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  • Colorado state park summer safety tips for Memorial Day weekend

    Colorado state park summer safety tips for Memorial Day weekend

    Picture: Sylvan Lake State Park

    DENVER – As people gear up for an outdoor adventure this holiday weekend, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds our local outdoor community of a few safety tips to help support a positive outdoor experience.

    With increased visitation to outdoor spaces throughout the state, spending time outside remains a popular pastime in Colorado. Nature belongs to all of us, and the need to balance outdoor recreation with conservation never takes a holiday.

    Know Before You Go
    Be aware of weather conditions, water temperatures and trail closures where you plan to visit. In Colorado, even late spring can bring snowstorms, strong winds and extremely cold water temperatures.

    • Camping reservations are required at Colorado state parks.
    • Use the CPW Park Finder to learn about what activities are available at each state park.
    • COTREX provides additional outdoor opportunities in surrounding areas if your desired trailhead or park is crowded or closed.
    • On a holiday weekend, expect lines and potential gate closures. Have a backup plan and be kind – CPW staff is working hard to provide a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all.

    Life Jackets Save Lives
    As boat ramps open and warmer temperatures entice people to recreate on the water, Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges people to wear a life jacket and boat responsibly.

    Be Careful with Fire
    Know any restrictions or bans before you go. Colorado’s low humidity has perks but can create dry, dangerous conditions. Keep campfires small and manageable to avoid sparking wildfires.

    • Dry conditions frequently impact what type of fires are allowed, and they may be completely restricted in some areas. The websitewww.coemergency.com provides up-to-date information on county fire restrictions and bans.
    • When putting out a fire, water it until you can handle the embers.
    • Never let a fire burn unattended or put hot coals in a dumpster.
    • Buying locally-sourced firewood can help prevent invasive critters from crossing state lines.

    Keep Wildlife Wild
    Colorado is home to 960 species of wildlife. To keep them — and you — safe, don’t feed or approach them.

    Together, we can live life outside and all do our part to care for Colorado and keep our landscapes healthy for future generations. Learn more about Colorado state parks and outdoor activities, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/.

      

  • Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Strengthen Food Supply Chains, Level the Playing Field for Growers, and Lower Prices for American Consumers

