Headlines — June 16, 2022

June 16, 2022

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CDPHE Releases Latest Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data

New data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment healthy kids survey found that nearly 40 percent of youth are experiencing depression. That’s a five percent increase over last year. 

Self-reported substance use (which includes alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs) decreased significantly this year. 

LGBTQ youth reported significantly higher suicidal thoughts and actions than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. 

The survey examines the overall health and wellbeing of the youth and takes data from across Colorado. This year, the CDPHE reviewed more than 100,000 responses to the survey. 

Last year, Children’s Hospital Colorado declared a state of emergency for pediatric mental health. While many state and local governments have allocated funds for pandemic mental health, Colorado ranks at the bottom in national surveys of mental health services availability.

New Deal Will Help Colorado Ranchers Export Their Beef To Japan

A new deal struck by the United States and Japan will help Colorado export its beef over to Japan. 

The United States has struck a new trade deal to help Colorado ranchers export their beef to Japan. The new agreement reduces the risk for beef producers by putting new parameters on tariffs.

According to The Colorado Sun, about a quarter of the nation’s beef exports go to Japan, which is Colorado’s fourth-largest trading partner of beef, with an estimated $170 Million worth of beef exports last year. 

The new trade deal limits Japan’s ability to increase tariffs and helps the U.S. exporters compete with the Australian beef market, which has lower tax rates. Asian countries demand cuts of beef that are hard to sell in the U.S. Colorado cattle producers sell 95% of the cow’s short plate, or belly, to Asian countries.

Lakota Re-Emergence Encampment

Non-profit organization Tiyospaye Winyan Maka and Lakota elder Christinia Eala will host a re-emergence encampment this weekend in Fort Collins. The encampment will celebrate the Lakota and share the knowledge and wisdom of other indigenous peoples. 

The three-day event will include workshops and presentations about indigenous arts, medicine, and agriculture. Some guests include international spoken word poet Lyla June, documentary filmmaker Quincy Davis, and many more. The camping ground will provide tent space. 

The Tiyospaye Winyan Maka organization will hold the opening ceremony this afternoon at 5:00 PM.

Bat Found In Longmont’s Thompson Park Tests Positive For Rabies

Boulder County Public Health officials have confirmed that a bat found in Longmont’s Thompson Park last weekend has tested positive for rabies. City and county health officials captured the bat after residents called concerned about their pets having come into contact with it. Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system.

The BCPH recommends that people take precautions when recreating outdoors by not interacting with wildlife that may have rabies; these include bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes. Pet owners are also encouraged to keep their pet’s vaccinations up to date. 

The Colorado Avalanche Won The First Game Of The Stanley Cup Finals

Denver fans were going insane last night after the Colorado Avalanche took the first game in a best of a four-game series against the back-to-back defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning four to three.  

The Avalanche took an early 3-1 lead after the first period, but The Lightning would claw back to tie it into the second. The third period saw no scoring, and it only took 83 seconds into sudden-death overtime for the Avalanche’s own Andre Burakovsky to score the game-winning goal.

The Avalanche are now just three games from their first Stanley Cup Final Victory since 2001. 

Game two takes place here in Denver at the ball arena  Friday night at 6 PM. 

Boulder’s Population Shrinks As Longmont’s Grows

The population size of Longmont is poised to overtake that of Boulder. U.S. Census data shows Longmont crossed the 100 thousand mark between April 2020 and last year. 

The Daily Camera reports Boulder remains the most populated city in Boulder County, however, its population has declined by around 4,000 residents. The Census Bureau estimates population sizes yearly, and while it’s not 100% accurate, they base their estimates on births, deaths, and migration. 

Many people who commute to work in the city of Boulder cite high housing costs as their reason for living outside of city limits.