Headlines — January 18, 2022

Headlines Jan. 18, 2022

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Thousands Gather For MLK Day Events

Cheerleaders and marching bands accompanied thousands of participants who marched in honor of Denver’s 37th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marade. The Marade, a combination of march and parade, began with the laying of a wreath at the MLK Jr. Memorial Statue in Denver’s City Park. 

Gov. Jared Polis, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, and U.S. Senators, Michael Bennett and John Hickenlooper, spoke at the event. Together, they called for an end to voter suppression and for attendees to take action to achieve Dr. King’s dream of equality.

In Longmont, the NAACP Boulder County, Longmont’s Multicultural Action Committee, and the Silver Creek Leadership Academy celebrated the holiday at Silver Creek High School. Rodney K. Strong, Chair and CEO of Griffin & Strong Law of Atlanta, Georgia, gave the event’s keynote address. Along with speeches, the event also included performances and honorary awards.

Colorado Attorney General Issues Cease-And-Desist Order To 11 COVID Testing Sites 

The Colorado Attorney General on behalf of the State Health Department issued cease-and-desist orders to two private COVID — 19 testing companies last week. The companies, Center for COVID Control and Macagain Corp., operate a combined 11 testing sites in Colorado.

A State Health Department investigation discovered the companies failed to report test results and cases to the state. The investigation also determined the company, Center for COVID Control, failed to receive proper certification and licensure by the federal government to do COVID testing. 

Center for COVID Control, which operates two sites in Denver and one in Englewood, is facing nationwide scrutiny with additional investigations in Illinois and Oregon. Health departments have shut down their clinics in Massachusetts and Washington. 

Macagain Corp. operates eight sites along the Front Range, including one on 28th Street in Boulder, a clinic on Cook Street in Denver, and another on College Ave. in Fort Collins. Other locations include Westminster, Lakewood, Centennial, and two in Colorado Springs. The Colorado Attorney General’s Office recommends those that did testing at any of the 11 get retested. 

State Leaders Draft Bill To Curb Catalytic Converter Theft

Car owners and dealerships have seen a spike of catalytic converter theft in recent years. A catalytic converter controls exhaust emissions for many low-emission and hybrid vehicles. Colorado Politics reports that the converters contain precious metals that have become increasingly valuable. Without the converters, vehicles become unusable. 

To curb theft, Colorado legislators introduced Bill 22-009 to make converter resale more difficult. The bill would prohibit installing, selling or advertising any used, recycled or salvaged catalytic converters unless the Air Quality Control Commission certifies them for installation and sale.

Boulder County Public Health Partnering With CU, EPA And NOAA To Investigate Air Quality In Marshall Fire Burn Zone

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the University of Colorado are teaming up with Boulder County Public Health and municipal officials from Superior and Louisville to provide accurate and up-to-date information on the air quality in areas impacted by the Marshall Fire.

Boulder County health officials say snow and wet soil levels are keeping particulates on the ground but as weather gets warmer and winds pick up, air quality will fluctuate. The Boulder County Health Department has placed air-monitoring stations throughout the burn zone and surrounding communities to track potentially harmful ultrasmall particles in the air. 

For indoor air quality, researchers from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder have published an online guide. Researchers recommend opening windows as much as possible and using carbon filters to absorb odors. They also recommend cleaning HVAC ducts and inside surfaces, and wearing protective equipment, including the NIOSH face masks or respirators while cleaning. 

Avista Adventist Hospital To Reopen

Denver Channel 7 reports Louisville’s Avista Adventist Hospital will reopen Tuesday after hospital crews worked around the clock cleaning and inspecting equipment to enable the hospital’s return to operations. The Marshall Fire narrowly spared the hospital, but staff had to evacuate and move all patients.

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