    Today, USDA announced a suite of new actions delivering on key commitments from President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, including issuing a new Packers & Stockyards Act rulemaking, making available $200 Million to expand competition in meat processing, and investing $25 million in workforce training
    WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more support, resources, and new rules that will strengthen the American food supply chain, promote fair and competitive agricultural markets, prevent abuse of farmers by poultry processors and make prices fairer for farmers and American consumers. These actions build on President Biden’s historic whole-of-government effortto promote competition in the American economy and fulfill key pillars of the Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Action Plan launched in January by President Biden, Secretary Vilsack, and Attorney General Garland. These actions combat market dominance by a small number of major meat and poultry processors in key markets, where excessive concentration and control has led to lower prices paid to producers and higher prices paid by consumers.
    “For too long, farmers and ranchers have seen the value and the opportunities they work so hard to create move away from the rural communities where they live and operate,” Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is committed to making investments that promote competition—helping support economic systems where the wealth created in rural areas stays in rural areas—and strengthening rules and enforcement against anticompetitive practices. The funding and new rule we’re announcing today ultimately will help us give farmers and ranchers a fair shake, strengthen supply chains, and make food prices fairer.”
    Fighting for Fairness for Poultry Farmers
    USDA today announced a proposed rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect poultry growers from abuse. Today’s action is the first of three rulemakings that USDA will issue under the Packers and Stockyards Act under the President’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy in order to stop unfair, deceptive, discriminatory, and anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industry.
    Currently, poultry processors exert control over much of the process of raising chickens through take-it-or-leave-it contracts with growers. Under these contracts, processors provide inputs like chickens and feed to poultry growers. Poultry growers, who often take on debt to build poultry growhouses, have limited visibility into the real range of outcomes and risks they face under these contracts. Moreover, once in the contracts, the processors then determine the payments that poultry growers receive for their services by weighing the chickens and ranking farmers based on how much the chickens grew. Pay is generally determined based on how a farmer compares to other farmers, but farmers currently have little insight into this comparison. For far too long, growers have complained that the “tournament” system is ripe for abuse.
    The new rulemaking will require poultry processors to provide key information to poultry growers at several critical steps—increasing transparency and accountability in the poultry growing system. For example, processors would be required to disclose details of the inputs they provided to each farmer and information about the input differences among farmers being ranked. Furthermore, disclosures would cover the level of control and discretion exercised by the poultry processor and what financial returns the farmer can expect from the relationship based on the range of real experiences of other growers. Contracts would also be required to contain guaranteed annual flock placements and density. Poultry processor CEOs would be required to sign off on the compliance process for disclosure accuracy.
    Simultaneously with issuing the proposed transparency rule, USDA is opening an inquiry into whether some practices of processors in the tournament system are so unfair that they should be banned or otherwise regulated. USDA seeks input from stakeholders to determine whether the current tournament-style system in poultry growing could be restricted or modernized to create a fairer, more inclusive marketplace.
    Investing in Expanded Capacity
    Vilsack also announced that USDA is making available $200 million under the new Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) to strengthen the food supply chain and create opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs in rural communities. These funds will provide much-needed financing to independent meat and poultry processors to start up and expand operations. By introducing competition at this key bottleneck point in the supply chain, these investments will help raise earnings for farmers and lower prices for consumers.
    The MPILP will provide grants of up to $15 million to nonprofit lenders, including private nonprofits, cooperatives, public agencies and tribal entities. These intermediaries will use this funding to establish a revolving loan fund to finance a variety of activities related to meat and poultry processing. For example, businesses may use the loans to acquire land, build or expand facilities and modernize equipment.
    For more information, please visit www.rd.usda.gov/mpilp and read USDA Rural Development’s program announcement.
    Building a Well-Paid, Well-Trained Meat and Poultry Processing Workforce
    Vilsack also announced $25 million in investments for workforce training programs for meat and poultry processing workers with American Rescue Plan Act Section 1001 funding. The targeted funding through new and existing National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) programs is designed to create and expand upon good paying jobs that can strengthen the meatpacking industry by attracting and retaining employees.
    NIFA is leading two funding opportunities:
    • Extension Risk Management Education and Sustainable Agriculture Research Education Programs: An investment of $5 million will be split equally between Extension Risk Management Education and Sustainable Agriculture Research Education programs. Work in these programs will support development of meat and poultry processing training and educational materials for place-based needs, particularly relevant to small- or medium-sized farmers and ranchers. Additionally, training local and/or regional meat and poultry workers presents a unique opportunity to address the demand from niche markets, like mobile processing units fulfilling market demand from fresh markets, on-site processing, farm-to-fork (restauranteurs), boutique grocers and others.
    • Community/Technical College Ag Workforce Training and Expanded Learning Opportunities: This Agricultural Workforce Training (AWT) investment makes available $20 million to qualified community colleges to support meat and poultry processing workforce development programs. The AWT program helps develop a workforce ready for the field as well as industry jobs in the food and agricultural sectors. By creating new workforce training programs, or expanding, improving, or renewing existing workforce training programs at community, junior, and technical colleges/institutes, this program will expand job-based, experiential learning opportunities, acquisition of industry-accepted credentials and occupational competencies for students to enable a workforce for the 21st century.
    • For more information, please visit NIFA’s Webpage and read NIFA’s agency announcement.
    Charting a Comprehensive Strategy for Promoting Competition in Agricultural Markets
    Today, USDA also released a new report on Promoting Competition in Agricultural Markets, as required by President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. The report details USDA’s strategy for promoting competition in agricultural markets—including not only actions and initiatives to promote competition in meat and poultry markets, but also other key agricultural sectors like fertilizer and seeds. The report also discusses the negative impacts concentration in shipping has on our food supply chain and describes USDA’s efforts to work across the Administration to use all available tools to promote competition.
    The report includes the announcement of two new pro-competition initiatives—initiatives that go above and beyond those required by the Executive Order. First, USDA is announcing plans to complete a top-to-bottom review of its programs to ensure they promote competition. Second, USDA announced it will update guidance to strengthen the verification requirements for the most widely used “animal-raising claims” to ensure consumers are getting what they are paying for.
    Biden-Harris Administration Commitment to Supporting American Farmers and Ranchers
    These steps are pursuant to President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy and his Executive Order on America’s Supply Chains. As Co-Chair of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and as a member of the White House Competition Council, Secretary Vilsack and USDA have brought together industry, labor and federal partners to address the short-term supply chain disruptions arising from the Administration’s strong economic recovery and to address longstanding problems with the lack of competition in our economy. Today’s announcements are among many key steps that USDA is taking to build a more resilient supply chain and better food system and to increase competition in agricultural markets. This initiative will support key supply chain infrastructure investments to expand and scale existing capacity, as well as support long-term investments in new operations. See all recent actions taken to support the American food supply chain on www.usda.gov/meat.
    USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
  • County administrative buildings closed for Memorial Day

    County administrative buildings closed for Memorial Day

    In observance of Memorial Day, Arapahoe County administrative buildings will be closed on Monday, May 30.

