Headlines August 3, 2021
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I-70 Closure in Glenwood Canyon May Last Weeks, State to Declare Disaster
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has announced he will soon issue a state disaster declaration for the mudslides that have shut down Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon.
The Glenwood Canyon stretch of I70 remains closed as crews attempt to address debris and damage done to the interstate as a result of recent mudslides.
There is no estimate when it will reopen.
Changes Coming to State Vaccine Data Dashboard as Focus Shifts to Fall COVID-19 Uptick
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced yesterday it will make multiple changes to the state’s COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard aiming to have additional detail on vaccination rates.
According to the latest statewide modeling report vaccinations can still prevent a fall season uptick of COVID-19 if Coloradans get at least one shot before Labor Day.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado School of Public Health released an updated statewide modeling report yesterday showing the importance of vaccine’s given in Colorado by Labor Day weekend. As schools start up again this month the models show that Colorado could still experience thousands more cases of severe, but avoidable, COVID-19 infections over the upcoming fall months. The CDPHE says that vaccination is the key to preventing these cases, especially in the teenage range.
By comparing vaccination scenarios, the modeling shows that increasing vaccination rates by Labor day to 80% among adults, with at least one shot, will prevent substantial COVID-19 hospitalizations this fall. The model also looks at a 70% target for Colorado teen vaccinations as schools prepare to reopen, posing a risk for increasing infections in this age group.
To reach 80% of Colorado adults with at least one shot, 456,000 first doses will need to be administered in August and to reach 70% of Colorado teens with at least one shot, 90,000 first doses will need to be administered to teens this month. Vaccinations were declining daily over the summer in all age groups, leading to an uptick in covid-19 cases in the state last week.
Historic Designation for La Alma-Lincoln Park Neighborhood
In a follow-up to a story you heard yesterday on the Morning Magazine, Denver’s City Council voted last evening to approve the landmark designation of La Alma-Lincoln Park neighborhood as a historic cultural district, only the second of its kind behind Denver’s Five Points Neighborhood.
The neighborhood was the heart of Denver’s Chicano movement in the 1960s and 1970s.
Fasting for Freedom Listening Session Taking Place Today
Immigrants rights activists will meet with representatives of Colorado’s Congressional Delegation today in Denver. Leaders from Colorado’s People’s Alliance, American Friends Service Committee, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, and Together Colorado will participate in a so-called “Fast for freedom listening session” with staff from the offices of Senator Michael Bennett and Congressman Joe Neguse.
Activists and leaders from the organizations have been fasting since June urging Congress to create a pathway for citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented individuals currently living in the United States.
Older Adult Services to Reopen West Age Well Center on Aug. 16
The City of Boulder has announced that the West Age Well center, located at 909 Arapahoe Ave, will reopen for general programming beginning on August 16th.
In-person operations will be Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm. The center offers services to adults 60 and over and their caregivers.
Programs include lifelong learning, case management, hearing and vision screening, Parkinson’s music therapy, medical foot care, and therapeutic massage.
The City will continue to offer some programs online to help increase access and participation.
According to the City’s Older Adult Services, the East Age Well Center, located at the East Boulder Community Center, will remain closed with potential plans to reopen in the future.
Colorado’s Two Independent Redistricting Commissions Hold Additional Public Hearings
Colorado’s two Independent Redistricting Commissions will again hold public hearings this week as an opportunity for residents to comment on the preliminary maps of the state’s eight congressional districts, as well as the 65 state house and 35 senate districts.
The Congressional Independent Redistricting Commission will hold its own hearing today, starting at noon, at the Powell Middle School in Littleton.
Tonight, at 7pm, both commissions will hold a joint hearing at Centennial’s Koelbel Library.
Wednesday’s joint hearing will be 7pm at the Golden High School Auditorium.
For the remainder of the week, hearings will be held in Colorado Springs, Trinidad, Alamosa, and in Durango.
More information about the hearings and the preliminary maps is available online at redistricting.colorado.gov.
Colorado’s Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission Extend Final Map Submission Deadline
Along with public hearing activity, Colorado’s Congressional Redistricting Commission voted yesterday to extend its deadline to approve and submit a final map to the Colorado Supreme Court.
According to the Colorado Sun, the extension aims to avoid cutting back on public hearings and to give staff time to crunch final population data that is expected to be received later in the month.
The Congressional Commission now plans to adopt a final map by September 28th and then staff will have three days to submit final materials to the Colorado Supreme Court by October 1st.
