Headlines April 27, 2021
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2020 Census: Colorado Gains One Congressional Seat
Colorado will add at least one delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for the next decade based on 2020 U.S. Census data released Monday. The state’s population boom – 745-thousand people in the past 10 years – means the state will gain an eighth congressperson. It will be state’s first new congressional district in 20 years. Colorado joined four other states that gained one representative – others were Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon, while Texas – where the population has grown even more gained two seats. Seven states that lost population over the 10-year period also will lose congressional seats – they include California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Gross Dam Opponents Pursue Higher Court Ruling
A coalition of conservation groups is making another effort to stop Denver Water’s proposed expansion of Gross Dam in Boulder County. The coalition is asking the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court’s ruling and halt construction of what would be the tallest dam in Colorado history. On March 31 of this year, the district court dismissed the coalition’s case finding that it was not before the proper court. The district judge ruled that all challenges to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must go straight to the federal Circuit Court of Appeals without a lower court ruling. The district judge, using the Federal Power Act, said that the federal court of appeals has sole authority over hydropower licensing by the FERC.
COVID Trips to Hospitals Increase in Colorado
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 continue to increase across Colorado. The state’s positivity rate is now 6%, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health. Meanwhile, millions of Americans are not getting the second doses of their Covid-19 vaccines, and their ranks are growing. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says more than five million people, or nearly 8% of those who got a first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, have missed their second doses.
Lawsuit Filed Against Loveland Police Officer Over Arrest of Elderly Woman
Video from the arrest of a 73-year old woman with dementia shows the Loveland police officer knew he had dislocated her shoulder during the arrest – but no medical help was offered for six hours. A lawsuit has been filed against officer Austin Hopp following the arrest of Karen Garner in June 2020 on shoplifting charges. During the arrest, Hopp allegedly pushed the 80-pound woman to the ground before placing her in handcuffs. Garner’s lawyer has released video showing Hopp and other officers watching video from the arrest, with Hopp laughing when Garner’s shoulder is dislocated. Hopp was placed on leave after the lawsuit was filed. Loveland police have declined to comment on the case.