  • Forecast: 730K Coloradans to Travel for Memorial Day

    Forecast: 730K Coloradans to Travel for Memorial Day

    DENVER (May 25, 2022) – Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest in three years, building on a travel resurgence that began earlier this spring. AAA’s annual travel forecast for 2022 marks the second highest single-year increase in travelers since 2010, following only 2021.

    AAA predicts that 730,000 Coloradans will join the ranks of 39.2 million Americans traveling for the holiday weekend. All told, 8.3% more Americans are traveling this year over last, bringing travel volumes in line with where they were in 2017. 

    “Despite rising prices and continued uncertainties about COVID-19, Coloradans have made one thing clear: They’re ready to travel,” said Skyler McKinley, regional director of public affairs for AAA. “Travel comfort has hit a two-year high, with reservations for flights, hotels, and cruises for Memorial Day weekend running twice as strong as last year. All signs point to that momentum carrying into the summer.”

    Travel Confidence Surges – Air Travel Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels

    New AAA survey data has found that 80% of Coloradans currently feel comfortable traveling – more than at any other time since the pandemic began. That’s up from 47% at this time last year.

    That increased comfort is driving growth across all modes of transportation this year, especially air travel. Nationwide, air travel volumes are forecast to rise 28% from last year in the second-largest yearly increase in more than a decade. The number of Americans expected to fly this Memorial Day, 3 million, falls just shy of 2019 levels. Still, at 7.7%, a higher percentage of travelers are choosing to fly than in 2019. 

    90% of Travelers will Drive, Despite Record-High Gas Prices

    Despite historically high gas prices, 90% of Memorial Day travelers plan to get up and go by car – including 652,000 Coloradans. 

    Gas prices for Memorial Day will be the highest on record. A combination of tightened global supplies and strong demand are expected to continue to drive pump prices up through the summer travel season. 

    As of Tuesday, May 24, the average price for gasoline in Colorado is $4.16. That’s up from $3.12 in 2021, $2.06 in 2020, and $2.87 in 2019. When Colorado gas prices were last setting records, in 2008, the average price for a gallon over Memorial Day was $3.92.

    “Record high gas prices and other inflationary pressures aren’t discouraging Coloradans from travel,” McKinley said. “Per our survey data, many may look at cost-cutting measures – like driving shorter distances, staying in cheaper hotels, or spending less on shopping, dining, and entertainment – but they’re going to travel, no matter what.”

    Travel Prices

    Air      – AAA finds that the average lowest airfare is 6% more than last year, at $179 per ticket. Saturday will be the most expensive day to fly and Monday will be the cheapest. 

    Hotels – Mid-range hotel rates have increased about 43%, with the average lowest nightly rates running around $198 per night for AAA Approved Hotels.

    Car Rentals – Daily car rental rates have increased 170% over last year, with the average lowest rate coming in at $119/day.  

    Busiest Travel Days/Times

    Air Travel –  AAA booking data shows that Thursday will be the busiest day for air travel during the Memorial Day travel period, which runs from May 26 through May 30. Monday will be the lightest day. 

    Road Trips – Thursday and Friday will be the peak traffic days. To avoid the worst of it, travelers on those days should hit the roads before 7:00am or after 9:00pm. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, AAA advises travelers to start driving before 11:00am. 

    Reduce stress by: 

    • Arriving at the airport at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international.

    • Booking a flight during non-peak travel periods to cut down on wait times.

    • Hitting the road when there’s less traffic and budgeting extra time. 

    Big Cities and Beaches are Top Destinations

    AAA booking data reveal that big cities and beaches are top destinations this Memorial Day, both domestically and abroad. Stateside, Denver will be the 7th most-visited destination, down three positions from last year in what remains a signal of persistent travel interest in the American West.

