-related keywords, reflecting residents’ enormous appetite for the fall favorite.

    • Go Big or Gourd Home: Big cities squashed the competition this year, which caught us off gourd. In 2021, our top pumpkin cities varied from large population centers like New York to small towns like Bridgeport, Connecticut. This year, however, major cities like Los Angeles (No. 2), Miami (No. 4), and Chicago (No. 8) dominated our top 10.

      That’s because of a major recalculation of our ranking that gave bigger cities the upper hand, especially in Access. Smaller cities boast more pumpkin patches, but larger cities are packed with more options for pumpkin treats.

    • Rough Patch for the South: You’d think the pie-loving South would be a better region for pumpkin lovers, but you’d be wrong. Making up our bottom 10 cities are mostly Southern cities. In last place is Macon, Georgia, bested by Laredo, Texas, by a mere 0.003 points, but that’s nothing to gloat about when Texas’ state squash is literally the pumpkin.

      There’s a perfectly logical explanation to this outcome, though. The South is notoriously bad for growing pumpkins, mostly because of extreme heat and humidity in the region. Disease is another problem.

    Our full ranking and analysis, along with a fun Pumpkins by the Numbers infographic, can be found here: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/best-cities-pumpkin-lovers/

  • CDPHE to shift to weekly monkeypox data reporting updates

    STATEWIDE (October 25, 2022) — Starting Wednesday, October 26, 2022, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will report all monkeypox data on a weekly basis. All monkeypox data will move to this new weekly reporting schedule, including case counts, vaccine administration, and available demographic information for cases and vaccine recipients. All data will now update at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays.


    “Thanks to the work of Coloradans, health care providers, and local public health and community partners across the state, monkeypox case numbers declined to a point where it makes sense to move to weekly reporting,” said Scott Bookman, director, Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response. “With smaller daily case counts, weekly updates will help us better capture and display meaningful trends in the data while we continue to reach higher-risk Coloradans with information about monkeypox and opportunities for free and convenient vaccination.”


    Coloradans can learn more about monkeypox on the CDPHE website, including information on how to access testing and vaccines.

    Continue to stay up to date by visiting cdphe.colorado.gov/monkeypox.
  • 2022’s Best Cities for Single Moms

    2022’s Best Cities for Single Moms

    Motherhood is a challenge, especially if you’re alone. That’s why living in a supportive environment can make a world of difference for a single mother.

    So, which cities set up single moms for success?

    To find out, LawnStarter ranked 2022’s Best Cities for Single Moms.

    We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on 36 key metrics. We looked for safe, affordable cities with ample child care and community support, high-quality education and health care, and a decent work-life balance. 

    Find out which 10 cities are best (and which 10 are worst) for single moms below, followed by some highlights and lowlights from our report. (See where your city ranks here.)

    Highlights and Lowlights:

    • There’s No Rose Without a Thorn: Roseville, California, tops our ranking as the Best City for Single Moms this year. Roseville has the lowest share of single moms in poverty, the third highest median annual income for single moms, and plenty of insured women and children. This city also has excellent public schools, low food insecurity, and state policies allowing sick leave for child care. 

      There are plenty of baby supply stores, but Roseville lacks child care workers. California cities in general have some of the priciest hourly rates for babysitters and a high annual cost of child care.

    • Growing Healthy, Smart Kids: Wealthy suburbs Naperville, Illinois (No. 2), Overland Park, Kansas (No. 4), Irvine, California (No. 7), and Frisco, Texas (No. 13), have the highest-rated school districts in the country, making them great for both single moms and dads. 

      In the Health category, Irvine has the best-quality public hospitals in our ranking, followed by Eugene, Oregon, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Fremont and Elk Grove, California, have the highest rates of insured women, while Syracuse, New York, Santa Clarita, California, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, have the most insured children.

    • High-Poverty Cities Lacking Policy: Huntsville, Alabama (No. 103), has the highest share of single mothers in poverty, followed by Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Each of these cities has a low median annual income for single mothers, unaffordable housing, and no state law allowing sick leave for child care.

      At the very bottom of our ranking is Detroit, alongside several Texas cities, including Houston (No. 194), Dallas (No. 192), and some of their suburbs. These cities fared poorly across most metrics, such as median annual income for single moms and housing affordability. They also have high rates of food insecurity and high numbers of single moms and children in poverty.

    Our full ranking and analysis are available here: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/best-cities-single-moms/

     

  • Voting centers opening for General Election

    Many Arapahoe County voter service and polling stations (VSPCs) opened on Monday, Oct. 24. 

    Deputy Director of Elections Peg Perl encouraged voters to return ballots or vote in person early to avoid potentially long waits as Election Day nears.

    “We expect the longest waits to be on final Election Day,” Perl said. “Voting early gives you the peace of mind that your ballot is in and you won’t miss your chance to be heard.”

    Voters can visit a VSPC to request a replacement mail ballot, vote in person, and register to vote or update their registration. Four centers also offer curbside ballot pickup for voters on the go who need a ballot.

    Voters can also use accessible voting equipment like audio ballots, tablets with large font ballots, and input jacks to connect to assistive equipment, such as sip and puff devices, paddles or a four-direction joystick. 

    Multilingual voters also have options to help them cast a ballot. Beginning this year, Spanish-speaking voters will be able to use live ballots in Spanish. There’s also a new, statewide translation hotline to translate ballot content, in addition to the interpretation service the County maintains to assist citizens with questions about voter registration.

    All voters casting a ballot in person must provide an acceptable form of ID.

    The Elections Division will manage a total of 32 VSPCs, all across the County, this election cycle, opening in three phases:

    • Phase 1: Oct. 24—Nov. 8. 
    • Phase 2: Nov. 4—Nov. 8. 
    • Phase 3: Nov. 7—Nov. 8.
    • All VSPCs are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., M—F to November 7, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 8.
    • Phase 1 and Phase 2 VSPCs will also be open, Saturday, Nov. 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.