Headlines

Headlines — March 16, 2022

Headlines March 16, 2022

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Headlines — March 16, 2022 Rachel

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Table Mesa King Soopers Shooting Will Be Closed March 22

The Table Mesa King Soopers plans to be closed March 22 for the anniversary of the mass shooting that left 10 dead last year.

Other King Soopers and City Markets will remain open to shoppers, but plan to have a statewide a moment of silence at all other locations at 2:30 p.m. to honor the victims. In addition, the Boulder Police Department sets to have a line of duty commemoration at 2 p.m.

Outside the Boulder Police Station, community members are being asked to leave messages and items of condolence on a police car parked out front for the family of Eric Talley, an officer killed during the shooting.

The city also plans to hold a moment of silence at 2:30 p.m. that day.

The Boulder Strong Resource Center, run by mental health professionals, remains open and free of cost to those affected by the shooting.

Boulder County Fairgrounds Free COVID-19 Testing Site Winds Down Operations

Just over two years into the pandemic, Boulder County Public Health has decided to close the free COVID-19 testing and vaccination site at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

The local health department’s decision followed a decrease in demand for both testing and vaccine distribution. According to Boulder County’s vaccine distribution data dashboard, 98% of the county’s residents eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine have received at least one dose.

Since opening in October 2020, the testing site has administered over 200,000 COVID-19 drive-up tests. In January, the site began offering vaccines as Boulder County saw a surge in the omicron variant fueled cases.

Even with the decrease in cases, Boulder County Public Health continues to recommend wearing a mask when in proximity with those at high risk of disease, or in settings with unvaccinated individuals.

The Fairgrounds site will stop distributing vaccines on March 20th and will to end COVID testing operations on March 31st.

Superior and Louisville Establish Intergovernmental Agreement on Debris Removal

The Superior Town Board has unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Louisville and Boulder County to remove property debris through a private contractor. The two towns will then reimburse Boulder County for the cost of the removal.

While the contractor, DRC Emergency Services, has a history of cleanup services after disasters, a non-profit corporation previously filed an injunction against the county, alleging that DRC’s selection violated open meetings law. This agreement is contingent on the result of the Friday court hearing about the injunction.

At the meeting Monday, Superior Town Attorney Kendra Carberry said the town is responsible for reimbursing 5% of expenses which comes out to around $3.5 million. The State of Colorado would cover an additional 5 percent and FEMA would cover the remaining 90 percent. The county is still waiting for more guidance from FEMA, so those numbers could change.

Congressman Joe Neguse at Marshall Fire Recovery Roundtable

US Representative Joe Neguse and local officials toured scorched areas of the Marshall Fire zone on Monday and met with residents for a round table.

Neguse opened the floor to the community for feedback and suggestions for both short- and long-term rebuilding solutions.

Three months after the fire, the recovery process is still in its beginning phases. Many residents who attended the meeting cited underinsurance as a major hurdle, with insurance companies only offering to covering a fraction of the cost.

In response to the many anecdotes related to underinsurance and the rebuilding timeline from various insurance companies, Neguse told residents he would contact Michael Conway, the Colorado Insurance Commissioner. Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle also informed roundtable attendees that there are still potential sources under investigation and that the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Panel Discussion: The History of the Latino Experience in Boulder County

The local law firm Hutchinson Black and Cook, with various other co-sponsors, is hosting the third community panel discussion in their four-part series exploring “The Roots of Today’s Racial Exclusion in Boulder County and the Road Ahead,” series. Tonight’s event, which is scheduled for 7 pm, will focus on Boulder’s history and culture regarding the local Latino community.

Those interested may attend in person at the CU Law School or via Zoom and can find information about signing up at Hutchinson Black and Cook’s website.