    U.S. Destinations:
    • Orlando, FL
    • Seattle, WA
    • Miami, FL
    • Las Vegas, NV
    • Anaheim, CA
    • New York, NY
    • Denver, CO
    • Anchorage, AK
    • Boston, MA
    • Honolulu, HI 

    International Destinations
    • Vancouver, Canada
    • Dublin, Ireland
    • Paris, France
    • Rome, Italy
    • London, England
    • Cancun, Mexico
    • Amsterdam, Netherlands
    • Barcelona, Spain
    • Nassau, Bahamas
    • Calgary, Canada

    Expect Congestion

    AAA predicts drivers will encounter the longest travel delays before  the holiday weekend, particularly during the afternoons on Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27. Drivers in major U.S. metros, including Denver and Colorado Springs, could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip. 

    “Even with the increase in gas prices, we’re predicting a large jump in holiday driving compared to the last few years,” McKinley said. “That means congestion. Drivers can avoid the worst of it by getting a head start, but to some extent, traffic will be unavoidable. Keep a cool head when you’re in a jam by remembering that you can’t be stuck in traffic: You are traffic.” 

    Prepare your vehicle: AAA will rescue 388,000 stranded motorists.

    The 34.9 million Americans hitting the road can get their vehicles road-trip ready with a full-vehicle inspection. AAA forecasts it will respond to more than 388,000 calls for help over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Get key components checked, including the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes, and fluid levels – and make sure your vehicle’s emergency kit is fully stocked. 

    Forecast Methodology
    In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit– a world leader in critical information, analytics and expertise — developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from IHS Markit’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment; output; household net worth; asset prices including stock indices; interest rates; housing market indicators and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays. AAA and IHS Markit have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

    Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitorsm. The PERFORMANCE/Monitorsm is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior -all after the trips have been taken.

    The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and IHS Markit forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of April 11, 2022.

    Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period
    For purposes of this forecast, the Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as the five days from Thursday, May 26 to Monday, May 30. The five-day holiday length is consistent with previous holiday periods.

    About AAA
    Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 62 million members across North America, including 56 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.

    About INRIX
    INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. INRIX’s partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small.

    About S&P Global
    S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world’s leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world’s leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.

    About DKSA
    DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups. DK SHIFFLET is an MMGY Global company.

  • USDA Invests $9.7 million to Expand Market Opportunities for Rural Businesses and People in Colorado

    DENVER, Colo., May 24, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director for Colorado Armando Valdez today announced that the Department is investing $9.7 million to help create new and better market opportunities for rural businesses and people in Colorado.

    “Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice President Harris and Secretary Vilsack, USDA is expanding access to capital to prioritize rural economic development. Providing financial backing to stimulate business creation and growth is key to a rural community’s success. By working in partnership with financial institutions, we’re able to help create and preserve quality jobs and enable commercial lenders an opportunity to provide affordable financing for rural businesses,” said Valdez.

    The funding will help a diverse rural America keep resources and wealth right at home through job training, business expansion and technical assistance. It will help companies hire more workers and reach new customers. It will open the door to new economic opportunities for communities and people who historically have lacked access to critical resources and financing. It will also help entrepreneurs and business cooperatives create jobs, grow businesses, and find new and better markets for the items they produce.

    In Colorado, three projects were awarded funding through the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program:

    • Alamosa State Bank provided permanent refinancing for a hotel in Alamosa, Colorado
    • US Eagle Federal Credit Union assisted Fossil Creek Mines LLC, a gold mining company with funding for working capital
    • Redstone Bank provided permanent financing for the purchase of real property in Bennett, Colorado

    Background:

    USDA is making 154 investments through three programs specifically designed to create economic opportunities for people and businesses in rural areas. These programs are the Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee Program, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs, and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.

    Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal, and high-poverty areas. For more information in Colorado, visit www.rd.usda.gov/co.

  • Drought, winds to fuel Southwest wildfires as heat builds

    Temperatures across the southwestern United States could set new daily records through midweek, contributing to an elevated wildfire risk across the region.

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center – May 24, 2022 – For weeks, the Southwest has been gripped by extreme drought, rapidly spreading wildfires and surges of heat. AccuWeather forecasters say that this trend will continue with the temperatures in some cities possibly approaching record territory.

    Across the Southwest, the fire season is already off to an active start. Earlier this month, destructive wildfires raged from Texas to Arizona, some of which are still active fires. The Hermits Peak Fire, which started in New Mexico when crews lost control of a prescribed burn, was only 40% contained with over 311,000 acres lost as of Tuesday morning. Farther south in the state, the Black Fire was only 11% contained with over 146,000 acres burned as of the start of the week.

