Headlines — February 21, 2022

Headlines Feb. 21, 2022

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Snow Might Delay Mountain Travelers

A blast of arctic air will bring temperatures down today. Forecasters expect chilly temperatures throughout the Front Range along with intermittent snow through Wednesday. Snow could delay almost 24,000 travelers coming home from the mountains today after the long holiday weekend.

Colorado transportation officials expect Presidents’ Day travelers to crowd eastbound Interstate 70. Officials estimate that some 16,000 travelers will head in the opposite direction up to the mountains. They caution that passenger traction and chain laws go into effect when the snow starts. Drivers going into the high country should prepare with snow tires or chains.

City Offices and Services Closed Today

Government offices and public buildings across the Front Range are closed today in observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday with some exceptions. 

In Boulder, recreation centers will be open with normal operating hours but all library branches will be closed. Open Space and Mountain Parks trails and trailheads will be open. 

All Denver libraries and recreation centers are closed today.

Adams County Treasurer Delays Tax Audit

Public service operations in Adams County are at risk due to a delay in financial records needed for an audit. The Denver Post reports the county’s finance director, Nancy Duncan, warned that state officials could withhold millions of dollars in property tax proceeds and that millions in tax revenues as well as federal and state grants could disappear. 

Adams County has sued treasurer Lisa Culpepper, accusing her office of shoddy bookkeeping. This included a six-month late accounting of $90 million of federal pandemic relief funding. The lawsuit requested a judge’s intervention. Culpepper was elected in November 2018 and her term lasts until January of 2023. The county cannot remove her because of a Colorado statute.

Lawmakers Seek Aid For Destroyed House Foundations

Top lawmakers are seeking additional funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pay for removing home foundations damaged by the Marshall Fire. Congressional representative Joe Neguse, Senator Michael Bennet, and Senator John Hickenlooper stated in a letter to FEMA that foundations not covered through the Private Property Debris Removal Program pose a health and safety threat. They say many of the over 1,000 residents who lost their homes to the fire are uninsured or underinsured and with insufficient resources. The letter also states that the expensive foundation removals are holding up the community’s rebuilding process and economic recovery.

Right-Of-Entry Form Deadline Extended

Boulder County officials extended the right-of-entry (ROE) form deadline again for residents affected by the Marshall Fire. Residents can opt-in or opt-out of the private property debris removal program for homes destroyed by the fire. The deadline was extended to allow more time for Boulder County, Louisville, and Superior to complete information about details such as foundation removal and project schedules. The new right-of-entry deadline is 11:59 pm on Friday, Feb. 25. More information is available online at Boulder County’s website.

Colorado Parents Urged To Check for Recalled Infant Formula

Colorado health officials are advising consumers to check codes on certain powdered infant formulas because of a recent recall. Abbott Nutrition voluntarily recalled Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered infant formulas. This follows reports of Cronobacter and Salmonella bacterial infections. The FDA and the CDC are investigating four cases, which are outside Colorado. The powdered infant formulas came from the company’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan. More information is available on the FDA and the Abbott Nutrition websites.

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