Headlines — October 13, 2022

October 13, 2022

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Five Years Old Are Now Eligible To Receive The Reformulated COVID-19 

Kids as young as five years old are now eligible to receive the reformulated COVID-19 omicron vaccine in Colorado. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the use of Pfizer’s omicron vaccine for children 5 and older, and Moderna’s omicron vaccine for children 6 and older yesterday.

Experts are advising young children to get one omicron dose at least two months after their most recent dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.  According to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, age-eligible children can start getting the omicron vaccine immediately, although there will be more availability later this week and early next week. 

Biden Declares Camp Hale A National Monument

President Joe Biden was in Colorado yesterday signing a proclamation declaring Camp Hale a national monument. As Aspen Public Radio’s Caroline Llanes reports for Rocky Mountain Community Radio, Biden spoke about the history of Camp Hale and protecting Colorado’s public lands. More than 58 thousand acres—now known as the Camp Hale Continental Divide National Monument—will be managed by the U-S Forest Service.The acreage is split into two parts: part of it includes 28 thousand acres surrounding the Camp Hale training grounds in Eagle County, and the other part encompasses the Tenmile area surrounding the Breckenridge ski area on three sides in Summit County.Many of the Tenth Mountain Division veterans went on to play key roles in founding and developing ski resorts across Colorado—including Aspen.Biden spoke about that history and the role it played in his own life.

“Other veterans returned to build world famous ski resorts, as you all know, and outdoor recreational industries that define Colorado today. Industries that support millions of American jobs, generating hundreds of billion dollars for our economy, that provide countless, countless memories for families. I taught my boys to ski here, taught my family to ski here.”

Another key part of Biden’s remarks addressed the Thompson Divide.Pending approval from the Department of the Interior, the federal government will prohibit new mining claims and federal mineral claims in the 225 thousand acres that make up Thompson Divide for two years.During that time, federal agencies will conduct an environmental analysis on the impacts of a 20-year withdrawal from the area located northwest of Carbondale.Caroline Llanes, Aspen Public Radio News.

Gun Safety In Longmont

Longmont’s City Council decided Tuesday to begin discussions about enacting city-wide gun control. 

According to the Boulder Daily Camera, some of the ordinances the council will discuss consider prohibiting guns in sensitive areas like playgrounds; changing the minimum purchasing age for firearms to 21; requiring a 10-day waiting period; banning the sale of unserialized weapons known as ghost guns, and mandating signage for gun stores that warn of the dangers posed to children when firearms are not properly stowed.

Boulder County, Louisville and Superior enacted gun safety ordinances in 2021. They’ve faced lawsuits over the ordinaces, led by a Love-land based gun club Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. 

Real Affordable Housing Protest

Grassroots organizations of East Colfax and North West Aurora will unite this Saturday at New Freedom Park in Denver to protest the Ambience Site Plan. If completed, the plan would dominate space on the Yosemite Street Corridor, an important location for affordable housing serving the immigrant and refugee communities. The Ambience Site plans to construct 44 luxury condominium units, each listed for more than $600,000 in its place. 

The Aurora Planning Commission approved the luxury housing development despite overwhelming opposition at the public hearing last April. Leaders from East Colfax and Aurora made the case to local officials that this development is out of character for the area and will rapidly accelerate the displacement of local low-income families.  

University of Colorado Boulder Board of Regents formally disciplined a long time CU regent Luis Licon reports

It was the first time in the CU Regents history that the board has voted to censure one of its members. The University of Colorado Board of Regents voted on Wednesday to formally censure CU Regent Glen Gallegos for violating the board’s policy of mistreating university employees. 

Glen Gallegos, a Republican from Grand Junction, reportedly engaged in hostile and verbal behavior both publicly and privately against women and other university employees. The formal discipline prohibits Gallegos from leadership positions and privileges like CU events. Gallegos was elected to the board in 2012. 

Lesley Smith, board chair for the CU regents, said in a statement, “The Board of Regents has high expectations for how our students, faculty, and staff conduct themselves and engage with each other, along with policies and practices that embody those expectations.”

Avian Influenza Boulder County

A backyard poultry facility in Boulder County detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza last Friday.

“Avian influenza is a respiratory virus in birds. The detected case in a Boulder County poultry facility led to more serious biosecurity practices in the area. The Colorado Department of Agriculture is asking all bird owners to keep a closed flock, decrease interactions between domestic and wild birds and keep feed away from wild birds.

CDA asks bird owners to monitor their flocks for signs of illness which could include decreased egg production, and soft-shelled or misshapen eggs. lack of energy or appetite and swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, and hocks among other signs. HPIA does not present a food safety risk.

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