    Active fires are also continuing in Arizona. The Tunnel Fire, located just north of Flagstaff, Arizona, has burned nearly 20,000 acres, but it is 98% contained as of Monday morning.

    This past weekend, calm and cool weather helped fire crews battle the blazes across the Southwest. A bulge in the jet stream over the East Coast created a bottleneck in the atmosphere, sending temperatures surging in the East but allowing for cooler-than-normal weather for much of the rest of the country, even allowing for a late-season snowstorm in Colorado and Wyoming. However, forecasters say that a change in this pattern is already taking place.

    “As a cooler air mass slides into the eastern half of the country, this will open the door for heat to continue building in the Southwest,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Matt Benz.

    Drought, winds to fuel Southwest wildfires as heat builds (Full Story) >>

  • USDA Invests $770 Million to Expand Market Opportunities for Rural Businesses and People in 36 States and Puerto Rico

    122 Projects Will Help People in Socially Vulnerable Communities

    WASHINGTON, May 24, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Department is investing $770 million to help create new and better market opportunities (PDF, 366 KB) for rural businesses and people in 36 states and Puerto Rico. The investments include $640 million for 122 projects to help people living in socially vulnerable communities.
    “The economic success of rural America has long been the bedrock of our Nation’s economy as a whole,” Vilsack said. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is prioritizing investment in jobs, businesses, and entrepreneurial opportunities in rural America. The investments we’re announcing today demonstrate how USDA remains committed to helping people in rural America create new and better market opportunities for our country.”
    The funding will help a diverse rural America keep resources and wealth right at home through job training, business expansion and technical assistance. It will help companies hire more workers and reach new customers. It will open the door to new economic opportunities for communities and people who historically have lacked access to critical resources and financing. It will also help entrepreneurs and business cooperatives create jobs, grow businesses, and find new and better markets for the items they produce.
    For example:
    • In New York, 88 Ridge Royale LLC will use a $3.5 million loan to update the historic Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. Funds will be utilized to build a 5,800-square-foot ballroom to accommodate 400 guests, with a dedicated banquet kitchen. This investment will create 25 new jobs and support 80 existing jobs in Glens Falls.
    • In Nebraska, the city of Cozad will use a $300,000 Rural Economic Development grant to update a pharmacy. Upgrades will expand the pharmacy department, add security measures, and install new ventilation hoods. These improvements will enhance rural health care for approximately 4,000 people in the Cozad area.
    • In South Carolina, Clemson University will use a $99,992 Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program grant to help the South Carolina Center for Cooperative and Enterprise Development provide technical assistance to microentrepreneurs. The funding is expected to help at least 50 rural businesses access financing and receive financial management guidance.
    Background:
    USDA is making 154 investments through three programs specifically designed to create economic opportunities for people and businesses in rural areas. These programs are the Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee Program, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs, and the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.
    The awards are being made in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
    USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
    Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
    If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife shares boating safety tips in support of National Safe Boating Week

    Enjoy the water, but always do so with a life jacket on – they save lives!

    DENVER – As boat ramps open and warmer temperatures entice people to recreate on the water, Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges people to wear a life jacket and boat responsibly this summer.

    In honor of National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27, 2022, CPW is promoting safe boating tips to educate outdoor enthusiasts on how to take caution on Colorado waters while enjoying water sports like boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming and fishing.

    With increased visitation in outdoor spaces throughout the state, water-based recreation remains a popular pastime in Colorado. There have already been four drownings in Colorado this year. In 2021, there were 22 total drownings in Colorado, which was down from the 34 drownings in 2020. That 2020 figure is the highest number of drownings on record in the state.

    “We recommend all boaters and passengers wear a life jacket while on the water at all times,” said Grant Brown, Boating Safety Program Manager for CPW. “Regardless of your age or experience level, the data shows that life jackets save lives. We want people to have fun on the water and not be afraid of it, so we encourage you to bring the proper safety gear so you have a positive outdoor experience.”

    Before heading out on the water, Colorado Parks and Wildlife advises the following boating safety tips:

    It is important that boaters take into account the risks that weather can present while recreating on the water. Dangerous weather conditions that raise concerns are unpredictable strong wind gusts that can knock a paddleboarder or kayaker into the water, and cold water temperatures that exist year-round in Colorado.

    In addition to recreating responsibly on Colorado’s waters, boaters are reminded to help keep state waterways clean from aquatic invasive species. Colorado lakes and reservoirs are free of invasive mussels, but more boats were found with mussel infestations in 2021. Mussels are destructive to aquatic habitats and can seriously damage reservoir infrastructure and cause problems on boats.

    For more information on boating safety, visit cpw.state.co.us. To learn more about aquatic nuisance species and CPW’s program, visit: https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/ISP-ANS.aspx
    or read the Boater’s Guide to ANS Inspections.

  • Drought, winds to fuel Southwest wildfires as heat builds

    Drought, winds to fuel Southwest wildfires as heat builds

    Temperatures across the southwestern United States could set new daily records through midweek, contributing to an elevated wildfire risk across the region.

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center – May 23, 2022 – For weeks, the Southwest has been gripped by extreme drought, rapidly spreading wildfires and surges of heat. AccuWeather forecasters say that this trend will continue with the temperatures in some cities possibly approaching record territory.

    Across the Southwest, the fire season is already off to an active start. Earlier this month, destructive wildfires raged from Texas to Arizona, some of which are still active fires. The Hermits Peak Fire, which started in New Mexico when crews lost control of a prescribed burn, was only 40% contained with over 310,000 acres lost as of Monday morning. Farther south in the state, the Black Fire remained only 8% contained with over 130,000 acres burned as of the start of the week.

    Active fires are also continuing in Arizona. The Tunnel Fire, located just north of Flagstaff, Arizona, has burned nearly 10,000 acres, but it is 98% contained as of Monday morning.

    This past weekend, calm and cool weather helped fire crews battle the blazes across the Southwest. A bulge in the jet stream over the East Coast created a bottleneck in the atmosphere, sending temperatures surging in the East but allowing for cooler-than-normal weather for much of the rest of the country, even allowing for a late-season snowstorm in Colorado and Wyoming. However, forecasters say that a change in this pattern is underway.

    Drought, winds to fuel Southwest wildfires as heat builds (Full Story) >>

     

    About AccuWeather, Inc. and AccuWeather.com

    AccuWeather, recognized and documented as the most accurate source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, has saved tens of thousands of lives, prevented hundreds of thousands of injuries and tens of billions of dollars in property damage. With global headquarters in State College, PA and other offices around the world, AccuWeather serves more than 1.5 billion people daily to help them plan their lives and get more out of their day through digital media properties, such as AccuWeather.com and mobile, as well as radio, television, newspapers, and the national 24/7 AccuWeather Network channel. Additionally, AccuWeather produces and distributes news, weather content, and video for more than 180,000 third-party websites.

  • Nephew Convicted of Stealing More Than $100,000 from Disabled Aunt

    Nephew Convicted of Stealing More Than $100,000 from Disabled Aunt

    Brighton, CO — Today, 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason is announcing the At-Risk Theft conviction of Hilario Morehouse, 42. An Adams County Jury found Morehouse guilty on Friday, May 13, 2022, after five days of trial. 

    In 2008, Hilario Morehouse became the legal guardian and power of attorney for his disabled aunt who was in a care facility due to multiple sclerosis, dementia, and other health issues. As a result of the guardianship, Morehouse was in control of his aunt’s finances which included monies from a pension, a previous settlement, and funds owed to her minor daughter.


    Between 2008 and 2019, Morehouse stole more than $100,000 from his disabled aunt who is non-verbal and is completely dependent on facility staff for all of her care. Morehouse claimed that his non-verbal aunt said he could use her $848 a month pension for himself. Morehouse also said that he spent some of the money on his minor cousin but was unable to provide any documentation or receipts to corroborate his claim. The defendant stole the majority of a $75,000 settlement which was intended to be used for the care of the at-risk victim’s minor daughter. 

    On Friday, May 13, 2022, Morehouse was convicted of:

    • Theft–At Risk Victim (F3)
    • Theft (F4)

    Morehouse will be sentenced on July 19, 2022, at 8:30am in Division M. 

    “The actions of this defendant are truly abhorrent. Mr. Morehouse preyed on a vulnerable, at-risk adult – his own aunt – and stole over $100,000 of her money, undoubtedly believing he would never be caught.  We will not tolerate this criminal behavior. Individuals, like Mr. Morehouse, who prey on the vulnerabilities of our elderly and at-risk will be prosecuted and held accountable,” said District Attorney Brian Mason..”

    The prosecution of this case was led by Chief Deputy District Attorney Alex Baker and Deputy District Attorney Danny Paulson of the Financial Crimes Unit in the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.